Noree Cosper's Blog, page 21

Coming Soon: Summer Blogger Book Fair!

Check in to the Blogger Book Fair, and book your trip to far away places!July 22-26, 2013[image error] Authors and Book Bloggers, Sign ups for the July 2013 Blogger Book Fair will close on June 15 at midnight central time, so get your registrations in to participate!
As of 5/31/2013, we have:Authors: 89 Books: 233 Bloggers: 14 If you haven't yet registered, you can find all of the information on the Blogger Book Fair page.
Check out the Code of ConductFill out either the Author Sign Up form or the Blogger Sign Up form (Deadline June 15)Kayla will match everyone with hosts and send out this information to you after sign-ups closeCheck out the events--all authors are eligible to participate in the events, and if you have an event you'd like to host, just fill out the simple Event Sign Up Form--all of this information can be found on the Events! page (Deadline July 8).If you're interested in hosting a giveaway to drive traffic to your site, sign up via the Giveaway Sign Up form (Deadline July 15).And if your book will be FREE or $0.99 for the duration of the Fair, you can sign up on the Free and $.99 Book Sign Up Forms (Deadline July 15).Events:as of 5/31/2013Art Fiction Gala hosted by Lucie SmokerDoes your fiction promote the visual arts--through featuring an artist, painting, sculpture, performance art, etc? Then, consider entering Lucie's Art Fiction Gala. The Art Fiction Gala is a virtual celebration of fiction that highlights the visual arts. Dress up in your finest, pick up some friends--a bottle of wine--and sample mind-blowing fiction that crosses the line between literary and visual art. Plus a gallery of art featuring reading. More information & entry instructions
Three Wishes hosted by Kirstin PulioffIntroduce your characters to the world. Kirstin Pulioff invites you to ask your main character, "If you found a magic genie lamp, what would be your three choices?" More information & entry instructions
Flash Fiction Challenge II hosted by Thomas WinshipGet ready to exercise your flash fiction muscles. For the Flash Fiction Challenge II, Thomas Winship will provide an opening line. From there, entrants will craft a flash fiction piece of approx 500 words. Entries will be displayed on Thomas' blog Vaempires during the BBF, spread out evenly across the five days, in order of receipt. More information & entry instructions
Snapshot Synopsis Contest hosted by Fel at The Peasants RevoltChallenge: chisel your synopsis down to 50 words or less. Voting will be open throughout the fair for visitors to vote on their favorite Snapshot Synopsis. More information & entry instructions
Reader's Choice Awards hosted by Sherri at Shut Up & ReadAll books registered for the Blogger Book Fair are automatically entered into the running for the Reader's Choice Awards. Voting will be open from July 22 to July 25. More information
Indie Soap Box Files hosted by Shah WhartonTake a turn on the Soap Box. Shah invites speculative fiction writers to write a guest post about being an indie (or hybrid) writer. More information & entry instructions Restrictions: Speculative fiction writers only Monster Menagerie hosted by Noree at Trip the EclipseWhat's your favorite monster or supernatural creature? Feature your creature in a flash fiction piece (500-800) words to be featured on Trip the Eclipse. Visitors will vote on their favorite piece. More information & entry instructions Ways to Help:Donate to the Blogger Book Fair via the BBF Donation Fund. To help get the word out about BBF, we would like to place ads on Facebook, Goodreads and other places, but to do, so we need a little help. We'd also like to have some BBF sponsored giveaways, so money donated would also go toward prizes. NO MONEY WILL BE KEPT BY ANY ORGANIZER OR PARTICIPANT. Spread the word! Share the Fair on your social media accounts and show off the Blogger Book Fair logo in your blog's sidebar.
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How Do You Like Your Book Covers?

I have decided that I am changing my cover design. Though I like my cover it is more artsy than anything. I think I need something to better draw the eye.



So, I have looked through a lot of covers to Urban Fantasy and I see the bad-ass person on the cover still is pretty popular. Yeah, if they are good covers I do really like these types.


YA books (even though I don't write them, they are really popular) seems to have books that depict symbolism, bodies, or girls in dresses.

 

 


Then we have horror. Most seem to show a location or object to do with the story.
 


So, what types of covers do you prefer?

Supernatural Season 6 Makes Me Want to Cry

Warning* This blog contains some spoilers of the show Supernatural.

For the past few years I have avoided watch season 6 and beyond of the series Supernatural. I LOVED the first five seasons and felt they told a great tale about family, sacrifice, and kicking monster ass. Most shows tend to falter and fizzle into a story of the week sort of thing. Supernatural didn't because I believe Eric Kripke had a plan. That plan ended with season five and he left the show. However, it still continued, badly.

I finally broke down and watched season six out of morbid curiosity. Who were these characters? They certainly weren't the ones I'd grown to love during the first fives seasons, though they were still great to look at. It felt like the writers were really reaching to bring the plot lines together? What was the point of the episode with fairies? Let's give Sam and Dean something they haven't fought? Also, it took the breaking of 66 seals to open Lucifer's Box and 4 rings of the Horsemen to close it. Someone explain how Castiel can open the door and let Sam out without Lucifer or Michael noticing.

All in all, the season was completely lackluster. It got better toward the end, but I would only rate it to be about the same level as the beginning of Season 3. I watched the beginning of Season 7 and had another What the Fuck? moment. Why the hell would Dean bow down to Castiel when he said fuck you to every other Supenatural creature that wanted him to submit?

Do you like stories about angels, demons, and the supernatural? Pick up a copy of "A Prescription for Delirium" available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.

New Release: Frostwalker by Brandon R. Luffman

New Release Announcement:
So, I've been waiting for this one for a while. I'm proud to announce this. There will be a review to come.Frostwalker, By Brandon R. LuffmanA Survival Horror NovelThere’s something in the woods behind Jake Marsden’s house – and someone wants him to find it. A strange dream shatters his sleep, night after night, and a compulsion to find the dark presence in the forest wars with his logical and ordered nature. What’s a geek to do?When his small hometown of Wynn, North Carolina falls under an ancient curse, Jake will find himself in a battle against creatures worse than any he’s faced in a game. Playing for keeps, it will be geek versus god in the fight to stop an evil force bent on destroying everything he holds dear.The Geek Shall Inherit The Earth – If They Live Long Enough. Read excerpts posted on Brandon's blog:Excerpt #1 - Dreams Of Smoke Excerpt #2 - The PitExcerpt #3 - Opening Scene: Jake Walks The Field Excerpt #4 - Deputy Fallon Gets BusyRead the first third of the book for free at the Smashwords link below!Grab Your Copy Today!Paperback - $7.99:CreateSpace AmazonEbook/Kindle - $3.99:SmashwordsAmazonMore Retailers To Come!About Brandon R. LuffmanBorn in Statesboro, Georgia in 1976, Brandon Luffman was raised in rural North Carolina from the time he was old enough to walk. In the sixth grade he discovered “The Chronicles Of Narnia”. Soon after that, he was on to Stephen King and Arthur C. Clarke. At the same time, he was making his first forays into writing fiction. After creating a series of short fantasy pieces for a class assignment that were received with praise, he was hooked on writing fiction for the entertainment of others. Now Brandon writes supernatural horror as well as fantasy, science fiction, and other genres. His short fiction is available online in various formats. Brandon still lives on the family farm in northwestern North Carolina with his wife and family. Taking inspiration from his homeland, he brings southern sensibilities and a modern flair to these classic genre themes. His first novel,  Frostwalker , was released in May of 2013.Find Brandon OnlineBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Smashwords

And I caught it all on film...

So, after a month of posting about supernatural creatures, I'm going to take things easy today. Let's watch some kickass videos about supernatural stuff. Enjoy! Warning: this is not for children or the faint of heart.
Starting out with this new show I've been watching. It's called Hemlock Grove. I love it for the Romanian folklore scattered throughout. This is Peter, the protagonist, changing into a werewolf. This gets gruesome and gory.
Next is a fan made video of Supernatural. Of, course I had to have something in here. With the song, it's really creepy. By the way, the song is actually a poem by Poe.


Last I have a a series of game trailers for the MMO The Secret World. I think I've mentioned that I adore this game. I even made Gabby on it and roleplay on the game with her.

A-Z Blog Hop: Zoroastrianism

Before there was Judaism, there was a religion called Zoroastrianism. This was a religion of Persian origin based on the teachings of a prophet Zarathustra (Zoroaster in Greek).  Zoroastianism may have been born as early as 650 B.C.E. and shares common origins with Hinduism.
The whole religion revolves the Dualism of two gods: Ahura Mazda (also known as Ohrmazd) , the creator, and is all good and Angra Mainya (also known as Ahriman) the “Destructive Principle”, who represents evil.  As Ohrmazd had six angelic beings (Amesha Spentas) through which he realized creation, Ahriman had six demonic (Daevas) beings through which he created all horrors in the world. They are:
Vahuman, the Good Mind who opposes Akoman, the Evil MindArtvahisht , Truth or Righteousness, who opposes Andra who freezes the mindsShahrevar, Choice Kingdom or Material Sovereignty, who opposes Saru , the TyrantSpandarmat, Wisdom in Piety also the Earth, who opposes Naoghatya, ArroganceHurdat, Health, Wholeness, Salvation, who opposes Taru, the Evil HungerAmurdat, Life and Immoprtality, who opposes Zarika, Evil Thirst
There is a prophecy that in the end Ohrmazd will use the material world as a weapon and defeat Ahriman. It is said that the human soul is a spirit being called the fravashi. Both the human body and the fravashi are creatures of Ohrmazd and his wife/daughter Spandarmat. Humankind belongs to Ohrmazd and will return to him. However, the first primal man mated with Ahriman’s “Demon Whore,” so each person is free to choose between good and evil.
Daevas being defeated

Zoroastians believe their role in life is to cooperate with nature and lead a virtuous life. Unlike several other religions they oppose all forms of asceticism and monasticism. It is their duty to marry and rear children, for human life on earth is a necessity to defeat Ahriman. The soul is judged on good deeds on the” Bridge of the Requiter.” Depending on what you have done is whether you go to heaven or hell. If you are even, you go to place that is mixed. Punishment in the Zoroastrian hell is temporary. The final purge of sin takes place at the Last Judgment at the end of time.
All right, a lot of this was just a summary. Like all religions, this has much deeper roots. If you’re interested, you should read more about it. 
Do you like stories about angels, demons, and the supernatural? Pick up a copy of "A Prescription for Delirium" available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.

A-Z Blog Hop: Yew Tree

The yew tree has been revered by mankind throughout the ages. This is a rather sturdy and resilient tree that has a unique way of growing new trunks from within the original root bole. Some of the English yews have been estimated to have been around 4,000 years old. Because of this, the yew is associated with immortality, regeneration, and rebirth.
The yew is also highly poisonous in all parts except for the fleshy part of the berries. So, throughout the ages, it has also been associated with death.  Over the centuries in Europe, it was commonly planted around or in cemeteries, partly to represent eternal life, and partly to keep the dead in their graves. To this day, yew is used in magical working involving protection, especially against spirits of the dead, and exorcisms.
Picture by Julian P Guffogg

Yew is connected to the Hecate, a Greek Underworld goddess who presided over witches and necromancy. Today, many Wiccans consider her to be the Crone aspect of the Triple Goddess and yew is still sacred to her. In Norse mythology, yew is one to the two tree associated with Yggdrasil, the world tree.  It is represented by the rune Eihwaz, which is the rune of mysteries of life and death.
The yew tree is lucky for Capricorns. It is also believed that a sprig of yew placed under your pillow will ensure you meet the person of your dreams, the good kind.  Yes is said to enhance magical and psychic abilities and induce visions, just be careful how you handle it. You know, the whole poison thing.
Are there any plants or trees that have special meaning to you?
Do you like stories about angels, demons, and the supernatural? Pick up a copy of "A Prescription for Delirium" available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.

A-Z Blog Hop: Xipe Totec

Xipe Totec was worshipped by the Aztecs and their enemies as a god of penitence. Like many gods, he had both a good side and bad side. He is known as the flayed one because he flays his own skin to give food to humanity. This represents a seed losing its outer shell after germination. He is also a vampiric entity known as the night drinker who sucks the blood out of the souls of the dead who do not do the penance.
Mask associated with Xipe Totec

Xipe Totec is also a known trickster god. There’s at least one in every pantheon. And like most tricksters, his tricks have a harsh lesson. Once her came to a village disguised as a prophet. He told the people that their sins had manifested as a dragon that lurked outside of town and ensorcelled people. He convinced the town to bind the dragon and throw it over a cliff. He led the people to the illusionary dragon he had created. They bound it and took it to a cliff. However, when they tried to hurl from the cliff, Xipe Totec tricked their eyes and they fell to their deaths.
Who are some of your favorite Trickster gods?
Do you like stories about angels, demons, and the supernatural? Pick up a copy of "A Prescription for Delirium" available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.

A-Z Blog Hop: Watchers

For N, I talked about the Nephilim. Today I will speak of their fathers, the Watchers. They were angels, the “children of heaven” who watched over mankind. They saw the beautiful daughters of man and desired them.  They decided to take them as wives; however their leader, Semyaza, was afraid he would alone be held accountable for their sin. The 200 angels swear an oath, binding them all together.
So, the Watcher descended from heaven and took the women. Not only did they create the Nephilim, but they also taught secret arts to mankind such as medicine, incantations, and knowledge of plants and herbs. Azazel, one of the most famous Watchers, taught alchemy, jewelry making, and  the art of making weapons of war.
Sin and corruption spread across the world. The archangels saw this and petitioned God to take action. So, God declared he would wipe the Earth clean with a flood. He ordered the archangel Raphael to bind Azazel and throw him in the darkness. Raphael did this and tossed him in a hole in the desert. God told Gabriel to destroy the Nephilim. He instructed Michael to tell Semyaza of the Watchers impending punishment, where they will be bound beneath rocks for 70 generations until the Day of Judgment.
Picture By carulmare

The Watchers begged the prophet Enoch to speak on their behalf, they begged for forgiveness. Though he warns the Watchers their petition will not be heard, he tried anyway. God refuseed the Watchers and said their children shall be called evil spirits. He told Enoch to inform the watches that they rejected Heaven and shall have no peace.
If you haven’t, you should read some stories of Azazel. They are pretty interesting. The Hebrews would send a goat into the desert, laden with the sins of the people, as a sacrifice for him. It’s where the term scapegoat comes from.
Do you like stories about angels, demons, and the supernatural? Pick up a copy of "A Prescription for Delirium" available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.

A-Z Blog Hop: Vampires

Ah, the vampire, a type of monster that never seems to go out of style. The internet has been saying that vampires are a dead subject. Well, they are in a way, but not how they mean it. Bloodsucking fiends have persisted throughout history in cultures around the world. They’ve struck fear in the hearts of adults and children. They are one of the reasons you didn’t go want to go out at night. I did a related guest post about types of vampires a few weeks ago, which can be found here.  I’ve taken a few from that post and changed them for my own purposes. No, there are not any vampires in A Prescription for Delirium because trying to fit them in the story was like shoving a square peg into a round hole. However, there will be vampire appearances in the following books, starting with Omega Effect, which I am currently writing. Below are the eight vampire types that exist in my world. Be, warned, none of them sparkle.
“Nothing is too small. I counsel you, put down in record even your doubts and surmises. Hereafter it may be of interest to you to see how true you guess. We learn from failure, not from success!”–Dr. Abraham Van Helsing.
From the Journal of Andrei Van Helsing:
To my sons: I leave you my legacy, as my father left it to me, and his father before him. We are the few in the world that stand against those that feed upon humanity, the undead. Tales and rumors have spread. Here we must separate fact from fiction if we are to succeed. 
Though the term vampire was not used until the 1800’s, I find it a fitting term to describe what we hunt.
The Chiang-Shih: I have never traveled to Asia but my father Alexander traveled to China during his time. I remember him speaking of the vampires of the east.  I have taken his description from his journal, which I implore you to read for yourselves. They were described as nocturnal beasts with white hair and red eyes. Their fangs extend over their lips and they have long claws. Most are male, although there have been rare cases of females. These creatures are incredibly violent. One can usually be found by following a string of attacks and reports of rape on women. They have a supernatural strength, able to uproot trees to use as weapons, have the ability to fly, and shapeshift into animals. However, they cannot cross running water and can be destroyed with a stake of black thorn wood.
Churel or Chedipe: This is an exclusively female type originating from India. They can be identified with their unnaturally long, black tongues, unkempt hair, and backwards feet. They prey on young men, starting with the ones they were close to in life. They have been stories of these women being chosen by Kali herself, but I don’t believe in is true. The Churel has the ability to put an entire house in a trance like sleep and sneaks in to prey upon the men. They can shift their bodies in that of tigers. However, these creatures can be thwarted by a handful of seeds, for they must stop and count them. A stake made of the wood of a fig tree will destroy them.
Hantu laut: This is the Malaysian name for this type, though other words have been used such as siren or mermaid. These vampires can transform themselves into water and lure sailors or beach goers out into the water. They drown them and feed off of their blood. This is where the myth of mermaids comes from. However, they can be male or female. They must rest at the bottom of the body of water during the day. The sirens can travel out of the water, but if they are caught at dawn they die. They have power over the weather and the sea.  They can be staked with wood from an olive tree.
Asema: The vampires of South America. They live as an old man or woman by day. When night comes the creature sheds its skin and travels as mist or smoke. It this form it has the ability to drain the blood of a human through the pores of their skin or enter their lungs and cause them to cough up blood. Garlic is the best deterrent for this creature as with any vampire. If the creature does not return to its skin by dawn, it will be destroyed. When it is in its skin, it can be killed by a stake made of an oak wood.

Strigoi: The Slavs and Romanians have called these creatures many names and there are many tales of them. My Grandfather Dimitri wrote about a theory he’d developed when gathering lore about these creatures. This vampire was believed to pass through several stages. For the first 40 days it starts out as a shadow, and gradually gains power from the blood it has drank. It forms into an invisible jelly-like mass and then to a human body almost identical to the one it had in life. The males of this group have the ability to procreate with woman and produce the Dhampir, half vampires. These children have the ability to see the Strigoi in all forms and in the past were sometimes hunters, however, they can also become Strigoi themselves. The Strigoi cast no shadow, for they are but shadows themselves. They can be killed by a stake made of hawthorn wood.
Aswang Manananggal: This Filipino vampire detaches in head and entrails from its body and flies about feeding on human blood, flesh, and organs. It especially like feeding upon fetuses and had a long tongue to suck the fetus from the womb. The Aswang Manananggal has a birdlike familiar that acts a reconnaissance for prey. The Manananggal is usually a respected man or woman of the community by day. Malaysia has a similar vampire called the Penanggalan. They best way to destroy this vampire is to find the abandoned torso and cremate the body. If the head does not reattach by dawn it will be destroyed. It can also be killed by a stake made of cedar wood.
Doppelsauger: One of the most horrifying of all vampires, simply because they are all dead children. They all feed off of woman, they especially like new mothers whose breasts are full of milk. In their true form, every part of the Doppelsauger decays except for the lips, however they can cast an illusion upon themselves. They can be staked by wood of juniper.
Opyri: This is the type you would know best, for it is the children of our enemy Dracula. We have worked an wiping this line out, unfortunately his line, like him has a tenacity to continue on. Dracula himself can resurrect through the bloodline of those he has cursed, such as us. They have control over flesh and blood. This includes the ability to produce pheromones that can memorize a person (especially women), to shapeshift, or turn into blood itself. He can be killed and, this group above the others, are especially susceptible to holy items. It is believed because Dracula cursed god at his moment of creation.


Interested? Do you like stories about angels, demons, and the supernatural? Pick up a copy of "A Prescription for Delirium" available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.