Michael Davies's Blog, page 2

Weekly Writing Prompt – Dark

They call it a light but I know better. It draws you, you see. Like a moth toward a flame. You think it’s inviting. There is hospitality. There is company.

But in reality there is only…

Adrasteia

 

“Within the flames of life we leave thee.

Great Adrasteia.

Great Adrasteia.

Within the flames of death we place thee.

Lost Leader.

Beloved Commander.

Within the heavens we pray Osenu greet thee.

Beloved Child.

Honored friend.”

Weekly Writing Prompt – Ducky

Ducky. We all had one as a child. Baths were unbearable without Ducky. They were more fun with him.

Now he sits in the car watching my child as she rides in the back seat. He has become another generations safety blanket.

Ducky goes everywhere. To grandmas. To mothers. To the mall, to Walmart.

But have you ever thought about why? Why do children need a safety blanket.

As teenagers we forget we can die. As adults we are aware but we’re so used to the word it doesn’t phase us. But to the child everything is new. There’s a big wide world out there and we need some reassurance.

It also makes things better if someone is along for the adventure. Ducky is that someone. It’s not just fear but companionship.

I think we also lose that as an adult – remembering the value of companionship where you always have someone who is with you through everything, thick and thin.

Ducky forever

Nothing without you by me

On lifes grand old road

— Memoirs of an adult —

Weekly Writing Prompt – Maze

((You’ve heard of the 7 day black and white photo challenge. A fellow author, who also happened to be a photographer, challenged me to tell an impromptu short story for every one he posted. That’s how this weekly writing prompt was born. Feel free to join in.)

I know, quotes are supposed to inspire, but after 36 years in this cell, all it does is tease. I imagine that this simple doodle is a map, a way out of solitary for this godforsaken soul, in this godforsaken prison, on this godforsaken island.

If so, I don’t even know how to get past “start.” And the switch? It is nothing but a joke. Perhaps at one time is controlled a source of light or warmth, but now it is yet another tantalising hope. A hope that never materialises. A mirage at best.

Every day I hear the clanking feet of my guards walk past the outside of my door. They never let me see their face. I hear the grind of metal against metal and a plate of food is shoved through a slot. Three other times a day a paper cup of water is also provided.

I have no hearings. There was no trial, so how can there be hearings without a trial? I had no lawyer to advise me.

I had only handcuffs, a blindfold and the clothes on my back. Clothes that left me long ago.

Every day I hear the clanking feet of my guards walk past the outside of my door. They never let me see their…face…except this day.

“Don’t flip the switch again.”

I can’t croak a response. 36 years of not speaking has left me hoarse.

“There’s no one left.”

I feel a cold tingling at the end of my spine…as the guard continues the tingle becomes an icy chill.

“Every flick kills another prisoner. There’s only you.”

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The Order of Azures

“One hundred arms were raised. One hundred spears flashed. One hundred voices raised in grief filled agreement.”

The Order of Azures will be introduced in the second installment of the World of Pangea trilogy.

Ancient warriors, the question remains whether their small number can really help against the evils of Shâgâh.

Weekly Writing Prompt

A friend of mine is an author, who’s also a photographer. His name’s Derek Smith. A while back that 7 photos in 7 day challenge was circling around Facebook. He decided to run with it and then asked me to use them as writing prompts and to create a short story based on the prompt.

I loved the idea. Due to time constraints these are very limited stories of only a few paragraphs. Most are designed to stand alone, although very occasionally you may see one or two connect.

They are not checked for grammar. You will probably find mistakes in them. Their purpose is not not to perfect, but to practice.

Will you join with me in writing your own short story based on the images of this photographer and author?

Week 1 – Ode To Cats

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If I had known, I would have tried it earlier.

If I had known there was such a thing.

As what, you say?

Well, let me start at the beginning.

We had run out of milk, or rather, I had just discovered it is apparently bad for cats to drink milk. So I set out to the store but passed a local market on the way.

There something caught my eye. A single booth advertising, amongst other things, Cats Drink. That was all it said. I was curious enough to read more so I stopped the car and approached the middle eastern seller.

It was then I noticed he was also selling lamps and carpets.

What an odd assortment.

He said the cats drink was the best there is and would satisfy the cat for ever.

I was not convinced but it was virtually free so I took it home and put it in Maggy’s bowl. She drank it and looked at me.

I looked back.

It was then that it happened and suddenly I was looking at myself and myself was looking at me.

It took me a few more moments to realise I was in fact, the cat.

So if you’re wondering why there’s not many selfies of me recently, well here’s one but you will never know.

Rom is waiting.

“Ancient as the sun rising over the hills of Undulai is Rom. Yet new as the dew gracing the fields each morning. Center of the free peoples, loving beauty and logic in equal measure; from this city has sprung both the art of war and the art of love. Guarding secrets in the depths and setting watchtowers upon the heights, without it the world we know and love would be a much different place.”

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I don’t have the time I used to have to write a novel. I used to find an hour here, an hour there. Even now, as I write this (In what was a 20 minute block) my toddler has walked up to the keyboard with her little toy dog and is talking to me.

But what I do have is time. Five minutes I used to idle away checking Facebook. Ten minutes playing a game. A few more minutes drinking coffee. I know can use this time, with the occasional free evening, to finish my second novel. So I am.

Stay tuned. Rom is waiting.

Once More

Some inspiration hit me last night. First poem in a while.

Once more unto the wars, they rode

Once more and none to aid them

Once more with bloodied swords in hand

Once more and none to save them

Once more they raised their voice and cried

For loved ones, lost ones, those who died

Once more they battled for the light

Once more into the shadowed land

Where hope is gone and all is night.

What’s Next?

An Open Letter To My Readers

A few months ago I received the news that my publisher won’t be publishing book 2 and 3 of the Pangea trilogy. It did not help that five minutes later I walked into an interview for a job I really wanted only to be told that the job was no longer available. Just a few weeks later I entered some months of emotional turmoil due to family issues. It knocked me for a spin. All of my writing came to a screeching halt. 

I don’t believe the publisher is publishing any books at present, they seem to have put a hold on things. Publishing can be time consuming and hard to make money with so I completely understand the decision. It still didn’t make me feel any better. 

I’ve spent the last few months gathering my thoughts and deciding on the best steps forward. 

Let me make clear that the trilogy will be completed, but what are the next steps?

1. I will be approaching new literary agents.

This may take some time but Inspire Fiction have agreed to release their images, copyright etc. to another publisher if one picks me up; I am now actively approaching literary agents and hoping for the best. Having the first book already published with between 500 – 1000 downloads does make this more tricky but I want to give it a try. I am aiming for larger publishers to get it in book stores, rather than smaller ones that make it available on just Amazon. 

2. If step 1 doesn’t work I will self publish

If I have no response from literary agents by Christmas then I will begin the road to self publishing in the new year. I have a good chunk of book 2 written (unedited) but I have put the writing on hold because any new publishing company may want to tweak the direction I am moving in. I would hate to do a complete re write. 

So all that to say, I will be publishing the second novel. It will at the very least be available on Amazon. I’m just sorry to say that you’re going to have to wait a little longer to read it.

For now though, I’ll stay in touch about the process and keep you informed. Thank you for your patience and your love for The World Of Pangea. 

Michael Davies

Update Coming Soon

I feel like I owe you, the readers, an update on the World of Pangea book 2. The last six months have been something of a roller coaster ride and I am penning an open letter to you all. So forgive my quietness as of late. You will be hearing from me more about Pangea in the future and I will have a very personal letter for you to read sooner rather than later. Stay tuned.

Michael