Dylan Lee Peters's Blog, page 5
March 3, 2015
Spitballing Ideas: An Author Run
Running is a pastime that’s been growing on me lately. I challenged myself to run 500 miles this year, and two months in, I have 379 miles to go. This past weekend my wife and I completed the Excalibur 10 Miler in Viera, Florida. The theme of the race was Medieval; somewhat like a Renaissance Fair. Some runners dressed up accordingly, and much of the race decorum maintained the theme. Before the race began, runners were entertained by a battle between two actors from the Medieval Times dinner show in Orlando. It was somewhat akin to the battle between the Mountain and the Red Viper from Game of Thrones, except no one’s head was crushed like a grape. It was entertaining though, and put a unique twist on the otherwise repetitive exercise of running ten miles. In fact, it was the unique theme of the race that first prompted my wife and I to participate.My wife was really the impetus for my beginning to run. She was on the Cross Country Team in high school and decided to get back into running a couple years ago. I decided to join her, firstly as support, but secondly because I was looking to kick my own posterior into form. However, I could have chosen a multitude of different activities to become involved in. She gets the credit for making that choice to run. Because we live in Florida, she has been signing up for the RunDisney races that Disney World puts on throughout the year. (You can see some of her blog posts here). She loves getting involved with all things Disney, and the races give her a chance to do something active, while geeking out on her favorite childhood nostalgia. (Leave it to Disney to find great ways to merge events into marketing gold). It’s always amazed me how many people really love getting involved with these races, and especially, how many people like to dress up for them. So many people love the idea of showing off as their favorite characters. This all gave me an idea.
I don’t know how to get something like this started – it would certainly take people with more time and know-how than me – but I thought it would be a great idea to have an author run. The race could be any distance, or distances, and the obvious theme of the race would be literary. Racers could elect to dress as any of their favorite literary characters, (I can easily picture a hundred women dressed as Katniss Everdeen) and the race could serve as a sort of literary festival.
It is common, in these races, to have a festival-style area located at the finish. Vendors set up booths, mostly with food, drink, and products suited for runners. It becomes part of the event, something that makes it more than just a run, and it lends itself to creating a race that has a theme. I think it would be a great idea for an author race to have booths set up where you could meet local authors. They could give books away, talk to prospective readers, and gain exposure. It would be a great way for authors to get out from behind the computer and find fans in a unique way. I know I’d be happy to have a booth at an event like this.
So, help me out event planners and runners, let’s get this event off of the ground. I’m sure someone has some great ideas that could add to the event. Post in the comments. I’m interested to know what you think.
February 17, 2015
Let’s Stop Talking About Them
A quote from one of my favorite movies, and books, Fight Club, has recently come back to mind.
“How Tyler saw it was that getting God's attention for being bad was better than getting no attention at all. Maybe because God's hate is better than His indifference. If you could be either God's worst enemy or nothing, which would you choose? We are God's middle children, according to Tyler Durden, with no special place in history and no special attention. Unless we get God's attention, we have no hope of damnation or redemption. Which is worse, hell or nothing? Only if we're caught and punished can we be saved.”
It’s a thought-provoking quote, and more to the point, it provoked thought in me about the way in which certain “celebrities” seem to conduct themselves these days. Read the quote and think of everyone as God, and these “celebrities” being Tyler Durden. Meaning, in the eyes of a “celebrity,” whose lifeblood is everyone’s attention, is it not better to garner everyone’s hatred and dislike than to garner everyone’s indifference? If we are indifferent to a celebrity, they will fade away into the ether. If we loathe them, and openly display our disdain, they still have their place at the table. They have, at the very least, not been forgotten.
Now, I don’t want to call these specific “celebrities” out by name. That would only feed into what they want. (I’m probably already giving them what them want, just by making you think about them). We all know who they are, these “celebrities” who make us wonder how they became famous in the first place. Every so often they do something inane and light up the internet for a week. We decry their behavior and lament the fact that we have to endure them, but we are the very thing keeping them in existence. We are playing the role of God in this charade, and we really need to stop.
I watched the 40th anniversary special of Saturday Night Live over the weekend, and something struck me as quite depressing. There were four musical acts chosen to perform for what was created to be a monumental television event. (That’s if I haven’t forgotten someone). Two were chosen because of how truly great their careers have been (Paul McCartney and Paul Simon). Additions obviously intended to add to the grandeur of the event. Yet, the two other acts were, relatively speaking, new, and I must say, nothing special. For a show that was honoring the very best of forty years of entertainment, it was bizarre to see two acts that I doubt will stand the test of time. (One of the acts didn’t even perform an original song). I know why modern musicians were chosen for an event geared to celebrate history. The show still needs its ratings, and so it has to at least try to interest all demographics, but the artists that were chosen were more famous for their “antics” than their art. I found it to be sad, and it’s our fault.
When these modern “celebrities” see the shine on their coats starting to fade, they simply make fools of themselves by doing the most outlandish thing they can think of. We all get together and talk, tweet, post and blog about it, (I’m guilty as well) and they regain their place among the stars. Albeit as the villain in the movie of life, but it’s still a prominent role. They play us perfectly, and we allow it to happen. We’ve become so good at giving them what they want, that they’ve managed to take a seat at the grandest of tables. Think about that: during a broadcast where the likes of some of the best entertainers of the last forty years were being celebrated, the imposter “celebrities” of the modern world were standing shoulder to shoulder with the greats. If that’s not tragedy, than I don’t know what is. Going back to the quote, we truly have chosen hate over indifference. That’s sad.
So, let’s help each other out. I’m going to start today. Let’s not talk about these fools anymore. Let’s stop tweeting, hash-tagging, posting, blogging, clicking, reading, listening, and giving our attention to these people and their acts of idiocy. Let’s put these misbehaving children in a time-out. I’m tired of them, and it seems that everyone else is too. The only way to rid ourselves of their noise is to silence it.
“How Tyler saw it was that getting God's attention for being bad was better than getting no attention at all. Maybe because God's hate is better than His indifference. If you could be either God's worst enemy or nothing, which would you choose? We are God's middle children, according to Tyler Durden, with no special place in history and no special attention. Unless we get God's attention, we have no hope of damnation or redemption. Which is worse, hell or nothing? Only if we're caught and punished can we be saved.”
It’s a thought-provoking quote, and more to the point, it provoked thought in me about the way in which certain “celebrities” seem to conduct themselves these days. Read the quote and think of everyone as God, and these “celebrities” being Tyler Durden. Meaning, in the eyes of a “celebrity,” whose lifeblood is everyone’s attention, is it not better to garner everyone’s hatred and dislike than to garner everyone’s indifference? If we are indifferent to a celebrity, they will fade away into the ether. If we loathe them, and openly display our disdain, they still have their place at the table. They have, at the very least, not been forgotten.
Now, I don’t want to call these specific “celebrities” out by name. That would only feed into what they want. (I’m probably already giving them what them want, just by making you think about them). We all know who they are, these “celebrities” who make us wonder how they became famous in the first place. Every so often they do something inane and light up the internet for a week. We decry their behavior and lament the fact that we have to endure them, but we are the very thing keeping them in existence. We are playing the role of God in this charade, and we really need to stop.
I watched the 40th anniversary special of Saturday Night Live over the weekend, and something struck me as quite depressing. There were four musical acts chosen to perform for what was created to be a monumental television event. (That’s if I haven’t forgotten someone). Two were chosen because of how truly great their careers have been (Paul McCartney and Paul Simon). Additions obviously intended to add to the grandeur of the event. Yet, the two other acts were, relatively speaking, new, and I must say, nothing special. For a show that was honoring the very best of forty years of entertainment, it was bizarre to see two acts that I doubt will stand the test of time. (One of the acts didn’t even perform an original song). I know why modern musicians were chosen for an event geared to celebrate history. The show still needs its ratings, and so it has to at least try to interest all demographics, but the artists that were chosen were more famous for their “antics” than their art. I found it to be sad, and it’s our fault.
When these modern “celebrities” see the shine on their coats starting to fade, they simply make fools of themselves by doing the most outlandish thing they can think of. We all get together and talk, tweet, post and blog about it, (I’m guilty as well) and they regain their place among the stars. Albeit as the villain in the movie of life, but it’s still a prominent role. They play us perfectly, and we allow it to happen. We’ve become so good at giving them what they want, that they’ve managed to take a seat at the grandest of tables. Think about that: during a broadcast where the likes of some of the best entertainers of the last forty years were being celebrated, the imposter “celebrities” of the modern world were standing shoulder to shoulder with the greats. If that’s not tragedy, than I don’t know what is. Going back to the quote, we truly have chosen hate over indifference. That’s sad.
So, let’s help each other out. I’m going to start today. Let’s not talk about these fools anymore. Let’s stop tweeting, hash-tagging, posting, blogging, clicking, reading, listening, and giving our attention to these people and their acts of idiocy. Let’s put these misbehaving children in a time-out. I’m tired of them, and it seems that everyone else is too. The only way to rid ourselves of their noise is to silence it.
February 6, 2015
What Readers are Highlighting in the Everflame Series
Amazon Kindle has a neat little function where readers can highlight passages in their favorite books and everyone gets to see what they like. (Don’t I sound like a hundred-year-old man marveling at the magic of the Interweb?) From time to time, I look at these highlights. I find it interesting personally to see what it is I’ve written that others find highlight-worthy, but more importantly, I pay attention to it to help my future writing.
I do want to strike a chord with people when I write. It’s always been my ambition to write something that a person can find some meaning in, whether it prompts a person to think about the world in a different way, or if it simply echoes the way someone already feels about life. So, I thought I would write a blog post that details the things that are striking a chord with readers of the Everflame series. Who knows, maybe your highlight is in here?
Highlights from Everflame:
“You are a mystery my son, like a cloud that continues forever. No one can see through to what lies on the other side.”
“We all have the ability to judge our own hearts, and we should all have the courage to do so.”
“That’s the funny thing about truth. Give it enough time and it’ll see its own way through.”
“Strange are the ways of the mind, and stranger is the fuel of emotion.”
“The Everflame is a symbol, Tomas. It has no power. It’s just a reminder of something we all have, our spirit. And it is to this spirit that we are accountable, not to an all-powerful tyrant, not even to ancient creators, simply to ourselves. By making an oath to the Everflame, I am merely making an oath to all that I am. If I break that oath, it is I who suffer the greatest loss, and nothing can change that. All these men who barter with their Holy for forgiveness should ask themselves, first, for this forgiveness. They would not find it so easy to come by. We all have the ability to judge our own hearts, and we should all have the courage to do so.”
Highlights from Everflame 2: The Burning Man:
“Every day, every hour, every minute. We choose right or we choose wrong. We are not defined by our past and we are not defined by our future. Only our present.”
“No being can be good or evil. It is actions that are good and evil.”
“Everyone has darkness inside of them. Every being on this Earth has the potential for great good and great evil. We all must fight to keep the darkness from consuming us, keep it from burning inside.”
“People are afraid of the unknown. It’s the most powerful fear I’ve ever seen. The sad thing about it is that it prevents most of the world from opening their eyes to the things that are right in front of them.”
“Everyone needs a reason to protect that which is good in the world. Without it, the darkness can convince you that the world isn’t worth your efforts.”
“I want so desperately to know good from evil. What if the difference is only a matter of perspective?”
“A young boy asks his father why all of the other children are afraid of the darkness. The boy’s father replies simply that the other children are afraid because they cannot see in the darkness and there might be dangerous things that they cannot see. The young boy smiles and laughs at his father’s answer. Don’t the children know? Asks the boy. They cannot be seen in the darkness either.”
Charles believes that the purpose of every human being is to find one relationship and devote themselves to it completely and totally. He said that one should treat it like an artist’s masterpiece. Charles said that the masterpiece is called love.
“He is a man who has the knowledge to see the world for what it really is, and the wisdom to let it be.”
“A flame will keep the darkness at bay, but only as long as it burns.”
“Heroes never live to tell their own tales.”
Highlights from Everflame 3: War Cry:
“The best decision is not always a matter of right or wrong, it depends on reason and purpose.”
The world cares not for heroes. It will bend and break their will through the maddening chaos of its existence. It will drag their dreams across its sandy crust, crushing hope beneath the weight of its rocky bones. The world cares not for heroes. It destroys them.
Suicide is the will to change and therefore cannot be an acceptance of defeat.
“There is suffering that comes from hope, but because of hope, suffering can never defeat you.”
A moment often comes to pass that defines the nature of an individual. It is a moment where the world forces you to bend to its will or suffer the consequences, a moment where it becomes painful and clear that there is no victory to be had over the will of the world, but to continue the fight, undaunted, is within itself a prize. To fight for one more minute of life; to fight for one more perfect moment in a world that does not easily afford such things; to fight for those who have given to you their all.
“It is my burden! You wish to see it laid out in front of you?... Fine… you shall have it. You ask me if I love you, no. Love is a word and a definition and a thing that has been given limits. What I feel because of you is all; it is everything. Reason has no place within my heart because my heart is full of you. You are my motivation, my faith, the blood that lives within me. Everything I am is for you and you alone… I know my desire is futile, and I do not care. I will walk this world alone for the whole of time and I will carry this in me forever… and every step taken… will be for you. There is no other way for me.” With tears falling from her eyes, she rushed forward and kissed him as hard as she could. Her arms wrapped tightly around him and as they did, his defenses fell and he returned her kiss. He surrendered to her and for the first time in his life, his heart knew a pain that was joy.
“It was not long ago that I realized that love is not an unknown adventure in a far off land, love is a warm blanket waiting at home.”
I will build myself. I will become. Every waking moment I possess will be a moment I spend working on me.
“There is good in this world. There are things I’ve found in this world that are precious to me, because they bring light into my darkness; they chase away my darkness. I know now that my life is about those things. My purpose is to fight for those things, fight for the things that fill me with light, and fight against the things that threaten them.
Highlights from Everflame 4: As The Darkness Waits:
Among equals, there is no such thing as treason. Treason only exists in the hands of those with power, and they may only use it against those who are without.
But what is the use of wisdom when one has a sword? What use is freedom when one fears treason? And what use is life when one has honor?
We are all following dreams and visions; we who are cursed and graced by this fire called hope. However, I will not be a slave to dreams and visions; I will lead myself. I am strong and I am a singularity. I am a builder of self, in wisdom, body and spirit. I have the faith to believe in and cast judgment upon myself. I will stand the line between the light and the darkness. I will master myself for as long as I am lost in the gray.
They walked onward for escape, not for hope, but escape can never come for those who walk with hell in their heads.
We are not good or evil, we just are, and it is only our actions that can be defined.
I do want to strike a chord with people when I write. It’s always been my ambition to write something that a person can find some meaning in, whether it prompts a person to think about the world in a different way, or if it simply echoes the way someone already feels about life. So, I thought I would write a blog post that details the things that are striking a chord with readers of the Everflame series. Who knows, maybe your highlight is in here?
Highlights from Everflame:
“You are a mystery my son, like a cloud that continues forever. No one can see through to what lies on the other side.”
“We all have the ability to judge our own hearts, and we should all have the courage to do so.”
“That’s the funny thing about truth. Give it enough time and it’ll see its own way through.”
“Strange are the ways of the mind, and stranger is the fuel of emotion.”
“The Everflame is a symbol, Tomas. It has no power. It’s just a reminder of something we all have, our spirit. And it is to this spirit that we are accountable, not to an all-powerful tyrant, not even to ancient creators, simply to ourselves. By making an oath to the Everflame, I am merely making an oath to all that I am. If I break that oath, it is I who suffer the greatest loss, and nothing can change that. All these men who barter with their Holy for forgiveness should ask themselves, first, for this forgiveness. They would not find it so easy to come by. We all have the ability to judge our own hearts, and we should all have the courage to do so.”
Highlights from Everflame 2: The Burning Man:
“Every day, every hour, every minute. We choose right or we choose wrong. We are not defined by our past and we are not defined by our future. Only our present.”
“No being can be good or evil. It is actions that are good and evil.”
“Everyone has darkness inside of them. Every being on this Earth has the potential for great good and great evil. We all must fight to keep the darkness from consuming us, keep it from burning inside.”
“People are afraid of the unknown. It’s the most powerful fear I’ve ever seen. The sad thing about it is that it prevents most of the world from opening their eyes to the things that are right in front of them.”
“Everyone needs a reason to protect that which is good in the world. Without it, the darkness can convince you that the world isn’t worth your efforts.”
“I want so desperately to know good from evil. What if the difference is only a matter of perspective?”
“A young boy asks his father why all of the other children are afraid of the darkness. The boy’s father replies simply that the other children are afraid because they cannot see in the darkness and there might be dangerous things that they cannot see. The young boy smiles and laughs at his father’s answer. Don’t the children know? Asks the boy. They cannot be seen in the darkness either.”
Charles believes that the purpose of every human being is to find one relationship and devote themselves to it completely and totally. He said that one should treat it like an artist’s masterpiece. Charles said that the masterpiece is called love.
“He is a man who has the knowledge to see the world for what it really is, and the wisdom to let it be.”
“A flame will keep the darkness at bay, but only as long as it burns.”
“Heroes never live to tell their own tales.”
Highlights from Everflame 3: War Cry:
“The best decision is not always a matter of right or wrong, it depends on reason and purpose.”
The world cares not for heroes. It will bend and break their will through the maddening chaos of its existence. It will drag their dreams across its sandy crust, crushing hope beneath the weight of its rocky bones. The world cares not for heroes. It destroys them.
Suicide is the will to change and therefore cannot be an acceptance of defeat.
“There is suffering that comes from hope, but because of hope, suffering can never defeat you.”
A moment often comes to pass that defines the nature of an individual. It is a moment where the world forces you to bend to its will or suffer the consequences, a moment where it becomes painful and clear that there is no victory to be had over the will of the world, but to continue the fight, undaunted, is within itself a prize. To fight for one more minute of life; to fight for one more perfect moment in a world that does not easily afford such things; to fight for those who have given to you their all.
“It is my burden! You wish to see it laid out in front of you?... Fine… you shall have it. You ask me if I love you, no. Love is a word and a definition and a thing that has been given limits. What I feel because of you is all; it is everything. Reason has no place within my heart because my heart is full of you. You are my motivation, my faith, the blood that lives within me. Everything I am is for you and you alone… I know my desire is futile, and I do not care. I will walk this world alone for the whole of time and I will carry this in me forever… and every step taken… will be for you. There is no other way for me.” With tears falling from her eyes, she rushed forward and kissed him as hard as she could. Her arms wrapped tightly around him and as they did, his defenses fell and he returned her kiss. He surrendered to her and for the first time in his life, his heart knew a pain that was joy.
“It was not long ago that I realized that love is not an unknown adventure in a far off land, love is a warm blanket waiting at home.”
I will build myself. I will become. Every waking moment I possess will be a moment I spend working on me.
“There is good in this world. There are things I’ve found in this world that are precious to me, because they bring light into my darkness; they chase away my darkness. I know now that my life is about those things. My purpose is to fight for those things, fight for the things that fill me with light, and fight against the things that threaten them.
Highlights from Everflame 4: As The Darkness Waits:
Among equals, there is no such thing as treason. Treason only exists in the hands of those with power, and they may only use it against those who are without.
But what is the use of wisdom when one has a sword? What use is freedom when one fears treason? And what use is life when one has honor?
We are all following dreams and visions; we who are cursed and graced by this fire called hope. However, I will not be a slave to dreams and visions; I will lead myself. I am strong and I am a singularity. I am a builder of self, in wisdom, body and spirit. I have the faith to believe in and cast judgment upon myself. I will stand the line between the light and the darkness. I will master myself for as long as I am lost in the gray.
They walked onward for escape, not for hope, but escape can never come for those who walk with hell in their heads.
We are not good or evil, we just are, and it is only our actions that can be defined.
January 15, 2015
The Influence of Dreams on My Writing
Dreams have always been an integral part of my creative process. I dream vividly, at length, and regularly. For a time during my youth, I imagined that everyone dreamed in the same way that I did. It wasn’t until open dialogue about dreaming, with friends and family, that I discovered dream patterns can be very different for every individual. I was stunned, frankly, to learn that some people don’t even remember their dreams when they wake. The thought was strange to me, mostly because my own dreams were so lucid, regular, and often left a deep impression on me. There have been many days of my life where the previous night’s dreams have affected my mood throughout the entire day.When I was younger, I suffered through something called Incubus Attacks (though I didn’t know what they were at the time). An Incubus Attack occurs when there is discord between the sleeping mind and the sleeping body. The results can be quite terrifying because, essentially, you can dream when your body is awake.
These episodes didn’t happen erratically, and spontaneously, during the day. It’s not as if I had a form of schizophrenia. Incubus Attacks usually take place in the time when your mind is transitioning to sleep, or transitioning awake. It’s as if the world of dream bleeds slightly into the conscious world.
I was four years old the first time I can remember having an Incubus Attack. I had awaked in the middle of the night, and for one reason or another, left my bed. I looked out the window and saw, at a distance, Grover. Yes, Grover from Sesame Street. Grover turned, looked at me, and then began running toward my window, screaming and flailing his arms. Naturally, I began screaming, and my parents found me crying below the window in my bedroom.
I experienced many Incubus Attacks in my youth, but not all were so lively. Mostly, I would feel something touching me that wasn’t there, or I could hear someone yelling at me that wasn’t there. These specific attacks would usually occur as I transitioned to sleep.
The last graphic Incubus Attack I remember took place when I was fifteen. I woke in the middle of the night and sat up in bed. I looked into the corner of my room and found an orb, glowing and floating about four feet off of the ground. As I watched it, it shot a red laser beam toward the foot of my bed. I got out of bed and walked over to the light switch, which was at the other side of the bedroom, all the while keeping my eye on the orb. When I turned the light switch on, the orb was gone. I was alone, standing in my bedroom, wondering what was happening to me. It wasn’t until my mid-twenties that I came across the term and realized that I had been having Incubus Attacks as a child.
Though the attacks stopped, my spirited dreaming did not. I would have to say that I have always had rich dreams on a nightly basis, with rare exception. However, it wasn’t until I began writing that I found a way to make my dreams work for me. In fact, the first two chapters of Everflame were from a dream I had. In the dream, I was Evercloud, the helpless child. I was prisoner to the events going on around me, and I can remember having some distinct connection with the bears that controlled my fate. The dream didn’t detail everything that I’ve written in those chapters, but I can still recall the memory of the mountain and the flame to this day.
As an adult, the types of dreams I have are what I call video game dreams. I’m usually in some life or death situation, where the circumstances are very fantastical, and I have to find some special object, or defeat some evil foe. Very often, the fate of the world hangs in the balance. I suppose I didn’t have much of a choice but to become a fantasy adventure writer.
The book I’m currently working on, The Dean Machine, has a lot of influence from my dreaming as well. The impetus for the book was a real-life event that affected me deeply, however much of the plotline comes directly from my dreams. I can remember being the main character of The Dean Machine, Dan Delacor. I can still feel the panic that overtook me as I ran from the great wall of Yellow City, running as far as I could from the clutches of the evil Chancellor Elgrey Vinsidian. I can remember, quite vividly, the confusion of wandering with my little dog, Dean, not knowing where we were. I can remember the sickness in my stomach as I discovered that I was… well, I won’t ruin it for you. Besides, the book is not finished, and who knows what I might dream up tonight.
And I suppose that’s the truth of my writing, and the source of my imagination. I have no method, no tactics, and no brainstorming techniques. I dream. I simply lay my head down and immerse myself in the unknown. I’ll try to keep you apprised of what I find.
December 29, 2014
My everflame II: A new year's resolution
No New Year’s Resolution comes from a place of strength. New Year’s resolutions have backstory, and that backstory is usually filled with a certain amount of trial and error that is tragically dominated by the error. It’s from a place of struggle that we derive these yearly promises of growth. It’s from a place of shameful longing that we endeavor to torture ourselves, year-after-year, with the hope a better self. Would be that we succeed; it would be shocking, would it not? Don’t we secretly laugh and doubt every resolution that crosses our desk, like some veto-happy legislator striking down each proposal for a better world?
The cynic in me shakes his head at the New Year’s Resolution as if it’s something to be pitied.
But the cynic in me must die.
When I was young, I was what people politely call “husky.” In truth, I was a lumbering ogre of a boy without the charisma or self-confidence to keep myself away from my cynical predilection. I was an uninspired loaf who preferred sandwiches to social events, solitude to significance, and sitting to standing (literally and figuratively).
I played sports as a child, but only sports where my size was an advantage. I was taller than most, so I played basketball, I weighed more than most, so I played football, and I could throw things hard and far, so I played baseball. However, when I tried to play soccer… I met my match. In an aside to my parents, my coach ventured to say, “he doesn’t really like to run, does he?”
Like to run? Was he joking? Not only did I not like to run, I believe my younger self thought running would induce death or seizure. I couldn’t run and I wouldn’t work to get better. Sure, I had to run in other sports, but not for so long, and it certainly wasn’t as important. My usual plan of Hulk smash didn’t work in soccer, and for that reason, I only tried the sport for one season. I allowed myself to fail and quit because I couldn’t run.
When we are confronted with the things that are most difficult for us, we often turn our backs on them, citing that these things just aren’t our strength. We tell ourselves that it’s okay, because we still have other talents, and everyone can’t be good at everything. We lie to ourselves, and allow ourselves to believe that it’s about a fate that we can’t change, and not about our own weakness.
Fast-forward to one year ago, and the past was rearing its ugly head. My wife was a runner in high school, and wanted to rediscover the hobby. I was less than enthusiastic, however, my outlook on many things has changed since my brooding adolescence, so I tried it with her. With the memory of that fat boy, laughing at me the whole time, I failed again at running. I was just as terrible at it as I was when I was young.
The lying ways of my youth came creeping back. Well, I’m just not built to be a runner. I don’t really enjoy it. I’m just doing it for my wife. Unfortunately for my lies, I’ve grown wiser with age. I couldn’t live with the excuses. I can’t be such a hypocrite. It was truly time to flush out that fat boy I once was.
I was Densa, kneeling amid the dust and rubble of failure, telling myself to get up.
So, I got up. Six months ago I made a commitment to do something I had never succeeded at before, and frankly, never thought I could succeed at. I began running regularly, and though my improvement has been slow, I have improved. I can now run six miles, and I don’t plan on stopping there. I’m not sure what distance I would consider a success, but I’m not sure that it matters. The thing I’ve found in running is that it’s not about finishing, it’s about continuing and enduring.
This year, I have a New Year’s Resolution. This year, I will run 500 miles.
The cynic in me shakes his head at the New Year’s Resolution as if it’s something to be pitied.
But the cynic in me must die.
When I was young, I was what people politely call “husky.” In truth, I was a lumbering ogre of a boy without the charisma or self-confidence to keep myself away from my cynical predilection. I was an uninspired loaf who preferred sandwiches to social events, solitude to significance, and sitting to standing (literally and figuratively).
I played sports as a child, but only sports where my size was an advantage. I was taller than most, so I played basketball, I weighed more than most, so I played football, and I could throw things hard and far, so I played baseball. However, when I tried to play soccer… I met my match. In an aside to my parents, my coach ventured to say, “he doesn’t really like to run, does he?”
Like to run? Was he joking? Not only did I not like to run, I believe my younger self thought running would induce death or seizure. I couldn’t run and I wouldn’t work to get better. Sure, I had to run in other sports, but not for so long, and it certainly wasn’t as important. My usual plan of Hulk smash didn’t work in soccer, and for that reason, I only tried the sport for one season. I allowed myself to fail and quit because I couldn’t run.
When we are confronted with the things that are most difficult for us, we often turn our backs on them, citing that these things just aren’t our strength. We tell ourselves that it’s okay, because we still have other talents, and everyone can’t be good at everything. We lie to ourselves, and allow ourselves to believe that it’s about a fate that we can’t change, and not about our own weakness.
Fast-forward to one year ago, and the past was rearing its ugly head. My wife was a runner in high school, and wanted to rediscover the hobby. I was less than enthusiastic, however, my outlook on many things has changed since my brooding adolescence, so I tried it with her. With the memory of that fat boy, laughing at me the whole time, I failed again at running. I was just as terrible at it as I was when I was young.
The lying ways of my youth came creeping back. Well, I’m just not built to be a runner. I don’t really enjoy it. I’m just doing it for my wife. Unfortunately for my lies, I’ve grown wiser with age. I couldn’t live with the excuses. I can’t be such a hypocrite. It was truly time to flush out that fat boy I once was.
I was Densa, kneeling amid the dust and rubble of failure, telling myself to get up.
So, I got up. Six months ago I made a commitment to do something I had never succeeded at before, and frankly, never thought I could succeed at. I began running regularly, and though my improvement has been slow, I have improved. I can now run six miles, and I don’t plan on stopping there. I’m not sure what distance I would consider a success, but I’m not sure that it matters. The thing I’ve found in running is that it’s not about finishing, it’s about continuing and enduring.
This year, I have a New Year’s Resolution. This year, I will run 500 miles.
December 17, 2014
Continuum Continues? The ecstasy and the agony of a premature ending
I am a Continuum fan. I never expected much from the show when I first gave it a chance on Netflix. I love good science fiction, but I rarely seem to find good science fiction. Most of the time, science fiction fans are fed the same tired storylines that fail to hold interest. Or often, the ideas are interesting, but the entertainment money machine knows it won’t be able to effectively market to a slack-witted populace, so the project ultimately fails due to poor acting and poor funding. The latter of those two options is what I expected, at best, from Continuum.I found myself pleasantly surprised.
The acting is good, and the writing buoys it. The series has allowed for character building in ways that you don’t usually find in science fiction. The characters stay indelibly human, and it makes them relatable amid a storyline that couldn’t possibly relate to anyone. (I think). Suspended disbelief is an understatement in any storyline that deals with time travel, but Continuum pulls it off wonderfully and leaves you wanting to watch each character’s progress.
The show also dares to walk amid the gray fog that stands between right and wrong, which is always a theme that interests me. In a world where the future can be changed, the ethics of exacting that change is a daily conundrum for the characters. I know it may not be a popular feeling, but I greatly enjoy stories that make me think more deeply about my own world and my own life. A “question everything” credo has always been a guilty pleasure I won’t relinquish.
So, needless to say, when the third season concluded and there was no contract for a fourth, I was upset. I wanted this show to finish. Not just because of the human need for closure in any situation, or because I liked the show, but because this show had done something different, and it deserved to be able to continue its story. Success for Continuum could mean success for other shows that make you think as much as they make you feel, while still entertaining.
After months of wondering and waiting, Showcase, the Canadian channel that has rights to Continuum, released all Continuum fans from their self-imposed purgatory.
http://www.shawmedia.ca/Media/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?pressReleaseId=6442460551
The show would be renewed. (Cheers come from the crowd.) For a fourth and final season. (Hmm. Really?) That will consist of six episodes. (Shit.)
Great news, that turned into just good news, that eventually settled on a giant cloud of impending doom. If you’ve never watched the show, or even if you haven’t watched the first three seasons, you may not understand why I would react that way. However, for those who have watched the first three seasons, the immediate question is:
How in the world are they going to tie this story up in six episodes without completely destroying everything that was good about Continuum?
I am dubious… insanely dubious.
For fans of the show, you know that the end of the third season was almost akin to a sucker punch, but in a good way. (What? You’ve never been punched and liked it?) It was one of those moments in a storyline that tells you “everything you know is wrong.” Continuum had taken you off in one direction for three seasons, for the shear purpose of building you up to tear you down. It was the kind of breaking point that left you saying, “wow, this is going to get so good. They’re going to have to keep this going for another four seasons, at least.”
Nope… six episodes.
Simon Barry is a great writer, but six episodes?
If he can pull it off I’ll be amazed, and honestly, I’m really pulling for him. Continuum is a show I recommend, and a show I can’t wait to watch again. The SyFy Channel gets the right to broadcast it to us in the States, and when the fourth season premieres, I’ll be watching it full of hope.
But I’ll be watching it in the way I watch a basketball team, down ten points, with one minute to play. I’m pulling for you, but you’re going to have to pull off a miracle to win this one.
December 16, 2014
5 words and phrases that should be revivied
ORIGINALLY POSTED 12/2/2014
As an author, you need to spend a good deal of time with words. Of course this is beyond an obvious statement, but we often look past the obvious in our lives to the detriment of fundamental mastery. Does a master woodworker not need to obsess over wood? Should the master arborist not have a devoted attention for even the simplest and most common of trees? Should I, if in fact I care about my craft, not look at a word as benign as ‘hello’ and wonder where it came from and why we use it? (According to the Oxford English Dictionary, hello is an alteration of hallo, which came from the Old High German word halâ, used especially in hailing a ferryman).
I think it is important for someone in my field to seek this information and have a curiosity about these things. Often, I’ve come across humorous and interesting words. What I wanted to share in this blogpost were a few examples of words and phrases that have left the modern lexicon for one reason or another, and I would argue that they should be brought back. For what reason, you ask? For fun, for perspective, or for no reason other than my own strange curiosity. You are welcome to whichever reason you prefer.
“Tell it to Sweeney!”
Meaning – what you say when you believe something to be untrue, meaning, tell it to someone who is dumb enough to believe it.
Usage – “You say a good book can’t have talking bears? Pfft, tell it to Sweeney!”
Etymology – “Sweeney” referenced the myriad of monikers used in England around the 1800s to describe the stereotypical Irishman.
Offish
Meaning – distant, reserved, aloof
Usage – “Isn’t it great how offish Dylan Lee Peters is? I wish I could be that offish!”
Etymology – comes directly from standoffish
Fuzzled
Meaning – Drunk
Usage – “Poor Dylan Lee Peters has gone and got himself fuzzled again. Though, it does improve his writing.”
Etymology – derivative of the French word fusel, which means bad liquor
Bookwright
Meaning – A writer of books; an author
Usage – “Dylan Lee Peters is the best bookwright ever. Anyone who says different can tell it to Sweeney!”
Etymology – from book + wright. The word wright deriving from Old English and meaning ‘related to work.’
Groak
Meaning – To silently watch someone while they are eating, hoping to be invited to join them
Usage – “Dylan Lee Peters is going to groak you if you eat that taco in front of him. He will groak you like a dog.”
Etymology – I couldn’t find the origin of this word, but had to include it. If you know the origin, please post it in the comments.
As an author, you need to spend a good deal of time with words. Of course this is beyond an obvious statement, but we often look past the obvious in our lives to the detriment of fundamental mastery. Does a master woodworker not need to obsess over wood? Should the master arborist not have a devoted attention for even the simplest and most common of trees? Should I, if in fact I care about my craft, not look at a word as benign as ‘hello’ and wonder where it came from and why we use it? (According to the Oxford English Dictionary, hello is an alteration of hallo, which came from the Old High German word halâ, used especially in hailing a ferryman).
I think it is important for someone in my field to seek this information and have a curiosity about these things. Often, I’ve come across humorous and interesting words. What I wanted to share in this blogpost were a few examples of words and phrases that have left the modern lexicon for one reason or another, and I would argue that they should be brought back. For what reason, you ask? For fun, for perspective, or for no reason other than my own strange curiosity. You are welcome to whichever reason you prefer.
“Tell it to Sweeney!”
Meaning – what you say when you believe something to be untrue, meaning, tell it to someone who is dumb enough to believe it.
Usage – “You say a good book can’t have talking bears? Pfft, tell it to Sweeney!”
Etymology – “Sweeney” referenced the myriad of monikers used in England around the 1800s to describe the stereotypical Irishman.
Offish
Meaning – distant, reserved, aloof
Usage – “Isn’t it great how offish Dylan Lee Peters is? I wish I could be that offish!”
Etymology – comes directly from standoffish
Fuzzled
Meaning – Drunk
Usage – “Poor Dylan Lee Peters has gone and got himself fuzzled again. Though, it does improve his writing.”
Etymology – derivative of the French word fusel, which means bad liquor
Bookwright
Meaning – A writer of books; an author
Usage – “Dylan Lee Peters is the best bookwright ever. Anyone who says different can tell it to Sweeney!”
Etymology – from book + wright. The word wright deriving from Old English and meaning ‘related to work.’
Groak
Meaning – To silently watch someone while they are eating, hoping to be invited to join them
Usage – “Dylan Lee Peters is going to groak you if you eat that taco in front of him. He will groak you like a dog.”
Etymology – I couldn’t find the origin of this word, but had to include it. If you know the origin, please post it in the comments.
July 14, 2014
10 Books that Influenced Me
1. Anthem by Ayn Rand
Just say the word dystopia and I’m in. Anthem has remained my favorite book for years. Its mix of science fiction, Rand’s philosophy and self-righteous rebellion keep me coming back, over and over. It’s a very quick read and I think that’s partly what inspired me to make the Everflame books rapid reads. If there is any one part of the Everflame series in which this book most directly inspired, it would have to be Tenturo’s rebirth upon the red planet. Anthem remains the only book that I have an audio version of, as well as the only book I’ve had to purchase multiple times because I give my copy away to people. If you read only one book on this list, read this one.
Best quote: “But what is freedom? Freedom from what? There is nothing to take a man's freedom away from him, save other men. To be free, a man must be free of his brothers. That is freedom. That and nothing else.” ― Ayn Rand, Anthem
2. 1984 by George Orwell
Staying with the dystopia theme, 1984 was the only book I actually read in high school. (Believe it or not, I didn’t become an avid reader until after the age of eighteen.) As an angst-ridden young man, George Orwell seemed to hit the nail on the head in regard to how I felt about modern society. Sometimes the greatest books are the ones that help you realize you’re not alone in the way that you think, and 1984 did that for me as a young man. I’m not quite sure 1984 inspired any part of the Everflame series directly, however, it did inspire me to become a reader and one who enjoys the written word.
Best quote: “Being in a minority, even in a minority of one, did not make you mad. There was truth and there was untruth, and if you clung to the truth even against the whole world, you were not mad.” ― George Orwell, 1984
3. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
The Fountainhead is one of the only books on this list that has no aspect of fantasy or science fiction in the story. What I find so inspiring about Ayn Rand is her philosophy of the individual. The protagonist of this book, Howard Roark, is everything I ever wanted to be as an individual. When I read this book for the first time it truly felt as if his words were my own, his conversations were my conversations, and his thoughts were my thoughts. I was misunderstood in the very same way that he was misunderstood, others hated me in the very same way he was hated by others, and the few that loved me, loved me in the same way they loved Howard Roark.
Best quote: “But you see," said Roark quietly, "I have, let’s say, sixty years to live. Most of that time will be spent working. I’ve chosen the work I want to do. If I find no joy in it, then I’m only condemning myself to sixty years of torture. And I can find the joy only if I do my work in the best way possible to me. But the best is a matter of standards—and I set my own standards. I inherit nothing. I stand at the end of no tradition. I may, perhaps, stand at the beginning of one.” ― Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead
4. Imajica by Clive Barker
Imajica changed my perspective on the fantasy genre and helped me realize that a fantasy book could move past the world of elves and dwarves. It was also the first fantasy book I had read that took place in a modern atmosphere. I would count Imajica as a fantasy epic that does not receive the credit it deserves and it surely got my creative side flowing in a way that other fantasy novels couldn’t hope to. Its most apparent influence in the Everflame series would have to be the Daughters of Earth and Sun. I recommend Imajica to any fantasy reader, but keep in mind that it has very adult themes.
Best quote: “Study nothing except in the knowledge that you already knew it. Worship nothing except in adoration of your true self. And fear nothing except in the certainty that you are your enemy's begetter and its only hope of healing.” ― Clive Barker, Imajica
5. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
How could one not include The Lord of the Rings? It would have to be tantamount to a modern musician never listening to The Beatles. The influences are intrinsic and obvious. A modern fantasy writer would be a fool to assume they are not influenced by this story, and the honest truth is that one finds they are trying to make sure that they don’t blatantly sample Tolkien’s work. If you haven’t read it, get to work.
Best quote: “It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
6. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
…and back to dystopia. What can I say, I’m a sucker for the concept of rebelling against an oppressor. I would say the brothers Floyd are probably the characters in the Everflame series that most embody my love of rebelling against a society you hold in disdain. Fahrenheit 451 helped foster that feeling. It’s a definite must read.
Best quote: “I'm seventeen and I'm crazy. My uncle says the two always go together. When people ask your age, he said, always say seventeen and insane.” ― Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
7. Nightmares & Dreamscapes by Stephen King
As I had already said, I didn’t really read much as a child, but I did carry this collection of short stories around with me for the better part of a year. I’ve always loved the way Stephen King could keep you on the edge of your seat, waiting for the payoff. I read through those short stories voraciously, dying to know the secrets King had yet to reveal. I’ve tried to replicate that sort of need to know what’s around the corner in my own writing. If I come even remotely close to achieving that curiosity in my readers I’ll count it as a success.
My favorite of the stories in this collection: The Ten o’Clock People
8. Dragonlance Legends (Time of the Twins, War of the Twins, Test of the Twins) by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
This is just a very solid fantasy trilogy and it was certainly the inspiration behind my desire to create characters that could be both good and evil. It was the first series I had ever read where the protagonist was the bad guy… or was he? I think the strength of this series is in the characters and that is certainly an element I try to achieve I my own writing.
9. Illusions by Richard Bach
Illusions is another book that everyone should read. You can add Jonathan Livingston Seagull into this as well. (same author) One thing I have learned in my life is that the people in this world who are successful and who get what they want are the people who face the fear of failure and defeat it. Doubt will destroy you. If you want something, believe you can obtain it and never give up the pursuit. If you fail, learn from that failure, get back up, and resume the fight.
Best quote: “You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it true. You may have to work for it however.” ― Richard Bach, Illusions
10. The Stranger by Albert Camus
The Stranger by Albert Camus is like an old friend, or more like an old picture of myself. I look back on it with nostalgia, knowing that it was a part of me, and a part of who I was, but also knowing that I have grown past it and benefitted from knowing it. The Stranger is a sketch of Camus’ existentialism, and when I was younger, I identified with it greatly. Yet at some point, I realized that I wasn’t really an existential thinker as much as I was someone who felt numbed by the weight of life. It was working through the ideas in this book that helped me grow as a person and find within myself the fire that I call Everflame.
I encourage you to read all these books. I find great value in having them as a part of my life, and I believe each one has helped to make me who I am today.
Just say the word dystopia and I’m in. Anthem has remained my favorite book for years. Its mix of science fiction, Rand’s philosophy and self-righteous rebellion keep me coming back, over and over. It’s a very quick read and I think that’s partly what inspired me to make the Everflame books rapid reads. If there is any one part of the Everflame series in which this book most directly inspired, it would have to be Tenturo’s rebirth upon the red planet. Anthem remains the only book that I have an audio version of, as well as the only book I’ve had to purchase multiple times because I give my copy away to people. If you read only one book on this list, read this one.
Best quote: “But what is freedom? Freedom from what? There is nothing to take a man's freedom away from him, save other men. To be free, a man must be free of his brothers. That is freedom. That and nothing else.” ― Ayn Rand, Anthem
2. 1984 by George Orwell
Staying with the dystopia theme, 1984 was the only book I actually read in high school. (Believe it or not, I didn’t become an avid reader until after the age of eighteen.) As an angst-ridden young man, George Orwell seemed to hit the nail on the head in regard to how I felt about modern society. Sometimes the greatest books are the ones that help you realize you’re not alone in the way that you think, and 1984 did that for me as a young man. I’m not quite sure 1984 inspired any part of the Everflame series directly, however, it did inspire me to become a reader and one who enjoys the written word.
Best quote: “Being in a minority, even in a minority of one, did not make you mad. There was truth and there was untruth, and if you clung to the truth even against the whole world, you were not mad.” ― George Orwell, 1984
3. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
The Fountainhead is one of the only books on this list that has no aspect of fantasy or science fiction in the story. What I find so inspiring about Ayn Rand is her philosophy of the individual. The protagonist of this book, Howard Roark, is everything I ever wanted to be as an individual. When I read this book for the first time it truly felt as if his words were my own, his conversations were my conversations, and his thoughts were my thoughts. I was misunderstood in the very same way that he was misunderstood, others hated me in the very same way he was hated by others, and the few that loved me, loved me in the same way they loved Howard Roark.
Best quote: “But you see," said Roark quietly, "I have, let’s say, sixty years to live. Most of that time will be spent working. I’ve chosen the work I want to do. If I find no joy in it, then I’m only condemning myself to sixty years of torture. And I can find the joy only if I do my work in the best way possible to me. But the best is a matter of standards—and I set my own standards. I inherit nothing. I stand at the end of no tradition. I may, perhaps, stand at the beginning of one.” ― Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead
4. Imajica by Clive Barker
Imajica changed my perspective on the fantasy genre and helped me realize that a fantasy book could move past the world of elves and dwarves. It was also the first fantasy book I had read that took place in a modern atmosphere. I would count Imajica as a fantasy epic that does not receive the credit it deserves and it surely got my creative side flowing in a way that other fantasy novels couldn’t hope to. Its most apparent influence in the Everflame series would have to be the Daughters of Earth and Sun. I recommend Imajica to any fantasy reader, but keep in mind that it has very adult themes.
Best quote: “Study nothing except in the knowledge that you already knew it. Worship nothing except in adoration of your true self. And fear nothing except in the certainty that you are your enemy's begetter and its only hope of healing.” ― Clive Barker, Imajica
5. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
How could one not include The Lord of the Rings? It would have to be tantamount to a modern musician never listening to The Beatles. The influences are intrinsic and obvious. A modern fantasy writer would be a fool to assume they are not influenced by this story, and the honest truth is that one finds they are trying to make sure that they don’t blatantly sample Tolkien’s work. If you haven’t read it, get to work.
Best quote: “It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
6. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
…and back to dystopia. What can I say, I’m a sucker for the concept of rebelling against an oppressor. I would say the brothers Floyd are probably the characters in the Everflame series that most embody my love of rebelling against a society you hold in disdain. Fahrenheit 451 helped foster that feeling. It’s a definite must read.
Best quote: “I'm seventeen and I'm crazy. My uncle says the two always go together. When people ask your age, he said, always say seventeen and insane.” ― Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
7. Nightmares & Dreamscapes by Stephen King
As I had already said, I didn’t really read much as a child, but I did carry this collection of short stories around with me for the better part of a year. I’ve always loved the way Stephen King could keep you on the edge of your seat, waiting for the payoff. I read through those short stories voraciously, dying to know the secrets King had yet to reveal. I’ve tried to replicate that sort of need to know what’s around the corner in my own writing. If I come even remotely close to achieving that curiosity in my readers I’ll count it as a success.
My favorite of the stories in this collection: The Ten o’Clock People
8. Dragonlance Legends (Time of the Twins, War of the Twins, Test of the Twins) by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
This is just a very solid fantasy trilogy and it was certainly the inspiration behind my desire to create characters that could be both good and evil. It was the first series I had ever read where the protagonist was the bad guy… or was he? I think the strength of this series is in the characters and that is certainly an element I try to achieve I my own writing.
9. Illusions by Richard Bach
Illusions is another book that everyone should read. You can add Jonathan Livingston Seagull into this as well. (same author) One thing I have learned in my life is that the people in this world who are successful and who get what they want are the people who face the fear of failure and defeat it. Doubt will destroy you. If you want something, believe you can obtain it and never give up the pursuit. If you fail, learn from that failure, get back up, and resume the fight.
Best quote: “You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it true. You may have to work for it however.” ― Richard Bach, Illusions
10. The Stranger by Albert Camus
The Stranger by Albert Camus is like an old friend, or more like an old picture of myself. I look back on it with nostalgia, knowing that it was a part of me, and a part of who I was, but also knowing that I have grown past it and benefitted from knowing it. The Stranger is a sketch of Camus’ existentialism, and when I was younger, I identified with it greatly. Yet at some point, I realized that I wasn’t really an existential thinker as much as I was someone who felt numbed by the weight of life. It was working through the ideas in this book that helped me grow as a person and find within myself the fire that I call Everflame.
I encourage you to read all these books. I find great value in having them as a part of my life, and I believe each one has helped to make me who I am today.
September 7, 2012
What is Everflame?
The most difficult part of being an author isn’t writing a book. It’s answering the question: What is your book about? Because what you’re really asking is: Why should I read your book? It was over the course of four months and 84,000 words that my novel, Everflame, was born, and in just a tiny fraction of that time and space I need to give an answer that sparks your interest.
The short answer is that Everflame is a fantasy adventure novel that takes place in the land of Ephanlarea. We follow the tale of a very young boy who is found in the woods by bears, and raised as a member of their kingdom. As he ages he is faced with an evil that threatens to destroy his world, and he must quest to prevent that from happening. It is an epic tale of good versus evil, in a world of adventure and imagination.
The longer, yet more meaningful answer is that Everflame is about my character, my beliefs and myself. It is a parable of my own personal philosophy and my own journey, and at the story’s very core it is a promise. It is an oath to all who I love and who love me that the man I have become and the man I will always be, will do everything I can to be a strength they can rely on and a constant light amid the darkest of times. In other words, it is the very spirit of who I am that is the Everflame.
In the story, the Everflame is a literal flame that burns eternally atop Gray Mountain, the home of the bears who find the young boy abandoned in the forest. The flame is a symbol to the bears of enduring spirit. It resides as the core of their ethics and all they are. An excerpt from the book sees Whiteclaw, a bear, explain the meaning of the Everflame.
“The Everflame is a symbol. It has no power. It’s just a reminder of something we all have: our spirit. And it is to this spirit that we are accountable. Not to an all-powerful tyrant, not even to ancient creators. Simply to ourselves. By making an oath to the Everflame, I am merely making an oath to all that I am. If I break that oath, it is I who suffer the greatest loss, and nothing can change that…We all have the ability to judge our own hearts, and we should all have the courage to do so.”
This becomes the central theme that the two most prominent characters in Everflame, Evercloud and Edgar Shein, must face. It would be too simplistic to label them as one good and the other evil. Instead each character is capable of both good and evil. They have to choose with every new moment which path to take, the path of light or the path of darkness. It is these choices that ultimately define who they are. It is they who mold themselves, it is they who mold their relationships with those around them, and it is they who mold their world.
And so we return to the question I must answer: Why should you read Everflame? You should read Everflame because it’s central theme is about me, and in the very same way it is also about you. Ask yourself, who and what do you live for? Who and what do you fight for? And in your personal battle will you lose strength and fall into darkness? Or will you live with the Everflame in your heart and be a light and a foundation for those that you love?
As you think about your own answers I’ll leave you with Whiteclaw’s words to those who faced the very same questions.
“Now you must remember what it is that we fight for… Remember your mothers, your fathers, your sisters, and your brothers. Remember all those who have loved you and remain close to your heart. For it is that love that has seen us through the darkness of this world. It is that love that has been a light. See that light. Feel its heat. Now become that light. For it is now we who must banish the darkness for those who have done the same for us.”
The short answer is that Everflame is a fantasy adventure novel that takes place in the land of Ephanlarea. We follow the tale of a very young boy who is found in the woods by bears, and raised as a member of their kingdom. As he ages he is faced with an evil that threatens to destroy his world, and he must quest to prevent that from happening. It is an epic tale of good versus evil, in a world of adventure and imagination.
The longer, yet more meaningful answer is that Everflame is about my character, my beliefs and myself. It is a parable of my own personal philosophy and my own journey, and at the story’s very core it is a promise. It is an oath to all who I love and who love me that the man I have become and the man I will always be, will do everything I can to be a strength they can rely on and a constant light amid the darkest of times. In other words, it is the very spirit of who I am that is the Everflame.
In the story, the Everflame is a literal flame that burns eternally atop Gray Mountain, the home of the bears who find the young boy abandoned in the forest. The flame is a symbol to the bears of enduring spirit. It resides as the core of their ethics and all they are. An excerpt from the book sees Whiteclaw, a bear, explain the meaning of the Everflame.
“The Everflame is a symbol. It has no power. It’s just a reminder of something we all have: our spirit. And it is to this spirit that we are accountable. Not to an all-powerful tyrant, not even to ancient creators. Simply to ourselves. By making an oath to the Everflame, I am merely making an oath to all that I am. If I break that oath, it is I who suffer the greatest loss, and nothing can change that…We all have the ability to judge our own hearts, and we should all have the courage to do so.”
This becomes the central theme that the two most prominent characters in Everflame, Evercloud and Edgar Shein, must face. It would be too simplistic to label them as one good and the other evil. Instead each character is capable of both good and evil. They have to choose with every new moment which path to take, the path of light or the path of darkness. It is these choices that ultimately define who they are. It is they who mold themselves, it is they who mold their relationships with those around them, and it is they who mold their world.
And so we return to the question I must answer: Why should you read Everflame? You should read Everflame because it’s central theme is about me, and in the very same way it is also about you. Ask yourself, who and what do you live for? Who and what do you fight for? And in your personal battle will you lose strength and fall into darkness? Or will you live with the Everflame in your heart and be a light and a foundation for those that you love?
As you think about your own answers I’ll leave you with Whiteclaw’s words to those who faced the very same questions.
“Now you must remember what it is that we fight for… Remember your mothers, your fathers, your sisters, and your brothers. Remember all those who have loved you and remain close to your heart. For it is that love that has seen us through the darkness of this world. It is that love that has been a light. See that light. Feel its heat. Now become that light. For it is now we who must banish the darkness for those who have done the same for us.”
