Gail Z. Martin's Blog: Disquieting Visions, page 31
April 2, 2012
Paranormally Speaking
By Tina R. McSwain
Do we do enough for our community?
If you think the answer is No, then I have an opportunity for you. At this years ConCarolinas, (June 1-3, 2012 at The University Hilton – Charlotte, NC) they will again be holding a Blood Drive to benefit the American Red Cross.
If you plan on going, why not consider giving a pint of blood to help save a life (actually, up to 3 lives can be saved by one pint of blood).
So, starve a vampire, give blood! Some helpful links below:
Please check out this web page if you are a first time donor…
http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/first-time-donors
Please check out this web site to view donation FAQ’s…
http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/donation-faqs
Please check out this web page to view eligibility requirements…
http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/eligibility-requirements/eligibility\
-criteria-topic
You can also go to http://www.redcrossblood.org to get more info on blood
donating.
March 30, 2012
Who are your favorite heroes?
by Gail Z. Martin
I did a post recently for Orbit’s blog about some of my favorite SF/F heroes. You can read it here:
Of course, there’s not enough room in one blog post for all my favorites. I’ve been a Batman fan since I was a kid (goes with the vampire thing, I’m sure). And along with that certainly goes other favorite vamps like Lestat (because Louis is too whiny), Barnanas Collins (the Jeremy Iron’s version), Acheron, the Count Saint-Germain and even Sinclair from Mary Janice Davidson’s Undead series.
Big surprise that mages also turn up on my favorites list. I was pleased to watch Harry Potter grow into a strong heroic character. I liked Belgarion from the David Edding’s series, pretty much all of Mercedes Lackey’s main characters, and Camber of Culdi.
I like heroes who have self doubt, who aren’t arrogant in their power, who are conflicted and question themselves, which keeps a hero from becoming a vigilante. I want heroes who are believable as real people, not just cardboard cutout, square-jawed action figures. I also want to see heroes who have meaningful personal relationships, someone who has people he or she truly cares about, who has a reason bigger than him/herself to act.
That’s what I try for in my own heroic characters, although I think each of them would try to wiggle out of the term “hero.” So here’s where I’ll turn it over to you. What makes your heroes tick?
March 29, 2012
Where fact & fantasy meet: Remote viewing
By T.W. Fendley
I love to read stories that explore possibilities, which is why speculative fiction is my favorite genre. I get a kick out of following someone’s journey to a place only their imagination could take them. I’m also fascinated by the scientific and metaphysical underpinnings–that’s what makes these tales “snap” for me. What I’ve discovered is that reality is often stranger than we think.
The thrill of walking the narrow and sometimes muddied path between reality and imagination is what keeps me writing speculative fiction. I wrote most of my historical fantasy novel, ZERO TIME, in 2007, after I took early retirement. With more time to do things that interested me, I also took a more hands-on approach to studying metaphysical concepts.That included becoming more involved with an Edgar Cayce book study group I had joined a couple of years earlier. If you’re not familiar with him, the “sleeping prophet” was America’s most documented psychic. My mother had told me about Cayce when I was a teen, but this was my first chance to talk with people who studied his work. In my book, I patterned much of Omeyocan culture on the metaphysical concepts I was learning from them and the books we read.
My first attempts at remote viewing were during an online course offered by the Association for Research & Enlightenment (Cayce’s organization) in November 2007. Which brings me back to my comment that reality is often stranger than we think. Remote viewing (RV) provides a perfect example.To give you a non-technical definition, RV is a scientific protocol developed by the military during the Cold War. Viewers learn how to enhance communication between the conscious and subconscious mind, and develop their skill at describing places and events across time and space. It’s an ability most people have, but some are more talented than others. Here’s what remote viewing looks like when someone really good does it: Pam Coronado
Remote viewing inspired parts of ZERO TIME. For instance, early in the book, the expedition leader Xmucane is trying to find her mate, Xpiyacoc, by teaching others how to use crystals to enhance telepathic communication.
“You can’t just think it, you have to feel it. Communication flows through dimensions that don’t follow linear time or geographic limits that we perceive … Now focus on the [crystal] orb you just created and clear your mind of all thoughts … It’s hard to receive messages that don’t make sense to you. You have to overcome the doubts expressed by your own inner voice to get to the true guidance of your higher self.”
‘But a rainbow-colored serpent?’ Starry Skirt asked.
‘Even that,’ Xmucane said.”
My studies of remote viewing continued in 2009 with a weekend workshop at the Monroe Institute on “intuitive investing” using a technique called Associative Remote Viewing (ARV). I’d also been looking into quantum entanglement and wondering what it would look like in practice. ARV gave me the chance to experience some of those connections across time and space, ones I’d only imagined in ZERO TIME. Since 2009, I’ve documented more than 700 viewing sessions with statistically significant results showing a higher than random rate of success. Some sessions by me and others are shown on a blog I host, www.ARV4fun.com.
I’d love to hear about situations you’ve encountered that defy conventional explanations. Do you write about them?
Thanks, Gail, for being a Party Host in my Virtual Book Tour Party!
The ZERO TIME 2012 Virtual Book Tour Party is here!
To celebrate, T.W. Fendley is giving away a Maya-Aztec astrology report, a Mayan Winds CD, ZERO TIME tote bag and fun 13.0.0.0.0. buttons. Check out the prizes and other posts on the Party Page.
3 ways to enter (multiple entries are great!)
1) Leave a comment here or on any of the other PARTY POSTS listed on the Party Page.
2) Tweet about the Virtual Party or any of the PARTY POSTS (with tag #ZEROTIME2012)
Example: Join the Virtual Party for historical #fantasy novel ZERO TIME by @twfendley for a chance to win prizes! #ZEROTIME2012 http://bit.ly/x91NgP
3) Facebook (tag @T.W. Fendley) about the Virtual Party. (NOTE: tag must have periods to work)
Example: Join the Virtual Party for historical fantasy novel ZERO TIME by @T.W. Fendley for a chance to win prizes! http://twfendley.com/?page_id=510
You can find ZERO TIME at:
Ebook $4.99
Amazon Kindle,
AllRomance/OmniLit
Fictionwise (multiformat)
Nook
Paperback $16.95
Amazon
Barnes and Noble,
Main Street Books (St. Charles, Mo.)
Garden District Book Shop (New Orleans)
Octavia Books (New Orleans)
March 28, 2012
It’s the end for me…
by
Crymsyn Hart
…now what the heck do I do?
Well congratulations, the first think you need to do is take a moment and breathe. You did it. You made it to the end of the book. Bet you never thought you would because your characters wanted to keep talking until they were blue in the face. Well you finished the story and are left with the question of where do I go from here?
The first thing you want to do is think about editing. If you’re a first time writer, then you can think about hiring someone to edit the book for you. Of course that can cost a lot of money. Or maybe you have friend who is an English major and is good with grammar. Have them look it over. However you go about this, make sure you do your very best to polish the manuscript before submitting it to publishers or agents, depending on the route you want to go.
Polishing the manuscript of course is spell checking, punctuation mistakes, and even deleting some of the scenes you have written. Or adding them in. It all depends on where you are going with your book. Personally I put on Track Changes in Word when I start self-editing so I can see what I’m deleting. I normally end up cutting out more than what I put back in. I have a tendency to sometimes overwrite and then have to delete the repetition. But editing is hard work and takes time, then again so does working over a book to make it the best that you can before you send it off.
I warn you ahead of time.
Your brain will hurt when you are done.
Happy Editing.
October 24, 2011
Days of the Dead Online Event
annual Days of the Dead Online Event.
This year it's more exciting than ever, with new book giveaways, free
chapter and short story excerpts, guest author down...
Broad Pod: October's Vampires
Broad Pod: October's Vampires
June 22, 2011
Welcome to the 2012 Hawthorn Moon Sneak Peek of The Dread!
invasion force from across the Northern Sea led my a dark spirit mage in the
name of ancient, vanquished gods. Summoner-...
January 27, 2011
The Sworn is in bookstores and online Feb. 1!
October 22, 2010
The 2010 Days of the Dead Blog Tour is Back with All-New Extras!
Disquieting Visions
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