Michón Neal's Blog, page 26
January 20, 2014
Song and Character Number Nineteen: The A Seriesen
Yeah, I know, I know. You’re wondering why the ship is included as a character. The answer to that: because it’s awesome. We find out in Mark’s Chronicles (not yet published) that this magnificent type of ship was created by Johnathan Reighlight’s uncle (more information about John another day), whom you’ll actually meet in yet another series. The A Seriesen is so named due to it’s shape. It’s a massive letter A drifting through space with several command rooms. There are times when it requires a manual driver. The walls and rooms shift colors based on the moods and intents of those inside. The reason that the Black Tree crew’s Serisen is especially important is because it houses the Black Tree itself. This is one ship that must never be lost. The song Still Alive by Mount Eden always plays in my head when I’m writing a scene about the ship traveling. Though it appears mainly in The Black Tree series it makes appearances in a number of other series as well.
December 31, 2013
Song and Character Number Eighteen: Mardock
Mikassa cradled the Combined talisman and strolled up to the great door. He held it up and touched the door with it. It dissolved into the material and the door swung open. Our nightmare began. Mardock slinked out in his snake form. He was enormous, stretching the entire length of the chamber. His eyes darted this way and that before coming to rest on Mikassa. “You have opened my prison?” he hissed out. I translated for everyone present.
“Yes,” Mikassa squeaked, actually looking like maybe he should have thought this through more.
“I shall take you.”
“Take me?”
“You shall be my host until I am restored to my former glory.” With that the god poured into Mikassa, who screamed bloody murder. He stood crouched over for a moment and then turned around to face us. His eyes were different. The irises were black and the whites had turned a sinister green. A sneer crossed his face, not unlike Mark’s. “Yes.” He reveled in his new form. His voice induced a heavy tugging feeling, as if one were being drawn into the event horizon and could do nothing but accept that fate. I stepped closer to him.
“Run!” Katoni bellowed to the others. They followed her. I remained behind.
Basilisk by Fred and Grafix is quite appropriate for the god of gods. He was sealed away thousands of years ago by Faeries and the god Gangos. Now he’s returned to assume his old throne. As you begin your new year be thankful you won’t endure what the Black Tree crew will. To learn more about their horrible ordeal with the newly awakened god keep a lookout for book ten, Caught in the Crossfire, coming soon to make you feel better about your own life.
Happy New Year!
December 19, 2013
Smashwords – Interview with Michón Neal
I have completed a little interview. If you’d like to learn a bit more about me or even ask me questions about my writing or books, please take a look and let me know. I’ll be answering more in the future. And remember, if you ask a question about my books you’ll see it published with the answer in my very next published work. 
https://www.smashwords.com/interview/mneal
December 13, 2013
Regression towards the mean (a rant)
Reblogged from atheist, polyamorous skeptics:
All cultures have traditions, values, means of communication, etc. All of these, and more, help define meaning and appropriate behavior for the group of people that interact with that culture. It sets values for moral behavior, words for communication, and expectations to evaluate your decisions and circumstances against. It gives you a set of standards to compare how well you're doing in your process of personal growth.
Ah and here I find an eloquent explanation of why people run away from me. They find me interesting at first but then realize that I am indeed real and then flee. They fold themselves back into the smothering blanket that is our culture and try to forget the time they met me. I thought it was my fault that my bet existence appeared to freak people the hell out. In a way I was right; it is me. But not because there's anything wrong with me per se. It's because few people are ever willing to do the work, to truly question everything, or to just open their eyes and understand that this world is so much bigger than we can see. I couldn't go back if I wanted to. They won't let me. And that's perfectly fine with me :D.
December 5, 2013
Checking In and Planning Ahead
It has been a busy few weeks! I have started a new job, which is awesome. And as I’ve been healing my mind feels more like my own. I can actually translate my words into ink once more. I’ve been writing and brainstorming and have so many wonderful ideas about how my stories connect with one another. I have to steal time where I can to finish typing up the next BTS book and am almost finished. Then will come the dreaded edits. Alas if I am able to keep on this strange little schedule I’ve devised the next book should be published early next year. I am still having intermittent pain but it is not nearly as bad as it was. My other big project is researching safer ways to take care of my health without sacrificing my mind or my body further down the line. I’m taking it one day at a time right now.
November 29, 2013
Knowing your “No”s
A wonderful and illuminating post surrounding consent. Psychological effects and states are are often left out of discussions of sexuality and intimacy, leaving many open to attack or injury. It’s important to take things as slowly as you need to in order to truly see where the boundaries lie. Clear communication and awareness are key to navigating intimate spaces with others. When we can pay attention to ourselves and see others as they actually are it lessens the damage we can do.
Originally posted on polysingleish:
The first word I ever said, was ?No?, and it?s a word that I have been contemplating a lot recently.
I?m finding myself moving into a space of exploring my Dom side- and I am hyper aware of the fact that not everyone feels comfortable all the time with saying No. Since I am seriously contemplating kinky things that would certainly not be everyone?s cup of tea, I want to make sure that whoever I do anything like this with is confident in their ability to express their boundaries- both ahead of time, and during any kind of play session.
As a woman, I was raised with the idea that only men could be rapists, and also that all men wanted sex. As an assertive woman, I found myself pushing things far beyond consent on several occasions before I ever heard male friends tell me their stories of being assaulted- and being raped. It opened my eyes to the fact that anyone can be a rapist, sexual assault can be committed by anybody- regardless of their gender- and this began to highlight for me the importance of consent, checking in, and engaging in dialogue about where everyone?s at in the moment.
Knowing your "No"s
The first word I ever said, was "No", and it's a word that I have been contemplating a lot recently.
I'm finding myself moving into a space of exploring my Dom side- and I am hyper aware of the fact that not everyone feels comfortable all the time with saying No. Since I am seriously contemplating kinky things that would certainly not be everyone's cup of tea, I want to make sure that whoever I do anything like this with is confident in their ability to express their boundaries- both ahead of time, and during any kind of play session.
A wonderful and illuminating post surrounding consent. Psychological effects and states are are often left out of discussions of sexuality and intimacy, leaving many open to attack or injury. It's important to take things as slowly as you need to in order to truly see where the boundaries lie. Clear communication and awareness are key to navigating intimate spaces with others. When we can pay attention to ourselves and see others as they actually are it lessens the damage we can do.
November 12, 2013
Song and Character Number Seventeen: Mitchell Jones Blue
This troublemaker is the twin of Mark Blue. That makes a lot of sense since they both love to raise hell. Mitchell sports chains hanging from his arms, a rough demeanor, blond hair, and the same black eyes as his brother. He aspires to be just like his abusive father; a wish that seems to clash with his desire to protect Micala (Mark and Mitchell’s other twin) from the bastard. He shows up in the Black Tree series first to wreck havoc on the relationships of the crew. Yet somewhere along the way his hidden love for Michon becomes the only thing that may be able to bring her back to set things right after the others piss her off. MSI’s Kick seems to sum him up just fine.
November 10, 2013
Health Update
After my surgery last week I am feeling much better. I am only having small pains and some soreness now. It is so much better than the pain that was driving me insane in the previous months. Now I am rooting for my mother. She just had surgery for an illness that killed another family member earlier this year. I’ll have to get checked for it myself soon. My battle is not over. Yet if my characters can bear the pain and danger and still find happiness then so can I. I haven’t met my quota of finishing the publication of the entire Black Tree series this year. Slowly but surely I will continue publication over the next year. There are four more books to go and then I can start publishing a new series. I’m excited about that. In the meantime I will do more to engage with my health. In my family it is impossible to take for granted. Only my stories are allowed to take me down completely. But my health is worth fighting for, especially when I never asked for any of this.
Thank you for your patience.
November 9, 2013
The Truth about Reactive Attachment Disorder
Reblogged from Raising 5 Kids With Disabilities and Remaining Sane Blog:
I witnessed a conversation with the sister of a boy who had been adopted at the age of 2 years old after being abused by his biological parents. As an adult "he has always been in trouble with the law and has been in jail." Upon hearing this, a deep sorrow enveloped me. I have such empathy for that child, having three of my own adopted at a later age.
How heartbreaking. I can say if it wasn't for my siblings loving me I would have grown up so much worse. Even now I still have difficulty with social situations and trusting others. There's this wariness that never ebbs completely. There's this expectation that everyone will let me down eventually because no one is really that kind, no one is really that good. There are things I will never understand about the ways people interact, things that were denied me that I'll never get back. My partner always wanted to try to fill that hole but that is impossible. I only know that something vital is missing that can never be restored. I cannot write about normal people because I do not understand normal. I cannot relate. Maybe this means I miss out on a lot but luckily I have found other ways to go on. I have found other ways not to lash out at others or myself. I'm working toward my own balance even though it will never look like most people's.
