Erik Gustafson's Blog, page 18
April 5, 2012
Friday Flash!! Grandpa's Mirror
Grandpa's Mirror
The priest conducting the ceremony looked like an ancient, gray-haired leprechaun. The crash of thunder accented his closing prayer. Connie had been watching the black clouds roll in during the service, worrying that the rain would come before they were done.
Fat blobs of rain smacked onto the canvas funeral tent as people offered sympathy or shared a memory, then popped open umbrella and scurried back to their cars. After a few minutes, most everyone had departed.
"Time to say ...
April 2, 2012
Guest blog: Author Alan Nayes and his new book Girl Blue
GIRL BLUE
Her spirit waited within the stone, ready to live again.
Renowned sculptor Jeremy Copper is determined that his latest work, Girl Blue, will be his masterpiece. He's found the perfect stone for it, a rare block of blue granite from a quarry in Brazil. But this stone is special in more ways than one. The former owner of the great block was a woman named Franscesca, a witch in the 1920s who loved a talented young sculptor. He promised to carve her likeness, but when he betrayed her...
March 31, 2012
Cotton Candy Dreams
I am sitting at my daughter's high school for Solo Contests and peddling cotton candy. We spent last night spinning floss sugar into yummy goodness.
Beware of flying sugar! Nothing beats a head full of sugar cobwebs.
Now we are selling them for two bucks a bag with proceeds going to the arts and music. What a great way to spend the day.
One perk of cotton candy, for teens anyway, is the colored tongue effect. It's a great hook. That dye is amazingly potent, I think they use tattoo ink. ...
March 29, 2012
Royalties Donated to Help Author's Son Fight Leukemia
Reblogged from Sharkbait Writes:
Many of you may know that I've been actively participating in an Indie GoGo campaign via Twitter called #IndiesUnite4Joshua that my friend and fellow author Eden Baylee started in January and I'm currently trying to help raise money by donating all royalties from my book sales to help Maxwell Cynn's 21-year-old son Joshua battle Leukemia. Every penny generated from royalties will help us reach our goal of $10,000 to help pay for the high cost of treatment.
March 25, 2012
Poems from the Soul
Gonna lay a couple of poems on you, hope you enjoy them in all their dark shine…
Part 1: A Minute in the Life of a Boy
A scrawny blond boy running
Bent over a sidewalk with
A Matchbox car between his legs
Flying like superman
Toward a forest of trees waving at him
Little, bony arms reaching into a tree
Pulling himself up, higher and higher
Stepping on branch after branch
Blue eyes marveling at the view
From the homemade tree house,
A mile high fortress defended by dwarves
Down the loose trap-door hidden ...
March 20, 2012
Heeding the Muses with Leigh Lane and “Finding Poe”
Who hasn’t read a story by Edgar Allan Poe or been inspired by him? Today I have the pleasure of hosting Leigh Lane. This is a treat you will enjoy!
Poe: Heeding the Muses
I’ve often said that for a writer, words can build like steam in a heated kettle. The pressure eventually becomes so great that there is no choice but to write for release. I’ve also described words as being like shards of broken glass. Individually, most are worthless. When offered through the lens of the muse and placed tog...
Heeding the Muses with Leigh Lane and "Finding Poe"
Who hasn't read a story by Edgar Allan Poe or been inspired by him? Today I have the pleasure of hosting Leigh Lane. This is a treat you will enjoy!
Poe: Heeding the Muses
I've often said that for a writer, words can build like steam in a heated kettle. The pressure eventually becomes so great that there is no choice but to write for release. I've also described words as being like shards of broken glass. Individually, most are worthless. When offered through the lens of the muse and...
March 15, 2012
When Being In An Anthology Is A Waste of Time by Armand Rosamilia
Today I am excited to present a guest blog by horror author Armand Rosamilia. I've read several of his books and he is one talented writer. See what he has to say, then enter for a chance to win his latest story Dying Days 2!
You're a brand new writer, and you haven't figured out how to get the ball rolling on that epic 100,000 word novel you're currently stuck with (chapter two is almost done, though!) and you need something – anything – to make yourself feel better about being a wannabe...
March 13, 2012
Support The Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2012
Here is something I feel strongly about…please take a moment to learn more and sign the petition!
Subject: Support The Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2012
Total outstanding student loan debt in America is expected to exceed $1 TRILLION this year. Millions of hardworking, taxpaying, educated Americans are being crushed under the weight of the educational debts, while the economy continues to sputter. Support a REAL Economic Stimulus and Jobs Plan. Support The Student Loan Forgiveness Act of...
Dwarves and Orcs
I spent a great deal of time during my adolescence playing Dungeons and Dragons. There I said it.
The truth is out there.
I had a lot of fun going on wild adventures, the fate of which is decided by the role of a die or three. I still see the manuals in bookstores so it still must have other players.
Thing is, I was always a dwarf. I loved the little guys and I love bring underground and exploring caves. Deep earthy stuff.
The main character I played, along with his descendants, I kept a...
