David M. Brown's Blog, page 77
December 10, 2012
Book Excerpt: The Awakening & Other Stories – Emma Meade
Today Emma Meade stops by as part of her December Blog Tour to share an excerpt from her book, The Awakening & Other Stories.
Excerpt from End of the Line
In the distance, the familiar, white light appeared, cutting through the dark of midnight. She’d watched it come before, but always from the sidelines, imagining what it would be like to face such a beast.
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Cassie drew in a shaky breath and steeled herself. Legs splayed, arms by her sides, fists tightly clenched, she waited on the tracks as the train approached. Her legs shook, and strands of hair licked her cheeks in the gentle night’s breeze.
She swallowed the fear threatening to overcome her. Hang in there, she told herself. Another sixty seconds, and it will all be over. No more drowning, murky thoughts, heavy dreams or stilted breathing. She lifted her head and stared straight ahead, willing her body to freeze.
Closer now, but not coming fast enough. She was scared. As much as she desired to have it all over with, the fear gained ground. Could the driver see her yet? No, still too far away. Why had time slowed down? An ache began in her ankles, spreading up her legs and winding its way around her thighs and into her clenched hands.
The feel of her fingernails scraping the soft flesh of her palms roused her, just as she became aware of the vibrations on the tracks.
Cassie stumbled into the grass growing beside the tracks and ran, tears running down her cheeks. She stopped as she reached the first line of trees and leaned over, resting her hands on her thighs, trying to get her breath back.
Damn it! She wanted to die. Why couldn’t she have stuck it out?
The train thundered by, unaware of the woman hunched over in the darkness, sobbing. She raised her head to watch the carriages pass, slithering alongside Wilkins Woods like a dark snake. In thirty seconds, the night was once again silent.
She’d try tomorrow night. Maybe pick up a bottle of Jack Daniel’s after work. Might help with the nerves.
Slowly, her breathing returned to normal, and she wiped the tears away. Cassie followed the edge of the woods the mile back to her squalid flat. She let herself in and headed straight to bed. One more day. She could make it that far.
About The Awakening & Other Stories (2012)
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Put on the kettle, close the curtains and curl up by the fire. Dive into 8 short tales, each with a slice of the paranormal.
Ghost Story – Who is the shadow in the window of the abandoned house, and what or who is he waiting for?
The Awakening – It’s time for Sabrina to wake up and face the light.
End of the Line – Cassie wants to die. When midnight rolls around, she stands on the tracks waiting for the train to come.
Milsa Loris – The once magnificent kingdom of Milsa Loris comes alive one night each winter. The King’s witch is brewing up a little magic, sure to make the soup all the tastier.
The Old Vampire – Hailey spent her life dreaming of a dark prince falling in love with her. He never showed up, until now.
The Knocking – Alison’s grandfather has one eye on the next life. After all, he’s heard a lot of rapping at his door lately.
The Boy on the Beach – Kate’s grandmother warns her about the boy with the green eyes. Will she pay heed?
Snowglobes- It’s busy at Calvin’s Cabins this Christmas. Eddie and Maggie are a young couple in trouble. Not to fear, Calvin is always ready to lend a hand.
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About Emma Meade
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Author of Night Sighs & Under the Desert Moon. Emma Meade lives in rainy Ireland and loves all things supernatural: vampires, slayers, witches, ghosts, aliens & shadow men (or at least the youngest of the shadow men), and regular people who live extraordinary lives (think Slayerettes and you’re on the right track). Books, DVDS & TV show boxsets take up lots of space in her home, and she collects all the Point Horror books she can get her hands on.
Writing supernatural stories & watching marathon re-runs of Buffy are some of her favourite ways of escaping reality.
Book Excerpt: The Awakening & Other Stories – Emma Meade | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
December 9, 2012
Meet the Family Holiday Hop: Kitty Christmas
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Today we’re taking part in the Meet the Family Holiday Hop, hosted by Terri Giuliano Long. If you’d like to take part, it’s not too late! Simply head on over to Terri’s blog to find out more.
It may come as a surprise (ha ha) to find that David and I spend more on our cats at Christmas than we do on one another. This isn’t the only festive concession we make. Since we became the proud owners of six cats, a tree has been a no no. With two, we braved a tiny tree. With four we braved a slightly bigger tree – only to find the younger cats spent most of the time it was up either trying to climb it or stealing baubles. I used to have a cat who tried to eat the tree, so I guess this is perhaps a step up but even so.
Now, we don’t brave a tree but we do have those annoying soft toys that sing and dance to a jolly Christmas tune. These are a cause of some wonder to our boys but not nearly as much as my Gizmo toy. When I set that going and it starts singing ‘Wooouuuuuhhh Wooooouuuhhoooouuuhhh’ they are beyond perplexed. They usually just look at it for a few moments and then run away, though Buggles did bravely try to disarm the singing fiend by… biting its ear. Hmm.
Giving up a tree is a small price to pay, though. The real fun at Christmas comes in Christmas shopping for the boys. Despite David’s assumption about what they’d want for Christmas or Mr Kain’s assertion that ‘All I Want for Christmas is a Front Door Key‘, I suspect they have slightly more banal ideas. Treats, toys, cuddly things and blankets probably score highly. I am seriously, seriously tempted by this though…
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Not one of our (many) cats…
I really can’t wait for another Kitty Christmas. I love my husband and my boys and know as long as they are here, it will be special, tree or no tree, castle or no castle. Just don’t make me cook a turkey…
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Donna and Kain… and cheesy singing snowman!
Rest of the hoppers
Giveaway
Meet the Family Holiday Hop: Kitty Christmas | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Tweedlers’ Jukebox Song of the Week: Merry Christmas Everyone
Shakin’ Stevens’ fourth UK number one hit and always a popular choice on Christmas compilations, Merry Christmas Everyone was released in December 1985 and claimed the coveted Christmas number one slot.
This is a simple song of festive cheer, children enjoying a time of gifts and family, while adults are also getting involved by going to parties and taking advantage of mistletoe hanging from the ceiling. A bit corny? Maybe just a tad but it’s a great Christmas song all the same.
Tweedlers’ Jukebox Song of the Week: Merry Christmas Everyone | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Game Review: Viking: Battle for Asgard
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The story of a Viking Hero. Skarin is an uncompromising force. A plaything of the gods rebelling against their selfish agenda. The definitive Viking warrior.
Rich Viking Lore. The violent and glorious world of Viking mythology brought to stunning life. Players will write their own legends to be told around the campfire.
Vast open world environments. Explore, uncover and fight your way across huge next gen worlds full of combat, exploration and quests.
High impact, brutal combat engine. Experience intensely physical melee combat. Dismember enemies with deadly combat moves in a whirlwind of death.
Mythical Powers. Tame dragons and command them to rain fire upon your enemies. Call on magic and the power of the gods to win the mortal war.
Free your people. Liberate your Viking kinsmen from the clutches of Hel. Earn their trust and their sword arm. Fight alongside them in battle.
Epic Battles. Lay the foundations for huge battles featuring hundreds of dynamic NPC warriors. Subtly influence the battle through targeted assassination or wade in to save stricken allies. Become one amongst many and turn the tide in favour of your kinsmen.
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Review:
Viking: Battle for Asgard
(PS3)
When it comes to the finest myths and legends, I have to dismiss the popular Greek tales and throw my weight firstly behind Norse mythology that drove the Vikings across the seas in the 8th century AD and later the Icelandic Sagas, the insightful and compelling accounts of Viking settlement and life. There is nothing romantic about these myths and stories, the outlook is often dark and bleak, and this tradition has continued in the form of Viking: Battle of Asgard on the PS3.
The story is of an epic war between the gods in Asgard and the undead Vikings from the underworld, spearheaded by the cruel ruler, Hel. When the war comes to Midgard, the world of men, it is Hel that appears unstoppable, crushing everything in sight until one stronghold – Brighthelm – remains. In the midst of defending the town Skarin, a feared warrior troubled by seizures and flashbacks, is mortally wounded but spared from death by the influence of Freya, a goddess from Asgard, who saves Brighthelm from ruin. In the aftermath Freya orders Skarin to liberate Midgard from the influence of Hel’s legions, free captive Vikings and ultimately defeat the evil queen herself.
The area of most focus in Viking: Battle for Asgard has to be the combat. Skarin heads into battle with a sword and axe and, akin to the Viking mentality, shows no mercy in his application. The violence in the game fully justifies the 18 rating with the visuals and sounds of weapons cutting, stabbing and slicing through enemies leaving nothing to the imagination. Whenever Skarin defeats an opponent you are prompted to hit the square button instigating a close up of your hero dispatching his enemy in bloodthirsty fashion, either by beheading or dismemberment. As you progress through the game, enemies become more testing as you come up against archers, armoured warriors with shields you have to break before getting to them, and later giants who you firstly hack at the ankles to bring them to their knees before finishing them off. In fact both the giants and the tall armoured warriors you meet will require you to select a series of commands on the gamepad allowing Skarin to climb onto their backs, deliver mortal wounds to his opponent’s before sending them crashing to the ground where they are mercilessly slain. The fighting is impressive but the violence may alienate some gamers.
The most useful item in Viking: Battle for Asgard is undoubtedly the Brisingamen, an amulet Freya gives to Skarin at the beginning of the game. This appears at the top right of the screen and works as a radar, helping you identify friends, foes and your next objectives. You have access to a large map on demand which details a series of locations such as farms, quarries, camps and other strongholds you will need to liberate. By moving the cursor over each building you are given brief instructions on what you need to do to clear each section and unlock further areas to explore. Despite having a camp full of Vikings, Skarin operates mostly alone in his endeavours. In each location there will be a group of Vikings either tied to posts or imprisoned in cages that you can liberate to augment your army. The emphasis of good versus evil is never better captured than in Skarin’s exit from his main camp, illuminated by sunlight, and out into the dark and harsh terrain of Hel’s influence. For every town and camp you set free, Hel’s darkness is overwhelmed by Freya’s light that brings sunshine to the land. As well as the smaller objectives on the map there will be a major city or stronghold which is your ultimate target and the reason you need a huge army. There is always an extensive list of criteria you will need to meet before Skarin can begin the next major assault, but once you get to this stage, Viking: Battle for Asgard really comes into its own.
The epic assaults on the cities are visually stunning as Skarin not only leads an army into battle but also has the assistance of dragons. The battles play out similarly to any other fight you have in the game but you can rely on your allies to keep the bulk of Hel’s armies busy while you pursue the ultimate objective to deliver victory. If you have enough dragon stones you can have your dragon allies implement their fiery breaths to take out archers manning castle walls or other large gatherings of warriors. The criteria for the large-scale battles usually centres around the enemy shamans that through their magic create new warriors and keep their army’s numbers bolstered. You must lead Skarin through the mayhem of battle to take out these shamans and give your army the advantage. Other criteria may be the slaying of giants or ultimately the leader of the army in that particular city, such as Hel’s own champion, Drakan. Though the battles themselves are fantastic it can be frustrating having to complete the objectives on your own, particularly when vastly outnumbered with not a single warrior from your own army in sight. This is unfortunately something I had to get used to.
Viking: Battle for Asgard was hampered by some glitches in the gameplay. During one difficult battle against a giant I lured him out of his stronghold into the open but when it came to executing Skarin’s brutal crescendo I found myself inexplicably back in the middle of the enemy camp with plenty of warriors ready to pounce on me. Some sections of the game can be difficult especially when you have to sneak into a city that’s impossible to claim alone to steal an item or kill a particular warrior without alerting the rest of the resident army! The price for being killed in the middle of liberating a camp or city is harsh. Although Skarin is continuously restored to life no matter how many times he dies, your progress through the enemy camp at the time of your death is not recorded. I sometimes found myself have a handful of warriors left to kill only to be slain myself and forced to take out the entire camp from scratch! The game also takes place across three separate maps which seem to take a while to complete but by the end I felt the experience hadn’t been a long one.
Viking: Battle for Asgard is an enjoyable but violent action/adventure. The battles are visually stunning and epic, while the locations are fantastic with the war torn land enhanced by varying weather conditions. The difficulty of some aspects of the game can be frustrating but this is still an engaging game that has captured the essence of the Viking Age beautifully.
Final Score: 4/5
(Game source: reviewer’s own copy)
Game Review: Viking: Battle for Asgard | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
December 7, 2012
Christmas Wish List of the Dirty Half a Dozen
Call it misfortune or privilege, but I am in the position of being the owner to six cats that often leave their daily musings around the house in the form of minutes from meetings, lists, diary entries and even graffiti on the walls. Just don’t ask me what they use to write such slogans as “Vivian le Revolushoon” and “Razz Woz Ear” on our walls.
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Some of the evidence strewn around the house is well hidden but this morning I came downstairs to find an envelope addressed affectionately to me. It read: “Beard Face: Read this before you do anything else, you pathetic excuse of a human being.” Naturally, I was quite touched by this gift from the cats. The words they used actually brought a tear to my eye. They had never said anything so sweet to me before.
Inside the envelope were six Christmas lists. Some had been written with pens (Kain, Razz and Frodo), one in ketchup which was supposed to be blood but the smell gave it away (Charlie) and the other two lists were in crayons (Buggles and Bilbo). I will spare you the multitude of drawings Buggles included in his list but here are the cats’ must-have items for Christmas 2012.
Please note “Beard Face” is how the cats regard me and “Frizzy Hair” is how the cats regard my wife, Donna.
Kain
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1) A signed copy of The Complete Works of Shakespeare.
2) A private dinner with Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. They can have whatever they like so long as they go for fish and chips. I’m not being awkward, it’s just we’ll be eating in a fish and chip restaurant so the menu is pretty limited.
3) I want you to write a new book entitled The Truth About Man vs Cat. The truth is that every story you tell is a complete lie. Work on that book for an early release in 2013 or I’ll tell everyone a few home truths about you.
Razz
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1) I want to relaunch Man vs Food as Cat vs Food with me being a more charismatic replacement for Adam Richman. I’m even willing to use a pseudonym. Nothing too similar. How about Alan Rickman?
2) I’d like you to pay for some vet surgery. I just don’t think my face is malevolent enough to frighten you anymore, Beard Face. You’re starting to let your guard down, you arrogant fool.
3) Beard Face, on Christmas Day could you stand by the cat tree at exactly 3.00 p.m. when the Queen’s Speech is on. You mustn’t move a muscle. The reason? I want to smack you round the face. Merry Christmas.
Buggles
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1) All the Twilight books and movies. I know I asked for these last year but you keep burning them, putting out the flames and then burning them again just to make sure the evil has passed. Is it really necessary to shout, “The power of Christ compels you,” while waving holy water around?
2) Could I have a paint set? I want to paint images on the walls of the butterflies, fairies and faces of Laurel & Hardy that are in my head.
3) Could I have a year-long subscription to a florist? I want to send flowers to some of my heroes and heroines – a bouquet of roses to all the sparkly vampires out there, just thorns to the infamous Mr Grey and carnations for Buzz Lightyear. He is like so amazing!
Charlie
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1) A bazooka that can fire empty tins of cat food and a destroyer with tuna depth charges.
2) A world map with every military base clearly denoted by a symbol of a castle with a flag of a shrieking dog. Civilian spots should be highlighted with an image of my face. I don’t want to hurt civilians, you see. I just want them to acknowledge that I’m never wrong about anything.
3) If you could revive the likes of Alexander the Great, Hannibal, Genghis Khan, Tamerlane, Napoleon and Darth Vader that would be cool. I think they could learn a lot from me.
Bilbo
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1) A life-size effigy of Frizzy Hair so I can cuddle it whenever she isn’t around.
2) Beard Face, I’d like you to be permanently hunched over so I can sit on your back and be carried around like one of those famous rulers from history – Julius Cheshire, Ram That Sees or King Harry VIII and his Six Beehives.
3) Scrap the second one, Beard face. Just leave because Frizzy Hair doesn’t need you, she only needs us.
Frodo
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1) Tickets for Broadway and the West End. I don’t mean to see a show. I mean I want tickets to hand out to other people to see ME in a show.
2) Could you arrange a starring role for me in some production? How about Cats? I can sing Memory really well. Failing that I do a very good rendition of Hound Dog.
3) How about a karaoke set? I have graced you with my beautiful voice for so long I think it’s only fair that I continue to do so with all your favourite songs.
About Man vs Cat (2012)
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History has known many famous cats – Garfield, Mr Bigglesworth, Simon’s Cat, the Aristocats, the Cheshire cat and the Keyboard Cat on YouTube.
In recent years these feline things have replaced man’s best friend as the most popular pet in the U.S. while the Ancient Egyptians once worshipped them as gods. This was a mistake and I’m here to tell you why.
Man vs Cat is the story of one man, one woman and the six cats that changed their lives forever. To the woman they brought love and affection, to the man they brought sleepless nights, fear, paranoia and even ruined his jigsaw. Need I say more?
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Rest of the All Pets Want for Christmas Hop – 8 Dec
Giveaway
Christmas Wish List of the Dirty Half a Dozen | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
#FlashFiveFriday – Warmth
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Mr B and I are taking part in #FlashFiveFriday run by The Indie Exchange.
#FlashFiveFriday is a weekly flash fiction / flash blogging prompt.
The rules are very simple if you’d like to take part:
1) Write for no longer than five minutes OR write no more than 500 words (whichever challenge you prefer!)
2) You must write something new
3) You can prepare your post ahead of time but the time/word limit still applies (whichever you choose to follow)
4) If you add your blog post link to the comments, then please visit some other blogs that week too to show your support
This week’s #FlashFiveFriday post
#FlashFiveFriday – Warmth
Dave
I’m remembering occasions when I’ve been really cold instead of warm. One New Year’s Eve my father dropped my brother and I at home and drove off, assuming we’d be able to get in the house. My mother was out and we’d forgotten our house keys. Being the end of December it was a particularly cold night and we had to wait a couple of hours before my mother did come back. It was agonising knowing we were sitting with our backs against the wall of a warm house.
Another occasion I was at secondary school and it began to snow in the morning. This was cause for celebration as we lost interest in class and willed the snowflakes to keep descending. They duly did and we were sent home early. Result! However, this meant a walk home for me which was about half an hour. The snow kept falling. It was so thick that you could safely abandon the pavements and walk on the roads. Only the desperate drivers committed to the roads now and those that did moved along at tractor pace.
I remember getting home that day to find my brother was already back having been sent away from college for the same reasons. You’ll be glad to know we both had our house keys on this occasion. We had learned our lesson. My brother offered me a cup of tea and it remains one of the most refreshing pots of tea I’ve ever had. I was so cold that I could hold the cup with tea fresh from the kettle and feel no discomfort with the heat against my numb skin. By the time that cup was empty I had just about regained the feeling in my fingers and toes and my hands were a lot less purple.
Donna
Lying in bed last night, in a house distinctly lacking in warmth (the boiler’s playing up!), I thought about what a funny double-meaning word ‘Warmth’ is, as many of the prompt terms have been. I haven’t chosen them for ambiguity or double-meanings in most cases. In fact, it’s often only when I’ve come to write the #FlashFiveFriday post myself that I realise.
I put this down to how strange the English language is. We have so many words that sound the same (saw, sore, soar) but mean completely different things, yet – not content with that – we’re pulling extra meanings from sole words. Warmth can refer to a person’s characteristic of benevolence and kindness, as well as the cosy atmosphere created by a lovely roaring fire.
I love our language and all its idiosyncrasies but sometimes I feel greatly relieved that I learnt it as my first language, rather than trying to take it on later as a second!
Related articles (external)
#FlashFiveFriday: #17 – Music
The Indie Exchange #FlashFiveFriday: Music
#FlashFiveFriday Music
#FlashFiveFriday – Warmth | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
December 6, 2012
Book Review: The Quiet American – Graham Greene
[image error] Into the intrigue and violence of Indo-China comes Pyle, a young idealistic American sent to promote democracy. As his native optimism starts to cause bloodshed, his friend Fowler, a cynical foreign correspondent, cannot stand aside and just watch.
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Review: The Quiet American
I broke my rule when it came to The Quiet American, having seen the film from 2002, before reading the book. This isn’t a rule I break often but having enjoyed the film when I saw it a few years back I was naturally delighted to read Greene’s novel from 1955, which was lambasted as anti-American on its release but is regarded more favourably today.
The story focuses on a complex love triangle amidst the First Indochina War. Thomas Fowler is a British journalist who has been stationed in Vietnam for two years to report on the struggle between the French and the Vietnamese guerrillas. Fowler is married but, while in Vietnam, he has taken a young lover, Phuong, who he plans to marry but requires permission from his wife for a divorce, which she is unwilling to grant. One day Fowler meets Alden Pyle, the quiet American of the title, who is a young idealist with an unknown agenda in Vietnam. Complications arise when Pyle falls in love with Phuong and in the background the war continues to escalate with Fowler and Pyle having very different involvements in it.
Fowler is middle aged in the book with Phuong being at least thirty years younger, but he has no concerns of losing her until he meets Pyle. The young and quiet American falls for Phuong immediately and though he makes his feelings known to Fowler, he does it in a polite and friendly manner, the perfect gentlemen really. Phuong’s sister despises Fowler so when Pyle appears she does everything she can to facilitate a marriage between her sister and the American. Fowler is in danger of losing Phuong, especially when he hides the fact he is due for a transfer back to Britain and that his wife is refusing to grant a divorce. Pyle is initially gracious in defeat to Fowler when he gives Phuong the ultimatum of choosing between the two men, but when he learns the truth about Fowler’s lies he is quick to play his hand and steal Phuong for himself. Phuong has no powerful voice in the narrative. She is very much subject to Fowler and Pyle, comparable to Vietnam under colonial rule.
As the war continues, Fowler reports on the atrocities and meets with Pyle whose ideals are in stark contrast to French colonialism that is struggling to keep hold of Vietnam and the rising Communism that is threatening to oust the existing masters. Pyle tells Fowler of a Third Force, which he believes is the answer to Vietnam’s future. Fowler is sceptical. He is the teacher to Pyle’s young and opinionated student, the veteran of Indochina while Pyle is a virgin in this country. Though Pyle wins Phuong from Fowler he isn’t finished there. He has another reason for being in Vietnam and the Third Force he speaks of is ready to lash out.
I really enjoyed The Quiet American. Considering Greene wrote this before America’s known involvement in Vietnam, following the exit of the French in 1954, is impressive. It was controversial at the time, being heavily criticised for the depiction of the American, Pyle, but its themes would resonate for the next two decades with the Vietnam War, which would prove so costly and so controversial. Many readers have argued Fowler and Pyle are metaphors for Britain and America. Fowler represents the old and battered British Empire now on the wane, while Pyle’s naivety mirrors that of the US that committed years to Vietnam and got its fingers burnt. Greene’s novel can be read on the surface and be enjoyed, or you can delve much deeper and find equal pleasure in this book.
The Quiet American is a short but compelling read. A love triangle set amidst the French struggle for supremacy in the First Indochina War. That we learn the fate of Pyle from the opening pages doesn’t hinder the book, but makes it all the more intriguing. I’ve not read many novels by Graham Greene but I’d be surprised if many are better than this one.
Verdict: 4/5
(Book source: reviewer’s own copy)
Book Review: The Quiet American – Graham Greene | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
December 5, 2012
Book Excerpt: Love Travels Forever – Jaye Frances
Today we welcome Jaye Frances who has stopped by Tweedling HQ to share an excerpt from her latest book, Love Travels Forever, a collection of short stories.
Excerpt from Love Travels Forever
Thank you, Donna, for hosting me today with a book highlight of my new release Love Travels Forever, a collection of my favorite short stories and essays. Within the pages of this book, you’ll meet a group of people who inspire, encourage, and share their personal tales while taking you on an unforgettable journey of the heart.
Here’s a short excerpt from “A Love For Summer:”
They are the treasures of summers past—picnics by the lake, family vacations, fireworks on the fourth, and cookouts on the beach. All staples of the season. As I sift through these summer touchstones of my youth, I find most of my recollections have been tempered by time, the details faded with age. And yet there is one memory that always transcends the years with perfect clarity, still stirring the emotions and warming the heart—my first summer love.
Maybe it’s because summer brought its own special kind of aphrodisiac—the brevity of clothes, the freedom from school, and the potential for romance. It was a heady combination, and beneath it all simmered the unspoken hope of finding a love for all seasons.
Like most, my first summer crush was an experience that predated a loss of innocence, before dating was a regular weekend occurrence, when we could only imagine what it would be like for our lips to touch another’s for the first time, and when we reveled in the thought of walking hand-in-hand with someone new.
Perhaps the adolescents of today are too sophisticated, too exposed to the casual-sex attitude promoted by popular media to understand this, but a large part of growing up in the seventies in mid-western America meant spending the early teen years plagued with the ache of anticipation. With our childhoods—and the culture—still influenced by a decade of watching Annette and Frankie linger under a coconut palm, restraint was still the standard for “respectable” girls. And while it may seem conservative by contemporary standards of sexual conduct, for some of us, the fantasy of a yet-to-be-experienced first kiss was magic. So if you’re a youngster under thirty-five, read this with patience, the kind that was common forty years ago when personal choice and limits were as popular as hip-hugger bell bottoms, mood rings, and polyester.
My first date was a very secretive affair, even to the point of arranging to meet him inside the movie theater to avoid the possibility of anyone seeing us walk in together. At thirteen, I wasn’t willing to risk the interrogation and lecture that was certain to result if my overly protective mother found out I would be spending several hours in the dark with a tempting boy-hunk one year my senior.
About Love Travels Forever (2012)
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In Love Travels Forever , Jaye Frances captures the reader’s heart with an inspiring collection of seventeen stories filled with romance and passion, the hopeful innocence of youth, and a love so strong that it transcends the mortality of life. Here are just a few of the people you’ll meet:
Evan and Frankie, a loving couple traveling through life hand-in-hand, are unaware that the shadow of fate is about to tear them apart. Helpless to change their shortened future together, one of them makes a promise—a promise of devotion and courage, honoring a love that surpasses the boundaries of time.
Mark and Janice, the perfect couple with the perfect life, are on the threshold of finally seeing their dreams come true—until an unexpected circumstance changes their lives forever.
Danny, a young soldier fresh out of boot-camp, is desperate to find a way to travel home and marry his sweetheart before being shipped overseas. Stranded in a train station on a three day pass with no hope in sight, Danny meets Wanda, an incredible woman who vows to find a way to bring Danny and his fiance together.
Nora and Georgia are two eight-year-old best friends who share giggles, dolls, and secrets. But when one of them faces sudden danger, the other responds with an unconditional act of love and forges a lifelong bond between them unaffected by fear or prejudice.
So find a quiet spot, get comfy, and grab a box of Kleenex. You’re about to take an unforgettable journey of the heart, to a place where compassion and hope have no limits, and where love continues to travel forever.
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About Jaye Frances
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Jaye Frances is the author of The Kure, a paranormal-occult romance novel, The Possibilities of Amy, a coming-of-age romance novella, The Cruise-All That Glitters, a humorous adult satire about love on the high seas, The Beach, a sci-fi supernatural tale about a man who is given the opportunity to receive his ultimate wish, and Love Travels Forever, a collection of poignant short stories and essays. She is also a featured columnist for the NUSA SUN magazine. Born in the Midwest, Jaye readily admits that her life’s destination has been the result of an open mind and a curiosity about all things irreverent. When she’s not consumed by her writing, Jaye enjoys cooking, traveling to all places tropical and “beachy” and taking pictures—lots of pictures—many of which find their way to her website. Jaye lives on the central gulf coast of Florida, sharing her home with one husband, six computers, four cameras, and several hundred pairs of shoes.
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Book Excerpt: Love Travels Forever – Jaye Frances | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Game Review: Metal Gear Solid
[image error] You are Solid Snake, a super spy who is half James Bond, half Snake Plissken, and you are mean. Your mission isn’t terribly new (infiltrate a terrorist base and blow everything up), but the gameplay is: your numerous enemies are watching for you, and you are encouraged to sneak rather than simply charge in. Every level brings new challenges. You fight snipers, invisible ninjas, psychic warriors and even an M-1 tank! As the father of the modern spy-game genre, this game is an instant classic.
Your allies and superiors speak to you via a cool, implanted radio, monitoring your progress, offering tips–but failing to give you the full story. The combination of a mysterious and engaging plot and high in-game tension makes this a thrilling ride. Campy humour also abounds as you rescue beautiful women, verbally spar with your allies and blow up enemies in the bathroom. A user-friendly control interface allows for sniping, hiding, crawling and running, and the graphics leave nothing to be desired. If you like espionage, spy movies, or just want to own and play a piece of gaming history, then this is a must-have. Metal Gear Solid is one of the all-time greats. Game tip: Secretly attach plastic explosives behind an enemy, sneak out of the room, and see what happens.
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Review: Metal Gear Solid (PS1)
I remember reading about Metal Gear Solid in Playstation Power and finding myself drawn to it and not just because of its 98% rating! This was argued by some as the best game on the Playstation at the time and although I didn’t agree with that assertion I couldn’t deny it was a great game. Revisiting Metal Gear Solid more than a decade on I was fascinated to see if the experience was still a rewarding one.
You take on the role of Solid Snake who is on a mission at Shadow Moses Island. An extremist group FOX HOUND have taken control of the island and its nuclear warheads. They have also taken some important figures hostage. FOX HOUND, led by Liquid Snake, are demanding a large ransom and the remains of Big Boss, a legendary soldier. Snake is sent into the nuclear facility to rescue the hostages and investigate whether the terrorists have the means to launch a nuclear strike.
The great thing about Metal Gear Solid is that it requires the gamer to not only be able to fight a series of exchanges – from Genome soldiers to tanks, a bloodthirsty ninja and even a battle against a helicopter – but puts emphasis on your ability to sneak your way through security systems and patrols. There are many dangers on Shadow Moses Island but Snake can call upon an impressive array of weapons to take out his foes. At times, you will be forced to use certain weapons in given situations such as a sniper rifle or a remote controlled missile. Snake is in contact with his superiors via Codec and messages frequently break up the action as you are given guidance on your next move or while the excellent storyline develops.
The characters in Metal Gear Solid are fantastic. Snake faces no fewer than ten key fights during the game against members of FOX HOUND – Liquid Snake, Revolver Ocelot, Vulcan Raven, Psycho Mantis and Sniper Wolf. There’s even Decoy Octopus, a master of disguise, lurking somewhere in the facility so trusting people isn’t easy. There are some friendly faces of course in the shape of Meryl, a love interest of sorts for the taciturn Snake, and there is Hal Emmerich, a gifted scientist working on a key weapon in the facility – Metal Gear. This technological behemoth forms the focal point of Snake’s mission and poses a major threat to the world. The question is can Snake save the world in time.
Metal Gear Solid is still an incredible experience. So many moments will leave great memories such as the battle against Psycho Mantis who can read your every move so is impossible to harm, or is he? Mantis reads your moves from the slot where your gamepad is plugged in. Simply switch to the other slot and he can’t read you! Brilliant! Everything has been so carefully thought out – the need for pills to steady your hands when firing a sniper rifle, catching a cold in the extreme Alaskan weather and emitting a sneeze that alerts the guards to your presence when you’re trying to hide, and even having dogs urinate on a cardboard box you hide in to make you more appealing to them (don’t ask!).
There is nothing to really fault with Metal Gear Solid. I don’t believe it’s the best game the Playstation had to offer – for me it was Final Fantasy VIII – but Metal Gear Solid is like having a Hollywood movie to play through. In many ways it’s even better than a typical action/thriller with great characters, decent voice acting, a clever storyline and fabulous set pieces. It really doesn’t get much better than this.
Verdict: 5/5
(Game source: reviewer’s own copy)
Game Review: Metal Gear Solid | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
December 4, 2012
Classic Screen Scenes: Apocalypse Now! – The horror! The horror!
Great films appear every year and with them are potentially classic scenes that may become more famous than the film itself. The shower scene in Psycho, the chariot race in Ben Hur, the chest bursting moment in Alien, and the opera music sounding across the prison yard in The Shawshank Redemption are just some of the examples of the classic celluloid moments that we may be familiar with even if we’ve never seen the film. I’ll be sharing my favourite film scenes, some you will know others may be unfamiliar, but hopefully they’ll be moments you enjoy as much as I do.
Apocalypse Now! (1979) – The horror! The horror!
Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 Vietnam War masterpiece remains an exquisite piece of filmmaking, rescued from months of troubled
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filming including destroyed sets and the heart attack of one its stars. Picking the best moment is difficult. Do you go with the Ride of the Valkyries as helicopters begin their descent and light up the skies with napalm? Do you go with Robert Duvall’s Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore who loves the smell of napalm in the morning? What about that opening scene with Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) waking in a hotel and struggling with life outside the jungle. All these moments are eclipsed by one other scene.
The film focuses on Captain Willard who is struggling in Saigon, wanting a mission and to be back in the jungle. His prayers are answered when he is given a delicate assignment to locate and assassinate Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando) who has been in the jungle of Vietnam and supposedly gone insane, a series of radio broadcasts being testimony to such claims. Kurtz has now moved into Cambodia and Willard is assigned to take a boat through enemy territory to kill Kurtz. He is joined by a small group of soldiers and they face many a horror along the way. By the time Willard and the group meet Montagnard warriors, loyal to Kurtz, their numbers have been depleted. The boat comes to the outpost where Kurtz is worshipped like a god.
Willard is shown round the place by a photographer (Dennis Hopper) and meets his predecessor sent to assassinate Kurtz who is silent and loyal to Kurtz. In a classic exchange, Willard is exposed to Kurtz’s philosophies, his observations about the years of war he has fought in and the many horrors he has witnessed. The film’s defining moment comes at the end when the villagers are preparing to slaughter a water buffalo. Willard sneaks into Kurtz’s chamber and proceeds to kill him with a machete. The film switches between the sacrificial slaughter of the buffalo and that of Kurtz who welcomes his end. The Doors’ The End plays in the background as Willard moves in for the kill and when it’s over a dying Kurtz utters “The horror! The horror!” Willard walks out of the temple with machete in hand and finds the whole village fall to their knees before him. He seeks out Lance, the only survivor from the ship, and guides him back to the river. As the two men drive the boat away they are silent as Kurtz’s final words echo in the night sky. It’s a powerful conclusion to a truly exhausting journey.
Classic Screen Scenes: Apocalypse Now! – The horror! The horror! | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
