Sara Ellie MacKenzie's Blog, page 8

#BehindTheScenes 42 - Meaning of Life

I mean, Monty Python had it down pat too. This #BehindTheScenes does not speak of anything specific. This edition will cover Douglas Adams explaining the meaning of life from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Obviously, I do not own this material and it is copyrighted. Enjoy!

"Good morning," said Deep Thought at last.

"Er... Good morning, O Deep Thought," said Loonquawl nervously, "do you have... er, that is..."

"An answer for you?" interrupted Deep Thought majestically. "Yes. I have."

The two men shivered with expectancy. Their waiting had not been in vain.

"There really is one?" breathed Phouchg.

"There really is one," confirmed Deep Thought.

"To Everything? To the great Question of Life, the Universe and Everything?"

"Yes."

Both of the men had been trained for this moment, their lives had been a preparation for it, they had been selected at birth as those who would witness the answer, but even so they found themselves gasping and squirming like excited children.

"And you're ready to give it to us?" urged Loonquawl.

"I am."

"Now?"

"Now," said Deep Thought.

They both licked their dry lips.

"Though I don't think," added Deep Thought, "that you're going to like it."

"Doesn't matter!" said Phouchg. "We must know it! Now!"

"Now?" inquired Deep Thought.

"Yes! Now..."

"Alright," said the computer and settled into silence again. The two men fidgeted. The tension was unbearable.

"You're really not going to like it," observed Deep Thought.

"Tell us!"

"Alright," said Deep Thought. "The Answer to the Great Question..."

"Yes...!"

"Of Life, the Universe and Everything..." said Deep Thought.

"Yes...!"

"Is..." said Deep Thought, and paused.

"Yes...!"

"Is..."

"Yes...!!!...?"

"Forty-two," said Deep Thought, with infinite majesty and calm.

~Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Chapter 27

#FindOutFriday Answers 19

Wow, I cannot believe I am seeing everything bloom. I am also excited about the upcoming release of Revolution. Soon, #FindOutFriday will be filled with references from that book. I cannot wait to share that with you! For now, I have some referencing...

Gunpowder - Other than the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, many references to the use of gunpowder in the 16th and 17th centuries were concerning burnings. If someone paid enough, gunpowder would be attached to a prisoner to hasten the end. It was supposed to help prepare them from the agonies of the fire. In Through the Meadow, this was talked about in an instance, where accused witches were burnt. This would not be the only time...

British Isles/Ireland - The interchangeable wars and governments that ruled the British Isles (Britain, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) were my basis for Klenard and Tommel. There was one land, two kingdoms, and one king to rule them all ultimately. Liberation was generally in the hands of the government and not one monarch, like Nora dealt with in The Circle is Broken. In real life, I believe it's an act of Parliament and votes from the people.

Frances Walsingham - A spy in the first Elizabethan England (16th century), Walsingham was the inspiration for Jerry the Elmwood in the first three books. Skilled in espionage, Walsingham, much like Jerry, protected his mistress and uncovered several plots. The two characters also shared the complete faith their mistresses held for them. Death might have been their relief, but the women - queens real and fictional - were saddened by their passings.

That's all for now, everyone. Namaste! Have a great weekend!

#BackToHistory #EnglishHistory #GunpowderAndTreason #Heretics #HomeRule #Spies #IndieAuthor #NewBritain

Welcome, Everyone!

I am beginning to realize that this is going to be a regular thing. Apologies to everyone who has read this again and again. With the onset of new followers, I have to remind myself that not everyone knows what is going on.

Easy part: I am Sara Ellie MacKenzie, indie author and owner of the nonprofit CT Authors Partnership. I write lots of things (you name it), currently an epic fantasy/action adventure series. I am going to be releasing book 4 in this series very soon.

I do many things on this blog: #BehindTheScenes, #FindOutFriday and more. I talk about my chronic illnesses. Sometimes, I put up spoilers from my upcoming books and tell some news. I like taking suggestions for what readers want to know too. And then, there are posts like this, where I talk about me.

I have hardly any rules here. Be kind. If you disagree, eye roll and scroll. If you must debate, be respectful. I do not answer direct messages on social media. I will comment here or on social media. You can also email me at saramckenzie1982@gmail.com.

I hope you find the happiness and peace within you. May you be blessed in light and love. Namaste!

#Welcome #YouAreSafe #IndieAuthor #MomAndWife #NewBritain

#BehindTheScenes 41 - Other Authors

Yes. I was getting to this point. I have too many to name that have influenced me. Much like artists of all kinds, authors have shaped who I viewed the world and evolved my journey as an author. Early childhood saw epic fantasy mostly. Then, it moved to science fiction and doom. There were dreams and wishes in there too.

Frank Herbert - Dune...what a series. No, I have not seen the movies yet, but I have the original 6 books. Frank Herbert defined what science fiction was for me. Not coked up, 80's battles where you see Sting and Patrick Stewart. I am talking about the actual series, imagined in your head, and all of it discussing fate and free will. Who is going to prove that destiny does not exist? Or, is every decision bound to lead to one's fate? To me, Herbert was the godfather of George R.R. Martin, in the way that you have to concentrate or you will lose track.

Anne McCaffery - I don't remember who was into the world of Pern other than my father (I think a family friend). But I remember picking up Dragonriders of Pern and was fascinated by their fight against Thread. Never mind that the series spanned several books and off-series! I was challenged not only by the adult themes of love, betrayal, death and family, but also courage, integrity, sacrifice and new beginnings. Any series intrigued me!

Langston Hughes - I've mentioned this poet many times. I read much of his work in middle school. It was later on, in high school, that my appreciation grew. It began with A Raisin in the Sun, the play by Lorraine Hansberry. In the beginning, she explained that her inspiration was from the poem "Harlem (A Dream Deferred)". After that, I researched Hughes more and found his plights and commentary to be just as difficult and groundbreaking today as it was in his day. #BlackLivesDoMatter everyone.

There will be more lists like this in the future. Namaste, everyone! Have a great day!

#AuthorMusings #Inspiration #OtherAuthorsMatter #AMillionWorlds #EpicFantasy #Poetry #ScienceFiction #IndieAuthor #NewBritain

#FindOutFriday Answers 18

Hello, everyone, and Happy (Good) Friday! These are the answers to the #TuesdayTrivia questions. How many did you get right? Let me know in the comments section below!

Vlad III of Wallachia - I have said many times that King Gerald from Casting Shadows was like Henry VIII of England with his many wives. There was another ruler I used. I based some of his ruthlessness from the fabled Vlad III, also known as Vlad the Impaler. This vengeful ruler was not only the inspiration for the novel Dracula, but was historically ruthless. I think the nickname says it all. Ella Enchanted - The book, not the movie, of course. The story is a retelling of Cinderella and features the main character's friend and later love interest, Prince Char. Name sound familiar? It's because it's the nickname of the King Consort of Klenard, Charlemagne, Nora's husband. The name stuck with me for years. When I created the character of Charlemagne, I knew that the nickname was perfect. Caribbean - The area south of the US was the inspiration for the Kingdom of Jast. The warmth, central location, and people were mixed together to form the Jastese people. I borrowed from many cultures and the history of the indigenous peoples there. More of this will be featured in the upcoming novels, From Across the Sea and In Fiery Autumn Dress.

Namaste, everyone! Have a great day!

#History #Geography #Legends #FavoriteBooks #Childhood #Dracula #Horror #Honor

Chronically Writing: Guilt

Today is just one of those days.

It was not bad outside. The sun was out and the wind calmed down. Calvin wanted to go outside. My friend's dog, MJ, was out and Calvin loves the dog. I told him to grab his hat, coat and sneakers. Out the door we went. I was watching him from my back stoop and then was playing with him and MJ. A friend was outside and my husband came home from work.

But after everyone left, it was just me and Calvin. I was tired already and playing tired me out more. Calvin was growing bored and played on the outdoor glass table (it was secured). Then, it was getting colder and the sun began to set. I told Calvin it was time to go in.

Normally, I would have embraced all of spring. Ran through the mud. Raced Calvin. Kicked more balls. I would have danced because it was getting warmer.

But the weather changed all of that, It is going to rain here tomorrow and I can feel the barometric pressure change. Calvin was disappointed, of course, but he enjoyed what was inside. I also promised more time outdoors if it's nice Sunday. We usually walk to the park.

It's the guilt about chronic illness that gets to me the most.

The things I cannot do with my son and having to explain to him why I cannot chase him anymore and handle the outdoors. Having my body change so drastically in as few as twenty minutes. I have not figured out how to find another way around it. So far, I've been adaptable and found other methods to do everyday tasks - washing the dishes, folding laundry, even typing on a computer or a tablet. Getting the energy to play is another story.

Just to note: my husband went to work immediately on our kitchen sink after he came home, which has not been working. This was why he could not help and take the child. Not to mention, I try to give him time alone to chill out from work. I could ask friend, but there was that guilt. Yes, I could have asked for help, but a lifetime of abuse makes me believe that I had to do it alone.

Yes, that is partially why I do not like asking for a babysitter either, unless we have to.

Trauma has a lot of guilt associated with it. It's not being enough for those you love. It's finding fault with yourself year after year, hoping to find some way to make ourselves perfect. It's admitting where you are wrong and fixing that - the people pleasing, hovering, love bombing. Those are the dark side of nice.

And I always have to remind myself too: it's not me and it never is about me.

Namaste, everyone!

#ChronicIllness #OffDay #GuiltyMom #Indoors #SpecialNeeds #FickleWeather #IndieAuthor #NewBritain

Chronically Writing: Truisms III

You thought I'd stop at 2 posts of Truisms?

I checked. I did not post these yet. But there is a bonus truism. Inspired by the picture I found through Wix. Thanks to Stevie Nicks, Kelly Clarkson, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen.

You can't start a fire without a spark. The hardest part, though, is learning how to keep the flame alive. Everybody can kill you with a smile, but it hides casual lies. Never piss off the witch! Life is a cycle and sometimes, it is shitty. You can be grateful and want better at the same time. Blood is not thicker than water. At the end of the day, you have to live with yourself. People let you drown because they don't know how to stay above water. You CAN prove them wrong.

And the bonus, inspired by the picture above...

**Go ahead. Eat a piece of chocolate.

Namaste! Have a wonderful day!

#ItsUs #MentalHealth #Cycles #TheTower #Truisms #EatChocolate

#BehindTheScenes 40 - Privacy

We are close to spring! I cannot be more excited. For this #BehindTheScenes, though, I want to focus on something else other than good green things. I wanted to speak about how I value privacy and my name (which I am sure I said at one point). I have to admit...

Sara Ellie MacKenzie is a professional name.

It came about because of old stories that my father told.

I was in a family of five, with one older sister and one younger brother. When my sister was born, my father wanted to name her Rhiannon, after the Fleetwood Mac song. Of course, my mother refused. When I was born a couple of years later, my father suggested another name after another Fleetwood Mac song: Sara.

My mother again refused. She claimed she knew somebody with a little girl named Sarah and did not want us confused. I became something else. But the name stuck. I was obsessed because I hated my birth name. While I am more reconciled with it, I love the name of Sara today because it gives me a sense of privacy. Not to mention, it also means Princess and I had jokes with my father about being a royal pain.

That is the power of being an author. I don't need to use my real name. Most certainly, I did not want to utilize my surname. I wanted to be uniquely me. In high school, in the mid-2000's, I created the full name.

Ellie is short for many names. I pulled it from Helen/Ellen, the Greek word for light, and after a girl I knew at grade school. MacKenzie came from the clan from the Highlands, meaning "son of the fair bright one". Funny thing is, I have ancestors that came from the Lowlands of Scotland. More on that later.

So, that girl on the left? Yeah, that was me in high school, when I began calling myself Sara Ellie MacKenzie. At that time, I was writing lame poems that still make me cringe. I was also plotting stories, some I am working on publishing today. At that point, I was unsure of myself. It was a passion, but I felt it was never good enough.

Back then, I did not know the power of the name I chose.

At that point, I knew that I wanted to be different and have privacy as the same time. I wanted to be away from where I was, not knowing that it would hurt and heal me later. There were things that I wanted to do with my life, but I was never sure of how I would proceed. The future was a blank canvass and I was too afraid to step.

I can forgive myself for being immature.

I want to ask everyone to respect our privacy. Any information gained from providers, friends and family are not authorized by us. You can believe that it is the truth or not. I know that I tell the truth, no matter what. How you receive the message is the way you communicate.

My husband and I are also fiercely protective of our son, Calvin. He and I are careful when placing him on a public platform. I am pretty sure I have a #BehindTheScenes post about that somewhere.

Don't ask anybody about me except for me. Trust me, I have the scope on everything! Worst thing I could say is no or deflect questions.

Namaste, everyone! Have a great day!

#WhatIsInAName #PenName #Privacy #GoAway #IntrudersNotWelcome #IndieAuthor #BookSeries #EpicFantasy #Action #Adventure

#Excerpt 4 - Revolution

Throughout the first half of 253, we battled on one island and then another.

The Apes and their allies were not willing to let their lands go. They were confused by our behavior, wondering what the point of our war was and why their way of life was suddenly a crusade to die for. Their loud taunts during breaks in the fighting told us about the supposed atrocities Mother Church inflicted upon them. One battle bothered me in particular.

From their side of the battle lines, the pagans chanted prayers to the dying.

Translated, it was directed at human cargo on the Holy One’s ships.

That’s impossible!

While the Holy Book mentioned slaves, the Holy One declared it a sin many years ago. All men are free, he declared, and he has kept this word to never buy and sell lives. The Apes’ lies were an insult to that good memory.

Throughout that day’s fighting, every time the Jastese exclaimed this useless tirade, we yelled our disgust and slung our shit at them. Sometimes, we showed them our naked dirty asses and begged for them to show something more disgusting. Then, we tossed rocks at their heads from above, secured in their scratchy palm trees.

The Jastese and their allies never tried to retaliate the same ways we did.

They preferred to stick with stories that painted Mother Church as evil and corrupt.

We did not like this propaganda and complained to our commander. Unfortunately, he was unsympathetic to our plight. Under Lord Bryon’s command, we endured more battles against these sinful ideas and he did not always mean on the battlefield. Because of his sire, he saw what hatred did to a man. His main order was for us to focus on the target and not the bitter words, even in our prayers and in our sleep. When we did not pay heed to the scandalous lies, Bryon saw better results.

Sometimes, it meant that many vainglorious fools were sacrificed.

The good part was that we gained intelligence about the habits and strategies of our enemy.

The tables were turned and it was in His Grace’s favor.

We had more faith in our kind commander because he had more in us. Lord Bryon organized our group better than Bitch Face so that we achieved better successes in the field. He listened and was fair. He rendered good judgement.

To show this faith, our best efforts were always surviving the day. When Lord Bryon saw that we worked better as a group, he organized keepers of novice soldiers. I was amongst the number. Sadly, we were stuck with boys who were just married or just left their mother’s arms, all of them aged between twelve to fifteen years old.

It was a difficult task to watch out for those young ones.

Most of them never listened and pissed their pants before being killed.

Bryon was never angry over the losses. He accepted them, as any soldier would, and sent condolences to the families personally. While the women were not allowed to read the messages, Bryon was courteous to send a man to say it directly.

“There is much work to be done,” he was fond of telling us.

He was not wrong.

God had to send us more trials, though.

The weather did not make matters much better. While Jast was generally warm all year round (sometimes unbearably hot), we still had moments where we fought the natives in chill that bit through fingers and toes. While I lost nothing except some pride, I found the rain to be the most annoying. It made climbing difficult and it blinded us because the wind bit against us. It was a strategic disaster every battle God pissed on us.

After so much death, the islands began to feel haunted to us.

Some men went insane and were sent home, all of them insisting on demons in the fog.

Discussions changed over time. Most of it shifted to our own mortality. Everybody wondered if they’d be the next one. Our rock had plenty of places to kill oneself, but one was always aware of the grievous sin it was. We asked each other if paying that price was worth it, even if it was to heal the pain.

None of the survivors believed in a glorious death anymore.

They did not see God’s will in their actions anymore.

They behaved inhumanly in this slaughter, nonetheless.

Even though the Holy One blessed us to murder the Jastese and their friends, he gave unlimited power to us to humiliate and maim the enemy as much as we liked. Rape and cruel killings were highly encouraged by Mother Church. While I loved nothing more than to lobe a head off, I could not bear the screams of the innocent girls and women. The shrill made me shudder, yet I could do nothing about it.

The Lord knew that I had already tried reporting it and nothing was done.

Lord Bryon could not look me in the eye for days.

#FindOutFriday Answer 17

I cannot believe it is March already! This is the first in the #FindOutFriday series. Which ones did you guess correctly? Let me know in the comments.

The sons of King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine - This twelve century couple had several children. Out of five sons, four survived to adulthood and they caused their father grief. The inspiration for Miranda's children came from this infighting and brotherhood. The Dukes of Brenton, Neast and Shaeriden are closer than the Plantagenet Princes, though, but are just as powerful. Lord William Hastings - An historical figure best known to be King Edward IV's friend (think Wars of the Roses, England), he was also known for how he died. In British history, his case was considered extraordinary - he was accused of treason without evidence and immediately executed on a log. Like many mentioned through the series, people are killed without evidence and this man was the inspiration. Some stories refute the guilt of the individual. Jayne Brutrose was one, and her son Edward tried to change that. More will be revealed in Revolution. King Richard III of England - Everybody knows a version of Richard's story. He was best memorized in Shakespeare's play (based on Thomas Moore's account and catering to Tudor sentiment). His bitterness and deceit was best transferred to the character of Edward of Klenard. While Richard's mother outlived him, Edward justifies his rule like the English King had. While Richard claimed his nephews were bastards, Edward claimed that his mother was not the one and legal Queen of Klenard.

I know. I am heavy on English history. Namaste, everyone! Have a great day!

#HistoryHound #EnglishHistory #Plantagenet #WarOfTheRoses #TudorHistory #Shakespeare #ComingAlive #Inspiration #IndieAuthor