Randall Allen Dunn's Blog: Packing Action, page 7
December 14, 2017
Red Rider Rooftop
[image error]‘Twas the night before Christmas
And all through the hovel
There was safety and peace
An idea that seemed novel.
Scraping up scraps
From the last of his meal,
Alone at the table
Sat Father Vestille.
Poring through scriptures
And pausing to pray
He readied his spirit
To greet Christmas day.
[image error]Then he thought of Helena,
His brave teenage guest,
In the underground lair,
Where he hoped she would rest.
He had taken her in
To stay hidden from view
For the sake of her parents,
‘Twas the least he could do.
She had vanquished the wolves
That once terrorized France
Now they all fled in fright
When they saw her advance.
Using silver-tipped bolts,
She had forced out the hordes
With a crossbow she wielded
Like King Arthur’s sword.
Now she slept, and she dreamed
With no nightmares of wolves.
Her greatest fear now
Was no gift for this Yule.
What could she give him,
As poor as she was?
All he truly wanted
Was more of her trust.
Then out on the lawn
He heard something cackle
Like the sound of a gloating
And villainous jackal.
He ran to the window
And threw up the sash
Meeting eyes of a wolf
That caused him to gasp.
[image error]It leapt at his throat,
Breaking straight through the glass
As Father Vestille
Planned to now breathe his last.
“It was you all along,”
Growled the wolf that could speak.
“How else could Helena
Have not been so weak?
You’ve given her food,
Rest, and shelter, no doubt.
Building her strength
To help drive us all out.
To weaken the Rider,
I can simply kill you.
Don’t try to deny it.
I’ve thought it all through.”
“Not all,” said Helena,
Rising up from below
As she scowled and aimed
Her repeating crossbow.
[image error]She wore trousers and boots
And her eyes were in shroud
By a red hooded cloak
That rolled like a cloud.
Her face bore three scars
From the claws of a monster
Whose bright wolfish eyes
Would continue to haunt her.
A shocking young sight,
One would say, at the least,
As she aimed and commanded,
“Unhand my priest.”
The wolf, quick as lightning,
Seized Father Vestille
And held him in place
As a reluctant shield.
Then he shoved Vestille forth
At his young surprised foe
Who let go her weapon
At the swift, sudden blow.
The wolf pounced upon her
And the battle seemed lost.
But her heel found the crossbow
And kicked it across.
Vestille hated weapons
And all forms of war,
Which made him feel awkward
As he bent to the floor.
He pulled back the lever
To fire a bolt
Which pierced the wolf’s neck
As it died with a jolt.
She shoved it aside
With a grunt of disgust.
Then she stood and exhaled,
Her eyes full of trust.
She turned toward the ceiling
Looking slightly aloof,
Grabbed her crossbow and said,
“There are more on the roof.”
[image error]They rushed out together
In the chill and the snow
And she whispered instructions
For staying below.
From the side wall, she hurled
Her grappling hook
And climbed up its rope
As Vestille stood and shook.
From her high snowy perch
She confronted the beasts
Who determined to make her
Their holiday feast.
When they noticed she stood
Without crossbow in hand
One wolf sneered and scoffed,
“Why, you poor helpless lamb!
Without your silver bolts,
This should be a short fight!”
She said, “He needs time
To set you in his sights.”
Then the silver bolts flew.
The wolves fell, one by one.
The priest lowered the crossbow.
His unsavory work done.
He suggested she now get
Some rest, for her sake.
She denied his request.
“I feel fully awake.”
So they drew back inside
And sat down to a meal
Some cabbage and stew
Cooked by Father Vestille.
He set out some bread,
Handing her a clean knife
Thanking God that she now
Trusted him with her life.
November 22, 2017
Monthly access to my writing through my new Patreon page!
Want behind-the-scenes access to my monthly writing?
I’m pleased to announce that I have officially started a Patreon page! You can sign up to support and receive exclusive access to my work every month! Such as private info and updates on the upcoming release of the Red Rider sequel!
Visit my page to learn more, and thank you for any support you can provide!
October 26, 2017
Grand Tour of Authors – Mon. Oct. 30th – Fri. Nov. 3rd
Nov. 2nd – 7pm-8pm CST / 8pm-9pm EST
Join me online at my Facebook page for a Facebook hop, from one author’s Facebook Page to another from Oct. 30 – Nov. 3, and the chance to win Grand Tour prizes from me and your other favorite authors!
#GrandTour
https://www.facebook.com/events/341057129682684/
Grand Tour of Authors – Mon. Oct. 30th
Grand Tour of Authors
Nov. 2nd – 7pm-8pm CST / 8pm-9pm EST
Join me online at my Facebook page for a Facebook hop, from one author’s Facebook Page to another from Oct. 30 – Nov. 3, and the chance to win Grand Tour prizes from me and your other favorite authors!
#GrandTour
https://www.facebook.com/events/341057129682684/
October 19, 2017
EXTENDED DEADLINE for the All Day Q&A!
EXTENDED DEADLINE for the All Day Q&A!
Due to technical delays with videos, I’m extending the Story Info Scavenger Hunt deadline to Sunday Oct. 22nd at midnight CST! So you still have time to gather info and PM your answers to me this weekend! Meanwhile, link to the event on my Facebook Author Page for the video uploads intended to post on Oct. 18th! I’ll continue to post throughout the weekend.
JAnswer questions about my stories for the chance to win free books and prizes. Don’t worry – you’re allowed to use the Internet or ask your friends if you’re stumped. You’ll also find some answers in the videos I upload. Anyone is eligible to enter, by subscribing to the Packing Action Newsletter Datafile at www.RandallAllenDunn.com!
October 13, 2017
Kane County Authors Read
Don’t forget to join the online
All Day Q & A
at the TCo3 Readalong event
Wednesday Oct. 18th from 9am-5pm!
Ask me anything, and answer my Scavenger Hunt of story questions for chances to win a free ebook or paperback of your choice!
Join me online from 9am-5pm CST and ask me anything about my upcoming projects, writing tips, or just to tell me your favorite superhero!
And I’ve got questions for you, too! Answer questions about my stories for the chance to win free books and prizes. Don’t worry – you’re allowed to use the Internet or ask your friends if you’re stumped. Your friends are eligible to enter, too, by subscribing to the Packing Action Newsletter Datafile at www.RandallAllenDunn.com!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1987117684866278/
Then join me and other local Chicagoland authors at the
Kane County Authors Read
Thursday Oct. 19th from 7pm-9pm
Side Street Studio Arts
15 Ziegler Ct, Elgin, Illinois 60120
Authors will be reading selections and selling their books. Come ready to explore your next favorite read!
October 6, 2017
All Day Q&A! at the TCo3 Read Along Event! Wed. Oct. 18th
Wed. Oct. 18th
All Day Q&A! at the TCo3 Read Along Event!
Join me online from 9am-5pm CST and ask me anything about my upcoming projects, writing tips, or just to tell me your favorite superhero!
And I’ve got questions for you, too! Answer questions about my stories for the chance to win free books and prizes. Don’t worry – you’re allowed to use the Internet or ask your friends if you’re stumped. Your friends are eligible to enter, too, by subscribing to the Packing Action Newsletter Datafile at www.RandallAllenDunn.com!
Indie Author Day! Sat. Oct. 14th at the Schaumburg Township District Library
Indie Author Day!
If you’re in the Chicagoland area, join me and other indie authors at the Schaumburg Library from 11am-1pm CST! Discover your new favorite authors and have them autograph your books!
Schaumburg Township District Library
130 S Roselle Rd.
Schaumburg, IL 60193
September 30, 2017
Kindle Deal: 5 FREE Days of Fright!
Wed. Oct. 4th – Sun. Oct. 8th
For a limited time, get your FREE Kindle copies of THE RED RIDER and DEN and get your fright on!
THE RED RIDER
A scarred, teenage Red Riding Hood fights an army of sinister werewolves in historic France, donning the red cloak she was forbidden to wear in childhood and wielding a repeating crossbow with silver-tipped bolts.
Come along for the ride.
DEN
A beautiful college basketball star is framed and expelled, and forced to play a deadly night game to win her freedom and clear her name. Armed with a survival knife and night vision goggles, she must fight her way past 10 “Stalkers” trying to capture her for themselves in an abandoned theme park, where even the amusement rides are rigged against her.
The only way out is through.
July 31, 2017
Link to Guest Blog: How Harry Potter Turned Me Into a Witch … and Other Fantasy Fiction
Click below to check out my guest blog on New Authors’ Fellowship for a #Christian #writer‘s take on #HarryPotter!
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