Randall Allen Dunn's Blog: Packing Action, page 7

December 14, 2017

Red Rider Rooftop

by Randall Allen Dunn





[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.
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Published on December 14, 2017 21:00

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!

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Published on November 22, 2017 07:17

October 26, 2017

Grand Tour of Authors – Mon. Oct. 30th – Fri. Nov. 3rd

Grand Tour of Authors

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/


 

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Published on October 26, 2017 16:39

Grand Tour of Authors – Mon. Oct. 30th

Thur. Nov. 2rd
Grand Tour of Authors

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/


 

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Published on October 26, 2017 16:39

October 19, 2017

EXTENDED DEADLINE for the All Day Q&A!

Wed. Oct. 18th – Sun. Oct. 22nd midnight CST!
EXTENDED DEADLINE for the All Day Q&A!

TCo3 Readalong - 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!
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Published on October 19, 2017 12:38

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!

TCo3 Readalong - All Day Q&A


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!


 


 

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Published on October 13, 2017 16:09

October 6, 2017

All Day Q&A! at the TCo3 Read Along Event! Wed. Oct. 18th

[image error]
Wed. Oct. 18th
All Day Q&A! at the TCo3 Read Along Event!

TCo3 Readalong - All Day Q&A


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/

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Published on October 06, 2017 13:29

Indie Author Day! Sat. Oct. 14th at the Schaumburg Township District Library

Sat. Oct. 14th
Indie Author Day!

Indie Author Day at Schaumburg Township District Library


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

https://schaumburg.libnet.info/event/294378

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Published on October 06, 2017 13:21

September 30, 2017

Kindle Deal: 5 FREE Days of Fright!

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


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


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.

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Published on September 30, 2017 12:32

July 31, 2017

Packing Action

Randall Allen Dunn
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