Keith B. Darrell's Blog, page 22
June 10, 2016
The Man in the Moon
I think I’ve figured out what’s wrong with our country. It can be summed up by today’s Huffington Post headline “Bernie Sanders Gives a Speech Divorced from Reality.” The writer can’t understand why Bernie Sanders is continuing to campaign in the Washington, DC primary after the media and prominent Democrats like President Obama have anointed Hillary Clinton as the presumptive Democratic nominee.
He glosses over the word “presumptive”. The fact is, there will be no Democratic nominee until on...
He glosses over the word “presumptive”. The fact is, there will be no Democratic nominee until on...
The Truth About eBay
I’ve been an eBay member since 1993 which, if you do the math, is 23 years – a good customer by any measure. However, I’ve informed eBay that I will no longer be doing business on it site. After you hear why, you may wish to take your business elsewhere as well.
I listed a collectible item for sale that was rapidly increasing in value due to anticipation about the premiere of a television show related to the item. This meant the greatest buyer interest was during the period immediately precedi...
June 8, 2016
Monkey Business
By now you’ve heard the tragic tale of Harambe, the mirror image of King Kong in the eyes of everyone but the men who shot and killed the gorilla. Where Kong was a rampaging beast, Harambe was, by all accounts, a gentle giant; where Kong was a mass of mindless fury, Harambe was a contemplative intellect. Kong grew up as a wild beast in the jungle, while Harambe lived his entire 17 years in captivity. Kong carried off the helpless woman Fay Wray; Harambe was peaceably residing in his own habit...
June 6, 2016
Once or Twice
An Excerpt from The Tomorrow Paradox (Book Two in The Adventures of Mackenzie Mortimer):
Alex turned off his headlights, as he approached the Simulacrum Institute. He parked under a large oak tree about 50 yards from the entrance. “I’ll wait here. Don’t waste time; find Brandy and bring her to the car. I brought a more powerful version of the scrambler I gave you before; it has a wide enough range to scramble their cameras and recording devices, so we won’t be leaving behind any evidence...
Alex turned off his headlights, as he approached the Simulacrum Institute. He parked under a large oak tree about 50 yards from the entrance. “I’ll wait here. Don’t waste time; find Brandy and bring her to the car. I brought a more powerful version of the scrambler I gave you before; it has a wide enough range to scramble their cameras and recording devices, so we won’t be leaving behind any evidence...
June 5, 2016
They Breathe, They Think, They Feel… They Suffer
An Excerpt from The Tomorrow Paradox (Book Two in The Adventures of Mackenzie Mortimer):
“Brandy, did you know your grandmother used a sample of your DNA to have a clone grown?” Mackenzie asked.
“Yes, Grandma explained that to me when I was a little girl. I always envisioned the clone existing inside a giant fluid-filled tank, hooked up to air hoses and tubes – an unconscious, nonsentient biological organism. Grandma likened it to a plant that lives and grows, yet is unaware of the world a...
“Brandy, did you know your grandmother used a sample of your DNA to have a clone grown?” Mackenzie asked.
“Yes, Grandma explained that to me when I was a little girl. I always envisioned the clone existing inside a giant fluid-filled tank, hooked up to air hoses and tubes – an unconscious, nonsentient biological organism. Grandma likened it to a plant that lives and grows, yet is unaware of the world a...
June 4, 2016
How Can You Be from the Past and Not Know Anything About It?
An Excerpt from The Tomorrow Paradox (Book Two in The Adventures of Mackenzie Mortimer):
Mackenzie sighed. “At least you’re safe, but we have to figure out a way to return the real Brandy and get you back to Mortimer Enterprises.”
Gemma pinched his cheek. “I miss you too, sweet cheeks. But I’ll be safe for now with Granny Carmichael. You’re the one in danger.”
“What do you mean?”
She pointed to Drake. “That hottie with half my DNA says he’s tracking a time traveler so his father can make an...
Mackenzie sighed. “At least you’re safe, but we have to figure out a way to return the real Brandy and get you back to Mortimer Enterprises.”
Gemma pinched his cheek. “I miss you too, sweet cheeks. But I’ll be safe for now with Granny Carmichael. You’re the one in danger.”
“What do you mean?”
She pointed to Drake. “That hottie with half my DNA says he’s tracking a time traveler so his father can make an...
June 3, 2016
I’m Just a Weak Girl
An Excerpt from The Tomorrow Paradox (Book Two in The Adventures of Mackenzie Mortimer):
A determined look crossed Gemma’s face. “The longer the crooks have to wait for the cops to meet their demands, the more bored and tired they’re going to get. I know what that’s like. They’ll let their guard down and we can rush them.”
“Brandy, don’t be silly. That’s too dangerous. You’re just a girl, and a weak one at that, recently out of the hospital. There’s no way you could overpower one of these...
A determined look crossed Gemma’s face. “The longer the crooks have to wait for the cops to meet their demands, the more bored and tired they’re going to get. I know what that’s like. They’ll let their guard down and we can rush them.”
“Brandy, don’t be silly. That’s too dangerous. You’re just a girl, and a weak one at that, recently out of the hospital. There’s no way you could overpower one of these...
June 2, 2016
Having My Sister’s Tongue in My Mouth Could Scar Me for Life
An Excerpt from The Tomorrow Paradox (Book Two in The Adventures of Mackenzie Mortimer):
Drake Bryant entered his half-sister Brandy’s bedroom. “You look chipper today. I bet you’re glad to be out of that hospital.”
Gemma gave him the once over. He must be Drake. She grinned. Whoever he is, he’s hot. “I couldn’t wait to break out,” Gemma deadpanned.
“You certainly dressed for the occasion. Is that a new outfit?”
Gemma beamed. “You noticed. I printed it yesterday. Do you like it?”
“Sure, but i...
Drake Bryant entered his half-sister Brandy’s bedroom. “You look chipper today. I bet you’re glad to be out of that hospital.”
Gemma gave him the once over. He must be Drake. She grinned. Whoever he is, he’s hot. “I couldn’t wait to break out,” Gemma deadpanned.
“You certainly dressed for the occasion. Is that a new outfit?”
Gemma beamed. “You noticed. I printed it yesterday. Do you like it?”
“Sure, but i...
June 1, 2016
The Walls Are Closing In
An Excerpt from The Tomorrow Paradox (Book Two in The Adventures of Mackenzie Mortimer):
Brandy paced back-and-forth across her new room at the Simulacrum Institute. Her bare feet marked off 12 paces from her cot to the farthest wall. She realized her bathroom at home was larger than her new living quarters. She longed for a window or even an unfamiliar face. Days earlier, Brandy could not have imagined a more confining incarceration than the Serenity Valley hospital. But at least her hos...
Brandy paced back-and-forth across her new room at the Simulacrum Institute. Her bare feet marked off 12 paces from her cot to the farthest wall. She realized her bathroom at home was larger than her new living quarters. She longed for a window or even an unfamiliar face. Days earlier, Brandy could not have imagined a more confining incarceration than the Serenity Valley hospital. But at least her hos...
May 31, 2016
Celebrate National Short Story Month with Shards: The Omnibus Edition
Did you know that May is National Short Story Month? Amber Book Company plans to celebrate by releasing a new volume of my short stories entitled Shards: The Omnibus Edition. Many of you know me from my social commentary posts appearing on my blog, while others are familiar with my young adult science fiction series The Adventures of Mackenzie Mortimer. Still others think of me as a novelist or epic storyteller, pointing to my four-book fantasy series Halos & Horns and my current ongoing...
