Neale Sourna's Blog, page 2
October 23, 2021
A Secret Island Treasure to Inspire Storytelling
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20211020-the-rainbow-island-most-travellers-dont-know
By Misbaah Mansuri21st October 2021 With ochre-stained streams, crimson-hued beaches and enchanting salt caves, Iran's Hormuz Island is a geologist's Disneyland."You should get a taste of this soil," said Farzad Kay, my tour guide on southern Iran's Hormuz Island, as we stood at the foot of a ruby-red mountain that loomed majestically over the shoreline, engulfing the beach and waves in a crimson shadow. I approached his suggestion with some trepidation, as I was yet to understand this mysterious, mineral-laden landscape.
Set 8km off Iran's coast amid the murky blue waters of the Persian Gulf, Hormuz is a teardrop-shaped shimmering salt dome embedded with layers of shale, clay and iron-rich volcanic rocks that glow in dazzling shades of red, yellow and orange due to the more than 70 minerals found here. Nearly every inch of Hormuz Island's 42 awe-invoking sq km imparts a story of its formation.
According to Dr Kathryn Goodenough, principal geologist at the British Geological Survey who has previously worked in Iran, hundreds of millions of years ago, shallow seas formed thick layers of salt around the margins of the Persian Gulf. These layers gradually collided and interlayered with mineral-rich volcanic sediment in the area, causing the formation of the colourful landmass.
"Over the last 500 million years, the salt layers were buried deeply by younger layers of volcanic sediment. Since the salt is buoyant, over time, it has risen through cracks in the overlying rocks to reach the surface and form salt domes," said Dr Goodenough. She added that these thick layers of salt, many kilometres below the land, are actually present across much of the Persian Gulf area.
This geological makeup has resulted in ochre-stained streams, crimson-hued beaches and enchanting salt caves. In fact, Hormuz is often called the "rainbow island" because of the spectrum of chromatic hues that it exudes. It's also home to what's thought to be the only edible mountain in the world, which Kay was encouraging me to try.
Locals believe that the salt found at the Goddess of Salt mountain has the power to release any negative energy (Credit: Saeed Abdolizadeh/Alamy)
The red soil on the mountain I was standing near, called gelack, is caused by haematite, an iron oxide thought to be derived from the island's volcanic rocks. Not only is it a valuable mineral for industrial purposes, it also plays an important role in local cuisine. Used as a spice, it lends an earthy flavour to curries and goes perfectly with the local bread called tomshi, which means "a handful of something".
"The red soil is used as a sauce," explained Maryam Peykani, Farzad's wife. "This sauce is called soorakh and is spread on flatbread as it is almost cooked. Apart from its culinary usages, the red soil is also used [in paintings by] local artists, dyeing, creation of ceramics and cosmetics."
Beyond the ruby-red mountain, there's plenty else to explore on Hormuz. In the island's west there's a spectacular salt mountain known as the Goddess of Salt. Extending more than a kilometre, its pale caves and sharp-edged walls are covered by shimmering salt crystals that look like the giant columns of a marble palace.
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Locals believe that the salt possesses the healing power to soak up and release any negative energy, and Kay advised me to take my shoes off so my feet touched the salt dome. "The rock salt is known to release immense positive energy," he told me. "After having spent [time] in this valley, you are bound to feel much more invigorated, which is why the valley is also called the Energy Valley."
Similarly, in the island’s south-west is Rainbow Valley, a stunning display of multi-hued soil and vividly coloured mountains in shades of red, purple, yellow, ochre and blue. As I walked, I noticed patches of bright colours forming geometric patterns that glittered and gleamed as the sun's rays hit them.
In the nearby Valley of the Statues, rocks were weathered into fantastical shapes by thousands of years of wind erosion; with a bit of imagination, I could see birds, dragons and other mythical creatures. It was like admiring Earth's very own art gallery.
The island glows in shades of red, yellow and orange due to the more than 70 minerals found here (Credit: Lukas Bischoff/Alamy)
Despite the island’s surreal, kaleidoscopic natural colours, most travellers don't know about it. According to the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran, just 18,000 visitors came here in 2019.
"This natural phenomenon is not fully discovered by world travellers despite its significant tourist attractions, historically and naturally," said Ershad Shan, another local, as I sank my teeth into a spicy, fragrant curry of sardines, red onion, lemon and orange, prepared using soorakh. "If more attention is paid to the infrastructural development of Hormuz, this island can be changed to be an important attraction for tourists."
Locals have started to offer home-cooked meals for tourists and driving rickshaws and motorcycles to transport people around the island. "We feel responsible for doing our bit for Hormuz. It's so rare and is a part of our identity," Shan said. "We feel an urgent need to contribute towards getting the world to take notice of this eco-heritage."
As I devoured my curry, it struck me that while Hormuz is without doubt a geologist's Disneyland, it is the edible soil, which is literally runs through the veins of its inhabitants, that make it truly special.
Geological Marvels is a BBC Travel series that uncovers the fascinating stories behind natural phenomena and reveals their broader importance to our planet.
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June 21, 2021
Need to Market your historical fiction with people of color or black leads?
Need to Market your historical fiction with people of color or black leads?
Black History isn’t actually “black”; but about those of African descent, and such lives are throughout ALL HISTORY and PREHISTORY, not just Urban, Harlem Renaissance, and American and European “Black” Slavery. Newer sciences say ALL PEOPLES began in African and have become many flavors of humans, in all sorts of lovely shades and features.
And back when Europeans were cutting up the entire continent of Africa like a dessert pie, each of those slave states had interactions and intermarriage with Africans. These “mixed race” and “biracial” people have historical stories too.
Ancient Romans enslaved everyone but also freed many and took anyone into their vast armies, during and after the Romans there was a long history of castration cities in the Mid-East and Asia providing eunuch slaves, few of those were “black”, many were other colors.
England then Great Britain plus Europe and Russia had perpetual serfdoms; where people were treated as their masters’ property stock, or they were—many Russians were serfs (slave property) into the 20th Century of the First World War.
What parts of history or hidden histories are you interested? Do you have a story or novel about that time, or a reference text you’d like to share? This is the place, a centralized marketing home for character leads of color: www.BlackHistoricalFiction.com
January 12, 2021
Neale Sourna Writing Services / Editing Services at Guru.com (Games Narrative, Novels, etc.)
Writing / Editing Services
Creative Writing & Novel / Fiction $52/hr | $26 min. | No Feedback
On private projects; but contact me!
My first novel "Hobble" won Best Erotica from BlackRefer.com and my sensual romance/fantasy script "FRAMES" placed as a New Century Screenplay Finalist.
Copywriting/Editing (SemiFiction/Fiction $52/hr | $26 min. | No Feedback
On private projects; but contact me!
My first novel “Hobble” won Best Erotica from BlackRefer.com and my sensual romance/fantasy script “FRAMES” placed as a New Century...
Screen & Script Writing, Game Writing $52/hr | $26 min. | No Feedback
On private projects; but contact me!
My first novel “Hobble” won Best Erotica from BlackRefer.com and my sensual romance/fantasy script “FRAMES” placed as a New Century...
Web Content (Fiction/SemiFiction) $52/hr | $26 min. | No Feedback
On private projects; but contact me!
My first novel “Hobble” won Best Erotica from BlackRefer.com and my sensual romance/fantasy script “FRAMES” placed as a New Century...
Ghost Writing & Books $99/hr | $62 min. | No Feedback
On private projects; but contact me!
My first novel “Hobble” won Best Erotica from BlackRefer.com and my sensual romance/fantasy script “FRAMES” placed as a New Century...
Fiction & Character Consultation $79/hr | $26 min. | No Feedback
Blah, blah, blah. Are your novel, screenplay, script, or short story characters flat and unrealistic?
Are their personal exchanges one-dimensional and not filled with power?
Are...
Game Writing / Game Narrative $62/hr | $26 min. | No Feedback
Story author of published games.
http://www.writing-naked.com/clientpr... Client Projects
http://www.neale-sourna.com/scriptgat... Scripts / Game Story Scripts Planning characters...
November 25, 2020
New Page_Writing Sample: WAITING for YOU
http://www.writing-naked.com/W4Y.html
WAITING for YOU-a dating sim (work in progress)
A struggling author meets a sweet girl, a wild girl, and a tough guy husband.
What could go very right or very wrong in the game of love, lust, and making a living?
_dialog / narration / characterizations built upon from client outline
MEET Angelica
ANGELICA WORK, ABRAMO CASUAL
P ANG smiles to the COTS
P ANG looks at COTS - she isn't satisfied
INTRO CONVERSATION
ABR visits the office building for the first time and he needs to meet his publisher. ANG guides him.
After clicking on Angelica
P ANG stands behind the reception counter smiling
ANG: Good afternoon, how may I help you?
ABR: I'm Abramo Tutti. I have an appointment with Stephen More at “Black letters” publishing house's new offices.
ANG: All right, Mr. Tutti, just let me check his schedule. Oh. Here it is. Yes, your meeting is on the twenty-third floor and ... you're already five minutes late.
ABR: I know. Sorry. All these towers are confusing, I wasn't able to find your building, without stopping twice and asking for help. I don't come downtown too often.
ANG: Don't look so worried. I work on Stephen's desk a lot, he nearly always runs late; so you have a good chance to beat him to his office. Here's your guest pass and take that bank of elevators over there. I'll call ahead to let his assistant know you're on your way up, Mr. Tutti.
ABR: Thanks. What is your name, good lady?
ANG: "Good lady"? Well, good sir, my name is Angelica. Don't be nervous, you'll do fine, Mr. Tutti.
ABR: Thanks for all your kind help, Angelica. I need all the prayer and well wishes I can get.
P ANG has her hands on the counter and smiles to the COTS (CENTER OF THE SCREEN)
NARRATOR: I'd entered the forbidding office tower feeling harried and afraid I was about to lose everything. If I'm not a published writer, then I'm an unemployed writer. But, now I truly feel more confident and less like I'm dragging a burden. Maybe there really is a God, or whoever who sent the kind angel, Angelica to bless my day. Well, everyone's day, she's not just here for me. Or is she?
NARRATOR: Hm, good story point. Whatever, if this publishing goes bust, maybe I'll try for a regular day job in this building so I can see and speak with Angelica every day.
New Page_Writing Sample: Flirting With Yasmine
http://www.writing-naked.com/FWY.html
FLIRTING WITH YASMINE -a dating sim (work in progress)
A guy crashes at his married best friends' apartment, where he gets to meet some new friends, and gets better reacquainted with his close besties, while getting his life and loves back on track.
Who and what would be your choice?
_dialog / narration / characterizations built upon from client outline
Day 1
S_0001 LOG in CASUAL clothes with luggage standing in front of a building
NARRATOR: Fuck! I don't want to do this! But, here I am, anyway, standing in front of my best friend's place, ready to move in 'cause, currently, I don't have a place to live. I was evicted from my apartment … for not paying my rent, which wasn't.... Fuck it, that's an unpleasant story I'm just too disgusted to talk about, right now.
NARRATOR: I know you're thinking I'm a fortunate guy to have a friend like Nathan ready to provide me shelter, meals, and WiFi for 30 whole days; but, well.... I'm more lucky than you know. Kind of. You see, Nathan may be my best bud; but, he married THE girl of all girls for me; my high school crush - Yasmine.
NARRATOR: Oh, yes, Yasmine, the one girl, who could lift my mood with just the mischievous quirk of her shapely lips; my partner-in-crime, who would laugh until she'd nearly faint whenever I got away with something; the girl, who bested all of my stupidest jokes with even sillier ones of her own.
NARRATOR: Yasmine was my confidante, the only one who ever lent an attentive ear to any and all of my problems and secrets; except one. 'Cause, I kinda, well, never told Yasmine my most important secret; that I'd fallen, completely and undyingly, for her. I never told her that every time she had spoken to me of another latest crush on some lucky, stupid guy ... I would grimace a brittle smile, while feeling my soul shatter to shards, taking my broken heart with it.
NARRATOR: I do know why she never thought of me like that, except because my fat ass then could never, would never number among any of her crushes, or desires. Why would I want to see lovely and perfect Yasmine, again, knowing she would NEVER see me as more than a friend? An asexual … friend.
NARRATOR: That is Yasmine for me: Heaven and Hell in one gorgeous package. Honestly, parting ways with her after high school graduation was the most bittersweet and painfully difficult experience of my younger life. Meeting her again may top that long ago childish history. Married to my best friend, while I've avoided her, until now.... I'm not quite sure what this will be like.
(more...)
http://www.writing-naked.com/FWY.htmlNovember 10, 2020
Showing Writing Changes, Chap 1 Becca DuMaurier (part 1)
Showing Writing Changes, Chap 1 Becca DuMaurier
This and the next few posts will show you changes made while changing several website story chapters of a short story "novelette" into a novel, well, novel series. Here is proof that good things need time for story, character, research, and a novelist to grow something wonderful.
Yes, the shorts were great, if I do say so myself and my client and her website visitors; but more of a good thing is great too.
Original Client Short Story_Feb 2008
_899 wds
Becca in the Woods Cornwall, England UK; 1680s
Becca’d been on her way to her betrothal, or rather she’d escaped from crowded, maddening London, back to her stormy, Atlantic tossed Cornwall coast;,; three hundred miles further west than most London courtiers would ever venture.
The whole world was in mad upheaval! Pirates raided coasts. Neighbor killed neighbor, for God and Right. Their Catholic king’d run away and his daughter, with her Dutch Protestant husband, now ruled; as Becca’s healthy loveliness and strong family name remained besieged by an earl, whose grown heir had died, and now he wanted another, by her.
Unlucky Becca.
She’d lost two babes; both to fever, then lost her beloved, gentle husband in the king’s senseless wars and now this earl, older than her father, had reached out his covetous hands, to make her his countess, in payment for her father’s impending bankruptcy.
Both men had...more... https://www.patreon.com/NealeSourna
September 13, 2020
NOVEL PROMO (Historical Adventure Romance, African British): Download and Read "Becca DuMaurier" excerpts
NOVEL PROMO
DOWNLOAD AND READ: "Becca DuMaurier", a black rogues novel draft excerpts (not for sale yet / download no charge / free): http://becca.neale-sourna.com/becca-work-in-progress-excerpts-1.epub http://becca.neale-sourna.com/becca-work-in-progress-excerpts-1-kindle-links.mobi
https://www.patreon.com/NealeSourna
September 5, 2020
Another "Simple" Way I Name Characters_Sep 5, 2020 at 10:26 PM EST
This is a simple naming technique when writer characters and degenerating character names.
When I travel, to work or wherever, my stories and characters are percolating in the back or to the fore of my mind. Street addresses to name a character. Especially, ones that come one after another or conjoin at intersections can be helpful; because you can find interesting character names.
Just keep in mind if what you come up with relates to their ethnicity or culture, time period, financial level, etc.
Happy hunting.
More helpful tips at....
September 4, 2020
BUY Neale Sourna of PIE: Perception Is Everything ebooks at Payhip
http://www.neale-sourna.com/ Follow All products Libidinous 1 / Libidinous 1A North Coast Academies Dia the CheerleaderThe Freelancer_epub$0.50The Freelancer_mobi$0.50Dia's Coach (1)_epub$4.97Dia's Weekend With Coach (2)_epub$4.97Dia's Team Bang (3)_epub$5.97North Coast Academies' Journal 1 (NCAJ1): North Coast Academies' Diary (NCAD) Vol. 1-3 Compiled_epub$6Hobble [An Adult Fiction]_kindle$6Dia's Coach (1)_kindle$4.97Rough-Me Dot Com_epub$1Dia's Weekend With Coach (2)_kindle$4.97Rough-Me Dot Com_mobi / kindle$1Dia's Team Bang (3)_kindle$5.97North Coast Academies' Journal 1 (NCAJ1): North Coast Academies' Diary (NCAD) Vol. 1-3 Compiled_kindle$6NCAD--V1n1_Neale Sourna's North Coast Academies' Diary, Volume 1, #1_Laila - Cozy with Daddy_kindle$2NCAD--v1n2_North Coast Academies' Diary, Volume 1, #2--Yune: Suck My _ _ _ _kindle$1.25NCAD--v2n1_North Coast Academies' Diary, Volume 2, #1--Ross: Daddy's Little Whore, uh, Seductress_kindle$3NCADv3n1_North Coast Academies' Diary, Volume 3, #1--3 Sex Views: Ross, Laila, Sascha_kindle$4NCADv3n1.1_North Coast Academies' Diary, Volume 3, #1.1--Sascha: Public Parking, Sex Squared_kindle$4NCADv3n1.2_North Coast Academies' Diary, Volume 3, #1. 2--Laila: Daddy's Willing Little Slut_kindle$4NCADv3n1.3_North Coast Academies' Diary, Volume 3, #1. 3--Ross: My Daughter's Anal Cherry_kindle$4NCADv4n1--North Coast Academies' Diary, Vol 4 #1--Tad: The Switch-hitter, His Twink, and His Teacher--A Lust Novella (M/M/M)_kindle$4NCAD--v4n1_North Coast Academies' Diary, Vol 4 #1--Tad: The Switch-hitter, His Twink, and His Teacher--A Lust Novella (M/M/M)_epub$4Dez at the Silver Pole_epub$1.97Dez at the Silver Pole_kindle$1.97Hesitation_epub$1.97Hesitation_kindle$1.97Three By Invitation Only_epub$2.99Three By Invitation Only_kindle$2.99CUNTsinger: Cunnilingus_How to Give Head (Oral Sex and Eating Pussy), for Giving Women Orgasms of Cuntlicious Joy!_pdf$3Hobble [An Adult Fiction] _ epub$6
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Neale Sourna is creating Erotica, Romance; Interracial, Multiracial; Fiction Consulting at Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/NealeSourna
MISSION: Creating and crafting for you interesting, UNIQUE CHARACTERS of "race" who make you feel, learn, ad exercise your emotions and mind. Plus, you'll be giving me TIME and UNWORRIED FREEDOM to build and deliver more great stories, novels, and scripts for your pleasure.
What is success? What is sustainability? Most authors, actors, and other artists cannot support themselves off what they make in a day job? Or that / those day job(s) cut into the emotional, physical, and spiritual energy required to Create and Make what you enjoy; what I enjoy creating and making and what you enjoy enjoying. But, you know that and that is why you are here.
You know or are finding that a successful writer can win awards for great storytelling, become part of a legendary writers union, and win approvals and small jobs; but those don't equal adequate support to continue and finish long-standing or the physical materialization of new stories: novels, novella, short stories, scripts / screenplays, etc.
Click here and check out my materials finished and in progress, before you go any further: http://www.Neale-Sourna.com
Now, some of who I am, and my bona fides:
I am Neale Sourna (www.Neale-Sourna.com) an award-winning author / publisher - screenwriter - game story narrative writer based in Cleveland (Garfield HTS), Ohio, USA, who "backed" into novel writing with self-prescribed short story exercises to work out ideas for TV scripts and feature screenplays. My first published work was "Hesitation" for PLAYGIRL, May 2002. I also edit and design (ebook and book covers plus interior layouts) of the character-driven stories published through PIE: Perception Is Everything (www.PIE-Percept.com).
Some awards include my first published novel HOBBLE which won Best Romantic Erotica of the Year from BlackRefer.com; screenplay FRAMES which ranked as a New Century Screenplay Finalist; and Best storytelling @ White Nights Conference Game Narrative Awards for online video game METROPOLIS: LUX OBSCURA. http://www.neale-sourna.com/scriptgateway.html
I am a member of the Writer's Guild of America - West (WGA-w)'s Video Game Caucus; but not WGA-w proper. No AAA games, yet, y'know the kind that have name actors and their images in them; my clients have been smaller, independent European game developers not mult-million dollar companies.
“Characters should have depth and reality, and be unique in their own way.” And how’s this for “range”? With life experience as a temp or perm employee in various fields besides writing; including: retail, business banking and wealth management, accounting, engineering, live theatre, cinema, music (vocal, instruments, and radio), erotic photo modeling, historical and cultural research, and even microgravity research at NASA, I build characters who have unique depth, freshness, and reader memorability.
I am also a Founding Advisory Board Member for "Creative Screenwriting Journal", studied Graduate level Film & Video writing and analysis at American University, DC, and has a Performing Fine Arts Bachelor Degree from Lake Erie College, OH. And continues studies in game design, storytelling, research and confirmation, people observation, and yoga.
I am a graduate of John F. Kennedy H.S. in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, a former (and again) student of Cuyahoga Community College (Digital Film & Editing, Game Design Building), an undergrad-intern semester at Mount Vernon College with the National Endowment for the Arts Opera-Musical Theatre Financial Distribution Program, and an academic term alone abroad in Vienna, Austria just living, making friends, and learning.
And all of these experiences go into my writing, editing, storytelling.
A fun fact. I share a birthday with these sensual and sensational authors the Marquis deSade of France and Thomas Hardy of England, which says a thing or two about my take on dramatic writing; all the senses reign.
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_Stories (mobi / kindle / epub) banned by Amazon Kindle or other vendors are available at:
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