Travelin'

 

We traveled through a sea of corn and soybean plants, the prow of our craft plowing the rolling waves of verdure. Mile after mile of lush growth surrounded us as far as the eye could see. To be honest, we couldn't see very far because the corn tended to be taller than the windows of the little white ship in which we sailed.

We were off to the Midwest, crossing Wyld-oming, a Nebrask, and the Wa of Io to traverse the mighty Mrs. Ippi into the Illinois country to Carthage and Nauvoo. We book-ended the tour with jails -- from which we were released on our good looks and charm (or perhaps encouraged to leave with all possible speed would be more accurate).

Everything was interesting, and the sites, along with the company, helped to remind me that there are more important things than concerts and cruises, shows and shops, and so forth. If families are forever, both family and forever deserve our attention in daily allotments. 

We had wild nights of pulse-pounding cribbage games--yes, we live life in the fast lane with no guard rail. Some were run-away affairs and others came down to crucial one point nail-bitters. For the record, I think I came out ahead at 4 wins to the 3 wins by the other players. I left my contact solution at a previous hotel, but our hotel that night at Keokuk was in the Walmart parking lot, so I was able to run over and pick up a small bottle 10 minutes before it closed. I had believed that Walmarts were open 24/7, but that one was closing at 11.

The stories in the car were a high point. The patriarch told of his motorcycle trip at 15 across Idaho into Wyoming, which included a rain storm, a flat tire, a broken spark plug, and an accidental death. There was the time he wore a girl's swimming suit, the incident of the blasting cap in the fireplace, and many more. We even got a few of the stories recorded.

On the ox-cart ride in Nauvoo, we learned that oxen pull so slowly that it may be faster to lay on one's belly and breaststroke across the prairie. The performing missionaries were particularly fun and we had a nice visit with a few of them after one of their performance. Unfortunately, we missed what was supposed to be the best performance that involved all 30 of them because it was moved back an hour and we were out of time. We took a wagon ride behind a team of Percherons and enjoyed the tour. If I have the choice to travel by ox or Percheron, unless it's to my death, I'll choose the latter. We visited Browning's gun shop and a few other places. All of the folks giving the tours were well informed and exemplary hosts for the brief time that we were their guests. The guide at Carthage jail enhanced the tale by walking through the motions in the upper room as he related the story of mob attack, the death of Hiram, wounding of John Taylor, and Joseph's shooting and falling from the window.

I made a command decision to take the detour to Missouri to see Liberty jail. We got there just before closing and the guide took pity on us to take us on the tour. Another win for our triple attack of good looks, wit, and charm -- or an example of the kindness of the folks who do those tours.

I was disappointed that Mound City, MO, doesn't actually contain any mound builder sites, and that I came so close to Cahokia without realizing it and going to see the place. Everything else has to go in the win category for this trip--except, I just remembered, for the breaded pork chop sandwich at the Casey's gas and convenience store in Nauvoo. There's a reason the item is entirely concealed in wrap; even the ketchup and swiss cheese I added could not redeem the hardened shingle between two slices of bun. On the other hand, the Nashville chicken wings at the Maverick station in Rock Springs, Wyoming had exactly the right amount of spice to make me want more. -- You can see that we patronized only the finest dining establishments. I particularly enjoyed some small powdered donuts of a brand with which I was not familiar from a gas station in Missouri where the clerk recognized the Boise State Bronco logo on the patriarch's hat. When we picked up a bag of a familiar brand of similar items the next day near Brigham City, Utah, the clerk congratulated us on our "healthy" breakfast choice. I stared into her green eyes and noted that we refused to compromise when it comes to nutrition.

Those are the highlights of the 2023 trip, our third annual celebration of sharing the same name.

Elizabeth Morris

 Interview with Elizabeth Morris

Author of:

The Blood of The Beast Series

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

My current work in progress is the third installment of my Blood of the Beast series. The title will be Return of the Ambush and will have the same characters as the previous books but also some new characters. My current book is my favorite to write so far and I’m looking forward to it’s release when the time comes.

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

I got the idea for this series from a dream. I had a dream that I was my main character shapeshifting into a tiger, and I started writing down ideas for a world of shapeshifters. I get a lot of influence from traveling and going on nature walks.

Do you write in more than one genre?

No, I stick to fantasy. I would like to attempt to write a romance book in the future as well as a children’s book.

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

I believe that my strongest and most unique qualities in my writing is the dialogue. My editor says that the dialogue is the best part of my books and I agree with him. I like to have my characters talk as if they were normal humans even though they are half animal.

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

My whole personality is manifested into my main character Kira. She is me in a sense of who I want myself to be. She is strong, sincere and sarcastic which I strive to be like that. I like to put a variation of my personal history into my novels. I feel like if I write an emotional scene then it comes from the heart and makes the story feel more authentic.

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

I have Schizophrenia, a disorder where you have different types of hallucinations. I am medicated for it and I am doing well to manage it. I do sometimes hear voices (like my characters voices) and I believe that it helps my writing a little bit because I can get into the head of my characters easily.

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

I am currently reading my friends book called The Wandering Order: Autumn Light by C. J. Hahne. I recommend it highly if you like fantasy worlds and fantastic world building. I love the story so far and I’m about halfway done with it.

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

I recommend my second book Rise of the Rebels because there’s so much happening to the characters and one of my favorite and best emotional scenes happens in this book. I love what I did with the plot as well as the dialogue. My first book is good but I love my second book better.

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

I recently participated in a book festival in my local town, and it was fantastic. I think it helped me boost sales and got more people interested in my books. I would love to do that again next year and maybe I’ll have my third book ready by then.

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

I wish I would get asked “How do you develop your characters?” more often. I love good character development and I do a lot of research into animals and base their characteristics off of my characters.

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

“You’re losing it Kira. You’re a Tiger. You weren’t made to be locked up.” This quote from my second book is a good example of when my main character is going through something emotionally. Here she is locked up in a room and she’s talking to herself trying to figure out how to escape. I love that she realizes that she wasn’t made for cages and goes crazy. 

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Thanks to Elizabeth for participating in the interview.

My own update: I was interviewed at N3F in IONISPHERE MAGAZINE-- my interview starts on page 11 of the issue.

Also, my newsletter will include the second paragraph for the story started last month. I had some great submissions for the proposed second paragraph, so it wasn't an easy choice. You can sign up for my newsletter here to keep up on the continuing story and to contribute a paragraph of your own.
 

Pirate Rembrandt

 

 I wrote another short story this week, which has nothing to do with the picture above. My story is a stab at a humorous western horror story. I like the main characters enough that I may feature more stories with them--provided they survive. I finished under the word count, so I can go back and make corrections and perhaps add some helpful details.

___________

As for the image above, it was supposed to be a well known actor as a pirate done in the style of Rembrandt but it looks more like Rembrandt as a pirate, in my opinion. He seems to be a little disgusted. I can't tell whether his ire arises from being forced to sit for the painting or from the fact that he tortured the captain, officers, and women aboard the last prize, and they still refused to divulge anything of significant value.

"This is another fine mess you've gotten us into, Mr. Vermeer."

"Don't worry, Remmy, old boy, I've got a plan. The Spanish have ships absolutely loaded to the gills with treasure. We'll take the good ship and crew to the Caribbean, lay hands on a couple prizes loaded with doubloons and pieces of eight, maybe even  pieces of ten or twelve, and retire to our own island in the south seas. You can paint to your heart's delight."

"You almost persuade me to cut off an ear, but I think I'll work on perfecting my chiaroscuro techniques instead. As for you, do you think much about that girl with the pearl earring you tossed overboard?"

__________

Because I wrote a short story, I didn't get any writing done on book 6. I'm at an event in the tale that I had only vaguely foreseen, and I'm trying to work out how to write it--except I'm writing short stories instead. There's a satisfaction that comes with finishing a short story--like finishing a book--and it doesn't take so long to get from start to finish--especially as compared to a multi-book series.

The Riders (1)

 

 

 The clouds in the summer sky burned in the red-orange rage of a dispossessed sun crashing below the horizon. The dark hills--recumbent silhouette--shielded the landscape from the final fury of the sinking disk. Seven riders passed along a narrow trail away from the shadow and into the flat expanse separating them from the village. Sharp noses and the harsh lines of many campaigns marked their faces. Neither kindness, mercy, nor remorse found place in the experience etched in their features.

(The Riders - To be continued)

_________________

I wrote a short story this week and therefore didn't get any writing done on Book 6. 

I'm still getting kind words on the talk I gave last week. Comments included: "It was amazing" and "It made me cry." -- I'm hoping that last one was meant in a good way. I've learned it was referred to on the youth activity, but I don't know whether the context was "don't do that" or "see, anyone can give a meaningful talk with a little effort." All that means that whenever I give another talk, there's little chance that it will measure up to that one. I have nowhere to go but down.

In other news, I have confirmed that WD-40 does have cleansing properties in addition to its lubrication and penetration abilities. I used some on the sides of the motorbike where the black panels had become dulled with I-don't-know-what. They look much better.

The first two books in the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire Series remain at 99 cents a piece for the time being.

Dragons and Badgers

 

 

 

 Ideas vie with one another like battling dragons in the ether. Or, another bad metaphor: Life is like the box for Schrodinger's cat, except it's full of angry badgers--which may be redundant because all badgers are angry, aren't they?-- and the box has a tear in it. It's only a matter of time before one or more of the live one comes scrambling out to demand attention.

First: At last chapter 21 is complete. What had been chapter 19 has been pushed to chapter 22, because once the writing begins, it must take a certain course to completion. Characters have to do what they have to do, and in their particular way and method. There are several balls in the air in book 6 of the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire Series, and sometimes the timing of the telling of each thread is relevant to the telling of the others. Meanwhile, we can't leave any thread cold too long or the reader will have forgotten the elements of the tension in that story line. I know where it's all going, but there are blank spots along the way to be filled in when I get there.

Second: The talk today went even better than I could've expected. The gentleman who spoke before me delivered a poignant talk that led into my subject, even though we had not consulted before hand. The wonderful poem he recited to begin his talk fit perfectly with my planned discourse. I was up late last night writing the talk from ideas I had been gathering for a at least a couple weeks. There were no casualties, and more than the usual number of folks commented on how much they appreciated the two talks. Although those words of praise and appreciation shouldn't matter, we all know that they do, and the way we feel about the discourse is affected by the feedback we receive. I'm grateful for all those who took the time and effort to convey those expressions.

Third: Can I write a short story? and get feedback from my team? and polish it for submission all within a week? I only found out in the last couple days about a call for short stories. The time is pretty tight, and I don't think any of the short stories I have in my portfolio quite fit the details of the call. I'll have to write fast. That reminds me of the meme I saw that said, "Being a writer is cool because it's like always having homework and then you die." I only managed a single paragraph yesterday as I used most of the time researching for the setting. I had two or three in mind, but discarded them in favor of something I had just learned about that morning.

There's a fourth, fifth, and sixth, but I haven't got the time to go into any more, and you would soon lose interest in reading about it all.

Both Threading the Rude Eye and Power to Hurt (links at the top of the page) are only 99 cents each. This is a great time to get them.

Jay S. Willis

 

Interview with Jay S. Willis 

Author of

The Sphere Saga and The Arcana Chronicles

 

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

I am currently working on Order of the Sphere which is the first book of the second trilogy of my Epic Fantasy Sphere Saga series. This book introduces a new Point of View character who will shed light upon part of the world which has not been explored in depth. Order picks up after the conclusion of the first trilogy and follows the rebuilding of the city of Kaharna after the establishment of a new government after the theocratic apparatus which had been in power for three millennia was toppled.

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

The Sphere Saga began with a piece of digital artwork called Sunset Mood that featured a beautiful massive golden sphere in the middle of a city. It captivated me and I couldn’t stop pondering why the Sphere was there and what purpose it served. The story sprouted from there. Once I decided what purpose the Sphere served the story of a world attempting to suppress magic in order to prevent a second magical apocalypse fell into place.

Do you write in more than one genre?

I generally write Fantasy but dabble in Science Fiction.

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

In my Sphere Saga books the perils of Magic, Faith, and religious zealotry faced by the people of Legacia mirror many of the international problems we face today in the middle of a global pandemic; fractured families, strained political rivalries, and an ultimate threat to humanity’s very existence. Magic has always enthralled me and all my stories revolve around magic in some form. I endeavored to create a magic system which not only evokes wonder but also presents some provocative concepts to make my readers think and question. The conflicts and issues addressed in the Sphere Saga are all cloaked in shades of grey. Balance is the ideal. Moral absolutes are dangerous.

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

The Sphere Saga is heavily influenced by The Wheel of Time, The Mistborn books, and far too many other stories that have impacted me through my life. Magic plays a role in all my writing but The Sphere Saga revolves around the Magic System which drives all facets of life on this world. Planning Legacia stemmed from an amalgamation of my love of reading Fantasy throughout my life and from my college education. My undergraduate degree in History and Political Science with a heavy emphasis on Medieval Europe and my Juris Doctor degree from Law School provided me with an extensive array of knowledge. In college I completed Independent Studies on The History of Magic and The History of The Spanish Inquisition and I had an abiding interest in mythology and religion. Legacia developed as the culmination of my real world education, years of enjoying Fantasy and speculative fiction, and many years of playing Dungeons & Dragons.

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

I’m an attorney for over 25 years and have worked in almost every facet of the legal system from Defense Attorney, to Magistrate, Judge, and now as an Assistant Prosecutor. On a more personal level, I love boardgames.

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

Ghost Rider by Neil Peart. The lyricist and drummer for Rush wrote a travelogue which chronicled his long motorcycle journey which allowed him to heal and come to terms with the death of his wife and daughter. It’s a poignant story written by a brilliant honorable man able to to survive great tragedy in his life.

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

Dawn of the Sphere which is the second book in the first Sphere Saga trilogy. That book is chronologically set three-thousand years prior to the events of Dream of the Sphere and War of the Sphere. Dawn of the Sphere chronicles the lives of the three most powerful mages in the world and how they cause The Conflagration, the magical apocalypse which almost destroys the world. Axamar, Lornai, and Vrom and their relationships with one another are at the very heart of the entire series.

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

In 2015 I was working through one of David Farland’s online classes struggling with revisions on early drafts of Dream of the Sphere. I decided to go to Gen Con in Indianapolis that year to attend the Writer’s Symposium and spent a few days with David Farland in person at his lecture series. That trip spawned my Middle Grade/Teen book Blood is Thicker than Magic. Walking away from Dream of the Sphere to write another book from start to finish allowed me to develop my writing skills and better hone my craft. In hindsight, I recognized that I wasn’t yet ready to complete the first trilogy in my Sphere Saga and do it justice. Had I not allowed myself time and distance and worked on my writing craft I never would have been able to complete the Sphere Saga books.

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

What’s music has influenced you the most?

 

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

Perhaps the most important quote from my Sphere Saga series is “Magic is Life.” Without offering too much detail and avoiding spoilers, that phrase is part of the fundamental core of the entire series on several levels. I love reading and writing about magic and my worldbuilding for the Sphere Saga revolves around the magic.

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Thanks to Jay for participating.

I received a text from a friend today who said he was reading Smoke and that it was keeping him interested so far. The only other one of my books he has read is The Shrinking Zone, which he professed to enjoy. If he liked that, he'll love Smoke. Of course, if he wants serious adventure, he needs to get into the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire Series. 

Speaking of that series, the pace in Book 6 is picking up as the elements for the last act come together for the great clash, or series of clashes, as the case may be. The second major battle is lost and won. Although I purposefully avoided a detailed description of it, I did provide enough to justify a character's emergency action. It's interesting to question the decisions a general makes and deconstruct them to furnish a critical role for my fictional characters to play in the outcome of the historic drama.

Another AI Smoke image that doesn't quite make it -- unless its about dating androids and weird hands.