K.N. Lee's Blog, page 63

A Poem by, Didi Udofiah!

A Poem by, Didi Udofiah
The echoes of my love for you resonate like a cymbal fading away in the distance
I was an eagle soaring high in freedom when you caught me and placed me in the captivity of your pretentious love
I was your slave and you became my master and you had me at your beckoning command
I was blinded by my passion to love a wounded soul because I too once had being wounded
I understood your pain and longed to be the one who comforted you
I became your sanctuary and you used my soul as your ointment to heal your pain
You heart was a ball bounced around hard against life ill choices then thrown up for grasp
You grab me hard and used me as your rebound until you strength filled your soul again then you dropped me like I was nothing to you like a hot potato
The impact of my fall has left me smashed up like broken glass unable to pick up the pieces and move on
My heart cannot quit you cold turkey and every time I try I go through severe withdraws like a drug addict desperately searching for her next fix
Yes addicted, am addicted to you like a baser on crack
Without you, am lost like a world traveler without a map
I am incomplete without you, am like a jigsaw puzzles missing it pieces
My life without you is like having menstrual pain 24/7 365 days of the year
My heart is empty like a beautiful vase without freshly cut flowers
I can no longer bare this burden of being your captive because once again my soul has been wounded
Release me my love not as the beautiful bird you found me but release my ashes because my love for you as sent me to my grave
So release my ashes my love so from dust to dust and ashes to ashes my soul can once again fly free
For More On Edidiong:  [image error]
livelovelearneveryday.blogspot.com

Sunshine Blogger Award!!

 
Wow! Really? Me? Thanks! I am thrilled to be nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award by Karen Soutar! It truly is my goal to inspire others each day with my writing, challenges, and tips.
So, first I need to share 10 bits of information about myself! This will be fun! 

I chronicle my dreams each night! Some are horrifying, and some are simply brilliant! The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld began with a dream!My favorite color is cerulean! Ha! I've had people tell me that this is not a real color, but I assure you...Crayola has a cerulean crayon. Hehe :PI suffer from CGS...Chronic giggling syndrome. Yes, I know it is a serious condition, but I simply cannot stop being cheerful! I studied biology in college. Yes, I love having an extensive knowledge of the human body, however, I also maxed out my credits with mythology, history, and English courses. I guess I couldn't escape my creative side!I want to learn every language! Right now I am studying French, but I have Spanish and Korean somewhere in the dark recesses of my brain tucked away already.I cook traditional Asian cuisine quite often. It is my FAVORITE!! Ask my friends. I make Cambodian hotpot, Korean BBQ, Thai food, etc. Yum!I was captain of the cheer leading team in high-school, and guess what else... I was Homecoming Queen! What? No way!? It's true. While writing consumes my life, I sometimes forget that I was once an artist. Perhaps one day I will dabbling in the painting/sketching scene once more.I secretly gorge on Reality TV whenever I get a chanceAnd last but not least...I have a level 82 duelist with a level 66 sword singer subclass, 73 necromancer, 64 prophet with I dual box, and 73 temple knight in the game Lineage II. I think this officially qualifies me as geek. It's OK. I don't mind :)Now, here are my nominees of bloggers/writers that inspire me and others all over the world:Karen SoutarKsenia AnskeColleen M. AlbertKristen PhamFiona QuinnThe Grumbling GargoyleCG AylingMaria G. CopeThomas Ray ManningKirstin Pulioff OK, I'm off to notify my nominees! Woohoo!

An Interview With Author, Sylvia Stypa!

Introducing our guest author, Sylvia Stypa!!
Where are you from?    I am originally from Cambridge, Ontario, Canada.  I am a Canadian citizen living in the Greensboro, NC area now.  I am looking forward to becoming an American citizen.
What inspired you to write your first book?     I actually started writing poetry and short stories as a teenager in high school.  My English teacher told me to never stop writing.  I wrote 2 adventure novels and received many nice rejection slips for those back in the day when a writer's only option was publishing companies.  When I moved to North Carolina 5 years ago, I was inspired to write a Christian based fiction.  The Goblet was accepted by the first publishing company I approached, Tate Publishing.
Do you write full-time or part-time? How do you balance your writing life with your family/work life?  This is difficult.  I do not write every day.  I tend to write when I get a thought or idea on how to continue with the current book I am working on.  I have 2 dogs, 4 cats and 2 horses.  I love to ride and ride pretty much every day.  I am fortunate that I am able to not have an outside job so writing is pretty much what I focus on.What jobs have you held that influence your stories? A mother, a volunteer and helping others in need. Do you have a specific writing style?  Not sure about this.  I will write some poetry to incorporate into my books.How did you come up with the title? I am not sure - my friends and editors helped me with this.Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? I would like for people to see that everyone does have struggles in life.  One can either try to resolve them on their own or with the help of God.  How much of the book is realistic?  The goblet is the only thing that is not real.  However, there are different forces in our world and they do try to influence us.  Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life? Some things are based on events that have happened to me.  What books have most influenced your life most?  The Hole in our Gospel by Richard Stearns.  The Bible.If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?  I'm not sure I have one but I do love Janet Evanovich's books. What book are you reading now? Three to Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich.Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?  Where do all these people find all this time to read?  Besides trying to market my book, write, be a mother, take care of 2 dogs, 4 cats, my horse, volunteer, I just have such limited time to read anything but the daily newspaper.  But, sadly, no I haven't really found any new authors.  That will be my next project.What are your current projects?  The Goblet is the first in a series.  The second book is done.  It is a darker novel about the Collins family who is being stalked by a serial killer.  I am currently working on the third book.  The Grifton family and the Collins family meet and become friends.  The oldest daughter, Rachel Grifton, becomes an archaeologist and meets a fellow archaeologist, Wade, who together go off to make more discoveries.Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.  Jesus.Do you see writing as a career?  I will try very hard to make it my career even this late in my blife.If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book? No.Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?  I have always loved to read.  My high school English teacher really kept encouraging me to write.Can you share a little of your current work with us?  I am working on the third book in this series.  I am not sure what to call the series and I have no idea how many books will be in this series.  Right now I am bringing the Grfiton and Collins families together.  Rachel Grifton is an archaeologist.  Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? Being organized enough to write every day.Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?  I don't know if I have a favorite author.  I really enjoy Janet Evanovich.Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?  I wish I could.  I would love to see Israel but right now I don't have the resources to travel.Who designed the covers?  tate Publishing gave me 4 choices of book cover.  My friends and family members chose what you see.What was the hardest part of writing your book? Being honest Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?  I  am a christian. I  have always believed in Jesus but I have wondered always how to connect better, how to follow my faith better, how to hear Him better.  I am slowly learning to lean on Him in times of trouble.  He really is there.  Do you have any advice for other writers?  Never give up.  keep reading. keep writing. join a writer's group. never give up.  Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?  There is power in believing.  What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing it to life?  I would have to ask my readers that.
Do you have an agent or publisher? How did you go about finding one?  Tate Publishing.  I looked up traditional publishing companies in the Christian based fiction genre on line.  Then sent off the first chapter and prayed a lot.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?   North Carolina.  I love the countryside.  I love the people.  I love the accents. I love the faith, strength, courage and resilience of the American people.
If you could have any super power, what would it be?    To love my fellow neighbor better.  To not be so judgmental.  For More On Sylvia Stypa:  www.sylviapatzold.com

Writing session prep!

How do you prepare for a writing session? I don't know about you, but I have a very specific ritual. Whenever I sit down and prepare for some serious writing, here is a list of what I do:
Relax- Writing for me is all about having fun. I know that in a moment I will be transported to another world...a world that I have created, where anything is possible. Whatever stress or worries I have quickly fade. After all, writing is therapy for the soul. Well, at least to me it is.Turn up the music- When it comes to writing, Pandora is my best friend. As a fantasy writer with a heavy focus on action scenes, I particularly enjoy movie soundtracks such as Inception, The Dark Knight, Braveheart, etc. Also, Enya. I love her! Her unearthly, ethereal voice sends hordes of imaginative images to my eager brain.Light a candle- Whenever I am writing a scene or chapter that takes place in a foreign land, I light incense. I really love the incense that they sell at World Market, and it actually helped me take my mind to another land when I wrote Lilae from Rise of the Flame's scenes in the exotic Nimvissian Empire! Even if you aren't writing a scene that takes place in a foreign land, something as simple as lighting a candle can work wonders on your imagination. There is something about scent that just works for me.  
This may be a short list, but give it a try. Simple things like this can make a huge impact on the quality of your writing session. Let me know if any of my tips work for you, or even better, share some of your own in the comments section!

Sleeping Troll- Writing Prompt

The sleeping troll has the power to grant you one wish. However, the first person to awaken him will face certain death. What do you do? 

Fan Responses From Facebook:

Edward Perez I will tell the troll that my wish is not to be killed by a particular creature, and then I will give him my pocket mirror telling him that it has the image of that creature from whom he has to protect me. Apparently, he will find his own reflection in that mirror and since he is bound to grant me a wish, he will have to allow me to walk free without causing any harm.

  Jiana Hernandez Make a hologram of someone to awaken him

When I Think- K.N. Lee

When I Think K.N. Lee
When I thinkI think too muchYour eyesYour lipsYour scentYour touchI thirst for moreI yearnIt burnsThis effervescence Your smileIts curvesSweet sounds of melodySlip from your lips and smother meCool gazes lingerOf blues and greenMy heart is captured Your heart is free  

Writing Challenge With Author, Sylvia Stypa!!

The Challenge:
In 3000 words or less, write about a young woman who decides to run away from home instead of marrying her the man she has been betrothed to. What happens when she decides to join a gang of thieves?
The Author: Sylvia Stypa

     “Okay.  How stupid is this?”  Tamara Winston carefully tugged at the pocket of her pants, trying not to rip it.  She raised herself up on the tips of her toes and then unhooked herself from the drainpipe that she had snagged herself on.  
 “It’s just one thing after the other,”  she grimaced.
     So, maybe it hadn’t been a smart idea to crawl down the drainpipe from her bedroom window.  Maybe she could have quietly exited the house from the back door.  But this  had seemed to be the quietest way to leave the house.  It had seemed like a good idea until she had gotten her pants caught on the drainpipe.  Actually, there had been a moment where she thought she might fall and she had to gather her breath and her thoughts before continuing the climb down.  Wouldn’t it have been easier to just leave from the back door, she cursed herself.  But no, this was definitely a more dramatic exit.  Her parents had forced her into a position she just could not live with.
     “I can’t believe my parents would do this to me.”  Tamara tried not to let the tears pour down her cheeks as she dusted herself off and quickly ran towards her car.  She sat down on the cold, damp ground at the base of the large maple tree in the front yard and turned to look at the house she had grown up in.  She wiped the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand and sniffed defiantly at the red brick house.
     Tamara had always been a good kid growing up.  She loved the horse farm that her parents now ran.  It hadn’t always been a horse farm.  Her grandparents had tried to make a go of it with the farm.  But they didn’t have much luck with the cattle.  For some reason or another, one or two cows always seemed to escape.  Or one of them would pick up a disease that the others would catch and her grandfather would either have to spend a fortune medicating or make the decision to slaughter them.
     Tamara’s father, Sam, always said that his parents got into cattle farming for the wrong reasons.  Sam’s father had gotten into it after a bet that he had lost at a poker game one weekend.  Sam’s parents were clueless when it came to farming.  Tamara wasn’t sure of all the details and wondered how someone could get into cattle ranching or farming or whatever it was called from a poker game.  But there it was.  It was an interesting story but something her father avoided telling.
     At least Sam’s father had picked up the farmland at a real steal.  It was at the end of nowhere and the previous owner had been extremely eager to sell it off.  The previous owner had restrained a laugh when Sam’s father had shook hands after purchasing the land.  Tamara’s father had tried to unearth the reason for the cheap price, but could never establish the reason.  At any rate, Sam had inherited the land from his father when he had died unexpectedly five years ago and had decided to turn it into a horse farm.
     People were very eager to board their horses at the barn which was called Winston’s Wish.  Sam had been very accommodating and had put in a very nice indoor arena with stalls by converting the old cattle barn into stalls with tack rooms for horses and had put in a wonderful outdoor arena with jumps.
     The barn was now filled to capacity.  Tamara had grown to love the horses and had one of her own.  She rode Gizmo, a beautiful bay American Quarterhorse, almost every day.  The farm would be hers one day or so it had seemed.  She had gone off to college to earn a business degree and was keeping the books for the barn and helped regularly with the chores.  Life had seemed almost perfect.
     Well, until her parents started nagging at her to get married.  Their daughter was getting up in years.  Don’t you want a nice man to take care of you?  They kept asking.  Tamara had managed to hold off on their ideas for a while but it seemed like they were getting desperate.  They wanted to become grandparents and Tamara was their only child.     It had been humorous when they had first started bringing home different men from the surrounding area.  Tamara had felt like an item at an auction.  She had to smile at her grandmother.  Nan would stand at the door, warning her. 
 “This one is awful.  I don’t know what your parents are thinking.”  Or she would wink at Tamara with a glint in her eye and say,  “I think I’ll keep this one for myself.”
     Tamara would respond with, “You go for it Nan.”
     Dinners at the Winston house had become painful.  Tamara never knew what to expect or who would be there.  More often than not, Tamara would avoid dinner and would pretend to have meetings or work outside or try to meet with friends.  But it was difficult to avoid being at the house altogether because she never knew if someone would be there visiting.
     Until the day when the new neighbor from the farm behind the Winstons arrived to visit.  John Allington was a newly divorced man and had just inherited his parent’s farm.  Tamara’s parents had latched onto him with great delight.  How perfect this would be.  If Tamara and John would marry, the two farms could be combined.
     The only problem with John was that he was two inches shorter than Tamara, who herself stood at five foot seven.  Okay, that wasn’t the only problem.  John had a horrible lisp.  When he talked very quickly, he tended to send saliva spewing to the side of his mouth.  He also had some kind of nasal congestion problem which made him snort at very inopportune times and he was probably as wide as he was tall.
     Tamara had shuddered uncontrollably when her parents had him over for supper the first time.  Even Nan had looked at him with her jaw hanging open.  She muttered once to her son, “What the heck are you thinking?”  but had been unceremoniously shushed by both Sam and his wife, Nellie.     Tamara had desperately tried to leave the dinner early by saying there was a horse who needed her attention, but her mother had clasped her wrist in a stranglehold that had left a bruise on her skin.  Tamara did wince in pain and cried out with a, “What the, Mom.”  But Sam had talked over the outburst and had smiled brightly at John.
     No wonder Tamara loved her Grandmother so much.  Nan saw the battle going on with Tamara and Nellie, so she quite willingly picked up a forkful of mashed potatoes and flung them at her daughter-in-law.  Nellie’s mouth dropped open and she brought both hands to her face where the mashed potatoes had landed and wiped the mess off, giving Tamara time to jump out of her seat and dash into the kitchen.  “I’ll get a cloth for that mess.”
     On Tamara’s way out the door, she could hear the commotion in the dining room as both her parents scolded Nan for her behavior.  She heard her grandmother exclaim,  “Why I thought you wanted John to feel right at home.  I’ve been waitin’ for a good food fight again.”
     Tamara ran out the door after grabbing her purse and ran to her car.  She needed to see her best friend, Suzanne.  Suzanne had moved into the city after graduating from college but the two young ladies kept in touch.  Suzanne kept laughing at Tamara’s parents tactics and the two of them devised plans on how to stop the constant “arrangements”.
     Unfortunately, they could not devise a good enough plan.  Tamara’s parents were on full steam ahead and determined to bind the two into matrimony.  John was at the house, almost every night for supper.  Nan’s behavior escalated into full out war on her son and daughter-in-law.  Her comments about John’s manners and appearance were consistently expressed but went unnoticed.  John seemed to be oblivious to Nan’s remarks and would chew happily along on all the free food being supplied to him.
     After one particularly distressing meal, Tamara had just barely fled the table in tears.  Could her parents not see what they were doing?  Could they not understand her feelings?  Tamara drove into town and stopped at her favorite hang out place.  A small diner and bar where a live band would play on Friday and Saturday nights.
     Tamara found Suzanne at the bar and joined her.  Tamara ordered a glass of water and a vodka tonic then grasped her head and shook it.  “Another wonderful Friday night dinner,”  she stated.
     “OMG!  I don’t know why my parents are doing this!  John is totally and utterly despicable.  I should be wearing a safety mask just to avoid all the food that he propels constantly from his mouth.  My mother is usually so picky about people’s eating manners and yet she sits there like this,”  Tamara sat back in her seat, folded her hands into her lap and pulled her lips tight with a frown locked onto her face, imitating her mother’s posture.
     Suzanne almost doubled over into laughter.  “And what does your dad do?”
     “He looks everywhere but at John and keeps talking.”  Tamara rubbed her forehead and grabbed the vodka tonic from the bartender and took a small swallow.  She shook her head.  “Oh man.”
     “Too bad your parents didn’t pick up on this guy.”  She nodded her head pointing to the lead singer of the band.  The band had just finished their set and were putting down their instruments.
     The lead singer was a tall, dark haired young man.  His black hair was short and shaped his head closely.  He looked up from the guitar he had placed against a stool and smiled at Tamara.  His bright blue eyes were shocking and the dimples in his cheeks were pronounced as he smiled.     Tamara’s heart skipped a beat and she quickly swiveled her head to Suzanne.  “He is gorgeous,”  she proclaimed.     “That he is.  And he’s coming this way.”  Suzanne turned and smiled at the handsome man as he approached them.     “Good evening ladies.  Are you enjoying our music?”  His voice was deep and rich.  Tamara was enthralled by his speaking voice.
     “I just got here so I didn’t really have time to hear your songs.”  Tamara informed him.  Her hazel eyes locked on to his deeply bright blue eyes.  Her heart was beating rapidly against her chest.  Tamara felt her throat go dry and she took a quick swallow of her drink.
     “Are you going to stay and listen to our last set?”  The young man asked.
     “I might.”  Tamara said coyly.
     “Let me introduce myself.  Name is Randy Justice.”  He offered his hand first to Suzanne and then Tamara.  When their hands touched, Tamara felt a tingle race up her arm to her heart.  She bit her lips and tried to smile calmly.
     “Suzanne and Tamara.”  Suzanne offered.  “I don’t know about Tamara, but I am staying to hear the last set.  I’ve enjoyed the music so far.”
     “What type of music do you play?”  Tamara questioned.     “I would call it folk art.”  Randy settled on a chair beside Tamara and watched her carefully.
     Tamara felt uncomfortable with the scrutiny and she kept looking at her friend to see her reaction.  “How long will you be playing here?”
     “We’ve got a couple gigs here in the city.  We’ll be here tomorrow night and probably next weekend as well.  Then we’ll be at another bar, not sure of the name offhand, for about three weeks.  So we’ll probably be around for about a month.”
     “I see.”  Tamara said.
     They chatted for quite a while before Randy had to join his band members back on stage.  Tamara and Suzanne watched them until the end and then were invited to stay with them for a while after the practice.  The band members were interesting and entertaining so they enjoyed their time together.
     Tamara had gone home that night with a smile on her face.  Her parents were asleep in bed by the time she got home so she avoided their frustrations with her until the morning.  Her mother was sure to let her know that John had been quite upset with her sudden departure.  She could not understand what her daughter’s problem was with such a nice young man.
     Tamara rolled her eyes as she thought about her mother and just shook her head.  Was her mother that desperate to have her only child married off that she would just about grab at anything?  Tamara’s attempts to let her mother know her opinion of John, fell on deaf ears.  Her father was the same.  She found herself avoiding her parents as much as possible and keeping herself busy.
     Over the next month, Tamara found herself sneaking out consistently to meet with Suzanne, the other band members and Randy.  Then it quickly became secret rendezvous with just Randy.  She felt herself falling in love with the debonair young man and realized that she would be heart broken when their band finally decided to move on to the next location.
     Randy’s band was called the Slippery Fingers and their music was very relaxing yet fun.  Tamara enjoyed their music and when Randy found out that Tamara had a business degree, he joked that perhaps they should hire her on as their business manager.  At some points, she felt as if Randy was being serious and would tell him that if he was, she would consider the position, even though she knew the pay wasn’t great.
     Over the same time period, Tamara’s parents became more and more desperate for Tamara to spend alone time with John.  Every time they could coincide their meals with Tamara and John, they would leave the table and drag Nan out of the room as well.  She could just imagine the coaching her parents were giving John and it rattled her.  Tamara had not bothered to inform her mother about her feelings for Randy.  It would be pointless.
     Until tonight, when Tamara had been cornered by her mother and Nellie had begged her daughter to stay for dinner.  Her mother had pleaded and had started to cry which had knocked Tamara into a guilty frame of mind.  Tamara had reluctantly agreed to stay.
     John had arrived with a bouquet of flowers and presented them to her, after ceremoniously telling her how lovely she looked.  Tamara shoved her hands into her back jeans pockets and looked down at her feet.  There was a hole in the toe of one of her socks and she wiggled the toe while rolling her eyes.  “Sure,”  she managed to say quietly.
      They sat down to dinner and before Tamara knew what was happening, Nan was being dragged out of the room by her parents.  Tamara swore she heard her grandmother call out,  “Don’t do it.  Run, Tamara.  Run.”
     John cleared his nose and his throat at the same time.  Tamara just widened her eyes at the noise and wondered how she could escape.  She did manage to start to push herself out of the chair when John again cleared his throat.     “Tamara, I need to talk to you.”
     “Wh,… I mean, oh?”  Tamara did not sit back down into her chair.  Her chances to run were narrowing down.     “I know we haven’t known each other for very long.”  John shuffled around in his jacket pocket.  “And we really haven’t had that much alone time together but I’m sure, in time, we can find out all kinds of wonderful things about each other.”  John took out a napkin and wiped the side of his mouth.     He rummaged in his jacket pockets again and managed to find a small jeweller’s box which he pulled out and placed on the table.  “I know this might be sudden but I feel a real kinship with you.”
     Tamara’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped.  “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
     “Your parents have told me that you need a good man like me to take care of you.  They have assured me that they have our best interests at heart.”  John opened the lid of the box and a large diamond ring sparkled at Tamara.
     “Crap!”  Tamara shouted out.  “Are you kidding me?  We don’t even know each other.  How can you do this?”     At that moment, Nan rushed into the room.  “Golly!  That’s the biggest diamond I ever did see.  But don’t you do it Tamara.  Don’t do it.”  
     Sam and Nellie rushed in behind Nan and they both stopped and stared at the huge diamond ring.  Nellie immediately grabbed Tamara and kissed both her cheeks.  “Oh, I’m so happy for you.  We’ll plan the biggest wedding this neighborhood has ever seen.”
     “What!  Are you kidding me!  I didn’t, I’m not,., No chance in hell I’m marrying John.”  Tamara flew out of the room and ran up the stairs to her room.  She slammed the door shut and locked it.
     So, now here Tamara was, fleeing her parent’s house and driving to Randy’s hotel room.  The Slippery Fingers were finishing up their last gig tonight and were planning on moving to the next job.  Tamara knew where they were staying and drove quickly to their hotel.
     Tamara parked her car and ran to the door of Randy’s room, knocking loudly.  Randy pulled the door open and when he saw her, he pulled Tamara into the lit room.  Tamara frowned when she saw the other band members sitting on one of the hotel room beds, piles of money and jewelry spread out between them.
     Tamara turned to look at Randy with a puzzled frown on her face.  “What’s going on here?”
     “Oh, sweetheart,”  Randy bent and gave Tamara a kiss.  “Did I forget to tell you about our side jobs?  We’re kind of like Robin Hood.  Take from the rich and give to the poor.  Sorta.  Kinda.  Welcome to our group.”





For More on Sylvia Stypa: www.sylviapatzold.com

I Do Not Care- a poem

I Do Not Care K.N. Lee
Gasping for a breath of airMy eyes openYou are not thereHeart wrenches in despairI am aliveI do not care

Interview With Author Lawrence BoarerPitchford!!

Interview:Where are you from?There are those who say that I originated from a fracture in the space time continuum, but I actually started life in a sleepy little town called Santa Clara. I’ve lived most of my life in California, a state in the boisterous nation of the United States. Having said that, I traveled extensively in my youth; picking up a little accent in France, and a lot of rain in Britain.  Now that I’ve shrunk a little with age, and grown more wary of loud music and young adults, I have come to realize that it’s not where you come from that is important, but where one is going.  What inspired you to write your first book?My first book is titled Tales of Mad Cows and Brothels, an epic story about a Welsh nobleman, an Irish pirate, and a French rogue priest on a collision course with an assassination attempt on Queen Elizabeth I. What inspired me to write it was a complex mixture of liquor fueled writing sessions with my co-author, bawdy adventures, and a grotesque sense of humor. It all started in nineteen ninety two, when my college roommate and I were preparing to go to the Renaissance Faire at the Black Points Forest in Novato, California. My roommate produced a ten page story about he, and I, and another friend, during the Renaissance wreaking havoc across the green lands of England, all the while being irreverent, despicable, drunk, and ruthless. This story preyed on our warped sense of humor, and by the time it had been read, I knew I needed to add to the body of work. Soon it was a competition between my roommate and me to write the most insane, warped, funny story using the same characters, in the same setting. Once I wrote those first semi-cohesive stories, I was passionately invested as a writer. Though my partnership with my college roommate didn’t last, I’ve been writing ever since. Do you write full-time or part-time? How do you balance your writing life with your family/work life? This is an excellent question, and one that I’m going to answer based on my philosophy about one’s passion. I spend ten hours a day working as a high-tech professional. So, it is safe to say that my career is not writing. I think if one was to survey most Indie authors the ratio of those who work a day job and write when they can to those who have the opportunity to have writing as their career, would be fairly lopsided. Having said that, it is a dream of mine, and I’m sure many others, to write books that entertain, and make a living of it. Now, about the balancing act. I am a man suspended over a chasm, walking a tightrope, while carrion birds dive for my eyes, and hungry demons below call for me to jump. Being a creative person, or rather an artist who must work a job that is anything but creative, it is painful and taxing both physically and mentally. In regards to my family, I’m an empty nester. So, there is only my wife and I and our pets. My wife is very understanding when it comes to my writing, even though she may not agree with everything I write. So, what is the balance? I typically write when I get home. I work on my various projects into the night, then stagger to bed, to try and get enough rest to make it through another day at the “salt mines”. I try and write on the weekends between the domestic duties of maintaining a household and walking/biking on the many trails near my home. There’s never enough time to relax and just fade into the worlds that exist in my mind. I’m always aware my time is limited.  What jobs have you held that influence your stories?Jobs that have influenced my art? I’d have to say every one that I’ve ever had. When I was fifteen, I got a job in a hardware store in the tiny town of Cool California - it really was called Cool. Anyway, when I wasn’t lugging sacks of dog food, or stacking bales of hay, I’d wander the aisles envisioning the things I could make with the pipes, and fittings, and the threaded rod, and the brass items. I would imagine I was a secret agent, or army soldier, or trapped by a robber. This pattern of imagination was with me in many of my previous jobs. While working those jobs, I interacted often with various personalities and, dare I say it, characters. I think that most authors gather resources from their personal experiences, and work is one of those experiences. Drawing from those past jobs, or even from my current work, helps feed my inner monologue and build believable characters, dialogue, and action that go into my books.  
Do you have a specific writing style?My works are mostly action adventure stories. They are the types of stories that I like to read, and are the types of stories that my friends like to read. I try not to make melodramas, or put too much protracted action in. I try to have my characters and their situations make sense and be true to the story. I like archetypes and humor, though my humor may not be everyone’s cup of tea. I like anti-heroes and characters who are victims of circumstance, driven by destiny, or fate.  
How did you come up with the title?I have five books. Each title was a labor of love. Tales of Made Cows and Brothels was derived because the first story my roommate wrote was titled “This Is Not About Mad Cow Disease”. We thought it was clever if we titled the final work Tales of Mad Cows, then thought we should add some sex, and added word brothels to the end. In hindsight we probably should have titled the book something else. The titles that I have created myself, such as The Lantern of Dern Blackhammer, is a descriptor of the contents. The story is literally about the lantern that the dwarf Dern Blackhammer forged during a war between the gods, and mortals. In the story titled In the World of Hyboria, the adventures of the barbarians and their wizard friend take place on the continent of Hyboria; a place created by the late Robert E. Howard. Thadius was derived from the main character’s name, Moras Tiberius Thadius, who is a widowed, retired, Roman general that harbors a terrible secret – though he doesn’t quite know it to start. And, finally the American Civil War novella titled Sawbones; a story about a British surgeon who uncovers a devious plan to alter the outcome for the South. With the exception of my first book, all the others were titled based on what they are truly about.  


Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?All my books have a hidden message. In Thadius, the message is that one is never too old to live life; In Sawbones, the message is that it doesn’t matter who one is, or what one does, because a person is judged based on their character, their honesty, their kindness, and willingness to do the right thing. I’ll let your audience read my fantasy novels to determine what the message(s) are in those. How much of the book is realistic?I like to think that my readers will find my stories very believable. I strive to get the reader to buy into the setting, characters, and the plot. Those who have read my work say the story (any one of them) pulls the reader in and makes them inhabit the world that I created. In the case of my historical works such as Thadius, and Sawbones, I did extensive research to paint a picture of the period in which they are set in. I really wanted the reader to taste the dust on the road, and feel the cold of the rain when it fell. I wanted the audience to feel the heartache of the age, and the longing, as well as the elation, and passion.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?I’m not sure that any author can separate their personal experiences from their characters. Though the subjects may be fiction, and the protagonist/antagonist constructs of my imagination, they are formed from my interactions with life and love, and sadness, and anger. They carry the components of those that I’ve met on my journey through life, as well as other books, movies, and stories I’ve been told. None of my characters are based on any individual. I form them from the raw clay of my imagination, then I season that avatar with what I think makes sense. Often times, those things I thought fit that character, doesn’t, and the character begins the evolution process toward what they end up being in the final product.
What books have most influenced your life most?I’m glad you asked. The biggies have been Dante Alighieri’s Devine Comedy, Robert E. Howards’ Conan books, Alexander Dumas’ the Three Musketeers, Dan Simons’ Hyperion, Larry Niven’s The Ring World, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, and of course Tales of Mad Cows and Brothels (classic!).  
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?I’d have to say Larry Niven. He is an amazing author and one of my favorites. He’s written both science fiction and fantasy, and his works are based in wonderful science. 
What book are you reading now?Currently I’m reading the Wolf’s Moon by Patrick Jones, the Chronicles of Koa by K.N. Lee, and A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burges.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?I’m much more a writer than I am a reader. Don’t get me wrong, I love to read, but reading takes up my time, and that’s time I could be using to write. So, I typically opt to write rather than read most of the time. In truth, I really haven’t been gripped by any contemporary authors, yet. Now, that’s not to say that there aren’t very talented Indie authors out there who do fantastic work. It’s just I haven’t been smitten with any I’ve read yet.
What are your current projects?I’m working on one fresh storyline that is science fiction. It’s a story about a group of young adults whose world is turned upside down by war. The setting is on a continent called Augerland that has human habitation on the west coast. The technology that the humans have is steam power, and some electrical power– sort of a nineteenth Century setting, but that is not the only technology left on the continent. The working title is Harrow’s Gate. I’m also working on the second book in the The Lantern of Dern Blackhammer universe. This story is centered on the ancient city of Moore that is buried beneath the current city. Ford, the main character is sent to retrieve the codpiece of the White King of Moore. The problem is that there is little that is known about the old city, how to get into it, or what is really there. Next, I’m working on editing/rewriting the second story in the Mad Cows series. The working title is Doom of Rogues, and centers on the three anti-heroes seeking revenge for being cursed by a witch from the first book, whom they tried to kill. Lastly, I’ve finished and am waiting to edit/rewrite the third and final story in the In the World of Hyboria stories. This is the final and gripping tale of Grimface the wizard and his two barbarian companions who meet their destiny in a final epic battle against the last Atlantian.     
Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.I have two friends who have been my writing cheer team. My friend Dave has been reading my work since the first Mad Cows short stories back when I was in college. He shares my somewhat twisted sense of humor and even today plays an instrumental role in acting as a sounding board for my project ideas. Then there’s Gary, a friend from work who I let read Tales of Mad Cows and Brothels when I was editing it. He also plays a role as a sounding board, and creative catalyst. I have received lots of moral support from other friends, but the most consistent has come from Dave and Gary.
Do you see writing as a career?I have a career as an information technology professional now, and dabble in writing as a hobby career, having said that, I dream, and long to make my sole career the creation and promotion of my novels/novellas. I am not so much a technical writer, or a journalist; I don’t really enjoy those aspects of writing. Creative writing I love and have a passion for. So, if it were to happen, that I was to be solicited by a publisher and/or literary agent today, I’d pick writing as a career over what I do as my day job.


If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?There are always elements of the plot that could be changed. At this point I think that I have things pretty tight, but my process consists of much iteration, many drafts, and much rework. I’ll create a rough draft and work on it, only to find a year later that it really needs half of the chapters torn out and rewritten, or the plot needs to be completely changed. My latest published book, In the World of Hyboria Book 1 and Book 2 is actually two five chapter short stories based on the world created by Robert E. Howard (who created Conan the Barbarian). The nice thing about being an Indie author and publishing in only electronic format is that one can take a work out of circulation, fix issues, and put it back quickly.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?My interest in writing came about while I was in college. My college roommate, I, and another friend of ours liked to attend the Northern California Renaissance Faire at Black Point Forest in Novato. To wet our appetites (so to speak) for the debauchery that was to take place, my roommate and I began to write short stories detailing the exploits of our faire characters. They were tales of drunken, loutish, roguish behavior that mocked authority, and deflowered any aspect of innocence. They were written tongue in cheek, and meant to be a parody of fantasy books we’d read. We’d laugh heartily about the mad stories, then climb in the car and drive to the faire. It truly set the mood, and taught me that writing a story meant that an author had the power to convey emotions and imagery through their work. It was a revelation to me and made me wonder if I had that kind of talent, or if I was only doing something funny that was just for that one moment. The jury is still out.      
Can you share a little of your current work with us?My current work centers around four projects, Harrow’s Gate (SciFi), The White King of Moore (SW Fantasy), In the World of Hyboria Book 3 (SW Fantasy), and Doom of Rogues (SW Fantasy). Each of these books are built on the foundation of what I’ve learned as an author over these past years. The following is a rough draft snippet from Book 3 In the World of Hyboria Return of the God-King (to be published 2014): Blood oozed from his wounds. The deep scratches and minor punctures all over his body were inflamed and burning from the saturation of sweat that covered him. His escape from the briar walled stockade bore witness to his desperation by keeping bits of his flesh as souvenir. The crunch of leaves, branches, and detritus echoed with each footfall. He willed his stride wider by the moment as his pursuers gained on him. It was no use. If they were to capture him again, Grimface knew they would do to him what they did to the other captured souls; sandwich them between wicker webs and burn them with rolls of red hot reeds one spot at a time until all the skin is gone. He shuddered at the thought. His ankle twisted and he tumbled, rolled and came up running still. Behind him, the whoops of the Pics cascaded from his left, right, and directly at the back. If only he could speak, if only he could sing to summon a protective demon, or raise a mist to hide within, but the Pic shaman had made him mute with a spell to deaden his tongue and throat. Grimface’s power was useless now.


Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?Time management. In recent days, I find that as I sit to compose, my cursor finds its way to Facebook, Google+, Twitter, or Goodreads. I am then immersed in the world of my peers and contemporaries. I read their posts, add posts of my own, promote my work, and then realize that I have thirty minutes to write before going to bed. But, this visibility must be kept up, or an author can fall into the abyss of obscurity, and be lost. Or, at least that’s how I feel about it.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?Wow, my favorite author? I love Dante Alighieri, J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert E. Howard, Larry Niven, Dan Simmons, H.P. Lovecraft… Okay, just one…I would pick Tolkien. Tolkien’s two defining books The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings were written very differently, but yet contain the same masterful style of authorship. The Hobbit, a simple adventure story set in Middle Earth was a delight to read as a child and adult, yet contained a intricacy that allowed me to be immersed in the lands of Middle Earth. The Lord of the Rings was a captivating epic, whose complexity and detail dwarfs most other books that I’ve read in the genre. That’s not to say other more contemporary writers don’t have complex stories, but I am saying that when I first read Tolkien, it hit a note with me that has resonated to this day.   
Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?As an Indie author who is e-book centric, I do very little traveling in regards to my writing sudo-career. I would love to go to conferences, conventions, do book signings, appear on talk shows, and do radio spots, but that doesn’t seem to be what is open to me now. So, I stay in my cottage, in my office, and write when I can most of the time.
Who designed the covers?I designed the covers of my books (thus far). It is actually one of the parts of the book production process that I really like. I guess it appeals to my creative intellect, and I would go as far as to say it is nearly equal to my love of writing the book.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?The hardest part of writing for me is the editing. I am a terrible editor, and when I type I make many typo errors (though I’m getting better). The creative part is not so hard – but the work of  editing and rewriting kills me. Yet, it has to be done, and I see the benefit from all that work in the end product.


Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?I don’t think there is enough time to tell about all the lessons learned. Number one – lose any arrogance one may have. Even the most perfect, well educated, and skilled writer makes mistakes. Two, never consider a rough draft a finished product – NEVER! Three, accept critique as the betterment process – and not an attack on your creativity, or personal abilities. Four, take frequent breaks from working. Five, be kind and honest with other writers – but also be tactful. Six, be open to change. Seven, become visible in the authors/readers community. Eight, be generous with your success – in other words, give to charities such as animal shelters, cancer research, food groups, etc. I could go on, but I’ think I might bore your audience.  
Do you have any advice for other writers?Writing is much more than putting down words on a blank page. Writing is a means to convey emotional content to those who read. It is a way to shape thoughts and feelings from the abstract to the physical. Don’t rush to judgment about other writers. Know what you like to write, i.e. know your genre. Have a really good editor. Don’t rush to publish or show your work to literary agents or publishers. Take your time, make sure you’ve caught all the mistakes and filed down all the rough edges. Keep writing no matter what.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?Be kind to people, animals, and yourself. Cruelty should always be shunned. After having said that, I’ll say, if you like action and adventure stories get a copy of Thadius, Sawbones, In the World of Hyboria, and The Lantern of Dern Blackhammer. Also, if one is curious, one can download a free copy of my original book Tales of Mad Cows and Brothels at my website. Also, keep abreast of my writing activities, when my projects will be available, and generally what I’m doing by checking me out on Facebook, Google+, and Twitter.  
What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing it [your work] to life?For my historical fiction books, the research was daunting. To put a set of characters into a historical setting requires making the settings believable. In order to make them believable, the context of the setting has to be spot on. As an example, one would not see firearms in the Roman Republic, nor would one find American Civil War soldiers battling with hoplite shields and spears. Another aspect of struggle in creating wonderful stories is the hard work it takes to make characters believable. Each character has their own personality, characteristics, and foibles that make them unique. Also, it is important to give one’s characters flaws, even some serious flaws that pose challenges within the plot. I often use my knowledge in psychology, science, engineering, philosophy, biology, and many other disciplines to shape, polish, and make believable characters for my works. 


What do you think about e-publishing versus technical publishing?Fantastic question! Each has their benefits. We’re in the early years of the e-book revolution. Things are a bit chaotic at the moment in the industry. Currently e-publishing has opened the doors to would-be authors whose works would otherwise be left in a box in the attic. In that sense we as consumers get to see ideas, themes, and plots that we would not be exposed to otherwise. On the other hand, the quality is all over the map. In the past, the paper publishing industry has held a strangle hold on the book industry ever since Gutenberg first printed the Bible. Now, that hold has slipped a bit, and those well-known publishers are now competing with new business models like Amazon, Smashwords, and many small press publishers, but it hasn’t made access to the paper publishers any easier.  With paper publishing one gets the advantage of the industries strong network of distributers, stores, and publicity/advertising, not to mention their internal services such as editing, cover art, and many others (all things the author does not pay out of pocket for). But, that traditional path is a hard road, filled with query and rejection letters a plenty. It is a difficult business to break into. The new model of e-publishing is far more open; sort of the Wild West. There are many options such as finding a small press e-publisher who deals in one’s genre, or publishing with Save Space, Lulu, Amazon, or Smashwords. This is a harder path in the sense of editing, cover art, promotion, publicity, advertising, and general visibility, and we authors pay out of pocket with little chance of financial return. For me, I chose to do self-publishing with e-publishing because I wanted to get my product out to readers. I felt that I’d gone the traditional path with paper publishing, and found that it’s a more satisfying process to do it myself. Looking back, I see that the e-publishing process posed many challenges that I didn’t realize, but were overcome by dogged perseverance and networking. There is no panacea out there. It is nice to see that now there are traditionally published authors that have come to try their hand in self-publishing through the e-publishing.      Do you have an agent or publisher? How did you go about finding one?In 2000 I was signed to Pulsar Publishing, a subsidiary of Romance Foretold Publishing. Both companies went out of business in 2003. At that time I began to work on my manuscript Thadius, and then went on to work on Sawbones, and The Lantern of Dern Blackhammer. Those works took a long time to write and edit. When I came out form my man-cave to see the light of day, I realized it was 2008. I got a copy of the Novel and Short Story Writer’s Market 28th Edition, and began submitting query letters to agents and publishers. It seemed that the following was the standard reply of the day: “We like the concept, but don’t think your project is a good fit for us right now.” This was code for, “We don’t think we can make a profit publishing your book.” So, I resigned myself to keep writing and keep trying. I eventually realized that if I wanted to get my art in front of readers, I’d have to do it myself. Currently I am unaffiliated with any agent, and sell my works as self-published through companies like Amazon, and Smashwords.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?Are you familiar with the castle in the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast? That’s where I’d like to live; a secluded manor house on a palatial estate, hidden behind a forest, and beautiful. This place could be in the United Stated, Unite Kingdom, or New Zealand… some place amazingly lovely.
If you could have any super power, what would it be?I think I’d like the ability to teleport. With this ability, I could leave work, pop in at home, write, pop back to work – work there – then pop home again to write more. Also, it would make visiting relatives who live in the United Kingdom and other places a bit easier. 

For More on Lawrence BoarerPitchford:
Lawrence BoarerPitchford, AuthorThadiusSawbonesThe Lantern of Dern BlackhammerIn the World of HyboriaTales of Mad Cows and Brothelswww.boarerpitchford.com

Girl in a Cage- writing prompt

Who is this girl, and why is she kept in a cage?