David Berger's Blog, page 9
February 2, 2013
A Task Force: Gaea movie—Dream Cast
If (and when) a movie could be made of Task Force: Gaea—Finding Balance, I'd probably want certain people to play the main roles, or at least actors who look like this people. It has been some time since I had actors in mind to play the leading roles, and in another post, I showed them.
If I were to cast certain people now, I think I would choose the following:
DANIEL CRAIGApollo (Paul Fairmont, in mortal form). An Olympian god who has spent time among mortals, I see him as a man who is a bit older, much wiser, and has a certain charm. For this reason, I see Daniel Craig, this picture, particularly. He's also a physically fit man, and that would be play well into the "Greek god" role as well. His character has complexities to it that go beyond the one dimensional Greek god of other stories. Having been a mortal man, he knows what life brings for humans, and Daniel Craig has the look of a man whose life experiences have taught him quite a bit.
CLAUDIA BLACKFor Apollo's wife, Alkinoë (Allison Fairmont, in mortal form), I could see Claudia Black. She's played stronger female characters before (Stargate, an Amazon on Xena, Aeryn Sun on Farscape). She's the embodiment of an Arkadeian warrior queen. I've enjoyed her strong characters, and she would be a believable royal yet maternal figure. Plus, she could go up against Ares, god of war, quite easily.
EDUARDO VERASTEGUIWhile searching for an actor who could play Apollo's son, Danelos Fairmont, known as Aegis in Task Force: Gaea, I stumbled upon a picture of Eduardo Verastegui, a Mexican actor, but he has a decidedly Mediterranean look. He could easily play the lead, if he grew his hair out a little and grew in a mustache and goatee. He's 38, but I think he could play a younger hero.
EMMA WATSONNow, I know she's had a good run with Harry Potter movies, but Emma Watson could easily play Sarah Jacobs, known as Aether. A slight red tint to her hair, and she could play the elemental. It would be an interesting change from a wizard to a woman who can manipulate earth, fire, air, and water. She'd have to lose the British accent, however, since Sarah's from Boston (not hardcore, "Pahk the cah in Hahvahd yahd"-Boston, though).
BEYONCÉ KNOWLESMy original pick was Angela Bassett when I started thinking about this years ago, but now she'd be older than the character. Beyoncé Knowles has the figure for it, and I'm pretty sure she'd look amazing with a pair of wings. Aleta Halson, known as Aetos, whose power allows her access to Zeus' lightning, is a tough woman, and I definitely see Beyoncé being able to carry that role. The geneticist who becomes an eagle-like creature herself, Aleta has the grace of Beyoncé, although the latter would have to have a short haircut.
CHANNING TATUMBrandon Jeffries, known as Zodiak, is Channing Tatum. He definitely has the build and the look for the man who can channel the powers of the zodiac signs. The character, who has a sort of military look, would come alive through Tatum, who has that powerful jawline and strong features. I could see him in centaur form (channeling Sagittarius), too. What's not to like about him, right?
If I were to cast certain people now, I think I would choose the following:
DANIEL CRAIGApollo (Paul Fairmont, in mortal form). An Olympian god who has spent time among mortals, I see him as a man who is a bit older, much wiser, and has a certain charm. For this reason, I see Daniel Craig, this picture, particularly. He's also a physically fit man, and that would be play well into the "Greek god" role as well. His character has complexities to it that go beyond the one dimensional Greek god of other stories. Having been a mortal man, he knows what life brings for humans, and Daniel Craig has the look of a man whose life experiences have taught him quite a bit.
CLAUDIA BLACKFor Apollo's wife, Alkinoë (Allison Fairmont, in mortal form), I could see Claudia Black. She's played stronger female characters before (Stargate, an Amazon on Xena, Aeryn Sun on Farscape). She's the embodiment of an Arkadeian warrior queen. I've enjoyed her strong characters, and she would be a believable royal yet maternal figure. Plus, she could go up against Ares, god of war, quite easily.
EDUARDO VERASTEGUIWhile searching for an actor who could play Apollo's son, Danelos Fairmont, known as Aegis in Task Force: Gaea, I stumbled upon a picture of Eduardo Verastegui, a Mexican actor, but he has a decidedly Mediterranean look. He could easily play the lead, if he grew his hair out a little and grew in a mustache and goatee. He's 38, but I think he could play a younger hero.
EMMA WATSONNow, I know she's had a good run with Harry Potter movies, but Emma Watson could easily play Sarah Jacobs, known as Aether. A slight red tint to her hair, and she could play the elemental. It would be an interesting change from a wizard to a woman who can manipulate earth, fire, air, and water. She'd have to lose the British accent, however, since Sarah's from Boston (not hardcore, "Pahk the cah in Hahvahd yahd"-Boston, though).
BEYONCÉ KNOWLESMy original pick was Angela Bassett when I started thinking about this years ago, but now she'd be older than the character. Beyoncé Knowles has the figure for it, and I'm pretty sure she'd look amazing with a pair of wings. Aleta Halson, known as Aetos, whose power allows her access to Zeus' lightning, is a tough woman, and I definitely see Beyoncé being able to carry that role. The geneticist who becomes an eagle-like creature herself, Aleta has the grace of Beyoncé, although the latter would have to have a short haircut.
CHANNING TATUMBrandon Jeffries, known as Zodiak, is Channing Tatum. He definitely has the build and the look for the man who can channel the powers of the zodiac signs. The character, who has a sort of military look, would come alive through Tatum, who has that powerful jawline and strong features. I could see him in centaur form (channeling Sagittarius), too. What's not to like about him, right?
January 24, 2013
Crafting my own Elder gods...
I'm drawing inspiration from Lovecraftian deities in the sequel, Memory's Curse. The unfathomable mixed with the mind-melting works for me:
Pleasant dreams :)
Pleasant dreams :)
January 21, 2013
1000 Likes!
Thank you all so much for your support. As a writer, having people who are willing to read your work or just support your efforts means more than you know. I've been working on these ideas for about half my life, and this next book will allow me to spread my darker wings into a horror-like story, Memory's Curse. You're the muses who drive me forward. Reaching this milestone helps me push on and be even more creative to live up to the expectations of those who anticipate the next installment of the Task Force: Gaea series.
December 28, 2012
Memory's Curse is coming along!
No, that's not the cover, not yet. I'll be conversing with Michael Hamlett who did the artwork for Finding Balance early in 2013 to do the cover again. His work truly inspires me! Art always inspires me, so I put this cover together simply so I could see what the end of the line could look like. And, inspire me it has.Over the past few weeks, I've been quite busy writing, and my process has changed since the last book. Now, I'm writing scenes that come into my head rather than sequential chapters (although some scenes are certainly sequential). As I see certain major moments unfold, I'll be filling in the gaps with more moments—some major, some not—and this novel will have a bit more character development of Dan, Aleta, Sarah, and Brandon than Finding Balance did. One of the reasons why is that this story is the true timeline. Without revealing what happened in Finding Balance, I can say that certain events unfolded differently, some very drastically, than the first story. What keeps certain events the same, linking them to the first novel, is how much of an emotional impact they had on characters.
As you might have guessed, the idea of memory is the cornerstone to the plot. But, this is not why I wanted to write this post. I'm excited to say that I have now written 43,777 words (that translates into approx. 150 pages). I'm not putting and end limit on the story; it will write itself until I'm done. I imagine it will be a little longer than Finding Balance, but once the final edits happen, who knows.
Currently, I'm on winter break, so I know I have more time allotted to me, but once school starts up again, I'll have to MAKE time to reach my anticipated, self-imposed deadline of spring 2013. No rush, though. I'd rather it be a little later and be better than rushing and it be not as good as it could be.
Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks.
December 11, 2012
The Next Big Thing!
So, I was supposed to tag other others to participate in this blog tour, but my job dominates my time, and I didn't have time to ask other people, unfortunately. But, I wanted to post mine anyway. Thanks to John L. LeViness and Kat Heckenbach for asking me!
What is the title of your latest book?
My first novel is called Task Force: Gaea—Finding Balance.
Where did the idea come from for the book?
The novel started out as a short story called “The Olympus Corps.” back in 1985 when I was in a high school English class. Then, it was more Star-Trek-meets-Greek-myth, but as I got more and more into writing it, the Star Trek aspect disappeared, and the novel became more earthbound. But, the ideas came from my great love of comic books and Greek mythology. Through comic books like Wonder Woman, where myth and superheroics were merged, I found my calling for writing. I then realized that I wanted to use more obscure gods since not many myths, if any, were written about them. Gaea became an immediate favorite, but so did Apollo, and he was far from obscure. The idea for “finding balance” came from the core idea of Order and Chaos in the universe, and that there must always be equilibrium between them.
What genre does your book fall under?
I would call it Greek Myth Epic Fantasy. One of the more recent books I have read (and by recent, I mean the last few years) was Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, and that’s probably the closest to my work, although mine is more for older readers. It’s a vocabulary thing. The novel does have some science fiction elements, but they’re so sporadic that my original category fits better.
What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?
Funny you should ask that. When I had sketches of my main characters done for inspirational pieces, I modeled them after actors I knew of at the time.
An archaeology professor at Boston University with a divine heritage, especially connections to Gaea and Apollo, Danelos Fairmont possesses the sword Thyroros, the PortalBearer, that contains the Eye of Gaea, a gem that allows the bearer to use Boundless Vision to open a portal into any place he has been. Bound to an ancient prophecy, he wears an Earthsteel manacle etched with ancient Olympian symbols on his left wrist. Task Force codename: AEGIS.
Her ancestry from an ancient race, Sarah Bishop possesses Aether, a ring that once belonged to an ancient king of a powerful land, that allows her to control the Four Elements: earth, air, fire, and water. A potter by trade, she understands the intricate relationship of these four aspects of Gaea, and has always had a strong connected to the Earth Mother. Having grown up Wiccan, she has embraced nature as a force all its own, allowing her to understand the Olympian gods' role in her life. Task Force codename: AETHER.
Dr. Aleta Halston, an expert in genetics, had her life changed radically when an experiment took a dangerous turn, binding her DNA with that of a rare white eagle. A descendant of an ancient race, Aleta received a javelin of silver Earthsteel that allows her to channel Zeus' lightning. With her white wings and in possession of the Olympian king's greatest weapon, she took the codename AETOS for Task Force: Gaea.
A zoologist at Northeastern University, Brandon Jeffries possesses the amulet, the Eye of Ouranos, that allows him to channel the powers of Zodiac. He's not a follower of any trend or fad, and he prefers the more casual side of life, noted especially in his clothing: T-shirt, khaki pants, and hiking boots. Using the name ZODIAK as part of Task Force: Gaea, Brandon has the ability to draw on the mystical energies from the twelve signs embossed on the amulet.
What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?
Task Force: Gaea is a compelling chronicle of how the folly of the gods reshapes history, and only mortals—thousands of years later—can hope to fix that which an angry goddess destroyed.
Is your book self-published or represented by an agency?
CreateSpace, an on-demand publisher, publishes my book.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
Well, since it started as a short story in high school (1985) and it was finished in 2011, I’d say 26 years. It went through many incarnations in all that time, too, but the version I published has been around for about eight years (with tweaks and edits).
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, mostly. And maybe Dan Simmons’ Ilium.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
In the beginning, the comic books and Greek myth I was reading were my muses, but later on, my desire to tell stories kicked in. In order of earliest to now, I’d say other muses were Wonder Woman, some of my high school English teachers, my students, Tolkien, Piers Anthony. Lately, people who inspire me but what they do are dear friends, Cullan Hudson, Eric Arvin, and Peter Saenz.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
This story twists the ancient myths we grow up with where what the reader knows about the Olympian gods, or thinks he knows, is challenged in fresh and curious ways. The idea of finding balance in an otherwise tumultuous world is something we can all identify with, I believe. And, sometimes we have to make hard choices that mean we don’t always come out on top personally, but the greater good gets served. That’s the mark of true heroism, willingness to do whatever it takes to save others, even if it means you don’t get to see the outcome.
"During the age of Olympos, when a vengeful goddess shatters the Sacred Scales, both immortals and humans alike suffer. Apollo, the god of truth, goes from a glorious existence as The Shining One to a victim of Zeus' wrath, and his journey makes him question his godhood, his role in the cosmos, and his views on humanity. Prophecy and the Fates direct his course, and he must make difficult, yet vital, choices.
Millennia pass, and Dan, Aleta, Brandon, and Sarah-four reluctant modern-day heroes gifted by ancient civilizations born of the gods-bound by prophecy, have to choose whether or not to save their world when it could mean they never existed. They must master their new powers while battling against incomprehensible forces from the Underworld and repairing the Sacred Scales, destroyed long ago. With the equilibrium between Order and Chaos unhinged, and the Olympian gods struggling to exist, these four must ally themselves with the United Nations to protect an endangered world, becoming the only group who can fight against metaphysical threats to the Earth, forging Task Force: Gaea.
Can mortals succeed where gods cannot go?"
You can find Task Force: Gaea on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and CreateSpace.You can find both the book and me on Facebook. Also, check out my blog!
What is the title of your latest book?
My first novel is called Task Force: Gaea—Finding Balance.
Where did the idea come from for the book?
The novel started out as a short story called “The Olympus Corps.” back in 1985 when I was in a high school English class. Then, it was more Star-Trek-meets-Greek-myth, but as I got more and more into writing it, the Star Trek aspect disappeared, and the novel became more earthbound. But, the ideas came from my great love of comic books and Greek mythology. Through comic books like Wonder Woman, where myth and superheroics were merged, I found my calling for writing. I then realized that I wanted to use more obscure gods since not many myths, if any, were written about them. Gaea became an immediate favorite, but so did Apollo, and he was far from obscure. The idea for “finding balance” came from the core idea of Order and Chaos in the universe, and that there must always be equilibrium between them.
What genre does your book fall under?
I would call it Greek Myth Epic Fantasy. One of the more recent books I have read (and by recent, I mean the last few years) was Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, and that’s probably the closest to my work, although mine is more for older readers. It’s a vocabulary thing. The novel does have some science fiction elements, but they’re so sporadic that my original category fits better.
What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?
Funny you should ask that. When I had sketches of my main characters done for inspirational pieces, I modeled them after actors I knew of at the time.An archaeology professor at Boston University with a divine heritage, especially connections to Gaea and Apollo, Danelos Fairmont possesses the sword Thyroros, the PortalBearer, that contains the Eye of Gaea, a gem that allows the bearer to use Boundless Vision to open a portal into any place he has been. Bound to an ancient prophecy, he wears an Earthsteel manacle etched with ancient Olympian symbols on his left wrist. Task Force codename: AEGIS.
Her ancestry from an ancient race, Sarah Bishop possesses Aether, a ring that once belonged to an ancient king of a powerful land, that allows her to control the Four Elements: earth, air, fire, and water. A potter by trade, she understands the intricate relationship of these four aspects of Gaea, and has always had a strong connected to the Earth Mother. Having grown up Wiccan, she has embraced nature as a force all its own, allowing her to understand the Olympian gods' role in her life. Task Force codename: AETHER. 
Dr. Aleta Halston, an expert in genetics, had her life changed radically when an experiment took a dangerous turn, binding her DNA with that of a rare white eagle. A descendant of an ancient race, Aleta received a javelin of silver Earthsteel that allows her to channel Zeus' lightning. With her white wings and in possession of the Olympian king's greatest weapon, she took the codename AETOS for Task Force: Gaea.
A zoologist at Northeastern University, Brandon Jeffries possesses the amulet, the Eye of Ouranos, that allows him to channel the powers of Zodiac. He's not a follower of any trend or fad, and he prefers the more casual side of life, noted especially in his clothing: T-shirt, khaki pants, and hiking boots. Using the name ZODIAK as part of Task Force: Gaea, Brandon has the ability to draw on the mystical energies from the twelve signs embossed on the amulet.What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?
Task Force: Gaea is a compelling chronicle of how the folly of the gods reshapes history, and only mortals—thousands of years later—can hope to fix that which an angry goddess destroyed.
Is your book self-published or represented by an agency?
CreateSpace, an on-demand publisher, publishes my book.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
Well, since it started as a short story in high school (1985) and it was finished in 2011, I’d say 26 years. It went through many incarnations in all that time, too, but the version I published has been around for about eight years (with tweaks and edits).
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, mostly. And maybe Dan Simmons’ Ilium.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
In the beginning, the comic books and Greek myth I was reading were my muses, but later on, my desire to tell stories kicked in. In order of earliest to now, I’d say other muses were Wonder Woman, some of my high school English teachers, my students, Tolkien, Piers Anthony. Lately, people who inspire me but what they do are dear friends, Cullan Hudson, Eric Arvin, and Peter Saenz.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
This story twists the ancient myths we grow up with where what the reader knows about the Olympian gods, or thinks he knows, is challenged in fresh and curious ways. The idea of finding balance in an otherwise tumultuous world is something we can all identify with, I believe. And, sometimes we have to make hard choices that mean we don’t always come out on top personally, but the greater good gets served. That’s the mark of true heroism, willingness to do whatever it takes to save others, even if it means you don’t get to see the outcome.
"During the age of Olympos, when a vengeful goddess shatters the Sacred Scales, both immortals and humans alike suffer. Apollo, the god of truth, goes from a glorious existence as The Shining One to a victim of Zeus' wrath, and his journey makes him question his godhood, his role in the cosmos, and his views on humanity. Prophecy and the Fates direct his course, and he must make difficult, yet vital, choices.
Millennia pass, and Dan, Aleta, Brandon, and Sarah-four reluctant modern-day heroes gifted by ancient civilizations born of the gods-bound by prophecy, have to choose whether or not to save their world when it could mean they never existed. They must master their new powers while battling against incomprehensible forces from the Underworld and repairing the Sacred Scales, destroyed long ago. With the equilibrium between Order and Chaos unhinged, and the Olympian gods struggling to exist, these four must ally themselves with the United Nations to protect an endangered world, becoming the only group who can fight against metaphysical threats to the Earth, forging Task Force: Gaea.
Can mortals succeed where gods cannot go?"
You can find Task Force: Gaea on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and CreateSpace.You can find both the book and me on Facebook. Also, check out my blog!
December 6, 2012
Memory's Curse Book Blurb—Take ONE!
"With an unspeakable primeval horror hunting the gods from the heights of Olympos to the vastness of Earth, leaving the fury of the underworld in her wake, the United Nations calls in Task Force: Gaea, the only cadre who can go up against metaphysical threats to the planet. With governments acting in secret and shadow, creating paranoia and fear, agents Aegis, Zodiak, Aetos, and Aether need to decipher prophecies to defeat this ancient creature determined to remove all traces of the gods from the world before they themselves fall prey to her."
November 26, 2012
"Thank you!" isn't enough.
I appreciate all the people who have supported me in my authorial ventures. All of you who have read the novel, supported my writing, "Liked" my Facebook page, or just "liked" my posts—you have no idea how much you mean to me. As of 10:39 p.m. on November 26, 2012, this is how my Facebook page looks:
Yes, that's 830 Likes! I'm aiming for 1,000. Thank you again for all your support.
The sequel should be finished in early spring 2013, so keep your eyes out for Task Force: Gaea—Memory's Curse.
Here's the trailer:
Yes, that's 830 Likes! I'm aiming for 1,000. Thank you again for all your support.
The sequel should be finished in early spring 2013, so keep your eyes out for Task Force: Gaea—Memory's Curse.
Here's the trailer:
November 21, 2012
My Newest Writing Venture!
No, it's not Memory's Curse... that should be ready in the early spring (and I'm getting some MAJOR writing done for that). This is more of a literary venture with friends. Available now is
New Years to Christmas: 15 Queer Holiday Tales
with stories from my friends Peter Saenz, Mitchum Sinclair, Warner Davidson, Robbie Tursi-Masick, Jon Macy, Salvador Hernandez, Hank Henderson, and yours truly! "New Years to Christmas: 15 Queer Holiday Tales is a collection of short stories and artwork created by a group of inspired gay men that celebrates the joys found in an array of well known American holidays. Become enraptured in stories that not only highlight the gay experience, but also captures the spirit of the seasons. Whether it be Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween, Christmas, or another occasion you hold dear, this book will take you on several adventures that you'll want to enjoy over and over again. Celebrate all year long with New Years to Christmas!"
My contributions are "Father's Day" and "The Hanukkah Gift," and they're purely gay romance.
Available at CreateSpace.
November 11, 2012
Thirty pages in one day! Yeah, baby.
Since I woke up today, I've written about thirty pages. Now, I know some of it will get edited out, but that much writing hasn't come out of my head in a long time. All in all, I figure about 25 - 30% of the novel is in written form at the moment. Much of it is background, but it's necessary to get that story done so I can move from major plot point to major plot point. I'm moving the goal post from December to early spring, so this book will probably be finished some time around a year after the first one was published.
G-d willing! Getting the mind moving is the hardest part, as usual, but I am completely confident that I can complete this around the time I want to.
This blog started out as a PROCESS BLOG, and now it's going to become one again. I'm developing at least one romance at the moment (even though this is a fantasy novel, a few romantic ideas do pop into my head; AND! the romance is pivotal to the story, too, so it's not fluff). I see two romantic relationships blossom in the sequel (Memory's Curse). It's just so necessary to make time for this now more than before—even with grading papers.
So, I'm off to grade papers for a while. Then later? Who knows. Perhaps I'll find some more inspiration to pump out some more pages.
[image error] Oh, Oh, Oh! AND... I have spoken with Nate Klarfeld of Stonewall Live, an Internet radio program, and he is putting a 30 minute interview with me on the calendar in January.
I've never been interviewed for an LGBT program before, so this is exciting! I'll post more as soon as I know more information.
To any NANOWRIMO peeps out there: Keep rockin' the writin'! 50K words!
G-d willing! Getting the mind moving is the hardest part, as usual, but I am completely confident that I can complete this around the time I want to.
This blog started out as a PROCESS BLOG, and now it's going to become one again. I'm developing at least one romance at the moment (even though this is a fantasy novel, a few romantic ideas do pop into my head; AND! the romance is pivotal to the story, too, so it's not fluff). I see two romantic relationships blossom in the sequel (Memory's Curse). It's just so necessary to make time for this now more than before—even with grading papers.
So, I'm off to grade papers for a while. Then later? Who knows. Perhaps I'll find some more inspiration to pump out some more pages.
[image error] Oh, Oh, Oh! AND... I have spoken with Nate Klarfeld of Stonewall Live, an Internet radio program, and he is putting a 30 minute interview with me on the calendar in January.
I've never been interviewed for an LGBT program before, so this is exciting! I'll post more as soon as I know more information.
To any NANOWRIMO peeps out there: Keep rockin' the writin'! 50K words!
November 6, 2012
I live in a fantasy world.
No, it's not the world in my novels or in other fantasy books I've read. In this fantasy world, life is quite different from anything I've ever experienced.
As a writer, I can create any world I want. My alternate realities can be on Mount Olympos or Jupiter Mountain, Colorado, the ancient city of Atlantis or Boston, Massachusetts. In these places, I control the who, the what, the why, the when, and the how—everything that makes that world work for me. People in my imagined worlds can be gods, demigods, demons, humans, gay, straight, or any combination thereof. But, it's not a fantasy world I can ever truly live in.
The fantasy world I live in is one where my neighbors treat each other with respect, where people work together for the common good that benefits all people, not just the ones that have money or a preponderance of other valuable... things. In my fantasy world, gender isn't an issue so people who were born genetically men but feel they should be women (or vice versa) are accepted by society without judgment, without hate, without bigotry. This place doesn't look at the handicapped with fear or disdain, but rather looks to find ways to make their lives easier. This place doesn't restrict people based on race or religion—that sort of blindness has no place in my world. In this universe that I live in, gay men and women can marry, adopt children, be teachers or caregivers, and no one bats an eyelash about it. Why? Because it just doesn't matter. Love is love, and the people in my fantasy world just don't care about superficiality and pretense. Compassion blankets all decisions.
Is it perfect? Not by any means. Without adversity, the heroes (not super-powered ones but rather everyday people) rise above the stupidity and ignorance in the society and speak out openly without fear of reprisals. This world needs the bad to balance the good because there must always be an equilibrium to the universe. When I close my eyes and peer into this world, epic battles take place where the forces of good battle against those of evil; order butts up against chaos, and holds its ground. Do people die? Of course. They live out their lives, fighting disease and infection like anyone else. Some die for others, though, giving their lives in duty to humanity... these people recognize that we, as humans, are all related to one another, and we have a moral obligation to protect one another... sometimes from each other.
This fantasy world I envision values those who serve society: firemen, EMTs, teachers, social workers, as well as anyone else who wants to take a stand against the depravity and squalor that some people live in, hoping to make some kind of a difference. People actually help each other. Imagine what that would look like.
Friendship is valued. Truly. Friends agree and disagree—respectfully. Arguments are not ad hominem , but rather aimed toward issues. Words are respected as possible ways to build people up as well as cut people down, the latter is highly discouraged.
I know few people will read this, but I needed to tell you about my fantasy world. It will never appear in my novels, because fantasy novels hold fast to a different kind of fantasy .
I live in fantasy world because, right now, it gives me hope for the real world.
As a writer, I can create any world I want. My alternate realities can be on Mount Olympos or Jupiter Mountain, Colorado, the ancient city of Atlantis or Boston, Massachusetts. In these places, I control the who, the what, the why, the when, and the how—everything that makes that world work for me. People in my imagined worlds can be gods, demigods, demons, humans, gay, straight, or any combination thereof. But, it's not a fantasy world I can ever truly live in.
The fantasy world I live in is one where my neighbors treat each other with respect, where people work together for the common good that benefits all people, not just the ones that have money or a preponderance of other valuable... things. In my fantasy world, gender isn't an issue so people who were born genetically men but feel they should be women (or vice versa) are accepted by society without judgment, without hate, without bigotry. This place doesn't look at the handicapped with fear or disdain, but rather looks to find ways to make their lives easier. This place doesn't restrict people based on race or religion—that sort of blindness has no place in my world. In this universe that I live in, gay men and women can marry, adopt children, be teachers or caregivers, and no one bats an eyelash about it. Why? Because it just doesn't matter. Love is love, and the people in my fantasy world just don't care about superficiality and pretense. Compassion blankets all decisions.
Is it perfect? Not by any means. Without adversity, the heroes (not super-powered ones but rather everyday people) rise above the stupidity and ignorance in the society and speak out openly without fear of reprisals. This world needs the bad to balance the good because there must always be an equilibrium to the universe. When I close my eyes and peer into this world, epic battles take place where the forces of good battle against those of evil; order butts up against chaos, and holds its ground. Do people die? Of course. They live out their lives, fighting disease and infection like anyone else. Some die for others, though, giving their lives in duty to humanity... these people recognize that we, as humans, are all related to one another, and we have a moral obligation to protect one another... sometimes from each other.
This fantasy world I envision values those who serve society: firemen, EMTs, teachers, social workers, as well as anyone else who wants to take a stand against the depravity and squalor that some people live in, hoping to make some kind of a difference. People actually help each other. Imagine what that would look like.
Friendship is valued. Truly. Friends agree and disagree—respectfully. Arguments are not ad hominem , but rather aimed toward issues. Words are respected as possible ways to build people up as well as cut people down, the latter is highly discouraged.
I know few people will read this, but I needed to tell you about my fantasy world. It will never appear in my novels, because fantasy novels hold fast to a different kind of fantasy .
I live in fantasy world because, right now, it gives me hope for the real world.
![[image error]](http://stonewallnationalmuseum.org/images/stonewall-live.jpg){kind=link}