Cynthia A. Morgan's Blog, page 288

#FridayFantasy – When Fey and Eternals Collide – Part One

.

Welcome to the debut of Character Interactions!  In this first installment, you will find a unique interaction between Richard M. Anker’s lead character, the Eternal Lord, Jean and the lead character of my own Dark Fey Trilogy, Prevailed Fey of the Light, Gairynzvl.  Richard’s contributions are highlighted for you in italics to set his writing apart from my own.  We hope you will enjoy this collaboration and debut of Character Interactions.  Be sure to stop back / watch for upcoming installments.

.

Opening portals into other realms was just one of Gairynzvl’s many gifts.  As a Fey of the Light he was born telepathic as well as partially empathic, which allowed him to read the thoughts of another without difficulty. He could also sense the stronger emotions of others, though he had been taught from a young age not to delve without permission. During the years he spent among the Reviled, he had also been taught the unique skill of opening portals; which the Dlalth exploited to their own dark purposes; yet it was a gift he was thankful for, nevertheless.

Standing before the mirror he intended to utilize to pass into that dark realm, he stretched out his hands and spoke the incantation to prepare the glass for crossing; the guttural Dlalth words he spoke causing the reflective pane to ripple like the waters of a disturbed pond.  His deep voice pressed into its surface, penetrating the darkly silver abyss, opening it into the beyond, and the shadows that swirled and heavy darkness that reached through the void pulled at him, compelling him inward.  Grasping the sword he wore sheathed at his side and folding his expansive wings tightly, he stepped forward into the slurking emptiness, pushing his way through the murky nothingness of the portal outward into the waiting domain on the other side, but it was a domain he could never have anticipated.

The darkness, tinged with the silver of an unrecognized moon, illuminated a rooftop, one Gairynzvl teetered on, in full view of a river awash in dark crimson. This was not the world the Fey intended, a different night, a different place, but, still, it intrigued. He flexed his wings, their beating stirring up an overbearing pomade of some strange flower, both unknown and unwanted. There appeared to be music playing from down below and a casual glance over a steep drop revealed the flickering light of myriad candles, an overly bright accompaniment to the internal merriment. All very strange. All very new.  

Gairyznvl prepared to make the leap to a broad balcony below, when distracted by a grunt and the crunching as of gravel to his back, he paused. With a curse of frustration at having been the observed and not the observer, the Fey spun about-face. There before him locked in a one-sided struggle were two men. One, a dark raven of a man, appeared to be throttling the life out of a rather gaudily attired other, who hung from the first’s grip, his shock of messy blond hair waggling back and forth across his face. The throttled man, seeing Gairyznvl, attempted a cheery wave before an involuntary last shake silenced him, possibly for good, and the man in black turned to face his witness. The fire in his eyes suggested he was not best pleased. He was not best pleased at all.

.

~A Collaboration by Morgan and Richard M. Ankers.

Save

Filed under: Friday Fantasy, Your Beautiful Life Tagged: BnV, BooknVolume, Character Spotlight, creative writing, Darkness and Light, Fantasy, Fantasy Characters, Fey Folk, Immortals, Vampires, ~Morgan~

#CharacterInteractions – Preface to a Debut

.

Character spotlights are a marvelous innovation, at least in my book(nvolume).  What better way, after all, to discover the nuances and little-known secrets our favourite characters conceal?  Perhaps it’s because I tend to connect deeply with characters that I find learning more about them diverting, but when I first heard about shining the limelight on a book character, or better yet to interview them, I was enchanted.

I recently read (and reviewed) The Eternals by your friend and mine, Richard M. Ankers, and I can honestly tell you I was captivated by his lead character, Jean.  I cannot precisely define why, as he is far from beguiling or charming (downright irascible you might say), but when I finished the book and dove into a second reading, I could not escape musing over of how he might interact with or react to my own lead character, Gairynzvl, (another distinctly brooding fellow.)  Then I struck upon an idea.  Why not introduce them and see what happens? I was cautioned that ‘Consequences might occur’, but the potential was too great to ignore.

Thus, I should like to introduce a new segment to the Booknvolume category Your Beautiful Life (in which I showcase other writers, their books, their posts, their spotlights, etc.)  Through the magic of Imagination, Character Interactions shall transpose time and place in order to unite characters in a newly unique situation, endeavoring to offer previously unreleased material involving your favourite characters interacting with each other; interviewing each other (or arguing with each other, depending) over any given subject matter; or offering insights into their past, present or future.

By offering these glimpses into the lives of our characters, I hope to not only intrigue readers with tidbits of information they may not be able to glean from the character’s story, but provide an opportunity for (Indie) authors to reach a broader audience with fresh, unique material.  If you find yourself as titillated as I am by the potential in these Character Interactions, please do not hesitate to send me a message to inquire further or propose an idea.

Coming Tomorrow for Friday Fantasy:  The Debut Character Interaction:  Dark Fey’s Gairynzvl and The Eternal’s Jean debate the importance of a purpose filled life.

.

~Morgan~

.

.

.

Beautiful Original Artwork:  the_course_of_nature_by_yv-d5e1eza KORICE

Filed under: Your Beautiful Life Tagged: Behind The Scenes, BnV, BooknVolume, Character Interview, Character Spotlight, Fantasy, Indie Authors, Meet My Character, Supporting Indie Authors, ~Morgan~

Inexpressible

.

There is no Fair Expression my Love can take,

Which would adequately Reveal

The Depths of my Love for You;

For even as Time itself is ever –present

Yet intangible,

My love for You, as Sweet as Breath,

Is Inexpressible.

.

~Morgan~

.

.

.

Beautiful Image found on Pinterest. Credit Acknowledged for the original Photographer.  Thank You~

Filed under: Poetry Tagged: Beautiful Photographs, BnV, BooknVolume, Love, Love Poetry, Poem, poetry, Poetry Blog, relationships, Romance, Soul Mates, True Love, ~Morgan~

The River of Time

.

Silence comes in Shadows and Rocky Pools

Where Light Reflects the Glimmering facets

Of Hope and Faith,

Courage Shimmering on the surface of the waters,

Even beneath the canopy of Overhanging fear;

Ever Shifting,

Ever Rushing onward

In the ‘plash of the River of Time.

.

~Morgan~

.

.

.

Beautiful photograph found at: hqwide.come

Filed under: Poetry Tagged: BnV, BooknVolume, Courage, Faith, Fear, Hope, Nature, Poem, poetry, Silence, spirituality, time, ~Morgan~

#WordlessWednesday – A Quiet Moment

. Quiet Moments of my Beloved kitties, past and present

~Morgan~

.

Photos by yours truly[image error]

Filed under: Lens Flair, Wordless Wednesday Tagged: Baby Animals, BnV, BooknVolume, Cats and Kittens, Cute Animals, Nature, Pets, photography, ~Morgan~

#WordlessWednesday – A Quiet Garden

. Summer Ornamental Flowers and Common Weeds in and around my Backyard

~Morgan~

.

Photos by yours truly

 

Filed under: Lens Flair, Wordless Wednesday Tagged: Beauty, BnV, BooknVolume, Digital Macro Photography, Flowers, Gardens, Nature, photography, Summer Garden, ~Morgan~

#WordlessWednesday – A Quiet Place

. A Quiet Place I pass each day

~Morgan~

.

Photography by yours truly[image error]

Filed under: Lens Flair, Wordless Wednesday Tagged: Beauty, BnV, BooknVolume, Forest, Light, Nature, Peace, photography, Woodlands, ~Morgan~

#RomanticTuesday – Amidst the Candlelight

.

Hush

In the Restless Tide of Night

Brush

My cheek with Your Fervent Kiss’s Delight

Sigh

In Love’s most Passionate Devotion

Lie

Beside me in the Shifting Shadows Deep Ocean

Entrance

Me with Your Ardent Love’s Chivalry

Romance

Me Until Time Slips into Eternity

For Only Then

And Only There

Amidst the Blush of sweet Candlelight

Shall we Find the Pure Contentment

Of Delicate Night

.

~Morgan~

.

.

.

Beautiful Original Artwork by: Mark Spain

Filed under: Poetry Tagged: BnV, BooknVolume, Candlelight, Desire, Longing, Love, Love Poetry, passion, Poem, poetry, Poetry Blog, relationships, Romance, ~Morgan~

#RomanticTuesday – Him

.

You

Are Him,

He

Is You,

Love

Is Ever

Near

And True,

Too

Much Love,

Love

Too Much,

Longing

For Your

Exquisite

Touch,

Dreaming

Of You,

You

Of Dreams,

Forever,

Belonging,

Beyond what Seems,

Simple

Pleasure,

Only You,

Him,

Beloved,

Passion

True.

.

~Morgan~

.

.

.

Beautiful photograph by: Ebru Sidar

Filed under: Poetry Tagged: Beautiful Photographs, BnV, BooknVolume, Dreams, Longing, Love, Love Poetry, Poem, poetry, Poetry Blog, relationships, Romance, Soul Mates, ~Morgan~

Kale & Sweet Potato Curry Salad

This Deliciously Vegan Salad will tantalize your pallet with a myriad of tastes and textures. It begs some attention in preparation and is by no means quick and simple, but the reward of its savory flavours makes the labour of love entirely worthwhile.

It can also serve as the basis for a fun dinner party where each guest prepares and provides one of the star elements. If you should prefer, it can also be served with nearly any grilled meat or fish.

To Begin you will need:

INGREDIENTS

Fresh Kale

2 Medium to Large Sweet Potatoes

1 Tart Apple

¾ Cup Freshly chopped Chives

1 Cup Yellow Lentils

1 Cup Brown Rice

1 15oz can Cream of Coconut (if you cannot find the Cream of Coconut you can replace it with 1 15oz can Coconut Milk)

½ Cup of Marinated Roasted Red Peppers

Curry Powder

Paprika

Cinnamon

Fresh Garlic

Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper

Lemon Juice

1 Cup Roasted and chopped Peanuts (or Almonds)

1 Cup Dried Cranberries

DIRECTIONS

Peel and Dice the Sweet Potatoes. Place in a large baking dish, drizzle with a few TBSPs Olive Oil.

Sprinkle with 1 TBSP Paprika and 1 Tsp Cinnamon. Salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Place baking dish into Microwave, cover loosely with a microwave safe cover and cook on the Baked Potato setting for 4 mins. Uncover and Stir and repeat two more times until potatoes are fork tender. Transfer to a Foil lined metal baking dish and roast in a 400F degree oven for 20 mins. Stir Once during roasting. Remove from oven and Baking dish to allow to cool.

 

Lentils and Rice:

Prepare lentils and rice as usual. Season water with 2 TBSP butter and a generous dash of Paprika. Cook until tender, Rinse with cold water and drain.

Kale:

Chop 4-5 Cups Fresh Kale, Rinse and Dry. Place in a large mixing bowl. Dress with 2-3 TBSP Olive Oil, Chives, 1-2 Tsp freshly chopped Garlic, Salt and Pepper. Place into the same roasting pan you used for the potatoes and roast in a 400F degree oven for 20 mins. Stir Once during roasting. Remove from oven and Baking dish. Sprinkle lightly with Lemon Juice, toss and allow to cool.

 

Chop 1-2 Cups Fresh Kale, Rinse and Dry. Set Aside in a small dish.

 

Accoutrement:

Dice (do not peel) the Tart Apple and Add to Sweet Potatoes.

Rough Chop the Roasted Red Pepper and Combine with the Sweet potatoes.

Toast chopped Peanuts or Almonds in a dry pan until lightly browned.

Shake Well and Pour Cream of Coconut into a small pot. Add 2-3 TBSP Curry Powder (to your taste) and blend over heat just to combine. Remove from heat and pour into a small dish.

SERVING:

Once everything is prepared, place the ingredients into separate serving dishes, set on the table and allow each person to combine to their taste.

Dress with the Curried Coconut Cream in small amounts, as it is very sweet. Top with dried Cranberries.

Enjoy[image error]

~Morgan~

Filed under: Palate Pleasing Tagged: BnV, BooknVolume, cooking, Curry, Fresh Vegitables, Kale, Recipes, Salads, Summer Recipes, Sweet Potatoes, Vegan Recipes, Vegitarian, ~Morgan~