Cynthia A. Morgan's Blog, page 41

#WordlessWednesday – Autumnal Reflections

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~Morgan~
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Beautiful Photographs found on Google Image Search. Credit Acknowledged to the Amazing Original Photographers.

Captive – #LovePoems and #Romance

 

Long I Listen To You, Love,
Unraveled by Your Charms, Unspoken;
Lost in the Warmth of Your Hand, Holding Mine;
Enchanted by the Antics in Your Smile;
Beguiled by the Sound of Your Most Pleasing Voice.

Oh, That I could Listen to You Speaking, All the Night,
In Words of Sweet Succession,
Signifying Your Love’s Devotion,
Or Telling Nothing, Random Musings,
All for the Love of Your Captivating Voice.

Sing to My Fluttering Heart, My Love,
Whisper in my Attent Ear,
Oh That I May Ever Hear The Honeyed Tone of Your Voice,
In Sweet Succor of my Fainting Heart
That Pants in it Encapsulation,
Captive to Your Every Word.

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~Morgan~

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Beautiful Artwork found on Pinterest.  Credit Gratefully Acknowledged to the Original Artist.  ~Thank You ~

Risking Everything – Meet Gairynzvl from The Dark Fey Trilogy

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Tell us a little about where you grew up. What was it like there?

My life has been dichotic.  I spent my first seven years in the village Hwyndarin with my family and the Fey of the Light. It is a place of simple beauty and communal living, where each villager shares life’s responsibilities and burdens.  I was very young, but remember playing with friends and learning to fly amid the forests, streams and meadows bathed in sunlight.

When I reached 7 ½, I was abducted by the Reviled Fey and spent the next 15 years of my life trying to survive the gloom and shadows of their dark realm, the Uunglarda.  No sunlight warms their barren dominion and the skies are choked with soot and poisonous fumes.  I suffered the Integration; five years of neglect designed to turn childfey into monsters and each day was a torment of hunger, thirst, cold, and abuse.

Gosh, that sounds horrible.  How did you manage to hold onto hope?  Was is a cherished memory, a favourite toy you clung to, a friend?

We had no toys in the Uunglarda, and very few friends, but I was determined not to forget the ones I had and to see them again.  I kept the Light alive any way I could, mostly by repeated prophecies I had already learned and secretly studying others.  Although I had to keep it completely hidden, which was not easy in a place where you are forced to do horrible things every day, as time went on, I formed a few secret alliances with Dark Ones who wanted to escape as much as I did and our mutual dream of freedom kept hope alive.

What do you do now?

Even though I have returned to the Light and live in Hwyndarin once again, I spend much of my time training with an exclusive unit of Fey Guards dedicated to the covert operation of returning into the Uunglarda at undisclosed times to rescue younglings and those Dark Fey who wish to escape. 

That’s very heroic, but also dangerous, isn’t it?  Have you always been driven to risk so much for others?

It is unquestionably dangerous, but also a self-rewarding sacrifice and one I am very willing to make, especially when I can see childfey restored to their families or those who will love and care for them.  I would never call myself heroic, though I might agree with driven.  Some of my friends describe me as tenacious and the Reviled thought me infuriatingly stubborn, (well, some of my friends say that too!)  I simply choose to believe that positive action creates positive results and this conviction has proven true.  Consequently, I am motivated to do more because it is so satisfying.

When you first decided to take such risks to help yourself and others, did you think you would succeed?

Honestly, no, but it was all I had; it was the only thing that kept me from being consumed by darkness.  When I doubted, I forced myself to read and re-read the ancient texts, searching for anything that might help.  When I met others who were doing what I was, it became easier to believe we would achieve our goal, but it was only when I first saw Ayla, the Fey of the Light Child Guardian who helped me when no one else would, that I knew with certainty I would stand in the Light once more.

Reaching out to her was extremely risky, wasn’t it?  What was the most frightening thing about risking so much?

I risked everything and, believe me, it was terrifying. I lived in fear for months.  If the Reviled had found out or caught me, I would have faced unbearable torture as a traitor.  If Ayla had chosen not to listen to me and help, my only chance of escape would have failed, and if she had told others about the dark one who was following her for months trying to communicate with her from the shadows, I could have been captured and thrown into the Prison of Daylight; executed by the same Light I sought to return to. 

Fey of the Light are taught from a very young age to fear the Reviled.  As one of them, what was the hardest thing you had to do to convince her she could trust you?

The night I chose to confront her was stormy and the darkness aided my crossing, but I knew coming face to face with a Dark Fey, alone, would frighten her immeasurably.  So, I had taught myself a spell that would protect her from the Legion I was forced to traveled with by casting a brilliant light, which would block them from crossing over to harm her and give me time to convince her I was no threat.  It was difficult not only because I had no desire to scare her, but the light I used to protect her, at the time, was lethal to me.  If she had not chosen to act and help me, it would have killed me.    

Risking so much was certainly difficult; so, what was the best part of that night?

Ayla used her very special gifts to help me escape the torrent of light I had created.  She covered me with her body; extended her strength to bolster my own and physically dragged me into the darkness of the parlor before it was too late.  I remember standing there in the shadows trying to catch my breath as the sensation of burning I had been suffering subsided.  She lay on the floor at my feet, utterly exhausted and overwhelmed; yet she did not try to run from me.  In fact, she reached up to touch my hand, as if making sure I was all right.  It was an extremely intense moment. For 15 years, no one had done anything for me; yet, although she was frightened, overcome, and wracked by physical and emotional pain that was not her own (because she had connected with mine), she did not retreat from me, but chose to draw closer. 

That was and still is the most indescribable feeling I have ever experienced.   

Are you still close to Ayla?

Yes, I am.

What does the future hold for the two of you?

She is my Beloved One, but this is all I will say.

Some things are too personal to talk about?

Something like that.

(smiling) I understand, but before we end our conversation, can you share a secret with us, which you’ve never told anyone else?

Hmmm?  Sure, I know something, a very old prophecy, that can change the world for all Fey…… 

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Discover More About the Award Winning Dark Fey Series

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~Morgan~

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Beautiful Original Artwork by Negshin

 

Champagne Elegance – #poetry of the #NaturalWorld

Youth spills reminiscence of words and time,

Sweet cadence of bird song lilting in rhyme,

Upon the Emerald breath of morn,

Champagne elegance is delicately born.

 

~Morgan ~

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Beautiful photograph found on Pinterest.  Credit Gratefully Acknowledged to the Original Photographer.  

Upon the Arrival of Dawn – An #Interview with #Author Joseph A. Schiller

Joseph A. Schiller is a high school Social Studies teacher in Houston, TX USA, where he lives with his wife and three boys. Upon the Arrival of Dawn is his first published work.  He recently chatted with me about writing and his journey to publication.

What do you love most about Writing?

I have always felt more comfortable expressing myself, even in school, through writing. Writing allows me to communicate that fits my rhythm and pace. Writing also provides an opportunity for exploration of ideas while still giving the writer the safety and flexibility to revise, rather than be confined to anything finite or limiting.

How did you get your start writing?

The first time I fell in love with prose was in a creative writing class in the 7th grade. I don’t remember the teacher, but I remember having the full support to write whatever inspired me with absolutely no judgment. Building confidence in my written voice was the best thing that could have happened to me, and I will be forever grateful for that experience.

What Inspired you to write your book?

I’ve always had a fascination with the mythology of early cultures. In the case of this particular story, the myths behind the Judeo-Christian-Islamic angels of death inspired me. While I personally do not believe in such stories, at least not in the religious sense, I do find something magical about them as stories.

Do your characters dictate what or how your write in any way?

Absolutely. I really try to place myself in the proverbial shoes of my characters and imagine what they feel, think, experience, and see. I let the characters drive the story 100%.

Are you a painstaking plotter or are you a discovery writer?

Yes, painstaking definitely describes me. I’m probably more methodical about my approach. That comes from being a little OCD and type A about things. This might be a blessing and curse at the same time for the writing process. There are moments when I think this personality trait stifles me creatively, and others when I appreciate how regimented it keeps me.

What’s your number one tip for an aspiring Author?

Write for yourself. Don’t write for an audience, publisher, or whatever you think people want or will sell. At the end of the day, the only person that needs to love your story is you. If others appreciate it too, then bonus points. Keeping this perspective also helps when working with an editor.

Is there any conflict between what you want to write and what you think your readers will like?

Not at all. I don’t write for others. I write for myself. There are stories in my head that just need to come out. Who cares if readers or critics agree with their values? It’s nice to the validation of others enjoying my stories, but it is not a driving force.

What is the hardest part of editing- grammar checks, reducing content, or something else?

Finding someone with whom you have good chemistry. The quality and effectiveness of the working relationship are crucial. If you are self-editing, use a site like Upwork.com or Fiverr.com so that you have the freedom to give as many editors a shot as you need to without upfront or long-term financial commitment.

Do you have a Mantra- a Quote you try to live by?

I’m a firm believer in karma, either positive or negative. What we say and do has consequences. The more we ponder those potential consequences before acting and breathing life into our thoughts, the better the world would be.

What’s exciting about your next project?

Since high school, I’ve wanted to write a story based on the enigmatic historical figure, Pythagoras. This has been a project I’ve worked on off and on, but now finally sinking teeth into it. I’m really enjoying the research side of things.

Synopsis

A darkness grows, threatening the delicate fabric of the Universe. An ominous cloud spreads, bringing an increasing imbalance across the Cosmos. Essences bent on wickedness and ultimate destruction is violently stripping the Energy of Life from innocent terrestrial creatures, bringing Existence to the very brink of collapse. Only one Celestial essence boldly accepts the calling to seek out the source of the encroaching evil and restore Harmony once again to Existence. Azrael, humble servant of Eternity, offspring of Existence, will stop at nothing to protect the Universe, mortal and immortal alike.

Author Links

Facebook

Website

Amazon 

~Morgan~

#MusicandMuse- Calm, Beloved- #PoetryandMusic

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Calm Beloved,

Sleep Enrapture thee,

Whisper deep

In this Loving Dream,

Close within

Our Enchanted embrace,

Beyond Time,

Before Chance,

Purest Heartbeat of place.

Calm, Beloved,

Sigh Soft and Sure,

Remember, A-slumber,

Together Ever More;

Arms entwined

And Hearts Unified,

As the Heavens Smile

And Midnight Sighed!

Calm, Beloved,

Passionate and Tender,

Always,

You,

I Ever Remember.

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~Morgan~

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Exquisite Original Music by Lisa Gerrard & Patrick Cassidy – Elegy

The Final Days of Doggerland by Mike Meier – A #CharacterInterview and #BookTeaser

In this fascinating stone age story based on archeological facts, a blue-eyed hunter-gatherer girl, Oane, uses her skill of crafting poisons to survive after being captured by a hostile tribe.

Migrating from the Black Sea area, Oane’s peaceful tribe is attacked by the Bollebarg tribe and their brutal leader, Viggo. The men are all killed and Oane is enslaved along with the other women and children. Her new life is difficult, and she dreams of escaping to a fertile land rumored to lie just across the North Sea.

Viggo hears about a poison her tribe used on their hunting arrows, and orders Oane to make the poison for him. Using the poison, the Bollebarg then attack other migrants and take more captives, including a young hunter named Nicu. Over time, Oane and Nicu grow close.

Meanwhile, Viggo plans to attack yet another tribe, but this time, there are dissenters among the Bollebarg who conspire to overthrow his reign of terror. Will Oane dare to defy the ruthless Viggo and help them? If they lose, it will mean certain death for all, and an end to her and Nicu’s dream of escape.

 

 

“The Final Days of Doggerland” by Mike Meier is the story of a young hunter-gatherer girl skilled in potions who is taken captive and dreams of escaping with a fellow captive. Usually we would interview the author to find out more about the story, but this time we let the story’s narrators speak for themselves.

Welcome, Tänka and Sinne. Can you please tell us a little more about the events, and what was going on in your minds as all of this unfolded?

Oh, certainly! Every human and every animal must have a purpose in life. We made it our mission to protect the people here by keeping watch over the surrounding forest. With our acute sense of hearing and discerning eyes, we never missed anything. No matter how distant the storm or how quiet the whisper, we noticed.

It was in the exercise of our duties that one day we noticed a slight derangement in the distance: other birds were disturbed, shrieking and flapping as they flew up in the air. Danger…? We wasted no time scouting in that direction. As we neared, we quickly spotted the source: a group of run-down-looking humans who must have traveled from far away.

But this was not the first time you saw humans coming from elsewhere, right?

Humans are wanderers, so we did see people besides our own from time to time. Usually, it didn’t end well for them once they arrived in our forest. Not because some evil spell took hold, but because dangerous animals prowled this forest. So did other people. Perhaps they were the greatest danger of all.

Can you tell us a little more about the main characters, Oane and Viggo?

So one of those travelers was Oane, who had blue eyes and long dark hair. She drifted left and right, touching and plucking the plants she passed along the way. She would become the focus of our attention when our Master captured her.

We were devoted to our Master, Viggo, the Chief of the Bollebarg tribe. He had been good to us ever since he took us from our parents’ nest. He built us a perch beneath the roof of his Great Hut, where we could roost at night or whenever we felt like it. And through him, we found a purpose—with our surveillance, we served not just Viggo but also the entire tribe. As reward for our labor, he fed us nuts and sometimes roast meat, our favorite. We couldn’t simply fly away and leave all that behind.

So you are the narrators, but did you also take an active role?

Well, it did so happen that we carried a warning to Oane which may have changed the course of the events.

We don’t wish to reveal how the encounter between Oane and Viggo ends, but it lead our departure from the Bollebarg tribe. We didn’t begrudge it as we understood the reasons why. The treats, especially the roast meat, were delectable, but we always knew deep down in our hearts that they couldn’t last a lifetime. After all, they were treats from humans . . . and we were beasts of the forest.

Is there something in particular that bothered you about the events?

Ahem, yes. There was one matter that left a bad taste in our beaks: we thought our purpose was to keep watch over the Bollebarg camp. While we faithfully exercised that duty, the humans never listened to us, no matter how hard we tried. All our watching, all our messages, had been lost and ignored by the very people we’d been trying to protect.

Is there something in particular that you learned from the events? And how did that affect your plans for the future?

We’d learned for sure that humans and beasts can never really live as one. Because of what Oane did, we had to return to our lives as beasts of the forest. Maybe we could find our parents, or find mates and rear young, living our days in harmony with those who surrounded us. Surely we’d find another purpose for our continued existence.

A brief video of Mike Meier reading a few lines and performing one of the “stone age” songs he wrote for the story: 

Mike Meier grew up in a blue-collar housing project in Germany. His grandfather was a 1930s traveling magician and fortune-teller known as Wladi-Kami. On his own since his teens, Mike has lived in several different countries, including Argentina and Japan, and has worked jobs such as washing dishes, repairing bicycles, and painting homes. When he is not writing books or award-winning screenplays, you’ll find him playing Latin and Flamenco guitar somewhere…or playing in a rock band. He holds a Master’s Degree in political science, as well as a Juris Doctor and Master of Laws.

You can find Mike in these places:

Amazon Author Page

The Final Days of Doggerland Amazon Link

Website

I want to thank Mike for taking time out of his busy schedule to share this amazing story with us.  I can’t wait to read it!

~Morgan~

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All images are created by Mike Meier and are used with kind permission

The Development of #CharacterDevelopment- Insights from #Author Ezekiel Eversand

I’ve recently created a group on Goodreads called The Source Book Club.  While reading through some of the INTRODUCTIONS, I came across this treasure, written by author Ezekiel Eversand

It began with this simple question:
What do you look for in a favourite book?  His answer was:  Character development. World building is great, but it should NEVER distract or take away from what matters most, which to me, is the characters. I definitely adhere to incorporate this virtue into my own writing. I think a good book has several shades of grey in its characters, and also never let’s you feels as if the heroes are invulnerable (I don’t think its entirely wrong of me to say that I enjoy a good, unexpected character death). Furthermore, to take it a step further, I prefer it when the “heroes” and the “villains” are not so clear, and that all of the characters have realistic justifications for their actions, rather than the simple good vs evil outtake.

Great stuff huh? I thought so too, so I asked him if he’d write a full post about it and he was happy to oblige.

Greetings all,

Please let the information below serve as supplementary assistance to aide as a character development guideline for your novel (or novels). I believe there are at least 7 major elements that come into the process of creating the characters for your story, and that there indeed is a sequence in which to prioritize first to ensure you forge better streamlined, more believable, and thoroughly interesting characters. Here they are:

1. The Purpose (Main or Support – POV does not have to mean Main Role)
– The first thing I believe you need to do when creating a character is to decide the point of them entirely. Are they what you might consider a main (someone who the story never takes its eyes off of, someone critical to the plotline), a support (someone to enhance the actual main character/characters, or even give a point of view of them when a support has its own POV), an ancillary (someone given a name and brief history and solid description that you plan to have companion the main & supports from time to time), or a “fodder” character (someone minor you’ve given a name for the sole purpose of evoking more drama from the reader when you inevitably kill them off).
– NOTE: If writing in POV style, you do NOT have to give your main a POV. Perhaps one of your main characters is too complex, knows too much that you don’t wish the reader to know so soon in the story, has a major plot twist planned you don’t want the reader knowing, or you just want to be purposely vague for the intrigue of it all. Give a POV to a solid supporting character. I do this often in my novels.
– Think like a developmental editor. Think like a devil’s advocate. Could your story do without this character? Would your story be better without this character? The reason you created this character should carve your story, become a part of it symbiotically – not distract. Never EVER create a POV that you feel the reader will feel: “Ah man, not this guy again…”

2. History:
– Once you’ve decided on the purpose of your characters for your novel, I am sure by now you have conjured some concept of them. Even more important than how they look (which I am sure is the most enjoyable part to create), you need to flesh them out. You need to know their history. If it helps, even create a mini-timeline of their life, which is something I do. Who were they raised by? Was it their parents or someone else? Who are their family members and are they in the story? Any significant relationships we should know about? Were they involved in any past major conflicts, such as wars or duels? Did something drastic happen to them to make them who they are today, or alter the way they current look like?

3. Description Evolution:
– This may be a flaw in that this is the first thing you think up. “A cool looking character”. Sure, you can do this first, and maybe you did on accident, but the prior two focus points should be covered soon after then if you bypassed them. But description should not just be about their current aesthetics, color features, the way they dress, the weapon (if any) that they bear … You should know about the evolution of their description as well. Are they going to lose a hand by the end of the first novel? Did something magical happen to them to make a white streak form in their hair. Are they going to acquire some nasty scar or cybernetic part at some point? Are they “weak character” but suddenly they are awarded with “powerful item” and now they look like “strong character”? You get the idea.

4. Relationships:
– This topic does not simply mean intimate relationships. It envelopes all relationships. With their closest companions, family members, and yes potential romances. If you are writing in multiple POV styles as I do, does “this character” ever cross paths with “that character” and how do they react with each other? What impact do other characters they are involved with have on them. Relationships can even be broad. Is your character sorely prejudice against another organization or type of people in your world because of their history?

5. Personality:
– Fun stuff, but a difficult part perhaps if your story has a ton of characters. Your characters should all seem uniquely different in the way they think. If you are writing with a traditional main character POV or clear chapter POVs, then my best tip for these is to incorporate inner monologue (I use italics to accentuate this in my novels). Inner monologue is a great way to show how the character truly feels in a non-verbal dialogue delivery system. Maybe your character is forced to act completely noble in front of their peers, but they secretly loathe it and you can express that better this way, as an example. Diverting from just introducing such a feature in your novel, is to of course, make the personality a part of the character-building process. As a practice, take a current or past job you’ve worked at perhaps, and think of yourself and everyone that worked there. Now, write down in your mind the different personalities, mannerisms, and motivations of each employee. Now try that on your own characters.

6. Knowledge Base:
– Very important topic not to be ignored … How much does your character know? In the old table-top RPG terms there was a sinful word everyone avoided – METAGAMING. Be fully aware of which characters are privy to which, and how much, information about your world and plotline. A good editor will slap your wrist quick from detouring from this.

7. Trajectory:
– Last on the list, but especially important if you are a writing a series, and where so many writers go wrong in a book series and a television series. Speaking to series authors specifically here, I am going to use a trilogy for the example. Before you begin writing Book 1 you should have at least some idea of the fate of the character (if they live) throughout Book 2 and Book 3. Whose paths will they cross, what conflicts will they have, what relationships will they build or be betrayed by? Geographically, take a map you are using for your story (whether its your own made-up world or our real world) and print it out or open it in a simple Paint program on your computer. My practice, is that I draw a line that each character will travel to as the chapters evolve and each book installment progresses.

I hope my own 7 topics of character development help! These are my no means the 7 Commandments of Characters, as I am no self-proclaimed expert. Creating characters is simply something I have always had a passion for. Looking forward to seeing what other authors have to share on this. And I will make myself available to any authors that feel they need help in this category for characters they are working on.

– Ezekiel Eversand

 

I am so thankful for the many talented authors I have the priviledge to know.  Thank you Zeke for taking time out of your busy writing schedule to share these invaluable insights with us!

Find Ezekiel here:

Amazon

 Instagram: @author_ezekieleversand

Facebook

Website

~Morgan~

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Cartoon by Grant Snider

Living Without You

Inevitability Hinging on Doubt,
Paradox of Patience, Entirely Without
Fear or Perception of what may Be,
Only Discerning You Should be with me.

Soul of my Soul,
Breath of my Breath,
Living without You,
Like drinking in Death.
Heartbeat of Heartbeat,
Sigh of my Sigh,
Standing on Loneliness,
Questioning Why.
Desire of Desire,
Passions Burning Flame,
I feel You Intrinsically,
We are the Same.

Inevitability, Heedless of Doubt,
Paradox of Patience, Entirely Without
Fear, Understanding what will Be,
Destiny Waiting, You Will Be With me.

~Morgan~
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Beautiful original artwork by: girltripped at deviantart.com

The Source #BookClub- An Open Invitation

 

I’d like to invite you to join The Source Book Club on Goodreads!

This is a new group where we run reading challenges, share new releases and reviews, will have discussion boards for BOOK CONTESTS, FREE CHAPTERS, CHARACTER SPOTLIGHTS, BEHIND THE SCENES INSIGHTS, COVER REVEALS, and of course GIVEAWAYS.

For Authors, we will also have a discussion group specifically to share tips and learn how to use GRs better.

https://www.goodreads.com/group/invite/1190135-the-source-book-club?invite_token=ZDdkNGUyZGMtOWI4YS00MDQzLWI3OWUtMjc2MzAwNjBlOWY5&utm_medium=email&utm_source=copypastegroup

Please stop by and have a look. We’re just getting started and would love to have you share a post or three about your books.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Thank you for your support!

~Morgan~