Willy Martinez's Blog, page 36

Still Healing – A Sunday Poem

I'm at it again,I wanna quite but I cant.I can't even tell youhow many times now.Yeah, I've had some time outs,but I never overcame the pains thatI hide from in plain sight.The pains grow with each use, and the mantrasare just an excuseto forgive myself for trying.But I alwasy lose the gripon my noose.To get to the point where I say"I've been here before."Each time pushing further,regreting and pausing to reflectand say, 'never again.'Knowing that it'll only be a matter of 'when?'

Cover Photo by Brittany Colette on Unsplash. Poem by Willy Martinez, Copyright to Mind on Fire Books 2023.

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Saturday Mood

#SaturdayMood be like.. .

What a fun read. I enjoyed this #book even though it’s not what I would have usually picked to read. It was a change of pace from what I usually get into, but it was a good nonetheless.

#amreading #read #coffee #pastry

Word of the Day: Dormiveglia

Word of the Day: Dormiveglia #WOD #WordoftheDay #mindonfire #BookRitual #wordnerd

e day

Mind on Fire Books is the home of dark fiction, science fiction, and fantasy. We bring you the best in imaginative, thrilling, and entertaining stories from indie authors around the world.

We understand that some of the best stories come from the unknown, so we’ve made sure to bring readers an experience that is as deep and mysterious as the stories it brings to life. Join us on an unforgettable journey as we explore the darker places of our imaginations.

Summer Book Haul

I was finally able to get to the Marion Carnegie Library’s book sale. I have missed the last two and made sure not to miss this one.

I was worried that I might overdue it because of not having been book shopping in so long, but, I didn’t walk out with too many items.

I usually collect a mix between fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. This haul was all about that fiction!

Interview with Feed my Reads

How Exciting! I often read author interviews and watch/listen to author podcasts. And, even though I have published a couple of short stories, it still feels surreal to be asked to do an interview with someone you don’t even know. I was recently interviewed by Fraser from Feed My Reads, and I couldn’t be more humbled. Here ya go!

A little introduction:

Hi, my name is Willy Martinez and I’m a relatively new-to-fiction writing kind of guy. I have written a ton of research papers, and have studied all of the classics. Now, it’s time to sit down and begin writing my own stories. I have one published short story in a short horror anthology and a recently released short story that is set in an earlier time period. I’m currently working on a novel that takes place in Southern Illinois, about witches. I also dabble in some poetry, but mostly, I blog at The Ritual Blog, which is the blog for my small press company, Mind on Fire Books.

FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedInGoodreadsWhen did your love of books begin?

As with all things in life, I have been a late bloomer. I didn’t learn to appreciate reading until my Freshman year in High School. One of my friends was reading Timequake by Kurt Vonnegut, and I asked them to borrow it when he was done since he had spoken so highly of it. And that was it, once I read Timequake, I was hooked on reading. Naturally, my next book was “Cat’s Cradle,” another Kurt Vonnegut book. From there, my interest in other authors slowly grew.

When did you start to have the wish to become an author?

I would probably say that was my Junior year in High School. I had been listening to a lot of hip-hop and was dabbling in poetry. Around the same time, there was a short fiction writing contest held at school in which I participated. I believe I was simultaneously taking a fiction writing class, so it just kind of worked out that I would write something to enter the contest. I ended up earning 2nd place and was pleased with the outcome. I felt a real sense of fulfillment in having accomplished this small milestone and setting the course for more writing studies in the near future.

How have you found the process for becoming an author?

Oof, now that’s a conundrum, lol. For me, I wanted to experience the world before I sat down to write. I felt that I was too sheltered at home, or that I wasn’t exposed to enough “life.” I once read somewhere that we will only be good at writing something that we are familiar with. So, I decided to enlist in the Marines to see the world. I didn’t get to see too much of the world, but I did get to serve during the Invasion of Iraq. Subsequently, I experienced many different feelings after my deployment. I also went to school, on and off, for about 12 years until I earned my Master’s Degree in English. Along this route, I learned many lessons in life, as well as read many books, while studying how writers deliver their stories. To sum up my response, I would say that my process involved a heavy mixture of life and classroom lessons over the course of about 15 years.

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Processing… Success! You're on the list. Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again. What would you say to those wanting to become an author?

Go for it! Start small if you have to. Hold on to those journals and beginner writing prompts. You never know when you will return to those feelings and or stories. They might just evoke new ideas, or remind you of why you started in the first place.

Tell us about your book/books:

My short fiction so far would fall under the dark fiction and fantasy categories. Ultimately, my goal is to write something fantastic, meaning that I want to ride the fine line between reality and imagination. I like the reader to question their own thoughts and beliefs when they finish reading my work. Was it real? Is this even possible?

FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedInGoodreadsWhat do you love about the writing/reading community?

The writing community has been super supportive. I don’t think I have met another writer that has tried to put me down or speak condescendingly. The writing community has really proven to be a community of loving, caring artists. I think we all just want to write and read stories all day.

If you could say anything to your readers what would it be?

Make sure you are enjoying what you are reading. If you don’t feel like you are enjoying the book after 20 pages, go ahead and put it down, and pick up the next book. Sometimes it’s about the right time, and you may just not yet be ready to hear what that certain author is sharing.  Or maybe, the book just isn’t that good. This applies more so to the classics. Please do not feel obligated to read a supposed classic, just because it is considered to be classic. Move on if it sucks.

Where can people connect with you?

You can find me on Twitter at @MindOnFires, or on Instagram as Willy_Martinez_Writer.

You can always email me as well at martinez@mindonfirebooks.com. 

If you are enjoying this article,” visit our blog at The Ritual.

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The Princess and the Beetle – A Mayan Legend

This is the legend of a beautiful princess whose hair resembled the wings of a swallow. She was called Cuzán, the Maya word for this bird. She was also the favorite daughter of Ahnú Dtundtunxcaán, the Great Lord who was submerged in the skies.

As soon as Cuzán was old enough for marriage, her father arranged a union with the son of Halach Uinic of the great city of Nan Chan.  Her fiancé was the prince Ek Chapat, future lord of the kingdom. But one day, when the princess went to thank her father for the treasures he had plundered in a recent war which he had given to her, she found her father accompanied by a handsome youth named Chalpol, which means red head, so named because of his flaming red hair.

From that moment on, their souls were trapped in a bond of fire. They swore to never forget each other, and they passionately pledged their love under the sacred ceiba tree, where the gods heard their mortal pleas. When the king found out that Chalpol was his daughter’s lover, the king ordered him to be put to death. Cuzán begged her father not to kill him, promising she would never see him again and that she would obediently accept her role as wife of the prince of Nan Chan.

La Siguanaba

In the solitude of her bedroom, the princess walked the path of mystery. During the silence of the night, she was called to present herself to Halach. Then a wizard appeared, offering her a beetle, saying: “Cuzán, here is your beloved Chalpol. Your father granted him his life, but asked me to change him into an insect for having the audacity to love you.” The princess took him into her hands, and said these words to him: “I will never leave you and I will keep my promise.”

The best jeweler of the kingdom covered him with precious stones and attached a fine gold chain to his tiny foot. As soon as it was ready, she attached it to her chest and said: “Maquech, you are a man, hear my heartbeat, you will live here always. I have sworn to the gods to never forget you.” And she added: “Maquech, the gods have never known a love as intense and alive as this which consumes my soul.”

That is how princess Cuzán and her beloved Chalpol, who became maquech, loved each other through the passage of all time.

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Thank you for visiting with us. For more poetry or Literature related content, visit our blog at The Ritual.

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Portals- Flash Fiction Thriller

I challenged myself to write a flash fiction work about the image below.

In the dimly lit corridor, shadows danced and flickered, casting eerie shapes upon the walls. Cold, stale air hung heavy with a sense of impending doom. A lone figure stood before an ancient door, its wooden frame warped and weathered, as if it held secrets too dreadful to be contained.

Meet our protagonist, Samuel Blackwood, an intrepid explorer with an insatiable hunger for the paranormal. He had heard whispers of this cursed mansion hidden deep within the heart of the forest. Tales of restless spirits and malevolent forces had lured him here, and now he stood at the precipice of his darkest adventure yet.

With a trembling hand, Samuel pushed open the door, revealing a room shrouded in darkness. The air grew thicker with each step he took. He could almost taste the fear that permeated the atmosphere. The walls whispered secrets long forgotten, their voices echoing through his very soul.

If you enjoy FlashFiction, visit our blog at The Ritual for related flash fiction.

Suddenly, a dim light flickered from a corner of the room, illuminating a grotesque sight. A decaying portrait hung crookedly on the wall—a depiction of Wilhelmina Vossberg, an infamous witch who had once terrorized these lands. Her eyes seemed to follow Samuel’s every move, penetrating his very being.

As he approached the portrait, a gust of wind blew through the room, extinguishing the light. Darkness enveloped Samuel like a suffocating cloak. Panic surged within him, but he pressed on with unwavering determination.

A soft cackle echoed through the chamber as Samuel stumbled upon an ancient tome resting on a dusty pedestal. Its pages were filled with cryptic symbols and forbidden incantations. The words seemed to come alive, writhing and twisting, beckoning him to delve deeper into the black arts. Fear mingled with curiosity, compelling Samuel to recite the incantation aloud. With each word spoken, the room grew colder, the air heavy with the scent of sulfur. And then, in a blinding flash of light, a portal materialized before him. Samuel stepped through the portal, finding himself in a surreal realm—a twisted reflection of reality. Every step he took was met with grotesque sights and otherworldly sounds.

Flash fiction work was written by Willy Martinez for Mind on Fire Books.

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Purple Heart – A Poem by John Heck

Today is #PurpleHeartDay, a day to remember and honor the brave men and women who were wounded in battle or paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. #HonorThem. This poem was written by John Heck in 2007.

Purple HeartMorning glowed, Phillip.
A purple fire burned beacon bright
against the stinging stench of napalm.

A thick thistle - two feet from your head,
wordless in speech, watched
with dark misfortune
curving letters of prayer
above your bleeding valor.

A crumpled martyr lying there,
innocent as a schoolboy
amidst the blare of gunfire -
asleep in our country’s eyes
dormant in the arms of an adopted comrade.

I held you - lost brother - tucked inside my soul;
nineteen and breathless.

The tears inside my empty lungs
spilled so softly onto your forehead
as I knelt in the center of August’s cancerous garden;
staring at the mud stained badge
nestled peacefully above your silenced heart.

I slowly ingested and tasted your
bullet-ridden honor, as I was viscerally blinded
by the sickening, piercing strobes
of a delicate mourning's
glow.Copyright © John Heck | Year Posted 2007

Photo by David Trinks on Unsplash.

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Thoughts – A Poem By Myra Viola Wilds

This poem is in the public domain. Published in Poem-a-Day on January 18, 2020, by the Academy of American Poets.

ThoughtsWhat kind of thoughts now, do you carry
In your travels day by day
Are they bright and lofty visions,
Or neglected, gone astray?

Matters not how great in fancy,
Or what deeds of skill you’ve wrought;
Man, though high may be his station,
Is no better than his thoughts.

Catch your thoughts and hold them tightly,
Let each one an honor be;
Purge them, scourge them, burnish brightly,
Then in love set each one free. Myra Viola Wilds

Myra Viola Wilds was born in Kentucky. She authored the poetry collection Thoughts of Idle Hours (National Baptist Publishing Board, 1915), in her own hand after losing her eyesight due to overwork as a dressmaker. 

Cover Photo by Vladimir Fedotov on Unsplash.

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What Tomorrow Brings – Poem

Every morning I wake
Up
Angry for no cause
Other than the reason as the day before

I linger just to pause
To contemplate the days faux pa
Before I hit the snooze again
Delayed tenure

The rush-ed dreams dreamt in a hurry
Are the ones I try to grasp
The most
Before I have to shoot up for the day again

Abhor abhor the day’s routine
Modern labor’s blessed curse
Your freedom chose this shift to die
Slowly

Only two more hours until
There are four more hours
….

Fuck the day away
Raw
Let me out of this and

Back to that quick dream
I feel the most, right before I have to
Wake up

Photo by Nicolas Gaborit on Unsplash.

If you enjoyed “What Tomorrow Brings,” written by Willy Martinez, you might enjoy our other poetry content at The Ritual.

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