Survival Drinking

I've suffered from a debilitating affliction in recent times, and as a result the time I have spent writing has been limited. I'm not sure as to the cause of this disorder. One theory holds that chemicals may be the cause. Not long ago, I picked up a case of Flamin' Hot Mountain Dew. I remain ignorant of the composition of the substance within the gaudy cans, but I would wager that it consists of some chemical melange. (On a different note, don't you think melange looks like one of those names some parents create by jamming together parts of different names--like they put together Melody and Angie and came away with Melange?)

Anyway, when I cracked open the first can, a peculiar fragrance tickled my nostrils--if tickled is interpreted to include a violent thrashing with a pine bough. Nevertheless, I was intrigued. I knew this drink was not the average soft drink when I took the first mouthful.The taste was not unpleasant. I liked it. First there's the flavor, and then there is the experience. To paraphrase a certain son of Gondor, "One doesn't simply drink Flamin' Hot Mountain Dew," one must experience it.

The flavor is akin to Orange Crush with a vague suggestion of something picante. The experience arrives when the concoction contacts the back of the mouth--as it often does when one attempts to swallow the liquid mystery. The beverage washes back like a gentle, orange-flavored tide--containing a spiny sea urchin and two enraged lionfish. The urchin and lionsfish plunge their deadly weaponry into the soft and tender flesh at the rear of my mouth. The deadly attack--for it can be nothing but a violent, premeditated attack upon the most vulnerable portion of the oral cavity--compels a reaction. My reaction was a violent coughing fit which spewed dew across the expanse of my desk and beyond. 

I must surmise that the chemical compound, the mysterious melange, had become a living substance and sought to escape by murdering the would-be consumer. Notwithstanding the fact that a prudent man would have ceased consumption at that point, I became more determined to prove my mastery over the liquid. The first few trials concluded in the same manner as the first. However, each time, finding that I was still alive, and that more beverage remained, I persevered. By the time the can was half-empty my fortitude began to pay off. My body had become immune to the vociferous attacks. I drank the rest of the contents with pleasure.

I presume that you can guess what I did with the rest of the cans in the case. I drank them--and bought 4 more cases. Any drink that makes me feel like I've just won a fight for survival is a winner for me. Seriously, I did. Flamin' Hot makes a great mixer with pineapple coconut Body Armor and the Exposed Aloe drink. I must admit that the three-beverage mixture lacks the deadly attack of the straight stuff, but I relish it.

So how could this duel with the Dew be the cause of my affliction? I don't know; it's just a theory. Nevertheless, the malady has motivated me to fix the dryer (twice--which is another tale), spray weeds, install a new battery in the motorcycle, change the oil, change the coolant, repair a pipe, and cut my hair--all in a window of a few days, and the account of any one of which would make for an entertaining blog post (except for the hair cut, there's no story there). I guess near-death experiences can change a person.

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I expect to begin the final round of editing on In Death Bedrenched next week. I have a few super, advance readers who are finishing their editorial recommendations.

I've also had an idea that may be another novel or a series of short stories featuring the protagonist from my noir detective novel Smoke. Of course, I still have to finish book 5 in the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire series before I can start writing that one -- but that doesn't mean I can't do research for it.

 

Author Interview with 

Crystal Cherie 

Author of The Divine Houses series 

Please tell me a little about your current work in progress.

My current WIP is book 2 of my newest, Modern Fantasy series, The Divine Houses. After everything that’s happened in book 1, Robin thought life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're only half human, your best friend is dead, and you can suddenly control the power of life and death? I’m really excited for this particular book, and I like the series a little more with each book that I write.

(I note that since Crystal responded to this interview in October 2021, she has completed book 2 and is working on book 3)

Where did you get the idea for this book or series?

I got the idea for the series based on a character I had dreamed up in my head for a while. I also combined a couple of my favorite fiction worlds: Harry Potter and Sailor Moon. I’d always wanted to write a story involving both magical realism and celestial things, because they both felt like good escapes for me.

Do you write in more than one genre?

I absolutely do, although most of my work falls in either the Fantasy or Paranormal genres.

Tell me about something that you believe makes your writing unique or worthy of attention.

I think my stories have the added advantage of being written by someone who has been through some pretty uncommon, pretty hard things in real life. Therefore, I’m able to write things from a more realistic perspective that most people haven’t had to see—but can still relate to.

Is there anything about your personal history or personality that manifests strongly in your writing?

Lots of things! My writing is cathartic, and I use it to “purge” from the hard things I’ve had to face in life. Most of my readers will see a lot of things about death in my writing, and that’s because I’ve dealt with a lot of death. I don’t tend to write about abuse as often, though—even having been through it. I don’t think I’m to the point where I can write about that just yet.

Still, I do think a lot of my personality shows up in my writing through voice. I tend to do stream of consciousness at times, and that’s more a reflection of how I handle my somewhat neurodivergent thinking.

What else would be helpful for readers to know about you?

Helpful to know about me? I’m not sure. But I’m a thirty-something human being who put a lot of time, energy, and education into doing what I love better. I love sweet tea and cats and dogs. I like niche things that are hard to get just right—like the perfect shade of mint, evenings, and fall. There’s no such thing as a “cookie-cutter” life. Real life has jagged edges, and I like to try and mimic that in my works.

Excluding your own work, what underrated author or book would you recommend that more people read? Why?

I’m not sure if she counts as underrated, but I don’t often hear people talking about her. So, I’ll suggest Jude Watson (Judy Blundell). Premonitions was the first novel I ever “binged”. I stayed up reading all night, and it was truly the first time I fell in love with the craft of writing.

Which of your books do you most highly recommend? Why?

I recommend House of Pluto most, because with it being my newest book, I feel it’s the most well written. I love all of my stories and their characters, but I feel we only grow as time passes. There are techniques I know now that I didn’t know then. It makes for a better story.

Which break, event, decision, or fortuitous circumstance has helped you or your writing career the most?

I think getting my publicist, Michael Evan, has helped me tremendously. Investing in my writing has opened new doors for me and pushed me to continue writing things I might never have finished otherwise.

What question do you wish you would get asked more often?

I wish people would ask more about music and writing. I often put the two hand-in-hand, and I always have something I’m listening to for each book, sometimes for each chapter.

Do you have a catch-phrase or quote that you like? What is it? And why do you choose it?

I’m fond of this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson:

“The gods we worship write their names on our faces; be sure of that. And a man will worship something... That which dominates will determine his life and character. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping, we are becoming.”

I pick this one, because out of all the quotes and clever sayings I’ve seen over the years, this one is the most profound to me—the truest to mankind. If we’re claimed by what we worship, then who has us?

Here's a link to Crystal's Website

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Thanks to Crystal for participating.

In my own writing, I have finished In Death Bedrenched -- finished in the sense that I have it out for review and criticism. My active newsletter subscribers have the secret link to access the book for those purposes. Everyone else can checkout the draft of the first chapter at my website here.

In Death Bedrenched is a prequel to the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire series. Book 5 of that series is currently in progress. What is the series about? Excellent question. Let me ramble. Suppose there were dragons in the new world, but they mysteriously departed to the western mountains in the early 1600s. Much of the settlement of the New World went in the manner of our own history. Add the Vikings who established at least one lasting settlement on the St. Lawrence. The natives remain formidable adversaries but have a history which includes dragons. It's 1775 and the dragons have returned. The American colonists fight for liberty. Opportunists struggle for the power offered by the dragons. The natives are beset on all sides, and some are under the control of dragons. 

A legendary cache of dragon magic and the map to its location is at the center of Threading the Rude Eye, the first book in the series. Alex and Lucette, and the dragon hunters must thread the rude eye of rebellion as their course, or rather flight from the dark commander who already wields a wad of the dragon magic, takes them into the maelstrom of the revolution and the battle of Bunker Hill. 

In Book 2, Power to Hurt, a whole lot of hurting takes place as the setting for some of the heroes has moved into the wilderness where the natives and the dragons serve party invitations--for parties with no survivors (think "Hotel California" meets Last of the Mohicans). Fortunately, Lucette has found allies--or has she? The dark commander may not be the most pressing problem for our heroes. Rip and Antonio have a secret mission to rescue Washington.

In Book 3, Clamorous Harbingers, Alex's decisions take a toll upon him and those he holds dear. An adversary who may prove unstoppable forces Alex to the breaking point. The race for the cache draws villains and heroes alike. The climactic clash could determine the future of the continent. Everyone involved will be forever changed by the result.

In Book 4, Promise of Carnage and Flame, the aftermath of the great clash, and personal secrets divide the adventurers, The tide of war has turned against the patriots. Alex is forced to make unthinkable choices, the consequences of which will burden him like a millstone. The misfits, Iago and Atu, discover a new people--in the same sense that a captive discovers his captors. The diminutive Iago faces dangers of more than one kind on the way to a new destiny. Another hero pays a tremendous price to achieve something that is worth even that great price.

As for Book 5 (in progress and not yet titled), I can only say that this may be the most exciting entry in the series so far.

The series' biggest fan did tell me today that he also wants a sequel to The Shrinking Zone, and of course, he wants Book 5 ready as soon as possible, and he's anxious to get his hands on In Death Bedrenched. I love it when fans want more. It's a win-win.

 

It wasn't 1814, but I took a little trip along with my wife down the mighty freeway.

We didn't take bacon and we didn't take beans, and we caught our daughter in a town that wasn't New Orleans.

We had a delightful time with the daughter as she made an important life-step with the assistance of some awesome folks. On the way home, we almost witnessed a freeway crash. A short distance ahead of our car was a big white truck--like a furniture truck. We were slowly gaining on the truck. A lone male driving an older white car came roaring up on our tail and passed us. Our car was a few seconds away from the point when I would move over to start my own maneuver. 

The old white car, instead of continuing on to pass the truck, jerked back toward the right lane. With two wheels, and half the car over the dotted line, and the odometer on his life expectancy rapidly clicking toward termination, the driver must have looked up or otherwise realized that he was about to adopt the rear end of the truck as his headstone. He swerved back to the left, hit the brakes, and dropped in behind the truck.

I passed both vehicles. The old car took the next exit. I suspect the driver had some clean up to take care of.

Of course we had more nice experiences--like planting peppers and tomatoes with the mighty fisherman of a previous epic entry, moving "organ toppers" with fisherman's spawn, hiking among the red rock, and eating at a variety of places with daughter--but I don't have the inclination to tell about that. So here's a picture of some ornamentation from a park.

On the writing front: I'm still looking for recruits for my Skirmishers. Sign-up by clicking on the Newsletter tab at the top of the page and responding to the call in my newsletter. In Death Bedrenched is about to go out to the Skirmishers, my advance readers, so don't delay. 

I''m pleased to have a couple more book ideas on which I'm anxious to start. One, will be a weekly project about a warrior-king. The other involves the moon, and will have to wait until book 5 in the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire series is finished later this year. The moon idea will continue to incubate until then--or I'll forget about it. The idea came to me while reading this:

As for the book itself, I think it's standard Heinlein. The heroes are competent (or trying to become so), driven men who will not be dissuaded from their goal. They overcome long odds and the voices of dissent. I was struck by the lack of descriptive detail in both tales. I try to run my descriptions on the lean side so that the movie in the reader's head can color the unimportant and supporting details according to their whim, but in these novels description was almost non-existent. Powerful story-telling eschews descriptions of every blade of grass, every cloud, every dish on the table, every speck on the wall, and, most importantly, every thread of women's clothing. Although I might have preferred more description in these tales, I would rather a piece of fiction suffer from too little rather than too much description. I feel the same way about commas--unless, I've, chosen, to make, a foray, into Shatner land.

Lastly, I've completed my vidangel watch of Outer Range. I started with high hopes. By the end, I was pretty "meh." The main problem with the show is that everyone is insane. There are no normal people in this show. Everyone makes stupid decisions, and compounds the problems with more stupid decisions and rash actions. I don't know if I'll even care by the time another season comes out, if it ever does.

 

Interview with Kimberly Hennessey 

Author of She Runs with Wolves 

Please tell me a little about your current work in progress.

I’m working on several things, namely three screenplays, some copywriting, and finally a sequel to my novel She Runs With Wolves, which will most likely be the conclusion of the two part Saga, as well as a pet project close to my heart, which I’m writing under a pen name. It’s a historical fiction set in the 1800’s between Ireland and Canada.

Where did you get the idea for this book or series?

Several things sparked this book, but I would have to say the main driving force has always been Albert Einstein’s quote: “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”

This quote inspired me to build a world that was as though we were living during the paleolithic age, but with remnants of a technologically advanced society. I was very much inspired by “Mad Max”, and “Quest for Fire.” The main difference was that instead of a desert scene I would be inspired by my harsh Canadian Winters.

 

Do you write in more than one genre?

Yes, I’ve always loved dystopia, scifi, and historical fiction is almost like the flip side of that same coin. It’s a time and place I can only dream of, and I’m just bouncing back and forth on that same timeline. That’s if you believe time is linear ;)_

 

Tell me about something that you believe makes your writing unique or worthy of attention.I

 started my writing career as a screenwriter. I’m always looking for that angle, that element that gives my story a twist. Up until now, I often have surprise endings, which I’m slowly teaching myself that that isn’t always necessary for a story to be good. So far, however I’ve been that gal.

 

Is there anything about your personal history or personality that manifests strongly in your writing?

Yes, I’m a rather direct, no fluff writer. My writing is lean, and concise and plot driven, again something that harkens back to scripts, but I would argue that I’m also a little bit like that in real life. I’m not the most diplomatic person. I’m rather blunt and I think people that appreciate that sort of writing, like reading my stories.

 

What else would be helpful for readers to know about you?

I wish I wasn’t always that dark and gloomy writer, but it is what it is. I’m attracted to drama, chaos, and total mayhem. I love death and destruction. Perhaps it’s my background in psychology, but I find my characters often must go down the rabbit hole. A dark descent into madness.

 

Excluding your own work, what underrated author or book would you recommend that more people read? Why?

I love the classics, and they’re not underrated but one book that is often overlooked in favor of Robinson Crusoe is Moll Flanders by Daniel Dafoe. It’s an incredible read, and so vivid, especially in this day and age of the #metoo movement.

Another great author, that I read whenever she puts a book out is Carol Goodman. Her murder mysteries are delicious.

 

Which of your books do you most highly recommend? Why?

I only have the one. I recommend it to people who love to be transported, and discover another world with lots of twists and turns. If you like AI, tribal history, and unexpected endings, then you might enjoy my book.

Which break, event, decision, or fortuitous circumstance has helped you or your writing career the most?

After completing my MA in screenwriting and producing I had an amazing, supportive team that encouraged my writing and my ideas. I think having those people believe in my really drove my ambition towards writing a full length novel.

What question do you wish you would get asked more often?

I wish people that strive to become authors knew how much work it was to get here. It took me fifteen years to learn the craft of writing, and three years to write this book. To get here, there is a lot of sacrifice and determination. Granted I took a lot of left turns, but I got here eventually. You just have to put in the work and not give up.

Do you have a catchphrase or quote that you like? What is it? And why do you choose it?

I call myself the Slow Writer because I’m slow to put out work. Although it might appear obnoxious to use my own catch phrase, I do like to use it, because in this day and age everything is so fast and it’s hard to keep up. I get down on myself for not being able to compete and write fast, and I can’t imagine I’m the only one feeling the pressure.

I like to use it to remind myself and others that there is a movement out there telling us it’s okay to take your time and enjoy life, enjoy the craft, and enjoy the process.

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Thanks to Kimberly for participating.

In my own writing, the draft of In Death Bedrenched, the prequel to my Tomahawks and Dragon Fire series, is complete. It will go out to advance readers after I've had a chance to go over it once more. If you would like to be an advance reader, read on:

 I'm in search of an elite team of fearless fighters who can boldly advance to the forefront of the conflict and engage in the battle-before-the-battle. I'm looking for recruits for my Skirmishers who would like to read and provide feedback on complete novels or parts thereof before the works are published--to read where no man has read before (except me of course).

To see about getting on the team, sign-up for my newsletter here and watch for your invitation to enlist in the Skirmishers. 

 

I recently came into possession of something unusual. At least I've never seen anything like it before.

I note that it says "Survival Cracker" not "...Crackers" -- At 18 pounds, I'm wondering if I can get the cracker out of the can. I don't see a "best used by" date, but it was sealed in mid 1964. The contents are older than most of the people with whom I associate. I should work this object and the mystery contents into a story.

Until I feel inclined to create such a story, enjoy the excerpt below from the rough draft of In Death Bedrenched, the prequel to Tomahawks and Dragon Fire series. The prequel shows how Lucette obtained the map, how the commander obtained his dragon stone, and how they both got to the opening of Threading the Rude Eye.

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“Tell me about this cache,” Gavrel broke in. “We don’t need a lesson in geography, war, or troop strengths. We need a weapon. If we cannot stand against this mysterious commander the English have sent, we will be destroyed, sooner rather than later. Does the cache exist?”

Another man echoed, “Does it exist?”

Amid a ripple of murmurs, all eyes turned to Dampierre.

He said, “To come to a point, I don’t know. Both Chevalier Lagardere and I have ancestors who sailed with Cartier. It was rumored that he had a map to this cache of treasure, of power, of—dare I say—magic. He left something with my ancestor. I have found it among my ancestor’s prized possessions which have been handed down for the generations which separate us. I hold it here.”

Dampierre held up a small oval object. It was flat, black, and pointed on both ends. “I find nothing written upon it. His papers made reference to it only as something which Cartier felt significant. What, precisely, warranted this significance, I have been unable to determine. You may examine it for yourselves.”

Dampierre passed the stone to the gentleman at his right. Each man took the object, examining it and passing it on as Dampierre continued.

“Although my ancestor neglected to elaborate upon the significance of this small stone, he did leave a writing with regard to the cache.”

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