Denise Verrico's Blog: Immortyl Revolution, page 10

Sexy Cedric talks about Gods and Goddesses of Love

Cedric portrait by Arlie Adams 

Greetings my darlings! Welcome to day two of my Valentine's Day feature. Being a devotee of the Great Mother in her fierce form of Kali, I thought I'd talk about some gods and goddesses of love and their importance in mythology. Instead of starting with the more familiar Greco-Roman myths, let's take a look at an older mythos, that of India.


Kama is the Indian god of erotic love and believed to be the forerunner of the Greek Eros and Roman Cupid. Like, Eros, he carries a bow and arrow (to my authoress' delight, he's often depicted riding upon a parrot). Like Eros, he takes the form of a beautiful young man. The goddess Parvati, the consort of Shiva, is looked upon by many as the epitome of loving devotion and sensual beauty. Here is a tale that involves both.


Lord Shiva was set away from the celestial kingdom by Indra and the other gods to do penance after killing Daksha, the father of his dead wife Sati. Once Shiva's anger passed he fell into a deep sorrow and went into a trance, motionless and meditative. He no longer took any interest in the world and creation was unraveling. Demons (Ashuras) were gaining power, and the gods called upon Uma/Parvati, the reincarnation of Sati, Shiva's dead wife, for help. From her birth Parvati knew she was destined to marry Shiva and conceive a son, who would defeat the demons. She lovingly tended the oblivious god, but still he would not stir. Parvati enlisted Kama to rouse Shiva from his meditation by shooting one of his flower-tipped arrows from his sugarcane bow. Shiva, startled from his slumber, opened his third eye of destruction and incinerated Kama into ash, but when the lord of creation and destruction looked upon the lovely Parvati, he was moved to embrace her as his own. Shiva and Parvati eternally dance together across the cosmos. In the great scheme of things, this symbolizes the cosmic dance of the divine feminine and masculine principles. In other words, all of us need to understand that we embody both of these sets of attributes and understand them to be spiritually healthy. Now, lest you think poor Kama was left a pile of ash, Rati, the love god's consort, entreated Lord Shiva to restore her husband to life. Shiva relented and Kama was brought to life as a formless spirit, visible only to his wife, Rati.


Other Indian Deities associated with love:

Radha- the wife of Krishna and the personification of divine love.
Sarasvati -Inventor of the Sanskrit language. Goddess of sensual love, creativity, beauty, art, music, learning, science and teaching


Now, let's move on to the Greco-Roman myths. Most of you are probably familiar with Venus/Aphrodite the goddess of love, beauty and sexual passion. She is often depicted as rising from the sea on a half-shell or even minus her arms (Venus De Milo indeed had arms at one time). In one account, Aphrodite was born out of the sea foam after Cronus cut of the genitals of Uranus and threw them into the ocean, but in another she is the daughter of Zeus and Dione the mother goddess. Ouch on the first one. Her personality was often vain and demanding. (Not unlike the queen of the Immortyls, Giulietta, if I may say). Aphrodite caused much mischief among the gods. (See the judgment of Paris) This lady got around and cheated on her husband Haephesteus with Ares, Adonis and Hermes. (Hmm, reminds me of another Immortyl woman I know.) She became the archetypal mother-in-law when her son, Eros, fell for the mortal girl Psyche.



Eros is the god of sexual desire in Greek mythology and called Cupid by the Romans.  Although he's often depicted as a baby, he's truly represented as a youth.  As an eternally 19 year-old male, I can tell you why this is.  Who is randier than a boy in his teens?

Lovely, isn't he?  No, I didn't model for the statue.  He's more in Kurt's line.


In some stories, Eros is the son of Aphrodite, but others name his as one of the original gods.  In one of the tales, he is sent by his mother Aphrodite to make a beautiful mortal girl anmed Psyche fall in loive with some horrible beast.  Instead of shooting the fair lass, he falls upon one of his own arrows and is pierced through the heart, thus falling in love.  After much trial and tribulation brought on by jealous Mum Aphrodite, the young couple get together and symbolizes the union of soulful and erotic love.
Other Greek and Roman Gods associated with Love and Sex:

Priapus was the Roman god of male potency. If you take too much Viagra and get an unquenchable stiffy, you suffer from priapism.

Hymen was the Greek god of marriage. He always pops out at the appropriate moment.

Hermaphroditus (The son of Aphrodite and Hermes, depicted often with female breasts and male genitals) He's been called the god of bisexuality--my kind of bloke.

Satyrs were half man and half goat, known for chasing nymphs. A man with compulsive sexual behavior is suffering from Satyriasis.

Dionysus is the wine god, but he is also associated with orgiastic excess, joy and divine ecstasy. If you've indulged too much, you know what I mean.


The Norse goddess of love, beauty and fertility Freyja is somewhat akin to Aphrodite. She also is associated with war and death and receives into her hall the half of warriors who die in battle but don't go to Odin's hall, Valhalla. There is some conjecture as to whether she and the Goddess Frigg are actually two faces of one Germanic fertility goddess. She was revered as a supernatural figure in Scandinavia into the 19th century. The name Freyja means, "the lady", related to the German word Frau. Many things named after her were renamed for the Virgin Mary when Scandinavia was Christianized.


Love Deities of Various Cultures:
Ishtar was the Babylonian goddess of love, procreation and war.

Inanna came from the Mesopotamian region and was also a goddess of love and war. Although a virgin, she is the goddess of sex and procreation.

Ashtart was a Semitic goddess of sex, maternity and fertility.
The Egyptians had Hathor and Isis. Hathor was often depicted as a cow. She is the goddess of childbirth and the patron of lovers. Isis was the goddess of magic, fertility and motherhood. Both of these Goddesses are sometimes shown wearing cow's horn with a solar disc between them.


[image error] Indians revere the cow as the ultimate symbol of motherhood, so I guess this brings us full circle.

In closing, my darlings, love as you see fit to love! It's divine madness.


*All images used aside from Cedric's portrait are in the public domain.

Sexy Cedric's Tips for a Memorable Valentine's Day

For some time, Cedric has been clamoring to take over the blog.  You can't keep the boy down, I guess.  Seeing that Valentine's Day is coming, I decided to let him "have a go", as he would say.  This is the first of his posts.  They will continue through Tuesday the 14th.  Then, he'll be blogging every Saturday. 



I'm often asked, Cedric, what is the secret to your success as a lover? Well, I'm not permitted to divulge all of the tantric secrets of an adept of the ancient arts (Immortyl courtesan), but I can share a few tidbits that will make your Valentine's Day an erotic adventure.

1. Look and smell your very best! Now, I understand, that not everyone is gifted with my degree of fabulousness, but it never hurts to take a few extra moments to make yourself as attractive as possible and become a feast for the senses.  Personal hygiene should go without saying, but you'd be surprised how many ignore this fact. Everyone wants to shag a dirty boy, but no one wants a smelly one. This goes for the ladies as well. After a good shower, (showering together is always fun) use a nice moisturizing preparation to make the skin irresistible to touch. Depending on your lover's preferences, deal with unwanted hair. You'd be surprised how shaving or waxing certain areas will win an enthusiastic response. Yes, gentlemen, I'm speaking to you as well. Less is more to a lot of us. That perfume or cologne that hasn't been used since the first date might be once more utilized. Make sure you hair is just a little short of coiffed and isn't stiff with product. It looks and feels more inviting to muss that way. Once both partners are nice and relaxed, they should don their most enticing attire. Ladies, you know what I mean, but a lot of your gentlemen don't get it. A little fashion sense goes a long way.  Don't forget that what goes underneath is especially important. If your partner still doesn't comprehend, go shopping.  Surprise him with a gift of new duds, if you must.

2. Going out is fun, but I suggest staying in and having an intimate meal together. (The authoress will share her menu on Monday.) Of course, this boy prefers making reservations, but if one isn't talented in the culinary sphere, there are take away options beyond MacDonald's and pizza. Choose something light and exotic. No one feels sexy when stuffed like a Christmas turkey. Yet, do have a decadent dessert. I've a weakness for mousse au chocolat with whipped cream. You can do all sorts of fun things with it. Libations are important. Now, we vampires prefer ours mixed with warmed blood, (adepts of the ancient arts like me also use special herbs to enhance the experience) but mortals are less adventurous, so perhaps some good champagne or a special wine. It loosens the inhibitions and makes all parties more playful. If you don't imbibe, have some lovely virgin cocktails. No comments about lovely virgins, please. Light the candles and use the best china and crystal. Set a little soft music to play. If you are musically talented, like yours truly, you can serenade your lover. Now is not the time for "All Along the Watchtower", but a soothing love ballad. Not Barry Manilow if you can help it. Indulge in some stimulating conversation.  Concentrate on you lover's interests.  Playful banter is encouraged, not heavy-duty debate.  Gifts may be exchanged. Depending on the finances, these can range from a single rose to a diamond bracelet or sports car. Don't call me unless it's the latter.
3. The boudoir should be uncluttered and inviting. Fresh sheets are a must. We adepts of the ancient arts perfume the sheets, but that isn't necessary. A lightly scented candle does as nicely, not the heavily perfumed variety sold at many shops. Those just make one gag, and this is not the night for gagging, if you get my drift. Undressing is a ritual that has great significance in my profession. You can strip for your partner, or let him or her do the honors. Just take it slow and make it an event. It's time to show that lingerie or the fruits of those weeks you've spent in the gym. Have massage oils and lubricants at hand. Use them with abandon. Maybe share a juicy fantasy or read an erotic tale together.  Exotic dance can set the pulse higher, but do practice first. The aim is not to look like a reject from Dancing with the Stars. It's time to play now. Hopefully, all participants are relaxed and uninhibited by this point. Too many lovers never bother to ask his or her partner about fantasies and preferences. It's amazing how simply talking about these things can really light a fire. But be cautious, approach this with respect and taste. Don't gross out or frighten your partner. This topic can be discussed in advance. As a courtesan, it was my business to find out as much as I could about the lover I'd be entertaining.  I'd approach his servants or question other courtesans prior to the encounter. With advance knowledge, one can plan enticements and obtain props if necessary. Think of lovemaking as mutual exploration and adult playtime. If all parties are comfortable, push the boundaries a little. This is a special night. I'm not going to write a sex manual here. There are many informative texts on the subject from the spiritual to the scientific. Educate yourself and your lover(s). You'll be pleased with the results.

Here are some interesting links:
Text of The Kama Sutra
Tantric Sex
http://www.indiavacationpackages.com/erotic-sculptures/


My post schedule:
Sunday: Love Gods and Goddesses
Monday:  Courtesans
Tuesday: Prize giveaway of My Fearful Symmetry ebook, My Top Ten Most Shag-able Sci fi and Fantasy Characters, and an excerpt from my latest adventure, Servant of the Goddess!
Follow me on Facebook

Until next time!
Your Naughty Boy, Cedric MacKinnon

Author Nikki Andrews: Idea into Story

Today, my guest blogger is Nikki Andrews.


 



Idea into Story


So I'm sitting in a bookstore with a pile of my books in front of me. This is one of the fun parts of my job: getting to meet and talk with readers and potential readers of my work. They often give me fresh insight into the novels I thought I knew inside out, and their enthusiasm provides an antidote to those awful moments when I sit at the computer and watch the cursor blink.


I give a little talk and open the floor for questions. Inevitably, someone wants to know, "Where do you get your ideas?"


By now, having done this for a few years, I have a stock answer. "Ideas are everywhere," I tell them. "Everyone and everything has a story. Ideas can pop up out of things I notice: An abandoned shoe on the library steps became a lovely little story about a girl who gets to meet her favorite literary characters. A hole in the ice on my pond led me into the mind of an alien observer. Or they show up in dreams: I have literally laughed myself awake at some tiny scene in my sleeping mind. Once I woke up with the sentence 'Derek Daley interviews Sir Bernie' running around in my head, and it took me days to figure out what to do with it. Or they come directly from real life: I want to tell a story about some of the characters I've met as a picture framer, or take revenge on someone who done me wrong." Then I add, "By the way, I have a t-shirt that says 'never piss off a writer.'"


That usually gets a laugh. Someone might ask what happened with Derek and Sir Bernie, and then the conversation moves on. But every now and then I see one or two people—often a child—still chewing over the idea thing, and it makes me think harder.


Anyone can notice a hole in the ice. "Oh look, a hole in the ice." Probably most people will go one step further and think, "I wonder how it got there." The human brain is really good at asking questions and proposing solutions. Maybe somebody came along with an ice ax and a fishing pole. Or a meteorite fell out of the sky. Or we have a family of otters at play. Maybe there's a hot spot under the water that melted the ice from below—which, in fact, turned out to be the case.


There could be myriad stories that come from that hole in the ice. But how did MY story about the alien observer come about? Ah, that's the real question those people are chewing over. They don't need to know where ideas come from, because everyone gets ideas; they're asking how a writer turns Idea into Story. And the answer to that is different for every writer and every story.


A writer teaches herself to be observant, first of all. A turn of phrase, a striking image, a scrap of dialogue, can lead to a story. A writer asks questions: the journalistic who, what, when why and how, and most importantly—what if? A writer puts ideas together. (The human brain is also very good at combining things.)How a story germ grows and takes shape depends on the compost around it, if I may combine metaphors from two of my favorite writers. Two paragraphs above, I dropped a clue about the compost around my hole in the ice: just a few nights earlier the Geminid meteor showers had streaked through the December sky. And because I love science fiction, my mind was primed for the big question—what if, among the meteors, there was a tiny, alien space ship?


From that moment, the path was laid at my feet. Not that it was a straight path, of course. There were turns and double-backs, side trails that petered out, quests for more information. Other paths joined mine, and I had to beat the junctures smooth. I had to make straight the highway, level the mountains and raise the valleys. Finally, after all the writing, rewriting, fallowing, starting over—Idea became Story.


Ideas come because we look for them. Stories grow because we work on them. We nurture them like children, lead them and follow their lead, teach them and learn from them. Just as no two children turn out alike, no two writers, starting at the same place, will write the same story.


If I'm very lucky, a few of my audience will be amenable to an experiment. I hand out pens and paper, and distribute folded sheets with a few words. Some people are nervous, some self-conscious, even outwardly hostile. But when I look at a clock and say "Go" I can seeds growing before my eyes.


Let the excitement begin.


If you would like to read "Probe," the story that emerged from the hole in the ice, please visit my website, http://www.nikkiandrewsbooks.com/.

 

Nikki Andrews has earned a living as a picture framer, receptionist, and stable hand, but in her real life she is an author and editor. She has published a mystery, Framed, with L&L Dreamspell, and two science fiction novels, Chicken Bones and A Windswept Star, with AuthorHouse. When she is not defenestrating her computer, she is working on two sequels to Framed as well the final novel in the Chicken Bones series. Several of her short stories have been published as well. In addition to writing, she works as an editor, both freelance and on the staff of two publishers. She is a member of Talespinners and the New Hampshire Writers Project, and lives near a waterfall with her wonderful husband, a cat, and assorted wildlife.


An artist and his model are discovered dead and coyote-gnawed in a remote snowy field. The New Hampshire State Police declare it a murder-suicide. But where did his last painting disappear to? What happened to her jewelry? Who is the true guilty party?
Brush & Bevel owner Ginny Brent has more reason than most to doubt the police. After all, she was Jerry Berger's mentor and agent. When the lost painting reappears at her art gallery ten years later, Ginny seek answers. She knows Jerry didn't kill himself or Abby Bingham, the model pictured among the trees in Jerry's painting. Can she discover who did?


Ginny's loyal staffers, Sue Bradley and Elsie Kimball, employ their own methods to find the truth. Elsie follows her exuberant young bird-dog into the forest and through frog-infested puddles to a pile of glacial erratics that might be the setting for the painting. Is that important? Sue cleans years of smoke and grease from the canvas and puzzles over the strange markings revealed under the gunk. What could they possibly mean?
In between worrying about the array of sharp cutlery at the neighboring Chowdah Bowl, fulfilling the sometimes whimsical needs of their clients, and planning to frame and unveil "The Lady in the Wood," the three women learn that art is not the only thing that can be framed.

Free ebook Vampire News is out!

Here's a free ebook you can download called Vampire News!



Bertena Varney and Stavros have compiled a book of the great news of vampire events of 2011 They created an awesome timeline with book covers, reviews of book, interview of authors, and essays about movies, television shows and more from various authors and bloggers as well websites to learn more about vampire news.

Bertena and Stavros have decided to offer the book for free so that they can all allow more readers to learn about the vampire world.

For your free PDF go to:  http://bitemereallyhard.com/
Pub/Book Info:


Vampire News


Authors: Bertena Varney, MA & Stavros


Copyright 2012 Bertena Varney and the Lure of the Vampire Publications


Published by Crazy Duck Press


Vampire News Network Copyright 2012 Stavros


Cover Models: Katalina Parrish & Jean-Paul de Jager




Description: A Collection of Vampire News from 2011.

Happy Birthday Elijah Wood

Happy 31st Birthday Elijah Wood!
I have a schoolgirl crush.  No maybe an obsession would be a better term.  Today, I take a moment to gush about the diminutive actor with the big blue eyes.  I've been a fan for a long time, and coming from a theatrical background, I'm pretty picky about my actors.  I will not fixate on a pretty face without talent.  This face is mucho talented (and mucho pretty, which never hurts).  
 AP Image from Wilfred

The first performance in which Elijah Wood made an impact on me was in the excellent Barry Levinson film, Avalon.  I love this movie about a Jewish immigrant (Armin Mueller-Stahl) and his family making their way in Baltimore.  It has so many quotable lines, including my family's Thanksgiving favorite delivered by the great character actor Lou Jacobi, "You couldn't even wait to carve the toikey?"  Little Elijah lights up the screen in a memorable scene where his teacher enforces the difference between can and may.  It's adorable and just so funny.  It's a wonderful film.  If you haven't seen it, you must.
Then there is The Good Son.  How many of us were rooting for Wendy Crewson to let sociopath demon seed Macaulay Culkin fall over the cliff in order to save Elijah?
Of course, being the big fantasy geek that I am, the movies that solidified my Elijah fandom were the three Lord of the Rings films.  Frodo is a thankless role in a lot of ways.  Aragorn is the heroic reluctant leader, Legolas is the glamour boy and Gandalf is just plain badass.  Much of Frodo's struggle is an internal one, battling the insidious evil the ring exercises over the bearer, but Elijah Wood brings a maturity and sensitivity to the role that is light years beyond the capabilities of most eighteen-year-old actors.  I still feel the films' acting performance were unfairly passed over by the Academy Awards and other award entities.  Mr. Wood had my vote.
If you haven't seen Wilfred yet, do. It's really out there, and that's why I love it.  It's always a blast to see Mr. Wood playing against his sweetness and light.
Mr. Wood has made memorable appearances in films such as Sin City, The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Everything is Illuminated, but  to end my tribute today, I have to mention a movie close to my heart.  I'm a big Avian enthusiast.  I keep six exotic birds, including a Timneh African Grey parrot.  Yes, I am the crazy old bird lady who writes slightly kinky vampire novels.  My husband used to joke that if Elijah Wood ever played a bird I'd be beside myself.  You can imagine his reaction the day I read about Happy Feet going into production.  A tap dancing penguin?  And a vocal tribute to Freddie Mercury by the late Brittany Murphy?  What's not to love?
Interviewers always ask me who would be my choice to play my conflicted Immortyl hero, Kurt Eisen.  Well then I have to admit where I got the inspiration for Kurt's beautiful eyes in the first place.

Happy Birthday Mr. Wood!  I'm counting the days until the release of The Hobbit.

Guest Author Jo A. Hiestand

Today, I welcome Jo A. Hiestand to Immortyl Revolution!  Jo is a fellow L&L Dreamspell author, who writes mysteries.Jo has found a cool way of promoting books with character trading cards.  I'll let Jo tell you all about the interesting dilemma this presents to the author.








Face Value
I wonder if other writers have as much trouble with defining character as I'm currently having. Not the character's personality, but his looks.

To give you a bit of background in case you don't know my work, I write two English mystery series: Taylor & Graham features detectives from the Derbyshire Constabulary CID. The new series, the McLaren Case Mysteries, deals with ex-police detective Michael McLaren, who now investigates cold cases on his own.
When I began both series I had vague ideas of what my characters look like. And now that's the problem: vague.



Normally this minute character definition wouldn't be a concern, but I'm venturing into untried waters. I know how hot Trading Cards are in the romance readers market, so I'm trying them for mystery readers. Just designed my first batch for "A Well Dressed Corpse," Taylor & Graham's eighth novel.

The design part wasn't that hard -- book cover on the card's front, then character photo and info on the back of each of the character's cards. And that was the problem. I have no idea what each character looks like. Well, that's not exactly true. I know Graham is 6'3" tall, has auburn hair that is starting to gray, and has green eyes. I know Brenna has coppery colored hair and is a bit overweight. I know Mark has dark hair and eyes, that Margo is a brunette beauty, and that Scott has green eyes, is 6' tall and has dark hair. But that's it. That's all I thought I needed in my mind's eye when I created them. Now I find myself looking at literally thousands of photos of faces, trying to choose a realistic representation of Graham, Brenna, Mark, Margo and Scott.

I had to take breaks from the task. After about 30 minutes of gazing, the faces all kind of blurred together. Sure, I wrote down things like "businessman portrait in dark suit and striped blue tie, page 84," but getting back to each page for a refresher look was difficult, as the photo site had no "go to ___" button, so I had to hit the page buttons and back up that way. Took a while.

After a bit, probably at my third photo website, I got smart and did a screen capture of the thumbnail sketch. These sit on my computer screen and I can remember who the contestants are. Don't worry, I'm not stealing them without paying. The photos have lovely white X's through the center of each, ensuring folks can't pilfer them. But they're a good visual aid in my quest for the Perfect Face.

Graham was kind of easy to find: male model/lead actor handsome. I found several guys who could be Graham, so I just chose one. After all, everyone has his/her own idea of how a character looks, so my choice might not necessarily be Susie Sudsworth's choice or Tom Brown's choice. But the essence of the personality has to show through in the face, I think.

Brenna, too, I found rather quickly. But I'm stuck on Jamie.
Jamie isn't with Graham's Team. Jamie belongs to the McLaren Case series. Obviously, those who are visitors to my author website http://www.mclarencases.com/ know I have already found a real life Michael McLaren and Dena Ellison, who pose for photos that I can use. But I don't have a real life Jamie, so I had to go online to the photo sites to find him.

Man, I am stymied. I have no idea what he looks like other than he has light brown hair and has a slight build. That's it. So perhaps you see my dilemma -- I have looked at thousands of photos, seen guys ranging from muscular to beer bellied, full head of hair to bald. I don't know who Jamie is. Is he the serious guy with close-cropped hair, leather jacket and sunglasses, or is it the casually dressed man with a full head of hair? A typical no-nonsense guy reminiscent of 1970s TV cops, or a cheerful businessman? Gaunt, long face or rounder?

I thought staring at their photos on my computer monitor would help. But I have seven contestants staring back at me, and they're all different looking. I know my dilemma comes from not having Jamie's likeness in my mind. But I don't have McLaren or Graham or Mark in my mind, either, and they weren't nearly as difficult to cull from the sea of faces. Maybe it's because I've written about Jamie only three times, whereas I've written about Graham and Mark nine times. And they appear more often than Jamie does.

It's not easy choosing him from the candidates. I have an idea what a casting director must go through: photo after photo after photo of guys vying for the same role. But it isn't a personal insult if you're not chosen. I know that now. It's just that maybe Candidate 4,309 looks slightly better for the role than you do.

There's no rush in finding Jamie. I will do the first McLaren set of trading cards in a few months. But I'm the kind of person who likes to have everything thought out and prepared. (Yes, I have food, medical supplies and a small tent in readiness for the earthquake that's going to hit the St Louis region, which is where I live.)
I hope my readers like these trading cards, to collect and to trade with other readers. I had a grand time creating the set for each book. If these are popular, I think the next set will have a riddle or contest clue on the back of each character's card. I want to offer something different with each set...provided they progress that far. But I guess it'll depend, in part, on my character.

So, what have I learned from all this? I need to know more than my character's personality; I need to know what he really looks like. Maybe finally putting a face with the other things I know about him will nudge me into writing a better character. We'll see.

 You can follow Jo at these links:
Jo's Website
Facebook Fan Page
Jo's Amazon Page

Jo, thanks for being my guest today! My bad boy Cedric is clamoring for his own trading card now. See what you started, Jo?







Guest Gary Wedlund Offers Writing Tips

Happy New Year!  Yes, I've been absent for about a month.  The holidays are a time for family, and I've been kicking back from the blog for a bit.  2012 has me busy working with my editor, Cindy Davis, on the fourth Immortyl Revolution book.  I've also been working on a short story anthology featuring Mia, Kurt and Cedric that I hope to release concurrently as a free ebook download.  Keep posted for details.  I have a handful of other projects in the works that I'm putting through my crit groups.  Which brings me to today's guest.  I'm pleased to welcome my friend and mentor, Gary Wedlund, to the blog.  He's pictured here with his lovely wife, Karen.



Gary is a very talented writer of fantasy and horror. I asked him to share a few tidbits of wisdom with my readers. Because of my acting background, I'm a big fan of strong verbs. I like to call them, "sexy verbs". Connotative meaning can really sharpen a writer's work. So here is Gary with his advice on strong, concise language:

They moved through the forest at a fast pace.


The fact is, there's no obvious reason why I dislike that line so much, but I do. The grammar's okay. Maybe it's because it's generic and leaves me with a huge shrug.

Sometimes you want to be quick and general, but usually not so much. Words like moved and pace just don't conjure anything specific. Not only are they vague, but they double down on the same vague thought; what's with that? Why nonspecific twice?

Next, I'm noticing how the vague references to fast movement are interrupted by a forest. The rude forest that breaks the same thought into two islands is also vague.

The mini-lesson here is to show us something. At the very least, don't get cute with language when the content isn't really all that special. Basically, they jogged through the forest. If you're not going to say anything we can touch, taste or feel, get it over with.

Gary's published novels:
Living Dead Press: Zombies in Our Hometown


Open Casket Press: Atomic Zombies


Loconeal Press: Shaman Within


Loconeal Press (later this winter): Search for the Queen

Gary says: I'm primarily focused on novels, and write in three genres, zombie horror, historic fantasy and urban fantasy. I have several unpublished novels, including the last three novels to the Shaman Within (Abi) series, an urban fantasy trilogy about a succubus and her vampire sister, a two book humorous series about Satan's daughter (trying to find her mother while making sense of Earth), and a steampunk novel about a girl trying to keep out of the way of a royal mess.

I am also involved with four writer's groups, NCSF, Ohio Writers, Columbus Writeshop and Ohio Writer's Guild. One of the members sharing space and comments in two of those groups is my good friend, Denise Verrico. Gary, Denise and Ren Garcia have formed Free Writing Workshops of Ohio to foster the craft of writing by offering free writing workshops to youth and adults at libraries and schools throughout Ohio.






You can follow Gary and his work at these links:


Web page: http://garywedlund.webs.com/index.htm


Loconeal Writer's Tips Editor: ttp://loconeal.com/author/gary3538/

Editing for Living Dead Press: http://www.livingdeadpress.com/


Gary's short stories can be found in the following:
Book of Cannibals:
Zombie Erotica:
Children of the Dead
OG's Speculative Fiction Magazine
 

Lexington author seeking reviewers for her book - Lexingt...

Lexington author seeking reviewers for her book - Lexington Vampire | Examiner.com

Voting open for Favorite Paranormal Book and Author of 2011

Voting open for Favorite Paranormal Book and Author of 2011

Spec the Halls Anthology Raises Money for Charity

Today, Steven Saus is here to tell you about an exciting holiday anthology that is raising money for Heifer International, an organization that helps struggling families all over the world help themselves with a gift of livestock. Please read what Steven has to say and follow the link to purchase some wonderful stories and support a good cause!






My name is Steven Saus; I'm an author and publisher. I run Alliteration Ink, where I both publish original work and also provide publishing services. This year, I've taken up the mantle of running Spec The Halls from Abra Staffin-Wiebe. There's both a writing contest and a charity fundraiser. Right now, I'm doing a bit of a blog tour to support the fundraiser; each entry talks about something different, so you'll want to stop by them all. You can see a full linklist of the guest posts at specthehalls.tumblr.com and read more about the whole project (and get the charity eBook) at specthehalls.com.

Although I've spent a lot of time focusing on - and promoting - the charity aspect of Spec The Halls, it didn't start that way.


Originally, Spec The Halls was a contest with the aim of encouraging more speculative fiction, especially that based on and around the winter holidays. That is how I first came into contact with it, when Abra Staffin-Weibe was at the helm. I think it's really important to keep that part of Spec The Halls going, especially with the addition of the charity eBook.


Selected entries from this year's contest will form the core of next year's eBook. So not only will entrants get wonderful karma from sharing great fiction with the public and the chance to win cash prizes, but they will also have the chance to get a publishing credit and help with the charity next year.


Entries will be judged by crack teams of professional authors and editors, so you'll also have the chance for your work to come to their attention as well. All around, there's no reason not to enter!



This year's edition of Spec The Halls is only available for a limited time, so act quickly to get your copy!