M. Duda's Blog: The Cryo-Freeze II, page 11

Flickering Candles (Part 6 of The Beast of T’hal Kyun)

It was the old man that had greeted me at the city gates. He hunched in a leather chair, staring at the wall and babbling nonsense to himself, "Was it right? Should I have? Of, course I should have." His withered fingers tightly clutched something in his right hand.

Creative Exploration – Talking About Yourself

This is a difficult one for many artists, but absolutely important when interacting with people.

All In: A USMC Veteran’s Review Site

It's been a pleasure for me to visit his blog. His book reviews are to the point. He reads for the pleasure of enjoying a book.

“M. Duda Books” Page Revised

While it's too soon to begin talking about the novel, the serialized stories continue on. I hope to write a new episode every few weeks. You can find the first five parts of The Beast of T’hal Kyun listed and linked. It's an ongoing homage to H.P. Lovecraft and similar authors.

The Empty Room (Continues The Beautiful Creature)

The clay-plastered bedroom seem to be filled with an unnerving air. My eyelids lifted and my pupils focused. A light wind passed through a nearby window, riling gauze curtains into a twisting dance. A tapping noise sounded somewhere outside the closed room’s door. When I sat up, the symbols that marked the four walls faded into the wall itself.

Perhaps, the vanishing symbols were a trick of the late afternoon sun. I frowned.

“Your brave adventurer is awake,” I said to no one. And no one answered me. The tapping noise continued.

I pushed up from the bed. My naked body still ached as I stood up: Several deep cuts caused by the encounter with the jungle beast had not fully healed. I wobbled for a second and my feet protested about the cold stone floor. But I maintained my balance and hobbled over to the wall with the bedroom door.

The symbols had vanished. I rubbed my hand along the wall’s surface, only feeling gritty clay.

The tapping outside continued: tap-tap-tap. It was coming from just outside.

“Is that you? Are you teasing me?” I said. I smiled as if someone on the other side might know that I meant no harm in my questions.

The only response was the repeating blows. A light, metallic sound struck about every second.

I looked around the useless room. There was no tray of food left here for me. There was no dresser that could hold the clothes I had been wearing. There was only a bed with rumpled sheets. I’d have to leave these four walls if I was to find some personal attire and something to eat.

I frowned, again. But I worked up the nerve to open the door. Just outside in the hall and resting on a display table, it was the most grotesque thing I had ever seen.

A gilded beast statuette coupled with a silver woman bearing ruby eyes. A forked tongue licked her long neck. His claws sank into her back and arms. An enormous erection thrust into her, again and again. Tap-tap-tap. But instead of appearing terrified, the woman's mouth opened wide into a moaning ecstasy.

In front of this disturbing artwork’s base, a placard stood folded. “For you,” was written in black ink. I swallowed hard, but I looked down and spotted some clothes resting by the table’s legs. I lifted my head and reached for the placard, hoping to see if anything else was written on the stiff, cream-colored paper.

The gilded beast stopped moving.

-M. Duda

Author’s note: This is a continuation of “The Beautiful Creature.”

The Empty Room

The clay-plastered bedroom seem to be filled with an unnerving air. My eyelids lifted and my pupils focused. A light wind passed through a nearby window, riling gauze curtains into a twisting dance. Tapping noises sounded somewhere outside the closed room's door. When I sat up, the symbols that marked the four walls faded into the wall itself.

Creative Exploration – Know Your Variables

This week I wanted to talk about the importance of knowing what you can change within a project.

Grim’s Giveaway

10 lucky winners will receive a Kindle version of Deny the Father. Good luck!

From Grim to Yours

Twinkling lights. A warm fire. Loved ones nearby. To you and yours, have a happy holiday.

Creative Exploration – Topple Creative Blocks

This week I wanted to talk about a few ways to overcome creative blocks and rebuilding momentum.