Roh Morgon's Blog, page 8

~Women in Horror Month

Well? Did you notice I used proper capitalization in the post title?

I never do that.

But I did today, and will for the rest of February.

That’s because this is Women in Horror Month, and out of respect, I will behave like a professional writer and use proper punctuation.

But only in my blog title. No promises about the rest of my ramblings.

So you might be asking what this Women in Horror Month is all about.

It’s just that – celebrating women artists whose works, from film to art to literature, disturb you in some way.

For those of you unfamiliar with the genre, I’d like to clarify what horror means.

Merriam-Webster and Oxford dictionaries offer several definitions of horror. I’ve combined them:

horror: a very strong feeling of fear, dread, shock, disgust, or dismay

As you can see, horror does not necessarily mean gruesome or terrifying.

In reading my work, you will experience little fear, dread, or disgust, though non-horror readers do sometimes have issues with the images I paint of torn throats and coursing blood.

And jars.

Okay, I’ll admit it. The jars are a little creepy.

As for feeling shock and dismay? Yes. Regret? Plenty. And that constriction in your chest working its way up your throat? The prickling skin electrifying your scalp and that sudden intake of breath? That you might experience as my characters face appalling choices and devastating losses—provided I’ve done my job as a writer.

Horror can take many forms. Women writers excel in all, though they are particularly adept at exploring the more subtle emotions in what I like to call “quiet horror.”

Even if horror isn’t your normal cup of tea, read some of the stories by women being highlighted around the web this month. You might find a flavor you like.

Women in Horror Month is being celebrated by a number of online blogs and resources. Below are a few which are featuring guest posts, interviews, short stories, and promotions in support for those of us who write horror literature.

The Horror Writers Association – the HWA blog is dedicating this month to Women in Horror with guest posts by and about women writers


Sirens Call Publications – their online magazine of edgy fiction, Sirens Call eZine, has devoted their February issue (#13) to women’s short stories, photography, and promotions


Spreading the Writer’s Word – Nina D’ Arcangela’s blog this month features reviews and books written by women in horror


Natasha Ewent’s Blog – in addition to articles and interviews, Natasha is showcasing women writers in a series of guest posts

I’ll add to this list as the month progresses. In the meantime, check out the above sites. You might discover a new author whose work sends a chill or two up your spine.

Oh, and BTW – I’m appearing in several of the above sites. Both the Sirens Call eZine and Nina’s Spreading the Writer’s Word blog have featured me and my work so far this month!

~life imitating art

I’ve been absent from facebook and the blog scene for the last six months, and thought I’d offer an explanation as to why.

With that in mind, I considered titling this post “Becoming a Vampire”.

Yeah, you read that correctly. Think

extreme photosensitivity (unable to go out into the daylight without being covered head to toe)
need for blood (hemolytic anemia in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be made)
rages and other wild emotional swings (due to the anemia)

But before I explain further, let’s take a step back into the past:

In December of 2008, I woke up with the tragic figure of a sad and lonely vampire woman in my head. I lay there wondering who she was and she began to show me her story. As her life unfolded in my head, movie fashion, I felt compelled to write it down as fast as I could. After five months of sleepless nights and weekend marathons with my laptop, I finished the initial draft.

And so, Watcher: Book I of The Chosen was born, and was published in its current version in October of 2011.

Fast forward to 2013:

In early July, I entered a clinical study to treat a long-term medical condition I’ve had for much of my life. After several weeks, I began to develop the side affects I listed earlier in my post. The photosensitivity is due to one of the new drugs, and the anemia is due to an old one that’s been in use about fifteen years. Fortunately, both were temporary conditions and resolved once I completed treatment.

So, yeah.

Couldn’t go outside during the day unless I was wrapped up like a Ninja.

Low on blood, which left me craving red meat, and well, needing more blood.

Rage issues, as in the least little upset triggered an emotional tsunami.

Vampire.

Life imitating art.

In spite of the above difficulties, I, along with my friends and family, had no choice but to laugh at the irony of writing a book about a vampire woman only to tread (somewhat) in her footsteps four years later. The experience certainly gave me fresh insight into what it means to be a creature of the night.

All I can say to my fellow writers is:

Be careful what you write, because you never know when you might become a character from one of your stories.

~roh~

~SCAREanormal Fresno

(I know I still haven’t posted about my experiences at the World Horror Convention and the Bram Stoker Awards ® in New Orleans, but I’ll get to it. Soon.)

Wow. What an amazing three days at the SCAREanormal – Fresno Horror, Paranormal, and Pop Culture Fan Expo! At times a bit of a rocky ride, it ended on a positive note with Central Valley fans begging everyone to hold it again next year.

Special thanks to convention volunteers Kaci Hansen and  Sharon Kille Jenkins for keeping things going and taking such good care of us.

The Horror Writers Association vendor booth was the only bookseller at this film-based convention, and we had a fairly steady stream of visitors for much of the con. Most were readers excited to discover new authors–I enjoyed watching them as they left our booth bearing bright smiles along with their freshly purchased paper treasures.

But we also had a number of aspiring writers spend time talking with us. We shared our individual experiences as HWA members, handed out all of the HWA brochures, and in general spoke about how supportive the organization is. I hope to see their names listed in the membership directory sometime in the near future.

Saturday’s discussion panels–”The Best in Horror Literature: From the Classics to the Modern” and “The Evolution of the Monster from Folklore to Film”–were well-received by attendees, and I think the panelists enjoyed them too. Many thanks go to Brad C. Hodson, Eric J. Guignard, PS Gifford, Fred Wiehe, and Dana Fredsti for doing such a great job exploring their topics and answering audience questions.

Each panel was followed by readings from HWA members. Brad read from a work-in-progress about a pair of unique serial killers that left us all begging for more. Dana introduced listeners to kick-ass Ashley Parker in excerpts from Plague Town and its sequel, Plague Nation. Paul totally creeped us out with a semi-autobiographical story about an encounter with a red-haired girl. I tried not to bore the audience with an excerpt from my novella, The Last Trace.

The audience seemed to enjoy our panel discussions and listening to our stories, and many of them visited the HWA booth afterwards.

Due to a series of unforeseen circumstances, Lisa Morton and were unable to participate in Sunday’s programming. I know they were looking forward to the convention and I imagine they were quite disappointed to miss it. Hopefully we’ll get to work together on another event in the near future.

Our Sunday panel, “Psychological vs. Physical Horror – What Scares Us the Most?” was quite interesting. Since Lisa and Richard had to bow out, we were short two panel members, and this, combined with several other uncertainties regarding the con, led me to consider cancelling the panel altogether.

But when an attendee stopped by our booth–not once, but several times–to check on the panel status, I realized she might not be the only disappointed fan if we cancelled. In talking with her and a few others who came by, it became apparent that a number of Sunday’s attendees were there for just the one day, and that they had missed most of the convention highlights.

Paul and I were the other members scheduled for this panel, and we didn’t think we’d be able to explore the topic well with just the two of us. Fortunately, we’d spent the previous evening (or should I say the early-early morning) drinking, I mean, socializing with film guests Sid Haig (HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES, THE DEVIL’S REJECTS) and (DAWN OF THE DEAD, HALLOWEEN, THE LORDS OF SALEM). Both were intelligent and personable and seemed to enjoy spending time with our group.

With that in mind, I bravely approached Sid about an hour before our panel and asked him if he’d be willing to sit in on it with us. He graciously accepted my invitation.

All I can say is that our panel was absolutely amazing. Just think about what it would be like to discuss psychological and physical horror with a legendary master of both. Not only do Sid’s experiences covering decades of film and stage give him a special insight, but he’s a licensed hypnotherapist and has a deep understanding of what makes people tick.

Due to the unique opportunity offered by Sid’s participation in our panel, I elected to forego the reading and use the entire hour for our discussion. The audience seemed fascinated, and quite willing to add their own inputs. It made for a highly successful panel, and I’m so grateful for the fan whose repeated inquiries spurred me to do what I could to fulfill our programming commitment.

A number of audience members stopped by our booth afterwards,mentioning how much they enjoyed the panel as they examined our books. I remember seeing their smiling faces in the audience as they nodded in response to our discussion, and I’m glad we were able to contribute to their enjoyment of the convention.

Many thanks to Sid for helping us make it happen.

And a huge thank you to all the HWA members who gave up their weekend and spent hard-earned dollars on hotel expenses and gas to Fresno: Brad C. Hodson, Eric J. Guignard, Dana Fredsti, Fred Wiehe, Christopher C. Payne from JournalStone, and of course, PS Gifford, who was the first to arrive on Friday morning and stayed until the bittersweet end Sunday evening (couldn’t have done it without you, Paul). We made a great team and I look forward to working with everyone again.

Last, but not least, thank you to Lisa Morton and the HWA for supporting this event and making it possible for members to promote their works along with promoting the organization. This wouldn’t have happened without your support.

~ update on Ben

Thought I’d post a brief update on writer Dave Farland’s son, Ben.

As you may have read in my previous post (or elsewhere on the Internet), Dave’s 16-yer-old son was involved in a horrific longboard (a type of skateboard) accident, breaking multiple bones, including his pelvis, and suffering a severe head injury.

It’s been two months now, and, well, his recovery is nothing short of a miracle.

From a website (http://www.helpwolverton.com/) which follows his progress:

June 2

“He returned home on Friday and promptly asked to go the Mongolian grill. I was surprised at how well he is learning to walk. He still needs a walker, or someone to hold his arm, but he’s very mobile for someone who said, just last week, ‘I can’t figure out how I ever learned to walk the first time.’  On Saturday, Ben had friends over to talk, and then we went to see Ironman 3 in the evening. For the first time in two months, Ben stayed up for the whole day, without a nap.”

Like I said, for a kid who 2 months ago underwent brain surgery which required removing sections of his skull and storing them (literally) for several weeks within his abdominal cavity, the fact that he’s walking and talking is absolutely amazing.

If you’d like to know more about his miraculous story, visit his website at http://www.helpwolverton.com/

~book bomb fundraiser

Hi all,

As those of you who follow my facebook posts may know, one of my mentors, fantasy writer and Writers of the Future judge David Farland, suffered a terrible tragedy last week. His 16-year-old son, Ben, was in a horrific longboarding accident that resulted in severe brain trauma and numerous broken bones including his pelvis. He is still in a coma but is showing improvements each day.

Dave’s former and current students, his fans, and his friends and family are spearheading several fundraisers to help with the astronomical medical bills. As with many self-employed folks in these rough economic times, the family had no health insurance.

One of the fundraisers is a book bomb. If you haven’t heard of these, a book bomb is a one-day concentrated push to purchase a book (or books) by a particular author in order to help raise their visibility on Amazon and other ranking lists. The short-term benefits (a one-day bump in sales) is frequently outweighed by the long-term increase in sales due to the improved visibility.

A book bomb is being held for Dave today (Wednesday April 10). This is a great way to help his family during their recovery. For as little as $6.99 for one of his ebooks you can add to this monumental effort and make a difference. You can make a bigger difference if you buy several, maybe even some as gifts.

So support an award-winning author whose contributions as a teacher and mentor have helped thousands of writers. Buy a book. Or two.

TODAY.

Here’s his multiple-award winning YA paranormal novel, Nightingale.: 

And his recently-published Million Dollar Outlines is garnering some great reviews:

 

 Both photos are linked to their Amazon pages – just a click will take you there!

You can visit his website to get more details on these books: 

http://www.davidfarland.net/writing_tips/?a=208

Here’s a little more about the book bomb from the coordinator:

~~~~~~~~~

As many of you know, Dave’s son, Ben, was in a serious long-boarding accident last week. He is 16 and suffers from severe brain trauma, a cracked skull, broken pelvis and tail bone, burnt knees, bruised lungs, broken ear drum, road rash, and is currently in a coma. His family has no insurance.

We are having a book bomb this Wednesday on behalf of Ben Wolverton to help his family out. You can view the event’s facebook page here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/453677124707603/

For those that don’t know, a book bomb is an event where participants purchase a book on a specific day to support the author, or, in this case, a young person in serious need: Ben Wolverton.

Many of you have expressed sympathy for Dave and Ben and have asked if you could help. Now you can. We need you to help Ben get the most out of this book bomb. Right now we are focused on spreading the word and telling others about it. If you could share this event on facebook, twitter, pinterest, your blog, or through email, please do. This is a way everyone reading this can help, whatever their financial situation.

On Wednesday, we will have the book bomb. If you haven’t yet purchased NIGHTINGALE or MILLION DOLLAR OUTLINES, please consider doing so on Wednesday. If you have already purchased them, you can donate money to Ben and his family here:

http://www.gofundme.com/BensRecovery

If you have a blog and would like to do a post about this book bomb, please email  at kami_marynda@yahoo.com, and she will send you some information you can use.

~~~~~~~~~

~high stakes

Yay! I love making these kind of announcements!

HIGH STAKES, ten fascinating tales of vampire games edited by Gabrielle Faust, is now available for the Kindle. The anthology contains stories by established, award-winning authors as well as newcomers to the world of writing: Joe McKinney, Jonathan Maberry, Jeff Strand, Gabrielle Faust, Jg Faherty, Sephera Giron, Rain Graves, David Hayes, and Michael H. Hanson, plus poetry from Bram Stoker Winner Linda D Addison and a foreward by Dacre Stoker.

The print version is scheduled for release on March 26.

I’m honored that my story, “The Games Monsters Play” resides among such a talented collection. You can find it along with all the others here:

~writing

It’s been awhile since my last post – a long while.

So I thought I’d give an update as to why.

I’m writing.

And when I write, I need to separate from everything outside the story except my job and my family. Everything else—my horses, my friends, my blog, facebook—only get minimal attention. I just don’t multitask well.

Unfortunately, mastering the skill of multitasking is a requirement for writers these days, especially those of us who indie-publish. Editor, book designer, publisher, marketer, social networker—these are all hats we must wear in addition to writer. I’ve found that whenever I change hats, though, it takes me a little while to get the new one to fit. Once it does, I’m reluctant to take it off.

And right now, I’m wearing my writer hat.

Runner, the sequel to Watcher, is nearing completion. Currently at 80,000 words, the story is moving into its third and final act.

I realize this novel is way behind schedule. Without going into details, 2012 was a very difficult year for me and my family, as well as a few others close to me. A number of events, some quite tragic, made working on this story nearly impossible, and rather than have it suffer from the constant turmoil of my personal life, I elected to set it aside until I felt ready to return to Sunny’s world.

But I’m deep in it now. Sunny faces many challenges in this book, some old, some new, and like my readers, I am just along for the ride and never quite sure what might be around the next bend. Rest assured, though—even if the details of what, why, and when are a little blurry, I can see the end of the road and I know exactly where it’s going.

Unless, of course, The Chosen have other ideas . . .

As a token of my appreciation for your patience, here is an excerpt from Runner: Book II of The Chosen:

~~~~~~~~~

It’s Halloween night. The streets and clubs are filled with witches and zombies and vampires, but no Chosen. If there’s any night they’d prowl among the humans, this would be it.

I’ve spent hours drifting from club to club, searching for the real monsters beneath the elaborate costumes. A silver-sequined mask is my only concession to the holiday, though my hunting blacks and black leather jacket seem to blend in well enough.

Disgusted with my fruitless quest, I walk back to the Cat Club for one last look before heading out of the city to hunt.

The place is packed. Fortunately the music is loud enough to cover the constant growl rumbling deep in my chest. My aversion to being touched by humans has increased since I returned from the wild, and it’s taking everything I have not to clear a space around me.

I spot a gap next to the wall and work my way through the crowd to lay claim to it. A couple to my right dressed as Raggedy Ann and Andy ease back to give me a little more room and I settle in against the cracked paint.

A black-caped figure to my left turns and regards me with eyes as dark as night. He flashes me a leering grin, his yellowish fangs in sharp contrast to the white of his teeth.

My breath catches, then slowly escapes.

Fake. His fangs are fake. Plastic.

Rolling my eyes, I turn away and stare out at the masquerade madness convulsing through the club.

The feel of the air surrounding us abruptly changes. I look toward the door and stop breathing all together.

A stir ripples through the masses as four costumed figures enter, drawing every gaze in the club. Their elegant 17th-century garments appear to be the real thing, with details that only my eyes are likely to pick out in the dim light.

Two stately females, blonde and brunette curls tumbling to their shoulders beneath broad-brimmed hats, glide into the room, their brocaded gold and ruby gowns sweeping the floor. Two males follow, sporting doublets and matching breeches in indigo and ivory. Their pale faces are bordered with shoulder-length hair, pointed goatees, and wide mustaches, no doubt the fashion of that time.

But it’s not the costumes that have stolen my breath.

The air shimmers around them, their auras pulsating in a tapestry of burgundy and black and grey. I’ve felt Chosen auras before, but this is the first I’ve seen them. I recognize the feel of Nicolas in them—these Chosen are of his lineage.

I push off from the wall and move toward my quarry.

As one, their haughty gazes shift in my direction and appraise me from across the room. Several lips curl, and the shorter male smiles, and with no further expression, they turn about-face and stroll out of the club.

Elbowing my way through the crowd, I reach the door and shove it open. As I step outside, I run into a broad, black t-shirted chest.

“Excuse me.” I start to push past him, but he steps in front of me again.

I look up into golden eyes perched above a hawklike nose and wide cheekbones. Full lips part and tug to one side, allowing me a glimpse of the fang behind them. Crimson flashes in his pupils and I ease back, hands up in surrender.

“Hey, I don’t want any trouble.” Instantly on guard, I yank off my mask and let it fall to the sidewalk.

The costumed Chosen behind him slip into a waiting limousine.

But they’re no longer necessary—not with this one standing barely three feet away.

I just hope he isn’t going to kill me.

~~~~~~~~~

~exciting news!

Wow – I am so jazzed!

“The Games Monsters Play” – a short story I wrote from the Watcher world – has been selected to appear in the upcoming vampire anthology, High Stakes!

.

.

Here’s an excerpt from the High Stakes website describing the anthology:

“Welcome to the dark and demented world of High Stakes vampires where every game is a gamble for one’s life! This devious new anthology from Evil Jester Press promises to deliver ten fascinating new vampire tales which play upon the theme of “games”. And, as we well know, vampires are so very good with toying with their food before dining! Edited by the internationally acclaimed vampire novelist Gabrielle Faust, author of the Eternal Vigilance vampire series and most recently the ground-breaking dark fantasy adventure Revenge, High Stakes will also include an introduction by Dacre Stoker, the great grandnephew of Bram Stoker and author of the sequel to Dracula, Dracula: Undead. In addition, this anthology will open with an original poem by the Bram Stoker Award-winning poetess Linda Addison! And this is just the beginning. Set to be released in January of 2013, over the next few months this website will evolve with breaking news about the selected authors and more! We hope you enjoy High Stakes and immerse yourself in the elegant, twisted and blood-drenched world of vampires.”

The other authors selected so far are:

Jeff Strand
Joe McKinney
Sèphera Girón
JG Faherty
David C. Hayes

I couldn’t have done this without my friends and colleagues who beta read and helped me polish this story. Many thanks go to Joshua Essoe, Eric Guignard, Darryl Miller, and Ian Vawter for their feedback and suggestions.

And special thanks to editor Gabrielle Faust and Evil Jester Press for choosing “The Games Monsters Play” to be a part of the High Stakes anthology.

~back again

Life sometimes doesn’t go where we expect it.

I’d thought I’d be in Colorado this fall, signing books and fundraising for the Waldo Canyon relief efforts.

But such was not to be.

Other things happened, some writerly stuff, but mostly just life stuff.

I became very caught up in story submissions for a couple of anthologies. Alas, the short story I thought had the most potential for acceptance was rejected.

Oh, well. That’s the life of a writer.

A novella I received back from my editor has taken far more time to re-write than I expected. I actually have formed a love-hate relationship with this story, but I know the changes are for the better. My hopes for submitting it for the Bram Stoker Awards have faded as the deadline for voting rapidly approaches, and since a version of it has already been published, it won’t be eligible for next year. It’s too bad – it’s a pretty cool and unusual story, but my skill wasn’t quite up to telling it properly the first time around. Once I finish implementing the suggestions from my editor, the story will be much improved and a more engaging read for my readers.

All of this has slowed my progress on Runner. The story is coming along nicely, but I’ve had to move my target publishing date to the Spring of 2013. For those of you who are waiting for it, I am sorry and will make it up to you.

Keep a watch here for sneak previews and other tidbits from Sunny’s world.

~before and after

(This is an updated post from July 17, 2012)

~ ~ ~

I just can’t stop thinking about the devastation and loss of life caused by the Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs and the surrounding mountains, an area I left 35 years ago. It used to look like this:

Ute Pass, looking toward the Continental Divide – May 2009 ©Roh Morgon

I spent two years in the Springs and the neighboring communities of Manitou Springs, Green Mountain Falls, and Cascade. Just out of high school, my life was wild and carefree and filled with adventures. I loved the Pikes Peak mountain area and have always dreamed of returning someday.

Ute Pass above Colorado Springs – May 2009 ©Roh Morgon

Writers frequently use settings with which they are familiar. So when I began writing Sunny’s journey in January 2009, it seemed only natural that she would head to such an ideal location for someone of her unique nature.

As she drew me into her story, the sound of the wind in the trees echoed in my mind, and my nose filled with the fresh scents of pines and summer storms. I typed, fast and furious, knowing I was only capturing a fraction of the nuances that made up her world, and hoped my memory of the area wasn’t too rusty and faded.

Cascade, Colorado – May 2009 ©2012 Roh Morgon

And then in May 2009, when Watcher was nearly complete, I had a rare opportunity to visit the Springs while in Colorado on business. It would be my first visit in 35 years.

My friend Jeanne, with whom I’d first ventured to that magical land so many years before, still lived there. It felt like old times as we set off together to visit the locations in the story, to see if everything was as I recalled it.

Pike National Forest – May 2009 ©2012 Roh Morgon

And, surprisingly, it was. Even the Cascade house in which I’d lived, empty the day we visited, looked exactly as it did when I moved out. We tromped though old stomping grounds and made new discoveries (and found a castle!) and had an amazing time retracing Sunny’s steps.

It was with great sadness that I said farewell to Jeanne and Pikes Peak, promising I would return again when I had more time. The first draft of Watcher was completed two weeks later.

Lupine in Cascade, Colorado – May 2009 ©2012 Roh Morgon

~~~

Now the area looks nothing like it did 35 years ago, or even three years ago. Sunny’s mountain and hunting area behind her house were completely destroyed by the Waldo Canyon fire.

Photo by Jenny Bloom from Eagle Avenue in Manitou Springs

Photo by Kari Greer near Colorado Springs

But worse, people lost their homes, their pets, their family heirlooms – they lost everything they owned.

And two people lost their lives.

Photo by Kari Greer – Mountain Shadows subdivision, Colorado Springs

Photo by Dave Perl – Mountain Shadows cul-de-sac devastation

I’d actually been contemplating making a road trip to the Springs when I heard the news about the fire. It started June 23, and over the next two-and-a-half weeks, over 32,000 people were evacuated, more than 18,000 acres burned, 346 homes destroyed, and two people died. The estimated cost of this fire alone is $352.6 million dollars, making it the most expensive in Colorado’s history.

I can only imagine a glimmer of  how those families must be feeling as they cope with their losses. My heart goes out to them, as well as to the forest and the creatures that it fed and sheltered.

Photo by Kari Greer – Humans weren’t the only ones who lost their homes

I don’t know if I’ll make that trip now. I can’t bear to see those mountains covered in ash, dotted with the black skeletons of trees and brush. Unfortunately, my imagination does paint a vivid picture of that scene, but I know it’s nothing compared to the real thing.

Photo by Kari Greer – Over 18,000 acres were burned

But the devastation could have been worse. Hundreds of firefighters from all over the country risked their lives fighting this superfire and its deadly allies of blazing temperatures and rugged terrain. The valiant efforts of these men and women kept many more homes from being lost.

Photo by Kari Greer – Below Blodgett Peak with California’s Vandenberg Hotshots

Though the fire is no longer in the news, donations are still needed. Three hundred and forty-six families lost everything when their homes burned. If you’d like to help, there are a number of charitable organizations focused on the recovery from this horrendous disaster.

Colorado 2-1-1 offers an extensive list of disaster assistance centers which can help you decide where to donate.

Colorado Springs Together also has suggestions for donors.

Humans weren’t the only victims of this fire. The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region took in well over 400 animals that were displaced by the fire. Many have been returned to their owners, but there are still a number of under shelter care until they can be reunited with their families.

Local agencies are critical in times of disaster and frequently exhaust their resources assisting people in need. The Waldo Canyon Firefighters Fund benefits the local fire stations whose hard work and expense fighting the fire saved many homes and lives.

Photo by Kari Greer – Thank you sign in Mountain Shadows subdivision


Photo by Kari Greer – Overwhelming community support at the Incident Command Post

And a final thanks from me to the photographers who graciously allowed me to share their photos: Jenny Bloom, Kari Greer, and Dave Perl.

I leave you with this:

Photo by Kari Greer – A testament to the human spirit

Please donate.

.

~ ~ ~

As I mentioned in my last post, my own resources are limited. But I do write. Since Pikes Peak and the Colorado Springs area were such important parts of my novel, Watcher: Book I of The Chosen, I’m donating 50% of its net proceeds thru the end of October to help those suffering from this catastrophe.