Crystal Storm's Blog, page 30

A Fairytale for Adults – Sneak Peek!

Here is the raw unedited part of the first chapter of my soon to be released free novella A Fairy Tale for Adults

Dear ,

 

I'd like to share with you a story that happened not so long ago. To adequately tell it, you'll have to allow me to suspend a few rules when it comes to communication in this sort of format. There are things I'll need to tell you as we progress into the story, things you must understand. How I know what I know about these people isn't important. What is important is yours to determine.

Confused yet? Excellent.

Are you ready?

Good. Let's begin.

 

- Daniel Snugmus

Chapter 1 – Meet The Crofts

"In my dream, the angel shrugged and said if we fail this time, it will be a failure of imagination. And then she placed the world gently in the palm of my hand." –Story People

 

 

Once upon a time…

No, wait. You're an adult. That's not catchy enough for you. One moment…

It was a dark and stormy n-

No, no. That won't do either. Just a second…

Richard Croft wasn't the type of man you'd see behind bars. Neither was his wife, Susan. In fact, the Crofts were not the type of pe­o­ple anyone would ever accuse of wrongful parenting. Regardless, that's exactly what the charge was against them. It was a very serious charge, punishable by – well, let's not get ahead of ourselves. We'll start at the beginning…

 

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          "Allie! Ethan! Let's go!" Richard stood at the bottom of the stairs. The rapid tap of his keys against the wooden banister was like a war drum, meant to urge his teenage children on.

"We're coming dad!" Allie's voice. Seconds later both she, and her older bro­t­h­­er Ethan appeared, double checking the contents of their back packs.

"What's all that stuff?" Richard raised an eyebrow that exposed his aging like his hair did; little strands of gray decorating the black.

"Stuff for our experiments," Ethan said matter of fact. "Dowsing Rods and a few crystals and a electromagnetic-"

"What's a dowsing rod?" Richard asked.

Ethan pulled two pieces of wire coat hangers out of his back pack as he reached the bottom of the staircase. He held them up to his father. "It's used to measure earth's energy field. I want to see how strong it is around the stones."

"The chambers are on ley lines too," Allie said.

Ethan nodded his agreement. "Exactly. They probably have some untapped power."

Richard's amusement with the conversation deepened the laugh lines around his mouth. "Powers huh?" He ushered his children outside, and locked the front door.

"Don't say it like that dad." Allie narrowed her eyes at him, giving him a very stern, grown-up type look. "Don't you know about Quantum Physics?"

"Is that what you're learning in school?" They walked over to an SUV where Susan Croft was standing, talking on her cell phone. She smiled at her children and mouthed: I'll be right there.

Richard glanced at his wife, and tapped his finger against his watch in an attempt to hurry her along too, then got in the driver's seat.

"No," Allie sighed as she and Ethan climbed into the back of the SUV. "They don't teach us about that type of stuff in school. We just memorize and regurgitate facts that we'll never use again in our life."

"They should though. It's way more interesting," Ethan pulled a copy of yes! Magazine out of his backpack.

"Hey regurgitate is a big word. Bet you learned it in school." Richard glanced at his daughter through the rear view mirror.

Allie rolled her eyes. "Totally missing the point, Dad."

"I know, I know. Well look as long as your independent research doesn't interfere with your homework you keep doing what you're doing."

Allie pulled out her iPod, the tell tale sign that a teenager had had enough of parental wisdom.

Ethan had long since stuck his nose into his magazine. He was twelve, four years younger than his sister, and unlike Allie he had given up trying to convince his parents that their world view was incredibly limited. Adults thought they knew everything – or at the very least more than their kids. Ethan was of the opinion that while that was true in some cases, something happened to adults that sucked out their imaginations. It was like the adult rite of passage to stop believing in the fantastical once they reached a certain age. Ethan was determined that neither he, nor his sister would ever get like that when they grew up.[1]

Maybe three minutes later, Susan climbed into the silent car. "Okay, I'm ready. Let's go."

Richard glanced over at Susan. "I thought we said no work today?"

"It wasn't work." Susan looked into the backseat and smiled widely at her children. "Ready to have some fun?"

"Oh yeah. I got the dowsing rods!" Ethan lowered the magazine so he could grin at his mom.

Susan laughed. "Cool."

Though he wanted to, Richard did not ask who Susan had been talking to on the phone. They were six months into their separation, and because of it, he felt like he didn't have that right anymore.

The family lapsed into a comfortable silence as they made the forty-five minute drive to the destination chosen by their children. In case you were not aware, scattered across New England there are hundreds upon thousands of miles of ancient stone circles, walls, rows, and chambers. There are so many of them, if you lined them up side by side, you could circle Earth more than ten times.

The Croft Family SUV finally stopped just a few yards back from two of these chambers. A stone wall ran alongside them to the east, right on the edge of the forest line. It was a pretty enough sight, with the multi-colored leaves of fall out from the trees, and scattered over the ground, decorating the earth.

"So cool!" Ethan had put away his magazine and now had his nose pressed against the window. The moment Richard turned off the car, Allie and Ethan scrambled out, and raced over to the chamber.

.         Richard and Susan (as adults do), were slower to get out of the car, taking their time to watch their children's excitement with affectionate amusement.

Richard tucked his hands into his jean pockets and stole a glance over at his wife. She looked good, she always did, but more than that she looked… happy. She looked content. It was chilly, and her cheeks were rosy because of the wind. Her shoulder length hair was slightly curled, loose, and free flowing. Her dark brown eyes were lively, much more so than they'd been the last two years of their marriage.

"So, what's his name?" Richard asked, breaking the silence.

Her eyes shot over to him. He couldn't read what was behind her stare. She finally said quietly, "We're not doing this today."

"I'm not doing anything. I was just… asking."

"You're never just asking, Richard."

"I promise I won't beat him up."

He was rewarded with the slightest twitch of her lips, a telltale sign of her amusement. She gave a tiny shake of her head, looking away from him, back at the children. "Jacob."

His jealously flared. It made his shoulders square, his nostrils flare, his jaw set. Richard nodded curtly, and because she was right, it really wouldn't be fair to the kids if they did this today, walked away from her.

Susan could feel his reaction before she stole a glance at him as he walked away from her and confirmed it.

Susan sighed. They act like children sometimes; adults, especially when they're hurt. And like children, Richard had made an assumption that wasn't true. But, Susan hadn't corrected him either, and perhaps she should have. Who knows, but let's continue.

"Guys you gotta come see this!" Ethan's overly excited voice carried itself out of the stone chamber.

Susan caught up with Richard, and let him lead the way. The doorway was typical, about 3'3 feet wide, but short, only 5'4 feet high. They had to duck passing through it. They were able to straighten when they got into the chamber, but the ceiling was still low, so much that there was maybe an inch between it and Richard's head. There was nothing remarkable about the inside of the chamber. Except that it was a lot cleaner than either Susan or Richard expected but that was a passing thought. Sunlight streamed in through the one window, spreading the light perfectly. The stone walls were smooth, the floor sprinkled with the occasional leaf that blew in through the window.

Ethan had out the dowsing rods. He held them crossed lightly over top of one another, and was walking slowly around the perimeter of the chamber.

Allie had out her video camera and was panning around in a circle.

"How cool is this place?" Ethan grinned over at his parents.

"Very cool. Getting any readings?" Smiling, Susan walked over to their son.

Richard walked over to Allie, "Here, give me the camera so you can get in the shot."

"Wait. You and mom have to get in the shot first Dad," Allie said, backing up and panning the camera over to him. "I want to take a picture too."

Richard and Susan walked over to the middle of the chamber. There is sometimes an awkward moment when two people who haven't touched each other in what seemed like a very long time are forced into intimacy. Not because they don't want too, but because they do. And, as adults are prone to do, they've overcomplicated something so simple.

So, there they stood, nearly shoulder to shoulder their smiles a little strained.

Ethan glanced over at his parents, and could sense how uncomfortable they were immediately (children are very in tune to those sorts of things in case you didn't know). Like children often do, he decided to make it worse. "Get closer mom and dad."

"We'll block your light if we do," Richard said, attempting to prolong the inventible.

Allie rolled her eyes. "Seriously if you two don't get closer I'm gonna banish you to another realm where you're permanently stuck together."

Allie and Ethan didn't realize it, but the moment Allie said "banish you to another realm," the chamber did what it's meant to do, which meant that and Susan and Richard Croft disappeared.

[1] Did you make that promise to yourself when you were a child trying to explain to your parents that your imaginary friend was real? Did you keep it? Hmm…

 

Writer looking for assistant!

Author DCS is in dire need of someone to help with tedious administrative tasks that are taking her away from other creative projects. In exchange for a five hour work week that can be done from the comfort of your own home, DCS is offering real world industry knowledge into independent publishing, science fiction writing, genre blending, comic book writing and script writing.

This is the perfect position for someone looking to break into independent or self-publishing, that would rather learn about the industry from someone who is knee deep in it, then read from a book.

If the exchange of knowledge for an hour a day of your time seems like a good deal please email me the author directly at dcs [at] svtpublishing [dot] com.

A Fan Letter I had to Share…

I woke up this morning to a truly awesome fan letter from a woman whose read both the Synarchy novels. Her response is the epitome of why I write.  Don't get me wrong, I want to have all my bills paid and the ability to use the world as my playground like a curiosity stricken five year old without having to worry about money like everybody else, but really responses like this are so much better than the almighty dollar.

And to the woman who wrote this: no no, thank you! The next time I'm having one of those "why am I doing this again" kinda bad days I'll remember  this email.

And if this doesn't convenience you book readers to take a chance on the novels I don't know what will

He recently let me borrow his copies of Synarchy 1 & 2 and all I can say is….wow.  Thank you SO MUCH for writing these novels.  I swear we must share some of the same pieces of star dust because every word you wrote resonated on so many different levels of my being.  It's like you took all the ideas, facts, and theories that have been violently swirling around my (and I'm sure many other's) head and channeled them nto a wealth of information; gift wrapped in a flawlessly written, spine tingling fiction!  I absolutely love how you touch on Monarch Programming, yet keep Kayla's humanity so tangible.  The mix between the characters motives and their interior emotions that drive them hang in perfect balance. I won't even begin to go on about how incredibly and beautifully written the story between Simone and Caleb is!  Haha anyway.  I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your books, and how much they helped re-spark my inspiration.  It's also very encouraging, because from the looks of it, it seems you do all your publishing and marketing on your own.  The fact that no big corporations have touched these beautiful pieces of work is what made these books all the more powerful and personal to me.

I know how much research, time, and energy went into the development of these

stories. Again…thank you for writing them!  I wish you well in your studies and

(im)patiently await the next installment.  =)

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To get copies of the novels visit SVT Publishing

Synarchy Book 1: The Awakening Sample Chapter!

Synarchy Book 2: The Ascension – Sneak Peek!

Occupy Wall Street = Lazy. No concept of hard work. Get a job.

Now that I have your attention…

I'm writing this blog post in tears, because I just watched a few OWS protestors, sitting on the ground, surrounded by police linking arms. And then I watched the police roughly grab one man, who continues to do nothing but link arms. And then the cop starts wildly punching the guy to try to get him to stop linking arms. The protestor never swings back. He never gets aggressive. He takes it, and does nothing but try to hold onto his friend.

Wow. Wow.

This is what comes when you act through fear instead of love. This is what happens when you leave your heart center, the place that knows what's right and what's wrong. This is why we occupy; because the image below, no longer belongs in this world.

84 Yr Old Activist Pepper Sprayed

I know I've fooled you with the title. You probably came here hoping to read about how OWS is just fuckin retarded. But, I'm asking you to stick with me the length of this post because I'm a person that grew up with a mother who is the epitome of doing what you need to do to take care of your family. I grew up with this amazing work ethic inspired by my mother's strength. I grew up being taught to ask important questions, to think for myself, to blaze a trail instead of fitting in, to speak truth. I'm not lazy, though I certainly can be. I'm a small business owner, busting my ass to make it work. I grew up with a parent who doesn't always agree with me, but has always encouraged me to speak when I needed too, but to speak intelligently. My mother will ask hard questions about my views to make sure their founded in fact, not fancy.

So, let's get real.

Let me ask a question for all you parents out there – do you truly believe we have a fair and just system of government that is not influenced at all by corporate money? If you truly believe that, stop reading. Nothing I say will convince you. Until you start paying attention to that twitch you know is there, it doesn't matter what facts I present you with – you will not hear them.

For those of you who do not believe we have a fair and just system, let's continue. Have you not taught your children that if they see something wrong they should fix it? If you spill milk clean it up. If you open it, close it. Always do your best. Stand in integrity. Speak your truth. Did you teach your children these things?

Why then do you not support your children when they are taking your lessons to the highest goal they possibly can? Why so compliant, why so willing to accept this is just the way it is? Why not try to change it? Why not try to make a fair system, a true democracy? Why not give your support? Especially when there are things in place we could replace this with? We don't have to reinvent the wheel, we just have to start doing what's right. Why is that met with such cold condescending?

I've heard a lot of people complain about OWS because every now and then you'll talk to some stoned out, (insert your favorite stereotype here) that's using the movement as an excuse not to fix their life. Look, this movement is huge. I make no excuses for anyone. Yes, within the occupy movement there are lazy people who just don't want to get a job, that believe they are owed something. But that's not the heart of the movement, and it isn't inspired by laziness. The heart of the movement wants change.

No, there is no list of demands. We're not making demands. We are leading change. My step-father said to me once in discussion about this movement that we can't change anything because we don't have the authority too. That, in my opinion is a gross miss understanding of what democracy truly is, and we've got it in spades in this country. I am the people. I am the informed electorate that is critical for a true democracy. I absolutely 100% do have the authority to make changes. It is my responsibility that when something is flawed, to seek that change. To offer solutions. And there are so many solutions, which is what drives me absolutely friggin insane about people who don't support the movement.

Timebanks. Resource Based Economy. Local General Assemblies that solve community problems. Sharing. Cooperatives. Benefit Corps. Renewable Energy. Peace.

If there are a million ways to do things better, why don't we embrace them? We fight to keep the bullshit. Why. WHY?

A family member of mine put up this post on their facebook wall. It makes me want to bang my head against the wall. Here's the picture.

My response to that? Missing the point, missing the point, missing the point!

Point: Corporations influence politics. If you have enough money, you can buy an election. That means policies that affect EVERYONE are decided by the rich. That is not democracy.

I could go through a whole blog, hell I could write a book detailing the problems with the system but I'm not going to because the entire point of this movement besides change is SELF SUSTAINABILITY. That means it is your job and responsibility as a world citizen to know the reality of what is going on. (Hey parents, you know how you use to make us get up and get you the remote? How about you start asking your young occupy wall streeter to give you the 411 if you're too tired to get it yourself? No judgment, I swear. Just saying).

Point: We wage war for profit. We kill people for profit. We hurt nature for profit. It is corrupt and not always fair and you know it. You know it. And now that people are trying to change it, really change it, how dare you call them lazy or whiners?

I completely understand that some people need a ten point outline telling them how to live their life. You're not wrong if you want that. You're not wrong if you want fancy cars, and golf on Sundays, and board room meetings, and to wear expensive suits, and fine dining and whatever other luxury. That's fine. I'm not judging you. I'm asking you not judge those who want change. I'm asking you not to judge people that fight against the company who made that suit you're wearing because they made it hurting someone else. I'm asking you not to judge the people that fight against the gasoline company that powers your car because they're rapping the environment and they don't care who they hurt. I'm asking you not to judge the people that want the kind of change that will allow you and (keyword) everyone else to live life in a fair, just system that supports everyone, not just the ones with heavy bank accounts.

The Occupation has no beef with any millionaire who has earned their fortune through honest hard work and intelligence. Booyah for you! Yay! No seriously, yay! Please share your example with the rest of those hard working young students that want to do the same.

The Occupation is trying to change things so everyone can have their cake and eat it too. Wouldn't it be nice to know that suit you just bought was made through sustainable means? That neither person nor planet was harmed during its production? That it's backed by heart and integrity? Wouldn't you like to vote, knowing that it counts, and that the man or woman standing in front of you isn't influenced by a big corporation that gave the most money to its campaign but by truth, with your best interest at heart?

You might be tired. You might have other concerns and don't want to participate. Fine. We've got this, trust us. But instead of bashing the change makers why not support their effort for change? Guide them if you feel tactics need to be changed, or another point of view is required. Scold those lazy ones you see that are not about change, but about using this as an excuse not to take control of their lives.

That is what we want. What we are moving towards. The faith, trust, and LOVE in ourselves and each other to correct the ship. We want the foot off our necks so we can live the dream. We wish to no longer be controlled by a very few who don't care. This will not stop, and that fear you feel is not needed. In the world the occupation is trying to rebuild, there is room for the 1% and the 99%.

Can you say that about the current system?

Thought so.

It's Just That Good

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Once Upon A Time is, at its core, a story about hope. "For us, that's what a fairytale is. It's that ability to think your life will get better. It's why you buy a lottery ticket—because if you win you get to tell your boss that you're quitting and you get to move to Paris or wherever and be who you always wanted to be. And that's Cinderella, right? One day she's sweeping up and the next she's going to the ball. Adam and I just wanted to write about something hopeful that for one hour a week allows one to put everything aside and have that feeling that your dreams just may come true."

- Edward Kitsis, Co-Creator/Executive Producer

You'll have to pardon my language but I've got to write it.

Fucking Brilliant. Brilliant.

That's my ten second elevator pitch about ABC's new TV Series, Once Upon a Time.

Being both a novel and script writer I'm pretty critical about TV shows. I don't watch many, and when I do I'm insanely picky. Insofar, after two episodes, Once Upon a Time has lived up to any expectations I have about TV watching and more.

The premise is simple – all of our favorite fairy tale characters, Snow White, Rumpelstiltskin, Pinocchio, Sleepy Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, exist in one world that has been thrust into the "real world" because The Evil Queen from Snow White is (as well knew) a mean bitch. And none of them remember who they are.

There are so many elements to the storytelling that Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz have put together it's just wonderful. My inner child lit up as I watched all the fairy tale characters I cherished come to life again in a truly engaging story. I was grinning a lot at the TV. I kept grinning when it was over. Need more now please!

Once Upon A Time has employed something I absolutely love and inject into my novels too – humanizing the villain. You learn that there are some lines even Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty) won't cross. You learn that The Evil Queen (Snow White) has a father that she loved. Not only that, but that her beef with Snow White isn't just about whose hotter – apparently Snow White is responsible for the death of someone the Evil Queen loved, and now she's just a bitter bitch who can focus on nothing but revenge. There are some truly poignant moments with the Queen where you wonder if things had gone differently would she be so angry? There are even moments where you can almost relate to what she's feeling when she says things like, (and I'm paraphrasing) "I can't live like this anymore." I love that. I love it when the "evil" of a character isn't so black and white, and there are human like reasons that have thrust them into the dark side.

I'm not going to go into much more detail about Once Upon a Time because you just need to friggin watch it. How much longevity is built into the series? I couldn't say. Two, three, seasons? At this point, I don't particularly care. There's a ton of storytelling to do, so many back stories to visit, and lots of questions to answer.

"We kept circling back to the idea of fairytales. The very first stories that you hear when you're a kid. They're full of magic and heroics and fear and joy. But we also found fairytales are full of all these unanswered questions. Like why is Grumpy grumpy? Why is Geppetto so lonely that he'd actually carve a little boy out of wood? And did the Evil Queen really try to kill Snow White simply because of vanity? With Once Upon A Time, we set out to explore those questions and not re-tell these stories but attempt to dig beneath what we all know and try to discover something new."

- Adam Horowitz, Co-Creator/Executive Producer

We don't know how Emma can break the curse, only that she's suppose too. We can only speculate at Rumpelstiltskin's true motives. And there is that little deal mom made with the character that could make things difficult for Emma at some point. Did I mention that I'm completely addicted and I want more now please? No, not next Sunday now! Need another writer Once Upon A Time? I am so down.

As it stands right now, Once Upon a Time is a fantastically told, wonderfully engaging show that lights up the imagination. If you must put a book down to watch TV, you need to watch this. It does what I did in The Synarchy Series in a different way; brings magic into the real world and posits that heroes, and villains, and true love, and magic are just a belief away.

Fuckin Brilliant.

Synarchy Book 3: The 13th Skull

An Epic, Science Fiction Adventure Absolutely Free

There are so many pro's and con's as an independent author when you start giving away your works for free.   But, I've decided the first novel in The Synarchy Series ought to be yours for no charge at all.

And don't hesitate to write a review when you're done. I love hearing from the fans!

Why the Human Spirit Matters to Dori Roberts

For the last few years, spiritual medium Dori Roberts, a writer with The Spirit Matters, has called Gettysburg, Pennsylvania home. In her journey, she believes "it is the spirit that matters." She explained that when she moved to Gettysburg she said she had a gut feeling about the place and she decided to stay. Now, the mother talked with The Mind of DCS about how she learned to trust her inner voice growing up in the small Bergen County, New Jersey town of Hasbrouck Heights.

"I have very fond memories of where I grew up in Hasbrouck Heights," said Roberts. "It was here that I became a medium and a spiritualist. When I first discovered I could see the persons from the other side, it was awe-inspiring. Today, it's just day to day life."

Roberts grew you up in a town that was traditionally Catholic, with two Jewish families. "It was a tight knit community and I miss it terribly," she said. She explained that growing up in an atmosphere helped "shape me" and it encouraged her to become close to people.

It was in 1968 when her father passed away and Roberts was just 12 years-old. Her father still made his presence known to his family and Roberts said her mother decided to sell the house and give the family a new start. Eventually Roberts went off to college and she discovered more and more she was able to see people who had passed on.  When her husband, a member of the Bergen County Police, retired in 2003, the Roberts moved to the Pennsylvanian town.

"When I first moved to Gettysburg, I would dress up in the period costumes and I would give the tours, but because I could see the spirits of the people lived the homes or died on the battlefield, I was able to deviate from the script and tell people what happened," she said.

Ultimately, she said she had a hard time making a living off the suffering of the dead and decided it was best to use her gifts in more constructive means.

"It seems people these days are becoming more and more depressed and with good reason," she said. "People are having a hard time dealing with economics or the job market and even the seasonal changes. They want consistency in their lives and they want hope."

And the hope that Roberts shares is that there is an existence in the next realm. She explains that she sees regularly proof that this life is just a part of the journey of the human existence. "I have been there too," she said. "I was a mother who lost a child to SIDS, when I left home I was on my own and what I have found is that a lot of things did not make sense. It either will make you or break you."

Her goal is to help "make" people. On her Facebook she regularly writes messages of encouragement and positive thoughts for people to take with them on their day. For example, she wrote, "There are no tears that laughter will not dry, no lies that the truth will not reveal, and no pain enough love will not heal."

Routinely, she is heard every week on the "Psychic Switch" with host Beckah Boyd on TenacityRadio.com on Wednesdays. "We all have an inner voice that is connected to the Creator and it will guide us in the right direction," said Roberts. "I want people to know they can trust it. It's when people begin to question that inner voice that they go wrong the way and I am here to say, it is okay to trust it and yourself."

These days, Roberts enjoys spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren and she also enjoys being a mother to a menagerie of animals. "We have seven dogs," she said. "And we love them. They're just like our kids."

And today, while she has come a long way from Bergen County, New Jersey, she remembers learning to trust that inner voice.

Image courtesy of Dori Roberts.

To see more quotes by Dori Roberts, visit her site here and to hear her on "The Psychic Switch" with Beckah Boyd, check out the archives here.