Cynthia A. Morgan's Blog, page 163

Scarlet – #DailyHaikuChallenge

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Silken Silence Sighs

Sweet Suspirations Singing

Scarlet Seduction

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To take part in the Daily Haiku Challenge see  The Original Post from Day One

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Day 325 / 365

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~Morgan~

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Beautiful Photograph found on Google.  Credit Gratefully Acknowledged to the Original Photographer. Thank You~

Filed under: Daily Haiku Challenge Tagged: Alliteration, Beautiful Photographs, BnV, BooknVolume, Nature, Poem, poetry, Poetry Blog, Silence, Writing Haiku, ~Morgan~

In The Lime Light – #AuthorInterview with Jan Gordon

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Today I am delighted to introduce you to fellow author Jan Gordon, who writes under the name Melanie Mole. Melanie grew up in a tiny village in the wonderful countryside in England. Long walks with her dogs in beautiful scenery and winding country lanes gave her time to think and dream. Most of the time dreaming of a future where her life would be as calm as both the countryside in which she walked, or how she felt when she read her treasured books.   Dreaming was something which came easily to Melanie. Very often her school report would mention that she spent more time day dreaming than doing her school work, except in English lessons which she loved.

Her love of words was always there, but sometimes stifled by the opinions of others. But as she grew older Melanie would not let these hold her back her any longer. Over the years Melanie grew in confidence and it was then that she finally felt able to follow her writing dreams.  Being part of quite a large family, but always feeling different to everyone else, Melanie found solace in both writing and books. This, coupled with her new found confidence in herself, mainly because of the freedom of middle age, was where her writing really found momentum.

Taking 25 years to complete her first book, around family life and a pressured work environment in palliative care, Melanie began to realise that simplifying her life was the way to go. Living more simply and finding ways in which to enjoy having less became her chosen path. This was where her book Simply Does It was born. Her experiences to find a more simple life in which to have to time write and do more of the things that she loves, are shared in this unusual non-fiction book.  Her other book, Man + Woman + Trouble, is a comical look at the mistakes Melanie made during her relationships. It is full of tips on what not to do if you want a great relationship. It is aimed at both men and women.

 

Please Introduce us to your Blog.  What is it all about?   What sorts of posts do you lean towards?

Hello Cynthia, and thank you for giving me the opportunity to answer your questions.

My blog is about anything to do with books, writing, author interviews, the amazing opportunities that simple living has afforded me, and anything else that peaks my interest.

A lot of my posts are about writing as that is my true love. I try to look at how other writers have written, and how their lifestyle affected that.

I am always looking at ways of showing support to other writers. So many of us flounder at first, so it is nice for us all to support each other. Writer love is what it is all about!

I also did an article about a man who calls himself Captain Beany. He is totally obsessed with baked beans, and even has a museum in his home dedicated to them. I was impressed with the work that he does for charity, and so wanted to feature him on my blog. It got a good reaction which I was pleased about.

You can find my blog here. 

What Inspires and stirs your creativity?

The first would be my grandchildren. I have four now and the eldest is 11 this month. I look at the photos of them that I keep near my computer, and I just about burst with happiness. I want to do my best writing for them. It would be nice one day if they read my books and thought that they were a good read. That would be great!

Secondly it would be the simple things in life. I have never been a materialistic sort of person, so the little things have always inspired me. That can be as simple as raindrops on a leaf, an animal, spending time with someone special etc. I feel lucky to be inspired by little things as I tend to notice them more. So I am blessed.

Conversely, what do you find difficult to write about?

I definitely find writing fiction more difficult. I generally write non-fiction, but I got brave this year and wrote my first short story called ‘Blossom Shines at Buttercup Bay‘. It is contained in a Creativia Anthology titled ‘Once Upon a Broken Dream’. I was really pleased that my first attempt at writing fiction was published in this book. My aim is to write a whole series of Buttercup Bay Books. I have the outlines already written, so just need to start writing them now!

What Message, if any, do you hope to Share through your blog/posts?

I want to share so many things through my posts. But the main one is that we are not alone when we find  it difficult to write. There are so many writing groups, forums, websites etc. that there is always a place to go where we can learn, get support, or both. The writing community is massive. All we have to do is to find the right fit for us, and then we can interact as much or as little as we want to. The world really is our writing oyster!

How has your blog helped you as a writer/Indie Author? What things have you learned along the way that you never anticipated?

I only started my blog quite recently, so I am learning all the time from it. At first I would plan what posts I would write, but now I do them as the inspiration hits me. The only posts which I do tend to plan are author interviews because readers seem to like those a lot. I like them too because I learn so much from them. Also I write posts about my next book, or when one is due to be released.

One of the things that I never expected to learn from my blog is that not all authors find inspiration in their surroundings. I wrongly assumed that where they write always inspires them. But, I have now found through interacting on my blog, that this is not always true.

I am lucky that I have leaned many writing tips along the way too. I am blessed when other writers share their tips or tell us about their writing day because we can all learn from that.

Tell us about your book(s):

My first book, ‘Simply Does It‘, has just been published. My life has been changed for the better in so many ways by living more simply. This book chronicles the start of my journey towards raising my writing capacity by over 800% in just a year! I wanted to keep the quality of my writing, so I edited again and again. I can honestly say that I have found the magic formula for being able to write much more, even though I was also a full time, live in carer for a relative at the same time. The demands of this mean that I never knew, day or night, when I would be called to help them. Plus I had surgery of my own during this time too. So, if you want to know how I started that journey then ‘Simply Does It‘ could really be the book for you.

My second book, ‘Man + Woman = Trouble‘, came about because I had so many stories to tell about the mountain of relationship mistakes I had made. I also wanted to give tips on how not to behave if you want a great relationship. So this book encompasses these, and more. I tried to keep it lighthearted so that it would be both interesting, and also make readers laugh. It is aimed at both men and women no matter what type of relationship they are in. So I hope that my readers will enjoy it.

What Inspired you to write your book?

I was inspired to write ‘Man + Woman = Trouble’ because of my own experiences. I thought that if I have  those sorts of problems, then other must do to. I wanted to look at them in a comical way, whilst also trying to show how not to make the same mistakes that I did.

My inspiration for writing ‘Simply Does It’ was the amazing experiences that I have had by living a more simple life. I can’t stress enough how different my life is now that I live more simply. It has soothed my soul like nothing else, and reduced my stress levels beyond compare with the life that I once led. It has truly been a breathtaking experience.

From what Point of View do you prefer to write? Is there a reason?

Until now I have always written non-fiction books. I have tended to write from my own perspective so far as the subjects that I have written about are either ones which I have experienced first hand, or are very close to my heart. But, even though they are from my own point of view, I try to offer a balanced argument too.

How would you describe your “Voice” or Style of writing?

My style of writing is really just hearing what thoughts come into my head, and then documenting them.  I wish that I could say that it was more technically done, or in the style of some great writer, but it isn’t. My writing is generally like someone is having a gentle conversation with the reader. I am writing my thoughts, and they are reading them. I don’t know how else to do it. I think that we all have our own writing styles, and that we shouldn’t fight them. Going with the flow is much better than having a daily battle with your writer self. Life is much calmer that way, and I like that.

What genre do you prefer to write or are you truly eclectic?

Until now I have always written non-fiction. I know that my books will often be about writing, as I think about it so often. But they will also be about the benefits of simple living. The world seems to be running at such a frantic pace now that something has to give. Either we find a better way to live which is less stressful, or we could quite literally spontaneously combust. The choice is our own to make. I just hope that more of us make it sooner than later.

Do you painstakingly plot out your story; are you a discovery writer or a bit of both? Why?

My only piece of fiction is my short story ‘Blossom Sines at Buttercup Bay‘. So I’m not really sure yet. I did have some sort of outline before I started to write it. But it tended to be very fluid during the writing process. So I would probably say that I do both.

Do you have a favourite or least favourite character? And Why?

It would have to be Monty because he is so kind and sincere. But that may change to someone else over time. I guess that I won’t really know until I have written the rest of the books. It is something that I am looking forward to.

Share an insight or secret about your book(s). 

Well, I have written most of my books without getting a good night’s sleep. Because of a shoulder injury I have, I still need to have further shoulder surgery. The pain from it means that either I take regular pain killers that don’t work, or I take strong ones which knock me out during the day a lot too. I haven’t been able to sleep in a bed for 18 months now. So I sleep sitting up in a chair every night. To be honest it is exhausting. Most of us can cope with a few night of poor sleep, but at the moment that is my reality every night. I hope that the further surgery that is scheduled for me will work, and I will be sleeping soundly again soon.

What do you feel is your best advice to share with other aspiring authors?

Never, ever, give up! Use whatever keeps you going to do just that. Also, read about J.K Rowling’s story for inspiration. I don’t just mean about how many publishers turned her down. I mean about what she went through in her personal life before she even got to that point. Keep fighting for what you want, always.

Would you like to share an excerpt from the book or a poem or two to give readers an idea what you offer?

Yes, that would be good. The first excerpt is from my book ‘Man + Woman = Trouble‘ –

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That Old Chestnut Nagger

The characteristics of a That Old Chestnut Nagger are persistence and having a really good memory, and boy do women have good memories. Especially where we think the subject in hand really matters. Make sure that you remember this because it is a distinct advantage if you do. Of course no logical thought process would have ever gone into this decision. We tend to store up our points to remind us how bad you have been in a sort of brain sack. It’s hidden away in a very dark and dingy place. The sort of place you wouldn’t want to go to after dark. Where monsters loom, and even they have to fight for survival. A place where you should expect the unexpected to happen, and where you should be very afraid, because it is very unpredictable depending on mood and hormone levels.

          Men just need to remember that we can store all this information we often refer to as important stuff for a very long time. This is the sort of stuff which we are sure to bring up the next time you either look at us in a funny way, or perhaps when you do something like breathe. Yes I did say breathe. You can sometimes only do one of these before we blow again. We are like a volcano just waiting to erupt. Not all of us of course. But there are enough women like this for anyone to be weary.

          Another thing to remember is that we never lose sight of our original point for discussion. It is always there lurking in the background. Don’t forget that it is also a woman’s prerogative to add more points at any time. In fact the list can just grow and grow. Like one of those seemingly tiny pieces of paper that is folded neatly, but which can unravel and grow to an incredible length at any time. So, gentlemen, it may be advisable that you have your own list to argue points from. That’s something that the lady in your life won’t be expecting. Shock tactics are usually a good way of causing a detour around the subject in hand. Especially if you want to buy some extra time or if you are dying to get to the pub/bar or to do something else that’s equally as important. But of course you need to be aware that any dodged points will only come back to bite you later, so sometimes it’s best to just suffer at the time and get it over with. It really depends on when you want more hassle. Is it best to have trouble now, or later? Only you can make that decision. Because one thing you can be sure of is that it will surely come at some point in time.

          What you need to do is literally wait until the nagger is taking a breath and dive in with the first point you want to make. Then just keep going strongly, or keep very quiet. How she reacts will guide you towards which of these you need to do. Remember that just because one tactic worked last time doesn’t automatically mean that it will work this time. You may also pay later if you choose the wrong course of action this time. A bit like gambling with terrible odds. She is the banker, and we all know that the banker nearly always wins.

The second excerpt is about when I went to live with nuns, from my book ‘Simply Does It‘ –

When I had first arrived at the convent Sarah had encouraged me to explore both the main building and the grounds at my leisure. I was interested in all of it. I wanted to immerse myself in the whole process during my stay so that I could understand how the simplicity factor of their lives really worked for them. I needed to learn from the nuns so that I could accomplish more when I returned to the outside world. I knew that to do this I needed to visit all of the communal rooms in turn, and to spend time taking in the sights and sounds of each one to make sure that I fully immersed myself in the atmosphere of each area so that I got the full value from my time at the convent.          

There were several bedrooms and bathrooms on the first floor. Each floor was around a central quadrant which was framed by very ornate stonework cloisters and lovely arched windows. Walking through these cloisters  was like walking back in time. It felt quite surreal. Like I had been momentarily transported into someone else’s life, feeling what they felt, thinking their thoughts, and walking their walk. I liked that the cloisters could be used in all sorts of weather as they were deep enough to shield you from the rain no matter what direction it came from. They were a very simple but clever design.

Now, lets talk About YOU:

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If you had to describe yourself to someone who has never met you, what might you say?

Gosh, that’s a difficult one. I would have to say that I am an honest and supportive person, with a passion for writing and books. That I care about people and the environment, and genuinely want to make things better whenever I can. That I am a good listener who tries not to judge too. Physically – rounded, with rosy cheeks, and a good heart!

If you could meet one person from the past, who might it be and why?

What an interesting question! The person that I would most like to meet from the past is actually still alive. But I am hoping that you will indulge me with this one.  He was born several generations before me so is still technically from the past I guess. His name is Leslie Phillips and he is a British actor. When I was a child my mother always watched films that he was in. I always wanted to be the same age as him in the films that he made in the 50’s. He played parts where he was always suave and sophisticated, with a very posh accent. I thought that he was a dreamboat. So, really I wanted to meet him because of the parts that he played. I would like to ask him what makes him tick.

When you are NOT writing, what is your favourite pastime?

It has to be reading. I am a book-a-holic. There will never be enough time for me to read all of the books that I want to in one lifetime. Not in ten lifetimes in fact.

Describe Your Dream Getaway Destination.  Have you ever been there?  What makes this place Irresistible to you?

Any of the Scottish islands would be the place for me. I love peace and open spaces. I also love ragged coastlines and weather which isn’t too hot, so they are the ideal sort of place for me. Since visiting Scotland many times a as child, and reading a book called ‘Island on the Edge: A Life on Soay‘ I have been even more obsessed about wanting to go there. So, watch this space!

Do you have a Mantra?

I certainly do – ‘I can and I will’. I repeat that to myself all the time, sometimes out loud in public places too

The kingdom of heaven…….

This week the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner, an owner of an estate, head of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 

Before I continue, in Christ’s parables we are invited into the story to find ourselves a part of it.  With the hope that we can apply the lesson to our own lives.

The landowner, a person of means goes into town to find people to work on his land.  He goes out around 6 am and makes an agreement with those he finds there to work for the usual daily wage, a Roman denarius. 

The landowner went to the marketplace again at 9 am and saw others standing idle in the marketplace and said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.”  And so they went.

Before I continue through this parable, does anyone know or suspect who the landowner is……..The landowner is Christ.  The marketplace is the world.  And the vineyard is……………….Christ’s church.  Any guess who the idle laborers are? 

I was an idle laborer for many years.  An idle laborer seems contradictory.  It could be used to describe many of us at some point in our life, it but for a short season.

As a landowner seeks out laborers to work on his land, Christ is seeking, calling and employing laborers to be about the work of his church.  It is important for us to be about the work of the church.

Yes, we know Pastor.  I don’t know much about much, but I believe that once we become complacent, once the status quo is acceptable as a church, the church begins to die.  That is an important reason it is important to be about the work of the church.

The landowner had gone out early in the morning, again at nine, he goes out again at noon and three and finds more laborers to employ.  He goes out at the eleventh hour, or around 5 pm and found others standing around and he said to them, “Why are you standing here idle all day?”

What have you been doing here, nothing?  They said, “Because no one has hired us.”  No one has put us to work, no one has invited us to the vineyard to work, or invited us to church to be part of a community.

So, here are all these laborers.  Some have been working all day under the hot sun since early in the morning.  Some started at noon and some just showed up.  And now we’ve arrived at the end of the work day.

It was a common practice and an expectation of those that you employed that they were paid at the end of the day in biblical times. 

So, it is quitting time.  A hard day’s work for some, an hour of work for others…..I’ve talked about how Christ reversed the expectations of what people expected.

In this parable the landowner said to his foreman, “Call the laborers and given them their pay, beginning with the last and giving to the first.”

This parable has been very straight forward so far, but here is where it gets tricky.  Those that had started working last came forward and they were paid the usually daily wage, a Roman denarius.  

What a generous guy this man is.  If he paid a day’s wage for working for an hour, just think he will pay those that have worked since early this morning, since 9 am and since noon.  Am I right?  If I had been there since 6-7 am I would be thinking, YES.  Today is going to be a good day.  I’m eating steak tonight.

Guess how much the all the workers got paid regardless of how long they worked……….the same amount.  One Roman denarius.  One day’s wage.

And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner saying, “These last worked only one hour and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.”

I would be right there with them.  This is a bunch of crap.  I’ve been working all day, I deserve more.  I worked harder, I worked more.  Have you ever noticed how sometimes you or someone you work with or someone you know thinks they are entitled to more?

I’m as guilty as anyone.  There are times when we covet what God gives to others, blind to all that he has done for us.  I’m easily as bad as anyone here today when it comes to coveting.  I want a nicer house, a fancier car, a bigger bank account and everything else I want and I want it right now. 

If I see someone’s existence as more comfortable or easier I want it.  They don’t deserve it, I do.  God, why can’t I have it?  I completely dismiss all that I have been given.  We have all worked hard in our lives, but there is little to nothing of what we’ve accomplished or have that can’t be traced back to something we were given.

Given from our parents, grandparents, family, friends, teachers, coaches, mentors and most importantly our God.  Education level, intelligence, income, good health, safe places to grow up in – those are all things granted to us by the grace of God…..

I am usually first to take credit for what I’ve accomplished.  See, I am selfish.  I bet I’m not the only here today that is.  It is part of our human condition.  We have to fight our human needs, our compulsions, our want to do whatever we want whenever we want.

One of the best lessons we can learn in this life is to learn to sacrifice for others.  To be content and grateful for all that we have and all that we are. 

Not all of us are called to be saints, but we are called to help those in need.  We are called to make a difference in our own, small corner of the world wherever that may be.  To be pioneers in social justice.

This landowner, the owner of the estate was hearing from his disgruntled employees on how unfairly he had compensated them, even though they all had agreed to work for the daily wage.  He answered them, “Friend, I have not been unfair.  Did you not agree with me to work for the usual daily wage?”

“Take what belongs to you and go, I choose to give to this last the same as I have given to you.  Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?  Or are you envious because I am generous?  So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

We are called to live lives of service.  The reward for every man, woman and child who has faith in Christ, faith in the God that we serve, will receive the same eternal reward. 

So let us not be idle workers in the marketplace.  Let us not sit by in this world in our sin wasting precious time.  Let us be called by our God into service in his church.  And let us not covet what others have.

Pastor Shawn LaRue, Seymour UMC

Author of Incomplete

Filed under: Guest Bloggers on BnV, Poetry Tagged: Blogger, Blogging, christianity, Faith, Family, Humanity, Inspiration, life, Reflections, relationships, Religion, Thoughts, Truth, WordPress, Writing

Solitary – #DailyHaikuChallenge

 

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Solitary Life

Kissed by Autumnal Splendor

Silently Passing

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To take part in the Daily Haiku Challenge see  The Original Post from Day One

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Day 324 / 365

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~Morgan~

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Beautiful Photograph found on Google.  Credit Gratefully Acknowledged to the Original Photographer. Thank You~

Filed under: Daily Haiku Challenge Tagged: Autumn, Beautiful Photographs, Beauty, BnV, BooknVolume, Changing Seasons, Forests, Nature, Poem, poetry, Poetry Blog, spirituality, ~Morgan~

Poem: “Ongoing” (#guestblogger)

A match that burns.

Time that does not stop.

Pockets of charred air

leave footprints on the floor,

sooty and timeless,

like that of you and I.

A. R. Frederiksen is a recurring guest blogger here at BnV, and her own writing blog can be found here, where she dabbles in flashfiction/poetry.

Filed under: Guest Bloggers on BnV, Poetry Tagged: BnV, BooknVolume, Fire, flame, Loss, Love, poetry, time, words

In The Lime Light – #CharacterSpotlight by #Fantasy #Author Tabitha Darling

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Today’s character Interview is by Fantasy author Tabitha Darling.  Tabitha is the author of multiple works of fiction and nonfiction. (To be released ongoing)  She is wife to a robot builder and mom to a toddler. By day, she is a barefoot farrier, horse trainer, and riding instructor. She lives in Texas, with her husband, toddler, three horses, three hens, three geese, and three doves.

In the book Trust (Children of Chiron Series Vol 1) Ieang (Eeng) is a main character caught up in a war between humans and his people the centaur. He struggles to save an infant centaur and in the process needs a human, Brenda to help with the baby. They begin to understand and respect each other over time.

History teaches that centaurs are aggressive, how do you feel about this?  It bothers me. We are taught to respect the power the Gods give only to women. I have seen humans be good and mean.

What do you look like? I am a centaur. My body is horse, man and unicorn. My hair is brown, my skin is brown, my eyes are brown.

What do you like to wear? We do not need clothes like humans.

How do you keep your hooves worn down? We walk. If we can not, we use a hard stone to do it.

What is the horn on your head?  It is what separates the people from the Gods and the animals. It reminds us of our origin, the unicorn.

What is telepathy like?  I learned from my human wife that humans think in sounds. We do not, but we can. What you feel, see, touch, feelings, all is given, in telepathy. Not just sounds, all. It joins the people, into one. It is the gift from unicorn.

What do centaurs eat?  We eat as you do, plant, meat. Why?

What do you think of humans?  Your people are gifted by the Gods with great power and knowledge.

If someone wanted to learn the language and culture, your beliefs, would that be ok?  Yes, I will help teach.

How do you feel about videos and photographs? I will not talk about this.

What do you think of horses?  They are more intelligent than humans know. They should be respected.

If a human child wanted a ride, would that bug you?  No, I would be happy to play with them.

How do you like to socialize?  I enjoy watching my children, to sing with them after a meal. Or spending time with the men on a hunt.

What was your role in your family growing up? My role was to obey the elders, and my father, to respect the Gods and spirits. To listen and learn.

What were you most proud of as a kid?  I was glad to become a man. It meant the Gods and spirits thought I was worthy. I try to be.

What did you find terribly embarrassing as a kid?  I was humiliated for my dishonor once when I did not give an offering on a hunt. I learned to after the punishment. I had angered the spirits, I was wrong.

What was your first best friend like?  We do not have one friend. All the men hunt and work together. That is our way.

What ‘group’ were you in during your high school years?  We do not learn in one house, we learn with our fathers who raise us. The shaman may teach us, but usually it is our father. If one father and one child is a group, then that was my group.

What did you want to be when you grew up–and what did you end up becoming?  I only hoped to be accepted by the God of life to the temple, to do well by our ancestors, the ones who came before. To not disgrace any of them. I passed my run, I am a man, adult. That is all I am.

What are your hobbies?  I enjoy speaking with the God of tools, to ask the spirits to give their power to what I make so that a hunt goes well. If I honor them, the power is there, and the animals are happy to give us meat.

What music do you listen to?  Brady, brother to my human wife says that humans enjoy music all the time, that the human Gods allow it. We do not, it speaks to the ancestors, the spirits and Gods. It is sacred.

What annoys you?  I am angered if the people begin to disrespect the elders, the shaman, the spirits, ancestors or the Gods.

What makes you laugh?  To watch my children.

Are you a dog or a cat person?  I do not like to eat dog but I have, it seems to be a friendly spirit to humans. I do not know what cat is.

What season do you enjoy most? I look forward to the dry season when the hunting is good.

What makes you embarrassed as an adult?  I have answered this before.

Do you drink alcohol?  What is this drink? We have many drinks and some are sacred. We usually drink water.

What do you feel most passionately about?  I hope that my people will live, have many children, if the Gods allow. And to continue living in the marriage house with my wife.

What trait do you find most admirable in others?  To be an elder, a shaman, to speak with the Gods, ancestors and spirits. It is the best any can become until we join them in their home when we die.

Do you want a job that helps people or a job that makes money?  Money, is how humans hunt, to bring food yes? If we live on Earth, I would like to learn in human school to get a job, yes. I always like to help! The people rely on each other to bring meat, to build a house. We do not live alone like humans.

Are you a leader or a follower?  I am only a man, a hunter. I was not called to be a leader.

What scares you?  To see the last of my people, no more children. That we so angered the Gods.

What are your long term goals?  I have answered this before! To see my people live.

What are your short term goals?  To hunt well.

What are your bad habits?  Bad habits make the spirits angry.

What do you think happens after we die?  If we please the Gods we live in their home by their fire and eat with them when the hunt is good.

If you were to come into money what would you do with it?  Money is how humans get food, they do not hunt? If we have more than we need, I would give it to others who need more so that they have food.

Who was the love of your life?  I love my human wife Brenda, she taught me love.

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Please be sure to discover more about Tabitha and her writing through her social links:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tabitha.darling.3576
Twitter https://twitter.com/Tabithasbooks
And my website! https://www.tabithasbooks.com/

Amazon author link https://www.amazon.com/Tabitha-Darling/e/B074JKX8T2/

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~Morgan~


Filed under: Authors Books Reviews & Interviews Tagged: Author Intervies, Author spotlight, BnV, BooknVolume, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Indie Authors, Mythical Creatures, Supporting Indie Authors, ~Morgan~

#FridayFantasy – Standing In Shadows – #BehindtheScenes

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With the recent release of book three of the series (Breaking Into The Light) I thought I’d share a tidbit of info about Dark Fey: Standing in Shadows, book two of the Dark Fey Trilogy, which delves deeper into the mystery and suspense of the tale initiated in book one: The Reviled.

In book two, readers discover the history behind the main character, Gairynzvl, in greater detail as they learn about the harrowing life he endured among the Reviled of the Uunglarda, as well as the terrors of The Integration; the process of intentional cruelty and neglect designed to twist childfey into Dark Ones.  Although Standing in Shadows reaches deeper into the shadows, it never strays entirely out of the Light, relating a tale of both fear and hope as readers share Gairynzvl’s challenges to return into a restored life.

Although certainly darker than book one, Standing in Shadows does not incorporate this level of horror simply for the sake of it. One does not need to open the pages of a book to discover the unthinkable, as the darkness typically embodied in fantasy genre stories by some terrifying being or creature is very much alive in our own reality and this is the underlying motivation for the darkness woven into Dark Fey.  Standing in Shadows was based in great part upon the terrifying, yet true-life events of the Lord’s Resistance Army or LRA, a rebel militant group in Uganda that has for over 20 years abducted children from their homes; forcing them to commit horrifying acts of violence against each other and their own people. These children suffer a very real Integration and, like the childfey of Jyndari, they endure violence, starvation, multiple rapes and beatings at the hands of truly sadistic overlords.  This is how the Reviled came to life and became the unthinkably cruel beings depicted in Dark Fey.

However dark, Standing in Shadows also gives readers the opportunity to explore the vibrant realm of Jyndari more fully.  There are accounts of distant lands and exotic wildlife; readers join the villagers of Hwyndarin in a night of celebration and exquisitely described traditional music; and the characters even get time to enjoy a heart-pounding sporting event, but through it all, Gairynzvl’s purpose remains and the reasons why he wants to return into the dark realm of The Uunglarda are ultimately exposed.

In spite of the dangers involved and the very great risk of sparking full-scale war with the Reviled, Gairynzvl has an inescapable need to go back into the dark realm of the Uunglarda to rescue as many of the childfey trapped there as he can find. The success of his plan will hinge upon more than courage and military strategy; it will call upon the unique skills and magic of each individual who chooses to join his band of Liberators, and it will require a level of dependence upon each other for which few of them are prepared.  Their actions will test all of their limits, could easily divide loyalties, and will shake the foundations of everything The Fey of The Light have accepted as truth for thousands of years. Can Gairynzvl convince his friends and the Temple Elders to allow him to return to the Uunglarda?  Who will join him to help the innocent childfey who have been abducted into the realm of shadows and fear?  Will the Fey of the Light risk a savage war in order to rescue so few, and will any of them be prepared to face the consequences of their actions?

 

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Standing-Shadows-Dark-Fey-Book-ebook/dp/B018HF4HSA

Amazon UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Standing-Shadows-Dark-Fey-Book-ebook/dp/B018HF4HSA/

For More Information on the LRA visit Unicef: http://www.unicef.org/newsline/02pr06lra.htm

~Morgan~

Filed under: Dark Fey, Friday FeyDay / Fantasy Tagged: Based on a True Story, Behind The Scenes, BnV, BooknVolume, Child Abuse, Dark Fantasy, eBooks, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Harmony, Kindle Books, Must Read Books, ~Morgan~

#FridayFantasy – Imagination – #DailyHaikuChallenge

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Imagination

Unlocked by Inspiration

Restores the Sweet Child

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To take part in the Daily Haiku Challenge see  The Original Post from Day One

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Day 323 / 365

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~Morgan~

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Beautiful Image: What Lies Beneath by FantasyLost

Filed under: Daily Haiku Challenge, Friday FeyDay / Fantasy Tagged: BnV, BooknVolume, creative writing, Dragons, Fantasy, Haiku Challenge, Imagination, Inspiration, Poem, poetry, Poetry Blog, ~Morgan~

#FridayFantasy – Songbird of Promise

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Songbird of Gilded Promise

Singing in Resplendent Guise

Of all that shimmers,

Transparent

And all that Speaks of

Wondrous Surprise

Dance before my gaze of Wonder

Jubilant in your

Non-conformity

Preen Sweet Magic in Artful

Practice

Whisper of Superfluous

Possibility!

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~Morgan~

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Beautiful Original Artwork by Hillary Luetkemeyer

Filed under: Friday FeyDay / Fantasy Tagged: BnV, BooknVolume, Dreams, Fantasy Artwork, Inspiration, Magic, Mythical Creatures, Nonconformity, Poem, poetry, Poetry Blog, Possibility, ~Morgan~

#FridayFantasy – Clockwork Rhymes – #50WordStories

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Whispers of secrets laugh boldly, yet are jealously guarded; staring like harbingers from her mechanized gaze.

Grace fallen upon unforgiving innocence betrays a wealth of calamity sitting in melancholic glee upon her shoulders.

Childhood sings from the devious shadows; hope smiling as she silently watches clockwork unraveling Gothic nursery rhymes.

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I confess, I took a cue from Richard Ankers in writing this 50 Word Story.  I’ve enjoyed his for some time now and never thought I could condense my verbosity into so few words, but it was a fun challenge and you will probably see more.  Thank You Richard!

(Find/Read Richard here: https://richardankers.com )

~Morgan~

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Amazing Image found on Pinterest.  Credit Gratefully Acknowledged to the Original Artist/Photographer.  Thank You.

Filed under: Flash Fiction and Shorts, Friday FeyDay / Fantasy Tagged: 50 Word Stories, BnV, BooknVolume, Clockwork, Dark Fantasy, Dark Nursery Rhymes, Fantasy, Gothic, Sci-fi, Steampunk, ~Morgan~