Willy Martinez's Blog, page 40

Imagine Waking In Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Dreams

Imagine waking in a Ralph Waldo Emerson dream, surrounded by the thoughts and ideas about his best poems and writings.

Which is your favorite?

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Another AI Prompt

Imagine waking in a Ralph Waldo Emerson dream, surrounded by the thoughts and ideas about his best poems and writings

Which is your favorite?

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What It Would Be Like Living In a Walt Whiman Dream

AI Prompt for Book Lovers – “Imagine being in a beautiful Walt Whitman dream about his best poems.”

Which is your favorite?

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AI Prompt for Book Lovers

AI Prompt for Book Lovers – “Imagine being in a beautiful Walt Whitman dream about his best poems.”

Which is your favorite?

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IN FLANDERS FIELDS

By John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

    That mark our place; and in the sky

    The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

    Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

        In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

    The torch; be yours to hold it high.

    If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

        In Flanders fields.

Photo by Alyssa Stevenson on Unsplash

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Yannis Ritsos – Poems, Volume I

Terminus He goes of course looks elsewhere tries to avoid what follows him like a coat on his back and he can’t even undress – it’s cold especially in intersections where shopkeepers behind display windows or even outside on sidewalks look with a demanding glance at every passerby And he feels their glances inside his […]

Yannis Ritsos – Poems, Volume I

COSMIC DREAMS – Poem

A poem by Line Gauthier. Cover Art by Johannes-Plenio.

Be it evidence consequence or coincidence
Every night as I succumb to somnolence

Heavenly smoke rings of frankincense
Rise upwards with sweet opulence

Dulcet dreams inevitably commence
Without fanfare hype or pretense

While sweet loving arms of providence
Wrap around me a shroud of benevolence

Under a scented canopy of impermanence
Ablaze with the aura of glowing confidence

Revealing universal secrets of magnificence
I humbly bow in unpretentious reverence

Adrift in solitude so many nights hence
I reminisce of nostalgia in the past tense

Read More poetry.

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Dare to Explore the Dark Side of Horror Noir? 5 Must-Read Books to Get Started

Horror noir is a genre of fiction that combines elements of horror and crime fiction to create stories that are both thrilling and suspenseful. Not only do horror noir books provide a unique experience for readers, but they can also be a great way to explore some of the darkest aspects of human nature and our society. Here are five of the best horror noir books to check out if you’re looking for a good scare.

How can Horror Noir be different from traditional horror?

Horror noir is a genre of horror that combines elements of classic noir fiction and dark horror. It is a type of gothic horror that combines the traditional aspects of suspense, mystery, and dread with the atmosphere of a crime novel. Horror noir often has a bleak, oppressive tone and often involves the investigation of an unsolved murder or other mysterious event. It differs from traditional horror in its focus on psychological terror and its emphasis on atmosphere over jump scares. Horror noir also typically features morally ambiguous characters who are more complex than traditional villains, as well as protagonists who are often flawed or deeply troubled individuals.

Themes such as darkness, mystery, and the supernatural are common in horror noir stories. Gothic horror motifs also feature prominently in this genre, creating an atmosphere of fear and dread. These themes and motifs make horror noir stories so uniquely captivating – they draw readers into a world where anything can happen.

Dive Into the Dark Side: 6 Must-Read Books to Get You Started1. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler

This classic crime novel by Raymond Chandler tells the story of private detective Philip Marlowe, who is hired to investigate a case of blackmail and finds himself in the midst of a web of murder, deceit, and mystery. With its dark atmosphere and thrilling plot, this book is an excellent example of horror noir and will keep you captivated until the very end.

The Big Sleep is a hardboiled crime novel by American-British writer Raymond Chandler, the first to feature the detective, Philip Marlowe.

A dying millionaire hires private eye Philip Marlowe to handle the blackmailer of one of his two troublesome daughters, and Marlowe finds himself involved with more than extortion. Kidnapping, pornography, seduction, and murder are just a few of the complications he gets caught up in.

In 1999, the book was voted 96th of Le Monde’s “100 Books of the Century”.

Purchase on Amazon

2. Night Film by Marisha Pessl

This horror noir novel by Marisha Pessl tells the story of a journalist who is investigating the mysterious death of a young woman and finds himself in the midst of an eerie and dangerous world. With its gripping plot and chilling atmosphere, this book is a must-read for fans of horror noir.

A page-turning thriller for readers of Stephen King, Gillian Flynn, and Stieg Larsson, Night Film tells the haunting story of a journalist who becomes obsessed with the mysterious death of a troubled prodigy—the daughter of an iconic, reclusive filmmaker.
 
On a damp October night, beautiful young Ashley Cordova is found dead in an abandoned warehouse in lower Manhattan. Though her death is ruled a suicide, veteran investigative journalist Scott McGrath suspects otherwise. As he probes the strange circumstances surrounding Ashley’s life and death, McGrath comes face-to-face with the legacy of her father: the legendary, reclusive cult-horror-film director Stanislas Cordova—a man who hasn’t been seen in public for more than thirty years.
 
For McGrath, another death connected to this seemingly cursed family dynasty seems more than just a coincidence. Though much has been written about Cordova’s dark and unsettling films, very little is known about the man himself.
 
Driven by revenge, curiosity, and a need for the truth, McGrath, with the aid of two strangers, is drawn deeper and deeper into Cordova’s eerie, hypnotic world.
 
The last time he got close to exposing the director, McGrath lost his marriage and his career. This time he might lose even more.
 
Night Film, the gorgeously written, spellbinding new novel by the dazzlingly inventive Marisha Pessl, will hold you in suspense until you turn the final page.

Purchase on Amazon

3. Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett

This classic crime novel by Dashiell Hammett follows the story of a detective who is hired to clean up a corrupt town and finds himself in the midst of a dangerous and thrilling plot. With its dark atmosphere and gritty characters, this book is an excellent example of horror noir and will keep you captivated until the end.

Detective-story master Dashiell Hammett gives us yet another unforgettable read in Red Harvest: When the last honest citizen of Poisonville was murdered, the Continental Op stayed on to punish the guilty–even if that meant taking on an entire town. Red Harvest is more than a superb crime novel: it is a classic exploration of corruption and violence in the American grain.

Purchase on Amazon

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

4. The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier

This horror noir novel by Jonathan Auxier tells the story of two siblings who discover a mysterious and eerie garden in their new home and must solve the mystery of its source. With its creepy setting and thrilling plot, this book is a great choice for fans of horror noir.

A New York Times bestseller, The Night Gardener is a Victorian ghost story with shades of Washington Irving and Henry James. More than just a spooky tale, it’s also a moral fable about human greed and the power of storytelling.
The Night Gardener follows two abandoned Irish siblings who travel to work as servants at a creepy, crumbling English manor house. But the house and its family are not quite what they seem. Soon the children are confronted by a mysterious specter and an ancient curse that threatens their very lives. With Auxier’s exquisite command of the language, The Night Gardener is a mesmerizing read and a classic in the making.

Praise for The Night Gardener
STARRED REVIEWS
“Lots of creepiness, memorable characters, a worthy message, Auxier’s atmospheric drawings and touches of humor amid the horror make this cautionary tale one reader will not soon forget.”
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

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5. The Girl in the Ice by Robert Bryndza

This gripping crime novel by Robert Bryndza tells the story of a detective who is investigating the murder of a young woman and finds himself in the midst of a dangerous and mysterious world. With its thrilling plot and dark atmosphere, this book is an excellent example of horror noir and will keep you captivated until the very end.

Her eyes are wide open. Her lips parted as if to speak. Her dead body frozen in the ice…She is not the only one.

When a young boy discovers the body of a woman beneath a thick sheet of ice in a South London park, Detective Erika Foster is called in to lead the murder investigation.

The victim, a beautiful young socialite, appeared to have the perfect life. Yet when Erika begins to dig deeper, she starts to connect the dots between the murder and the killings of three prostitutes, all found strangled, hands bound, and dumped in water around London.

What dark secrets is the girl on the ice hiding?

As Erika inches closer to uncovering the truth, the killer is closing in on Erika.

The last investigation Erika led went badly wrong… resulting in the death of her husband. With her career hanging by a thread, Erika must now battle her own personal demons as well as a killer more deadly than any she’s faced before. But will she get to him before he strikes again?

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Are you ready to face your fears? Dare to Explore the Dark with these 6 horror noir fiction books. From thrilling suspense to spine-tingling terror, these stories will take you on a journey of discovery and exploration. Experience the dark side of literature today!

Whether you’re looking for scares or a unique reading experience, horror books can be a great way to explore some of the darker aspects of life. These six books are some of the best horror books out there, and they will keep you captivated until the very end. So if you’re looking for a good scare, check out one of these horror novels and get ready for a thrilling adventure.

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

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Social Media for Writers

You’re a writer scrolling through the web, running internet errands, trolling social media, and you decide to play music in the background. You click over to YouTube and pull up your favorite playlist when that pesky ad pops up before your favorite playlist begins. Great, another writer wants me to click their link and download their ‘free’ stuff, of course, not without a subscription.

Lame, if you really want to help writers, just share your experience without the gimmick. Below, I will share which 4 social media sites I have found the most value in, and also 9 tips to get started on those platforms.

Forget the Traditional Publishers

You wrote that book, that blog, or that collection of non-fiction that you think people need to hear about. But you just don’t have the platform to get the word out, and you have also heard about how difficult it is to get published by a major brand, or, published traditionally. You are stuck between going the traditional route, versus the modern route.

I’m here to tell you to Forget those major publishers, don’t you want to own your own work? All this grit, sweat, and brain exhaustion from wordplay, just to pray that your sales pitch catches the attention of some literary nerd.

Well, I’m here to tell you that the writer now has more power than the publisher.

With the advent of social media, the writer is the heavier influencer. For the past three years, I have been following all the major publications and writers within the horror genre and there is no doubt that the writer has more clout than the traditional publisher. Yet, this didn’t happen overnight. These writers spent time building their social media platforms, engaging with followers, and growing their fan base. And you can too. I will help you establish your social media presence and grow your brand. Today I’ll talk about 4 social media apps that will boost your value: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Good Reads – have you heard of them?

If you are enjoying this article, we have similar content studying communication from discourse theory, here.

Prior to establishing these 4 accounts, you are going to have to hammer out a couple of details.  As a writer, you will have to write up a short bio and choose a couple of photos to use across your media accounts. This will solidify your brand and promote continuity across platforms.  The last thing you want to do is to confuse your potential followers with mixed messaging and random photos. Same name, same bio, same voice, and objectives. 

Speaking of objectives; set some goals.  I know your goal is to have leverage over publishers and to be able to launch your own books, but within social media accounts, you need to measure what you want to do in numbers.

Why do I know all of this? Because I too was rejected by publishers and my very own professors. I had to learn the hard and independent way. Before I share with you 9 special tips

FacebookCreate Author PageJoin Pages or create a pageUse Groups    Use analytics to find the best time to postInstagramLink account to blog writingMost aesthetic needs – eye-catching postsThis is where you show off your material and beauty – let’s see that glamour and be overly confident about it, or use your confidence to inspire and help othersPost 2 to 3 times a week but use stories to share more oftenTwitterThis is where you get to share your cat pics, your breakfast, your quarantine haircutPost up to 5 times a dayRemember to constantly engage with other writers – despite the character limit of 240 characters, I have found this to be the most resourceful when engaging with other writers and learning about their releasing experiences and tipsMost friendly use of HashtagsGoodreadsNerdy literature app used by avid readers – KNOW your audience!Must have an author account so that others can link to your booksPost reviews about what you are reading and share with your fans, or respond to other reviewsThis is the most specific app you can use as a writer as it’s just for READERS!You can also join reading clubs to see what the community within your genre is reading

Keep Scrolling for Nine more tips below …

If you are enjoying this article, we have similar content studying communication from discourse theory, here.

FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedInGoodreadsHere are 9 Social Media Tips For Your New Adventure:

I have 9 essential tips for you to know when developing your social media presence, but first – remember, we no longer live in a world where Nike tells us what to do, we get to tell the big companies what we want them to do.

Use the 80/20 rule, meaning, you should provide your audience with 80% entertainment, and only 20% of sales or content marketing your product. Identify your audience, their age, their location, their budget, and their gender.Host contests to grow an audience.Focus on helping over selling. People want to feel good about their purchase, so try to solve their problem, or offer them relief to the entertainment (literature) they are wanting to read. Use visuals with every post.Share more and more videos.Respond to your community. You must engage and converse with your fans. This is crucial!Use hashtags to get found. If you liked this article, we have similar content studying communication from discourse theory, here.

I hope this article has been of some value to you or has at least provided you with a general overview of what is to be expected in marketing yourselves as writers and promoting your self-published books.

Good luck, I genuinely wish you the best at building your own lives! If you ever want to chat, shoot me an email at martinez@mindonfirebooks.com, and I would be happy to help. My name is Willy Martinez by the way

Elevate my Thoughts

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Rising – Haiku Challenge

They rose around me,summoned from the earth's pain,they will rise again.

By Collin Macadoo

Haiku by Willy Martinez