Sherrel Lee's Blog, page 13

New Year New Stories to Come

Can hardly believe that 2012 is already gone and we are embarking on a new year of unforeseen and perhaps unexpected challenges, adventures and changes in the world we live in.  Not just the world in general as you see in the news, but the world of family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and our own hopes and dreams.

The new world coming to the Valens and the cast of characters, known and to come, will occur in the near future.  Valens Rise if being re-edited and will be released, a Valens Roster is being created based on the posts on this blog, and will be available for free in e-book format.  I also plan to create an additional free e-book novella, Valens Reviled that details the dangers Valens faces as humans became afraid and jealous of them.

The Valens will finally see the new chapter in their saga, Valens Revenge, where you will meet Encandato, the pink dolphins of Brazilian lore, Sirin the beautiful half-woman, half-bird of Russian legend and out first Dragon, Tao the Water Dragon based on some of the legends of China.  There are many others as well and I will continue to identify the legends of these creatures and the changes I have made in their abilities - and remember as the stories grow so do the powers of the Valen population.

Stay tuned and next week I will begin to reveal the characters and their legends for Valens Revenge.

In the meantime hold on and wait for the re-release of Valens Rise, take a look at WattPad for chapters from RipHer, and watch for the announcements that the hopes and dreams of this writer are on their way to fulfillment.

Hope you and those you love and care for are happy, healthy and planning some great adventures of your own.  See you next week.  

RipHer is available on Amazon.com and and coming soon to other e-book sellers. 

RipHer - Definately not a Valens Story

I wanted to make you aware there is another side Sherrel.  Under the pen name Lee Leslie, I have written a novel very different from the Valens world and one that I have wanted to write for a very long time.  If interested you can find sample chapters on WattPad, and of course on Amazon – This will be going out to other vendors soon.  Let me know what you think – and yes after New Year’s  celebrations, we will return to the world of Valens and the myth and legends that have begun to grow in a world where there is really someone to look out for us. RipHer  by Lee Leslie takes a look at the Jack the Ripper murders through eyes that gaze upon the long ago killings and see a twisted path of possibilities. At the time of these horrific killings, the world was a very different place.  Fingerprints had been touted as a form of identification, but police departments around the world laughed and refused to try this as a method of detection. There were not forensics and chasing the killer was often about bullying those around the police into making a statement, any statement, regardless of truth.The world was a place where the industrial revolution had thousands leaving their farms and arriving in the larger cities in droves.  The jobs were not as plentiful as they people who needed them and women could only work in menial jobs. If they were hurt or failed in any way, they were cast aside because there were thousands of others looking for jobs and ready to take their place.  A population of poor and disenfranchised people became the population of the Whitechapel area of London.In RipHer the investigator is a woman. Dr. Rowena Radcliffe.  Dr. Radcliffe is a woman with an open mind and an independent spirit.  She has spent her medical career learning all she can about the how victims are selected by their tormentors and what makes men kill.  Returning to England from America, she sees the poor and wretched people ignored by the rest of the world.  Rowena opens a clinic in Whitechapel to provide care to these men and woman.  There she meets five women who become famous for the way they died.  The story utilized many of the facts and speculations as noted in newspapers and reports of the events of the time.  The characters names, as appeared in the records are used but their thoughts, conversations and actions are all fictional. The novel ends with thethe fictional identification of the killer and a reason we never learned who it was.  I just had to write the story my way because we will never know what really happened or who really did it.Look for the books of Sherrel Lee and Lee Leslie on Amazon.  Next week there will be no post as i will be with family for the holidays.  Returning next year.  Have wonderful, safe and loving holidays with family and friends.   

Legend of the Satyr aka Faun

Rebel, is a faun (another word for Satyr) who is half-human and half-goat.  The satyr comes from Greek mythology and in these legends is characterized as a shepherd or as a wickedly fund loving flute-player..  Often the satyr is depicted as prone to drunken orgies and leading their flock, whether is comprised of sheep or humans, as it skips about while the flute in playing a mesmerizing tune.  The half-goat, half-human has been noted in some versions of the bible is often depicted as a good or bad character in children’s fiction, has been included in the works of Shakespeare and more recently several popular children’s fantasy movies.In Valens, Rebel Plain is rebellious as her name would indicate.  She leaves Legacy with Grant Mayfair and goes to Cerberus as a trainer of the Humani.  She is skilled in making the creatures do as she wishes.  Rebel has no qualms about changing sides, a subject she never thinks about.  To her, the only thing that matters is who she is with, and whether she is enjoying what she is doing.  It will be interesting to see how Rebel develops over time.  COMING SOON:  We are going to have a guest writer in the near future to tell us about her award winning book Saving Hope.  I hope you will continue to come back we learn more about the Valens and occasionally find out what others are doing in the world of fiction. 
Book 1 Valens Rise available at Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and other e-book stores,Book 2 Valens Revenge coming soon.

Legend of the Gargoyles - Dallas Texas

Legend of the Gargoyles
All through Europe there are buildings that feature granite images of fantastic beasts that are generally termed Gargoyles.  They come in many different shapes, combinations or blends of a variety of animals that include dogs, eagles, goats, lions, monkeys, snakes, mythical chimera and mermaids.  Their real purpose is a very useful one as they divert rain from the roof of the buildings where they are displayed.  Of course you can find Gargoyles atop buildings in the North America as well as Europe on the Washington National Cathedral in Washington D.C, the Peace Tower in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, a church in Arizona.  The building closest to my heart is the Old Red Courthouse in Dallas, Texas where my character Gar and his family live in the clock tower guarded by the Wyvern terracotta figures (maybe they will come to life in a future Valens book).  Gar and his brood are loyal to their friends the Valens of Legacy Security.  You can find images of Gargoyles on the web, in horror movies and even children’s films where they are good or bad cute or horrifying or simply fascinating to look at as you wonder how men through the ages came up with such whimsical designs. There are stories that the Gargoyle legend began in middle 600 AD, though the creature in that tale was very different than the images that have been created throughout the ages.  Regardless, the Gargoyles in the world of Valens are very amazing and useful creatures as they can replace weather-vanes or sit atop buildings without attracting undue attention and spy of the enemies of Legacy.I hope you are able to follow the link below and take a look at Old Red and learn a little about a small Texas courthouse that will be prominently featured in the Valens Series as the story grows and Valens are tasked with saving mankind.  Are the gargoyles atop the buildings where you live?  Would love to see some photos.
Follow or copy and paste the link to the Old Red Courthouse in Dallas, TX
http://www.oldred.org/about-us/building-highlights/ 

Valens Rise available at your e-book seller.  See you next week.

Valens Revenge - Book 2

Be the first to take a look at the opening pages of Valens Revenge, coming soon to  e-book stores.  Hope you like this and see a couple of new and interesting Valens characters who I will be talking about soon.  Thank you all for taking the time to see what is up here ar the world of Valens.

Chapter One


No one of consequence would argue.  Grant Mayfair had to die.“Where’s Tao?”  Hawke’s voice was snatched away by the wind as he called out to Amelia.  “They went down the tributary into fresh water.  Electra can’t follow.”Tao popped his head out of the cabin.  “Too bad she has to wait to change from salt to fresh water.  She’ll be pissed.”“I don’t doubt it, and we’ll lose them if you delay any longer,” Hawke shot back.  “This may be sunny Florida but we’re not on vacation here, Tao.  Grant’s slipped through our fingers too many times.”Images slid through Hawke’s memory of all the horrible things Grant and his partners had been responsible for in the last six months. How Jemma Nix, the owner of Legacy, had turned to Grant Mayfair in disbelief after Hawke told her she was Valen, a sister race to mankind.  How Jemma had been forced to accept her fate when Grant and his partners trapped her and set their vile, genetically engineered creatures, known as the Humani, on her hoping she would die.  He remembered how Jemma had risen as Phoenix to rule the Valens who pledged to protect mankind.  How he and Jemma had to focus on the threat created by Grant and his partners who became known as Cerberus, the three-headed dog of hell.It had been six months since Grant had turned traitor and fled Legacy Security to join their enemies, Astrid Van Horne and Dr. Horace Gruen.  Six months since Cerberus had tested their abominable creatures against the Valens and disappeared without a trace.  Six months since so many of their friends had died during the vicious attack of the Humani at the Legacy facility north of Dallas.  As the memories receded Hawke changed the direction of the cruiser, entering the fresh water tributary from the bay.Tao pulled his shirt over his head, and with a grin dove into the murky water created by the violent clash of the salt and fresh water.  As he surfaced his entire body rippled and changed as it became elongated and sleek, iridescent scales shimmering in the sunlight when he morphed to the sea dragon that was his fated form.  Behind him, Electra leaped out of the water, tail slapping the surface sending her in a spinning graceful arc over the water.  Her mermaid form morphed and she changed, her brilliant red scales melted to become skin-tight jeans.  Effortlessly she landed on the cruiser’s deck.“You okay?” Amelia Shaw asked as she brought a towel to Electra, whose hair dripped with sea water.  “Hell no.  I wanted to take the bastard down.  I can’t believe I didn’t realize who was driving until I was too far back to do any good.’“I can’t figure out how we keep missing him,” Amelia agreed.  “I think Jemma must be right.  There has to be someone inside Legacy feeding him information, but I can’t figure out who it could be.”“I haven’t said anything before,” Electra said her voice taut with anger, “but it shocked me when I heard about Miranda.  I was escorting a prisoner to Chryse Island when Grant abandoned Legacy and joined Cerberus.  I knew him.  When the Watchers told us what he had done it made me sick.”  She reached out, placing her hand on Amelia’s shoulder.  “I can’t begin to imagine how much you hurt having lost her.  How could he devour her the way he did? Leave nothing for you to morn over.  I’ll be the first volunteer to escort Grant and his friends when the time comes.”
Book 1 Valens Rise available at Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble Kobo and other ebook stores,Book 2 Valens Revenge coming soon..

Thank to all off you and more of Brazil

A river with a low tide
Please don't cover the saint!
Nothing Like this in Texas
How do they travel in these?
Not far from Town but so Isolated
Another Visitor to the House
I can't believe we all got into One of These!!
The Flowers are Wonderous
The Ant Hills are to Big
The Amazon - in Texas this would be an Ocean not a River
Small Tributaries among the Vegetation
The water Can be so Still
An Amazing Sunset over the TreesHere it is Thanksgiving, a time to reflect and give thanks for all the things we hold dear such as family, health and friends.  I thought I would share a few more of of the Brazil pictures with you because that was a time I spent with members of my family I had never met or had not seen in twenty years - it was amazing, heartwarming and thrilling to be among so many people who just wanted to offer love and good wishes.

Book Two Valens Revenge - Brazil

Well on the way to completing the first draft of Valens Revenge which takes place in several locations but my favorite, because I have been there, is Brazil.  Since I am still running short of time but don't want to have a week go by without something for you to look at, I thought I would load a few of the pictures I took - but I have to admit I am not the most professional photographer but it was a vacation and lots of fun.


Overlooking the Amazon River from the Fort watching the para-sailors

Had no idea there were water buffalo in Brazil but here they are just west of Macapa.
I want this phone booth it's so amazing.
Seen from a leisurely day cruise down the Amazon River A common sight from the patio

Hope you like the pictures and will come back again.  Enjoy the rest of the week.  See you soon.