MaryAnn Bernal's Blog, page 408
June 14, 2013
Ngaire Elder: Sound of the Silent
Ngaire Elder: Sound of the Silent: Nicola Palmer lives in Warwickshire, England, writing stories for children aged 9 - 99. As well as writing, Nicola's other favourite thi...
History Trivia - Juan Borgia, son of Pope Alexander VI, murdered
June 14
1381 The Peasant's Revolt, led by Wat Tyler, climaxed when rebels plundered and burned the Tower of London, and killed the Archbishop of Canterbury.
1497 Giovanni (Juan) Borgia, favorite son of Pope Alexander VI, was murdered, allegedly by his brother Cesare or by his younger brother Gioffre.
1645 Oliver Cromwell routed the Royalists at the Battle of Naseby, giving parliament victory in the civil war.
1381 The Peasant's Revolt, led by Wat Tyler, climaxed when rebels plundered and burned the Tower of London, and killed the Archbishop of Canterbury.
1497 Giovanni (Juan) Borgia, favorite son of Pope Alexander VI, was murdered, allegedly by his brother Cesare or by his younger brother Gioffre.
1645 Oliver Cromwell routed the Royalists at the Battle of Naseby, giving parliament victory in the civil war.
June 13, 2013
Father’s Day Special: Kindle edition of Green Wizard Publishing’s anthology, Reality Bites, now $0.99
Just in time for Father’s Day Kindle edition - Green Wizard Publishing’s anthology, Reality Bites - $0.99 for a limited time only
About the book: Death. Domestic abuse. Ritual exploitation. The passing of a loved one. Child battery. Horrifying food addiction. Brutal bullying. Friendship gone bad. Drugs. Family collapse. Loss. Despair.
These are the bricks in the walls of Hell.
That would be real hell. Not the imaginary hell of the biblical scribe, the epic fantasist, the horrorphile, the metaphorist, the allegory peddler or the unreliable narrator.
This is the real Hell.
But no matter how bleak things become in that impenetrable abyss, no matter how bleak, no matter how pitch black, there is always the bottom rung of a rotten, threadbare rope ladder dangling from the precipice – and the message is: the rung is in reach.
This is Reality Bites.
Twelve fictional stories by twelve superb independent authors, each of whom is a card-carrying survivor of the abyss. And these are their tales. UShttp://www.amazon.com/Reality-Bites-e...
About the book: Death. Domestic abuse. Ritual exploitation. The passing of a loved one. Child battery. Horrifying food addiction. Brutal bullying. Friendship gone bad. Drugs. Family collapse. Loss. Despair.
These are the bricks in the walls of Hell.
That would be real hell. Not the imaginary hell of the biblical scribe, the epic fantasist, the horrorphile, the metaphorist, the allegory peddler or the unreliable narrator.
This is the real Hell.
But no matter how bleak things become in that impenetrable abyss, no matter how bleak, no matter how pitch black, there is always the bottom rung of a rotten, threadbare rope ladder dangling from the precipice – and the message is: the rung is in reach.
This is Reality Bites.
Twelve fictional stories by twelve superb independent authors, each of whom is a card-carrying survivor of the abyss. And these are their tales. UShttp://www.amazon.com/Reality-Bites-e...
The Phil Naessens Show 6-13-2013 The Spurs are Beating the Heat From Way Out Deep
http://phillipnaessens.wordpress.com/2013/06/13/the-phil-naessens-show-6-13-2013-the-spurs-are-beating-the-heat-from-way-out-deep/
The San Antonio Spurs hold a 2-1 game lead over the Miami Heat and joining host Phil Naessens is Pounding the Rock Managing Editor J.R. Wilco. Please join the guys as they discuss how the Spurs got this far and what is needed to defeat the Miami Heat on todays Phil Naessens Show
History Trivia - Edict of Milan proclaimed
June 13
37 Gnaeus Julius Agricola was born. He was a Roman general noted for conquering all of England and part of Scotland (77-84).
49 Pope Leo I, The Great, presented his Tome, affirming the reality of the two natures of Christ human and divine to Flavian, the Bishop of Constantinople.
313 The 'Edict of Milan' was proclaimed, ending the persecution of Christians across the Roman Empire.
823 Charles I (the Bald) was born. He was the Grandson of Charlemagne who with his two half brothers divided Charlemagne's empire into three parts, with Charles becoming the first king of France (843-877).
1249 Coronation of Alexander III as King of Scots.
1373 Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of Alliance (world's oldest) was signed in London.
1525 Martin Luther married Katharina von Bora, against the celibacy rule decreed by the Roman Catholic Church for priests and nuns.
1625 King Charles I married Henrietta Maria of France, Princess of France.
37 Gnaeus Julius Agricola was born. He was a Roman general noted for conquering all of England and part of Scotland (77-84).
49 Pope Leo I, The Great, presented his Tome, affirming the reality of the two natures of Christ human and divine to Flavian, the Bishop of Constantinople.
313 The 'Edict of Milan' was proclaimed, ending the persecution of Christians across the Roman Empire.
823 Charles I (the Bald) was born. He was the Grandson of Charlemagne who with his two half brothers divided Charlemagne's empire into three parts, with Charles becoming the first king of France (843-877).
1249 Coronation of Alexander III as King of Scots.
1373 Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of Alliance (world's oldest) was signed in London.
1525 Martin Luther married Katharina von Bora, against the celibacy rule decreed by the Roman Catholic Church for priests and nuns.
1625 King Charles I married Henrietta Maria of France, Princess of France.
Independent Author Index Featured Book Bio - The Briton and the Dane: Concordia by Mary Ann Bernal
http://indaindex.com/book-bio-the-briton-and-the-dane-concordia-by-mary-ann-bernal/
Book Bio: The Briton and the Dane: Concordia by Mary Ann BernalJune 13, 2013 | Posted by IAI Admin in Book BiosNo comments
Mary Ann Bernal writes from Omaha, NE, in the USA.
Author: Mary Ann Bernal
Book title: The Briton and the Dane: Concordia
Book rating: PG-13 (questionable content for children under 13)
Publisher: Createspace
Book video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDPaiQqmaIs
Independent Author Index (IAI): What is your book about?
Mary Ann Bernal (MAB): Travel back in time to late Ninth Century Anglo-Saxon Britain where Alfred the Great rules with a benevolent hand while the Danish King rules peacefully within the boundaries of the Danelaw. Trade flourishes, and scholars from throughout the civilized world flock to Britannia’s shores to study at the King’s Court School at Winchester.
Enter Concordia, a beautiful noble woman whose family is favored by the king. Vain, willful, and admired, but ambitious and cunning, Concordia is not willing to accept her fate. She is betrothed to the valiant warrior, Brantson, but sees herself as far too young to lay in the bedchamber of an older suitor. She wants to see the wonders of the world, embracing everything in it; preferably, but dangerously, at the side of Thayer, the exotic Saracen who charms King Alfred’s court and ignites her yearning passions.
Concordia manipulates her besotted husband into taking her to Rome, but her ship is captured by bloodthirsty pirates, and the seafarers protecting her are ruthlessly slain to a man. As she awaits her fate in the Moorish captain’s bed, by sheer chance, she discovers that salvation is at hand in the gilded court of a Saracen nobleman.
While awaiting rescue, Concordia finds herself at the center of intrigue, plots, blackmail, betrayal and the vain desires of two egotistical brothers, each willing to die for her favor. Using only feminine cunning, Concordia must defend her honor while plotting her escape as she awaits deliverance, somewhere inside steamy, unconquered Muslim Hispania.
IAI: How did you pick the topic for The Briton and the Dane: Concordia?
MAB: My lifelong dream was to write a novel about Erik, the Viking, after having seen such Hollywood blockbusters as “The Vikings,” “The Longships,” and other period movies including “King Arthur,” and “Knights of the Round Table.” When it came time to put pen to paper, Alfred the Great’s reign was the perfect backdrop for my story.
IAI: How is The Briton and the Dane: Concordia different from other books that cover the same or similar information?
MAB: The Briton and the Dane trilogy is an epic adventure, which includes multiple storylines with multiple characters, Concordia being 3-years-old in the final novel.
When we meet Concordia, she has come of age in a turbulent era where women are expected to behave according to societal standards. Her story runs the emotional gamut of love and betrayal, and while her struggle may not be unique, her story is poignant, transcending time.
IAI: What do you like most about writing this book?
MAB: While many decisions have as many consequences, I enjoyed shedding light on the reason why someone did what they did, right or wrong.
An excerpt of The Briton and the Dane: Concordia:
Preface
Concordia hurried across the deserted courtyard and headed towards the massive Keep that dominated King Alfred’s fortified city of Winchester. She kept within the shadows and was grateful for the cloud cover while running past the soldiers patrolling the wall-walk and avoiding the ever-present sentries that walked the familiar streets. She pulled her hood tighter around her face when a sudden gust of wind scattered the willowy clouds and moonbeams illuminated the darkened night. She looked atop the tower and quickened her pace when she noticed a solitary figure glancing in her direction.
Concordia waved excitedly as she approached the stairwell and was out of breath by the time she reached the top. Her eyes sparkled and her face was flushed as she removed her hood, her loose tresses caressing her face when touched by the whispering wind, her simple dress accentuating her curvaceous body while her cloak fluttered about her.
Thayer bowed ceremoniously, grasped her hand and kissed the tip of her fingers. He laughed inwardly since he was amused by her reticence as she quickly withdrew her hand, yet he looked questionably into her glowing eyes while brushing aside unruly strands of hair that billowed effortlessly in the wind.
Concordia glanced upon the exotic Moor whom she admired from the moment he had arrived at the court school. She had kept her distance because she feared the awakening emotions that consumed her thoughts whenever she came upon him, whether in the classroom or at the king’s table. She remembered her embarrassment each time he caught her staring at him during one of Brother Frederic’s lengthy discussions, yet she was pleased when he winked in acknowledgement, and how could she forget the sparkle in his eyes? His dark features added to his mystique, which fueled the budding fire within her soul. Concordia sensed his excitement when their hands touched briefly each time he handed her a book or helped her rise from a chair. She preferred sharing the evening meal at the king’s table where Thayer would be found sitting next to the queen, and she still had the flower petals he had given her when they first met. She tried to suppress her feelings, knowing her father would never permit such a match, even though Concordia and Thayer shared a passion for knowledge in a world shrouded in warfare.
“You are trembling,” Thayer whispered as he pulled her closer and held her tightly in a loving embrace.
Concordia did not shy away from his touch, but welcomed his protective arms as she tried to control her rising emotions while fearing the truth of his words. Her watery eyes glistened in the moonlight as she buried her head in his chest, taking deep breaths as her mind made sense of her chaotic thoughts while finding the courage to speak the words hidden within her heart.
“Do not be distressed,” Thayer said softly as he kissed the top of her head. “Our friendship is unrivaled and I shall cherish the memories.”
Concordia freed herself from his embrace and walked towards the wall while admonishing herself for her foolishness. He had spoken the truth, they were just friends, but because she was smitten, she believed he returned her love. She would have been humiliated by her confession and silently thanked the Lord that she had held her tongue.
“I beg forgiveness,” Concordia said as she glanced upon the darkened landscape. “I had grown accustomed to your presence in the classroom and will miss our debates. I meant no offense.”
“Ah, Concordia, never apologize for speaking your thoughts…that is why I find you so refreshing…I have enjoyed our differing opinions…you will be sorely missed.”
Concordia wrapped her cloak tightly around her as wind gusts chilled the night air. She smiled slightly when Thayer placed a velvet pouch in her hand, yet she was hesitant to accept the gift.
“Open it,” Thayer whispered in her ear.
Concordia gasped when she saw the gold bead necklace, but she could not curtain her excitement when she held the striking jewels against her chest. The gold beads were interspersed with turquoise and blue glass of various designs, and each bead was elegantly embellished by exquisitely engraved decorations.
“I have never seen such intricate work,” Concordia said excitedly as Thayer clasped the necklace around her neck. “There are no words…but I cannot accept such a costly gift.”
“You must lest you offend my mother.”
“I do not understand…how am I known?”
“I had written my mother of our friendship…she sent this token so you may always remember the bond we share…it belonged to her mother…she insisted.”
“Tell her I am most pleased,” Concordia murmured as she held the beads gently between her fingers while averting his gaze. “Tell her I shall never forget her kindness.”
“Come, the hour grows late…you must be in your chambers before you are missed.”
Concordia followed Thayer down the stairs as the clouds once again covered the full moon. She walked silently beside the man who had captured her heart, etching his features into memory, to remember in the days ahead, when she grieved for a love that might have been.
Thayer stopped abruptly when they reached the king’s private quarters, grasped Concordia by the shoulders and kissed her gently upon her lips.
“Forgive my impertinence,” Thayer said softly. “I cannot leave without telling you…if only…you must go before words are spoken that cannot be taken back…go!”
“I do not understand,” Concordia tearfully replied. “Can you not see…”
“Hush,” Thayer interrupted as he placed his finger over her lips. “I know.”
“Will I ever see you again?” Concordia asked, her voice choked with emotion.
“If Allah wills it,” Thayer replied kindly before he disappeared into the night.
Book Bio: The Briton and the Dane: Concordia by Mary Ann BernalJune 13, 2013 | Posted by IAI Admin in Book BiosNo comments
Mary Ann Bernal writes from Omaha, NE, in the USA.Author: Mary Ann BernalBook title: The Briton and the Dane: Concordia
Book rating: PG-13 (questionable content for children under 13)
Publisher: Createspace
Book video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDPaiQqmaIs
Independent Author Index (IAI): What is your book about?
Mary Ann Bernal (MAB): Travel back in time to late Ninth Century Anglo-Saxon Britain where Alfred the Great rules with a benevolent hand while the Danish King rules peacefully within the boundaries of the Danelaw. Trade flourishes, and scholars from throughout the civilized world flock to Britannia’s shores to study at the King’s Court School at Winchester.
Enter Concordia, a beautiful noble woman whose family is favored by the king. Vain, willful, and admired, but ambitious and cunning, Concordia is not willing to accept her fate. She is betrothed to the valiant warrior, Brantson, but sees herself as far too young to lay in the bedchamber of an older suitor. She wants to see the wonders of the world, embracing everything in it; preferably, but dangerously, at the side of Thayer, the exotic Saracen who charms King Alfred’s court and ignites her yearning passions.
Concordia manipulates her besotted husband into taking her to Rome, but her ship is captured by bloodthirsty pirates, and the seafarers protecting her are ruthlessly slain to a man. As she awaits her fate in the Moorish captain’s bed, by sheer chance, she discovers that salvation is at hand in the gilded court of a Saracen nobleman.
While awaiting rescue, Concordia finds herself at the center of intrigue, plots, blackmail, betrayal and the vain desires of two egotistical brothers, each willing to die for her favor. Using only feminine cunning, Concordia must defend her honor while plotting her escape as she awaits deliverance, somewhere inside steamy, unconquered Muslim Hispania.
IAI: How did you pick the topic for The Briton and the Dane: Concordia?
MAB: My lifelong dream was to write a novel about Erik, the Viking, after having seen such Hollywood blockbusters as “The Vikings,” “The Longships,” and other period movies including “King Arthur,” and “Knights of the Round Table.” When it came time to put pen to paper, Alfred the Great’s reign was the perfect backdrop for my story.
IAI: How is The Briton and the Dane: Concordia different from other books that cover the same or similar information?
MAB: The Briton and the Dane trilogy is an epic adventure, which includes multiple storylines with multiple characters, Concordia being 3-years-old in the final novel.
When we meet Concordia, she has come of age in a turbulent era where women are expected to behave according to societal standards. Her story runs the emotional gamut of love and betrayal, and while her struggle may not be unique, her story is poignant, transcending time.
IAI: What do you like most about writing this book?
MAB: While many decisions have as many consequences, I enjoyed shedding light on the reason why someone did what they did, right or wrong.
An excerpt of The Briton and the Dane: Concordia:
Preface
Concordia hurried across the deserted courtyard and headed towards the massive Keep that dominated King Alfred’s fortified city of Winchester. She kept within the shadows and was grateful for the cloud cover while running past the soldiers patrolling the wall-walk and avoiding the ever-present sentries that walked the familiar streets. She pulled her hood tighter around her face when a sudden gust of wind scattered the willowy clouds and moonbeams illuminated the darkened night. She looked atop the tower and quickened her pace when she noticed a solitary figure glancing in her direction.
Concordia waved excitedly as she approached the stairwell and was out of breath by the time she reached the top. Her eyes sparkled and her face was flushed as she removed her hood, her loose tresses caressing her face when touched by the whispering wind, her simple dress accentuating her curvaceous body while her cloak fluttered about her.
Thayer bowed ceremoniously, grasped her hand and kissed the tip of her fingers. He laughed inwardly since he was amused by her reticence as she quickly withdrew her hand, yet he looked questionably into her glowing eyes while brushing aside unruly strands of hair that billowed effortlessly in the wind.
Concordia glanced upon the exotic Moor whom she admired from the moment he had arrived at the court school. She had kept her distance because she feared the awakening emotions that consumed her thoughts whenever she came upon him, whether in the classroom or at the king’s table. She remembered her embarrassment each time he caught her staring at him during one of Brother Frederic’s lengthy discussions, yet she was pleased when he winked in acknowledgement, and how could she forget the sparkle in his eyes? His dark features added to his mystique, which fueled the budding fire within her soul. Concordia sensed his excitement when their hands touched briefly each time he handed her a book or helped her rise from a chair. She preferred sharing the evening meal at the king’s table where Thayer would be found sitting next to the queen, and she still had the flower petals he had given her when they first met. She tried to suppress her feelings, knowing her father would never permit such a match, even though Concordia and Thayer shared a passion for knowledge in a world shrouded in warfare.
“You are trembling,” Thayer whispered as he pulled her closer and held her tightly in a loving embrace.
Concordia did not shy away from his touch, but welcomed his protective arms as she tried to control her rising emotions while fearing the truth of his words. Her watery eyes glistened in the moonlight as she buried her head in his chest, taking deep breaths as her mind made sense of her chaotic thoughts while finding the courage to speak the words hidden within her heart.
“Do not be distressed,” Thayer said softly as he kissed the top of her head. “Our friendship is unrivaled and I shall cherish the memories.”
Concordia freed herself from his embrace and walked towards the wall while admonishing herself for her foolishness. He had spoken the truth, they were just friends, but because she was smitten, she believed he returned her love. She would have been humiliated by her confession and silently thanked the Lord that she had held her tongue.
“I beg forgiveness,” Concordia said as she glanced upon the darkened landscape. “I had grown accustomed to your presence in the classroom and will miss our debates. I meant no offense.”
“Ah, Concordia, never apologize for speaking your thoughts…that is why I find you so refreshing…I have enjoyed our differing opinions…you will be sorely missed.”
Concordia wrapped her cloak tightly around her as wind gusts chilled the night air. She smiled slightly when Thayer placed a velvet pouch in her hand, yet she was hesitant to accept the gift.
“Open it,” Thayer whispered in her ear.
Concordia gasped when she saw the gold bead necklace, but she could not curtain her excitement when she held the striking jewels against her chest. The gold beads were interspersed with turquoise and blue glass of various designs, and each bead was elegantly embellished by exquisitely engraved decorations.
“I have never seen such intricate work,” Concordia said excitedly as Thayer clasped the necklace around her neck. “There are no words…but I cannot accept such a costly gift.”
“You must lest you offend my mother.”
“I do not understand…how am I known?”
“I had written my mother of our friendship…she sent this token so you may always remember the bond we share…it belonged to her mother…she insisted.”
“Tell her I am most pleased,” Concordia murmured as she held the beads gently between her fingers while averting his gaze. “Tell her I shall never forget her kindness.”
“Come, the hour grows late…you must be in your chambers before you are missed.”
Concordia followed Thayer down the stairs as the clouds once again covered the full moon. She walked silently beside the man who had captured her heart, etching his features into memory, to remember in the days ahead, when she grieved for a love that might have been.
Thayer stopped abruptly when they reached the king’s private quarters, grasped Concordia by the shoulders and kissed her gently upon her lips.
“Forgive my impertinence,” Thayer said softly. “I cannot leave without telling you…if only…you must go before words are spoken that cannot be taken back…go!”
“I do not understand,” Concordia tearfully replied. “Can you not see…”
“Hush,” Thayer interrupted as he placed his finger over her lips. “I know.”
“Will I ever see you again?” Concordia asked, her voice choked with emotion.
“If Allah wills it,” Thayer replied kindly before he disappeared into the night.
Independent Author Index Featured Book Bio: Carla by Mark Barry
http://indaindex.com/book-bio-carla-by-mark-barry/Book Bio: Carla by Mark BarryJune 12, 2013 | Posted by IAI Admin in Book BiosNo comments
Mark Barry writes from Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom
Author: Mark Barry
Book title: Carla
Book rating: PG-13 (questionable content for children under 13)
Publisher: Green Wizard Publishing
Independent Author Index (IAI): What is your book about?
Mark Barry (MB): A recently released mental patient develops a relationship with a much younger wildlife conservation student earning her tuition fees behind a bar in the beautiful and prosperous town of Wheatley Fields. The relationship between the two, often beautiful and touching, deepens until other parties ensure the unlikely liaison ends in a brutal and tragic conclusion.
Bravely written from the point of view of the ex-mental patient, unflinching in its honesty, almost comedic in parts, Carla is a dark romance and a love story for the modern age.
IAI: How did you pick the topic for Carla?
MB: Sitting in the pub watching an older man talking to an extremely beautiful younger barperson.
IAI: How is Carla different from other books that cover the same or similar information?
MB: To my knowledge, there are very few books of this nature.
IAI: What do you like most about writing this book?
MB: It was extremely difficult to write and I was glad when it was over.
An excerpt of Carla:
That female sixth sense.
It’s that antennae you have.
You know.
That aerial. That radar you have. The sixth sense.
You can spot a nutbag from a thousand paces.
Now you’re not always right, admit it, but you’re always on your guard. Always wary, always looking round for the man in the woods, the strange shadow in the corridor, the Bogeyman in the wardrobe with your aerial of suspicion.
Over the years – and you can watch out for incidences of any of these things throughout the narrative – I’ve been called an Arsehole (goes without saying), an Alcoholic (it’s not enough, sorry), a Psychopath (bollocks), a Schizo (has its merits, theoretically), a Split Personality (no such thing), a Borderline (not many arguments with this one), a Narcissist (how, exactly, can someone who hates himself be a Narcissist?), and a Repressed Homosexual (no comment).
Let’s face it, with the internet, popular psychology sites, popular psychology courses and a society-wide oversupply of psychology graduates looking for something to do other than flip burgers and chase shoppers in the High Street with direct debit forms, everyone can be a diagnostic expert.
What exactly IS the point of a psychiatrist with all the stuff available free on the Internet? There are thousands of tests of your personality on the internet as we speak. Free of charge.
Stop reading this.
Flip on your browser and find a popular search engine of your choice.
Type in something like Borderline Personality Test and you’ll find a free test of your personality.
They take about fifteen minutes and they ask you questions loosely associated with particular personality disorders.
Usually multiple choice. A mouse click.
Well, of course it is in today’s hyperfast society. Who can be bothered to fill in boxes full of actual words?
Now. Have you done that? Good. What does it say? Avoidant? Histrionic? How simple was that huh?
You are now a label. By the way, if you’re an Anti-Social, don’t bother reading on.
I hate you and hope your robot arse rots in hell, the damage you cause. If you’re a borderline, get in touch. We can help each other I’m sure. You understand, don’t you? You can empathise. You know what it’s like to want something so much, so fast, that you can never live up to the intensity of it.
You know that emptiness. That scalded skin. That ever-present sense of nausea. You’ve experienced the cutting.
You would understand that, wouldn’t you?
The point of the sharp against your skin, the soothing sense of it, the understanding that the knife is exactly what you deserve.
The cold sharp blade is your only friend and you understand the peace that can bring, the descending euphoria.
When I was inside, the last time, a doctor from New Orleans, reviewed my case notes and postulated the notion that as well as BPD, I suffered from IED too.
Intermittent Explosive Disorder.
They think of something for everything.
Take this one. You won’t believe it.
Lottery Disappointment Syndrome.
I couldn’t believe it when I heard it but apparently, people become so disappointed at not winning their country’s version of the Lottery that they are referred to a psychiatrist! I said that it seemed a bit silly, another job creation exercise, another opportunity to be published in the journals, but Plunkett said that over seven hundred people a year worldwide are so beset by the injustice and the hopelessness of not winning, and they commit suicide.
Many others self harm. Others turn to drink and drugs.
Anyway, I digress. This doctor from New Orleans called Dupont said that I was probably suffering from BPD with IED too.
Plus an organic neurosis or two (my head really is a shed).
The Unit I had been referred to by my father to keep me out of prison had only twice before treated a sufferer of IED. Naturally, when he heard, he paid to bring in a specialist and of course, I do what I always do, which is have long conversations with the specialist, long, immersive, enjoyable ones, take all the medication they ask me to, talk in the rolling grounds to Abdul, Wrigley and Boyd and Leroy and Felicity (when she’s not on her treatment) and wait for Janine to come to my room whenever she’s on shift.
In other words, I conform to their recovery model and eventually they release me.
IED, according to Dupont, is characterised by instability of mood with unpredictable outbursts of severe anger and violence. Librarians are common sufferers. Nice, quiet people who suddenly, with no warning, and for very little reason, start destroying their work environments like Vikings in a berserker rage. Their family homes. Families look at them in horror.
I can see that. The horror of it.
If you marry a tattooed giant skinhead with a history of pathological violence, you can’t really complain when he starts destroying your country cottage in front of your very eyes because he’s had a bad day. A bespectacled, mousy, quiet, inoffensive librarian, with his satchel and brown raincoat, his tortoiseshell spectacles? Watching him take a sledgehammer to the Plasma and the stereo before turning his slit-eyed gaze to you and the kids – now that’s pretty scary, if you ask me
Copyright© Mark Barry. All rights reserved.
Mark Barry writes from Nottinghamshire in the United KingdomAuthor: Mark Barry
Book title: Carla
Book rating: PG-13 (questionable content for children under 13)
Publisher: Green Wizard Publishing
Independent Author Index (IAI): What is your book about?
Mark Barry (MB): A recently released mental patient develops a relationship with a much younger wildlife conservation student earning her tuition fees behind a bar in the beautiful and prosperous town of Wheatley Fields. The relationship between the two, often beautiful and touching, deepens until other parties ensure the unlikely liaison ends in a brutal and tragic conclusion.
Bravely written from the point of view of the ex-mental patient, unflinching in its honesty, almost comedic in parts, Carla is a dark romance and a love story for the modern age.
IAI: How did you pick the topic for Carla?
MB: Sitting in the pub watching an older man talking to an extremely beautiful younger barperson.
IAI: How is Carla different from other books that cover the same or similar information?
MB: To my knowledge, there are very few books of this nature.
IAI: What do you like most about writing this book?
MB: It was extremely difficult to write and I was glad when it was over.
An excerpt of Carla:
That female sixth sense.
It’s that antennae you have.
You know.
That aerial. That radar you have. The sixth sense.
You can spot a nutbag from a thousand paces.
Now you’re not always right, admit it, but you’re always on your guard. Always wary, always looking round for the man in the woods, the strange shadow in the corridor, the Bogeyman in the wardrobe with your aerial of suspicion.
Over the years – and you can watch out for incidences of any of these things throughout the narrative – I’ve been called an Arsehole (goes without saying), an Alcoholic (it’s not enough, sorry), a Psychopath (bollocks), a Schizo (has its merits, theoretically), a Split Personality (no such thing), a Borderline (not many arguments with this one), a Narcissist (how, exactly, can someone who hates himself be a Narcissist?), and a Repressed Homosexual (no comment).
Let’s face it, with the internet, popular psychology sites, popular psychology courses and a society-wide oversupply of psychology graduates looking for something to do other than flip burgers and chase shoppers in the High Street with direct debit forms, everyone can be a diagnostic expert.
What exactly IS the point of a psychiatrist with all the stuff available free on the Internet? There are thousands of tests of your personality on the internet as we speak. Free of charge.
Stop reading this.
Flip on your browser and find a popular search engine of your choice.
Type in something like Borderline Personality Test and you’ll find a free test of your personality.
They take about fifteen minutes and they ask you questions loosely associated with particular personality disorders.
Usually multiple choice. A mouse click.
Well, of course it is in today’s hyperfast society. Who can be bothered to fill in boxes full of actual words?
Now. Have you done that? Good. What does it say? Avoidant? Histrionic? How simple was that huh?
You are now a label. By the way, if you’re an Anti-Social, don’t bother reading on.
I hate you and hope your robot arse rots in hell, the damage you cause. If you’re a borderline, get in touch. We can help each other I’m sure. You understand, don’t you? You can empathise. You know what it’s like to want something so much, so fast, that you can never live up to the intensity of it.
You know that emptiness. That scalded skin. That ever-present sense of nausea. You’ve experienced the cutting.
You would understand that, wouldn’t you?
The point of the sharp against your skin, the soothing sense of it, the understanding that the knife is exactly what you deserve.
The cold sharp blade is your only friend and you understand the peace that can bring, the descending euphoria.
When I was inside, the last time, a doctor from New Orleans, reviewed my case notes and postulated the notion that as well as BPD, I suffered from IED too.
Intermittent Explosive Disorder.
They think of something for everything.
Take this one. You won’t believe it.
Lottery Disappointment Syndrome.
I couldn’t believe it when I heard it but apparently, people become so disappointed at not winning their country’s version of the Lottery that they are referred to a psychiatrist! I said that it seemed a bit silly, another job creation exercise, another opportunity to be published in the journals, but Plunkett said that over seven hundred people a year worldwide are so beset by the injustice and the hopelessness of not winning, and they commit suicide.
Many others self harm. Others turn to drink and drugs.
Anyway, I digress. This doctor from New Orleans called Dupont said that I was probably suffering from BPD with IED too.
Plus an organic neurosis or two (my head really is a shed).
The Unit I had been referred to by my father to keep me out of prison had only twice before treated a sufferer of IED. Naturally, when he heard, he paid to bring in a specialist and of course, I do what I always do, which is have long conversations with the specialist, long, immersive, enjoyable ones, take all the medication they ask me to, talk in the rolling grounds to Abdul, Wrigley and Boyd and Leroy and Felicity (when she’s not on her treatment) and wait for Janine to come to my room whenever she’s on shift.
In other words, I conform to their recovery model and eventually they release me.
IED, according to Dupont, is characterised by instability of mood with unpredictable outbursts of severe anger and violence. Librarians are common sufferers. Nice, quiet people who suddenly, with no warning, and for very little reason, start destroying their work environments like Vikings in a berserker rage. Their family homes. Families look at them in horror.
I can see that. The horror of it.
If you marry a tattooed giant skinhead with a history of pathological violence, you can’t really complain when he starts destroying your country cottage in front of your very eyes because he’s had a bad day. A bespectacled, mousy, quiet, inoffensive librarian, with his satchel and brown raincoat, his tortoiseshell spectacles? Watching him take a sledgehammer to the Plasma and the stereo before turning his slit-eyed gaze to you and the kids – now that’s pretty scary, if you ask me
Copyright© Mark Barry. All rights reserved.
June 12, 2013
The Phil Naessens Show 6-13-2013 The Re-Tread New York Mets
http://phillipnaessens.wordpress.com/2013/06/12/the-phil-naessens-show-6-13-2013-the-re-tread-new-york-mets/
The New York Mets are basically a re-tread team. Ike Davis, among others, are in Las Vegas and former Mets have replaced them. Blogging Mets Mark Berman and host Phil Naessens discuss these moves, Terry Collins, Sandy Alderson and much more on todays Phil Naessens Show.
The New York Mets are basically a re-tread team. Ike Davis, among others, are in Las Vegas and former Mets have replaced them. Blogging Mets Mark Berman and host Phil Naessens discuss these moves, Terry Collins, Sandy Alderson and much more on todays Phil Naessens Show.
Amazon Review - The Adventures of Cecilia Spark - the Brimstone Forest by Ngaire Elder
5.0 out of 5 stars Cecilia really does spark!, 9 Jun 2013
By Kate Tenbeth "Kate" (Essex)
This review is from: The Adventures of Cecilia Spark - the Brimstone Forest (Kindle Edition) Cecilia Spark is a young girl who wakes up in the morning, has breakfast and then goes out bug hunting in the garden with unexpected results! She's captured by a witch, finds a new friend in Soldier the mouse, ends up in Dragon's Den and meets a Thingmabob and many other amazing characters. This story is entertaining from start to finish and I and my young nephew (7) loved every bit of it. The book is well written and beautifully illustrated and I'd certainly recommend it to mothers and children - I know I'll certainly be buying the second book so I can keep up to date with Cecilia's adventures.
UK LINK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Adventures-Cecilia-Spark-ebook/dp/B006TI8N9W
US LINK - http://www.amazon.com/The-Adventures-Cecilia-Spark-ebook/dp/B006TI8N9W
By Kate Tenbeth "Kate" (Essex)
This review is from: The Adventures of Cecilia Spark - the Brimstone Forest (Kindle Edition) Cecilia Spark is a young girl who wakes up in the morning, has breakfast and then goes out bug hunting in the garden with unexpected results! She's captured by a witch, finds a new friend in Soldier the mouse, ends up in Dragon's Den and meets a Thingmabob and many other amazing characters. This story is entertaining from start to finish and I and my young nephew (7) loved every bit of it. The book is well written and beautifully illustrated and I'd certainly recommend it to mothers and children - I know I'll certainly be buying the second book so I can keep up to date with Cecilia's adventures.
UK LINK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Adventures-Cecilia-Spark-ebook/dp/B006TI8N9W
US LINK - http://www.amazon.com/The-Adventures-Cecilia-Spark-ebook/dp/B006TI8N9W
