Vashti Quiroz-Vega's Blog, page 44
April 10, 2015
Haiku Friday – Vie & Reach
I immediately thought of my work in progress, The Fall of Lilith. The Fall of Lilith is the first installment of my Fantasy Angels Series which should be out later this year (fingers & toes crossed). Anyway, this is what I came up with.
���
��
���
The Fall of Lilith
by Vashti Quiroz-Vega
���
She vies to be seen
Reaching for the pinnacle
She falls the hardest
���
Fantasy Artist Luis Royo
“Her ruthless ambition for power and recognition led millions of angels astray.”
���
Do you enjoy reading? Do you read fantasy books? Do you believe in angels? Demons? Do you believe controversial books should be banned?
Tagged: angels, Fall of Lilith, fallen angels, Fantasy, haiku, haiku challenge, haiku friday, Lilith, Luis Royo, poetry, RonovanWrites, the fall of lilith
April 7, 2015
Nature speaks . . .
Have you ever been deeply��touched by a few well placed words? It happened to me. Everyone who knows me is aware of my love for nature. It’s a profound love.���
It takes genuine talent to move people with few words and John Foster has got the skills. You let me know if I’m wrong after reading his poem ‘Soft Winds’. And if you enjoy his poem you can read more of his work on his blog, JOHN FOSTER.
���
Soft Winds
by John Foster
���
Nature speaks without a tongue,
and sings with her every motion.
She moves with elegance unfelt,
save for the soft winds, to whose
song the tall trees dance.
���
���
���
When was the last time you went to a park? Do you enjoy the outdoors? Have you ever planted a tree?
Tagged: genuine talent, John Foster, nature, poem, poetry, spring, trees, Vashti Quiroz-Vega's Blog
April 3, 2015
Haiku Friday – Ill & Rest
It’s funny that the prompt words for this week on RonovanWrites Weekly Haiku Prompt Challenge is Ill and Rest because I’m home in bed with the flu. I was going to pass on haiku friday this week, but I couldn’t, so this is what I came up with.
���
���
Hatred
by Vashti Quiroz-Vega
���
Ill will in their hearts
Rotting from the inside out
No rest for haters
���
“Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” ~Malachy McCourt
Tagged: haiku, haiku challenge, haiku friday, Malachy McCourt, poetry, RonovanWrites, Vashti Quiroz-Vega's Blog
April 1, 2015
Fairy Tales Are More Than True
Hello! I’m participating this week in Colleen’s Writer’s Quote Wednesday��I know she’s gone off on a magical journey (vacation) and will be back next week. Be sure to check out her blog, Silver Threading for fun and creative posts.
The quote I chose today is another of my favorites. I find it very inspiring. I’ve used this quote before or after The Basement book readings in schools and the kids love it too.
���
���
“Fairy Tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”
~G.K. Chesterton
���
*��Gilbert Keith Chesterton is considered by some to be the best writer and thinker of the 20th century. He’s best known for his Father Brown (Priest/Detective) stories.
���
Do you read fairytales to your children? Even Albert Einstein had recommended that parents read fairytales to their children. What do you think about that?
Tagged: author quotes, dragons, fairytale, Father Brown, G.K. Chesterton, inspiration, quote
March 30, 2015
There’s Beauty in Sad Things
Francine Rose Hirst is a charismatic and talented writer and poet. Visit her blog and read more of her poems and interesting posts about powerful and��influential��events in her life.
���
Spring‘s Bleeding Heart
by Francine Rose Hirst
���
Spring evokes excitement.
I smell Spring.
I breathe Spring.
And yet.
Spring evokes sadness.
I remember good times.
I cry.
Spring evokes haunting.
Carefree days.
City lights at night.
Spring evokes life.
I watch as an outsider.
A hidden being.
Spring evokes love.
Too much.
I hurt.
Spring evokes passion.
Wasted.
Let me be.
Spring evokes hope.
It has no right.
Set me free.
Spring evokes kisses.
Sweet longing at night.
Mornings alone.
Spring evokes images of you.
Your life.
Shared so freely.
Spring please be over.
I can���t bare it.
Any longer.
My heart bleeds.
Spring���s joy is not mine.
This time.
���
What does Spring evoke for you? Do you have memories that haunt you? What is your happiest memory?
Tagged: Fran Rose Writes, Francine Rose Hirst, heartbreak, memories, poem, poetry, spring, Vashti Quiroz-Vega's Blog, writer
March 27, 2015
Haiku Friday – Foul & Sweet
Hello and welcome once more to ‘Haiku Friday’! Today’s prompt words from RonovanWrites Weekly Poetry Prompt Challenge are Foul and Sweet. Right away a certain person came to mind. Now, that may sound mean but if you knew this person you would completely understand ������and agree.
���
The Green-Eyed Monster
by Vashti Quiroz-Vega
�������������
Foul stench of envy
Hidden behind a sweet��smile
Danger is amid
���
Whenever I come across a talented poet I like to share her or his work with my readers. Why should I have all the fun? It is my pleasure to introduce you to another gifted��poet I met online. Her name is Izza Ifzaal and you can read her work on her blog a touch of my saint! This poem touched me because it was as if she were telling my story in a way. I’m sure many of you will relate.
���
A Sphere of Friendship
by Izza Ifzaal
���
That phase of life made her scared
From the envious and cunning Earth
Making her want to stay away from everyone
Because she had heard somewhere before
They are your worst enemies
Will eat every bit of you with vindication
Observing why are all in vain to have them
Making her suspicious and mysterious
Of this sacred bond of friendship which
Had nothing to offer other than animosity
But sooner or later she found herself
Entangled in this web, breathing life
Giving her a chance to experience this meaning of attachment
Compelling her to omit all the odds and letting
Her open eyes and just see there are great minds
Thinking like her, searching for her
Without even asking something in return because
She realized that balance is restored
Nobody can end up having all bad days or all good days
Sometime it���s dawn and sometimes it���s dusk
And what matters at the end of the day is this bond
Comforting you in dread of times coping up
With everything with this tad bit of sphere called friendship
���
What would a world without friends be like? Is someone in your life jealous and/or envious of you? Does this person try to make your life difficult? What frightens you? What gives you comfort?
Tagged: a touch of my saint!, envy, green eyed monster, haiku, haiku challenge, haiku friday, Izza Ifzaal, jealousy, poems, poetry, RonovanWrites, Vashti Quiroz-Vega's Blog
March 24, 2015
The Unread Story Is Not A Story . . .
Hi everyone! Today I’m participating in Colleen’s Writer’s Quote Wednesday. Check out Colleen’s blog, Silver Threading, for some great quotes, poems, and articles. Today I’m sharing one of my favorite quotes by author Ursula K. Le Guin. I appreciate my readers very much and when I post a story it gives me great pleasure to read their comments. I especially love when they mention my characters by name������it annimates��them. The illustration I used for this quote is my concept brought to life by artist George Miltiadis. It’s amazing to see the characters you made up in your head materialize in art.
The above characters are from my Fantasy Angels Series. The 1st book in the series, The Fall of Lilith, will be out later this year.
���
Tagged: author, author quotes, quotes, Silver Threading, story, the fall of lilith, Ursula K. Le Guin
Cinderella in Review
Two weekends ago��I went to the cinema with my youngest niece, Samantha. I was dying to see the movie ‘Cinderella’ and I thought she might enjoy it too. Well, actually I was crossing my fingers and saying a little prayer that she might enjoy it. You see my niece Samantha is a 14 yr. old (going on 25), an intellectual and somewhat of a tomboy. So I crossed my fingers and toes, picked her up, and we went to see the movie.
This Disney classic is masterly retold in a film that is imaginative, delightful, and amazing. , the director, deserves a standing ovation for making��this story, that we all know by heart, feel fresh and new.
A round of applause to , casting director, for choosing an incredible cast.��The cast and the individuals performances are pitch perfect. Cate Blanchett fully embraces her role as the conniving and wicked Stepmother. Richard Madden (of Game of Thrones fame) is a ridiculously charming Prince. Lily James, most known from her role on Downton Abbey, is wonderful as Cinderella. Other well-known actors round out the cast: Derek Jacobi, Stellen Skarsgard, Helena Bonham Carter (one of my favorites), Nonso Anozie, and Hayley Atwell.
Everything about the film is visually stunning������from the sets to the costumes to the actors������and being a courageous, kind person is a constant theme.
This is a great movie for parents (or aunties) to see with their kids������girls or boys. Both my niece and I enjoyed the movie very much and talked about it all the way home.
���
To go with my ‘Cinderella Movie’ review I’m going to share a beautiful poem by the��award winning poet Jan Allison. You’ve read some of her haiku here on Haiku Friday. She’s very talented.
���
The Belle of the Ball
by Jan Allison
���
My dress is made of fine peach coloured* lace
Hair is in ringlets, which frames my pretty face
The lights in the room cast a romantic glow
My first ever ball; I must go with the flow
The orchestra strikes up a wonderful tune
Ladies and gentlemen glide round the room
I stand on the sidelines I am oh so very shy
Then a dashing young man catches my eye
I smile at him, then I coyly avert my eyes
I find him so handsome; that I cannot disguise
He reaches tenderly for my awaiting hand
We move to the dance floor; oh it is so grand
His arm wrapped around my tiny waist
We dance to the music, there is no haste
So full of excitement at the hope of romance
I float round the room at my very first dance
At the end of the dance he bows down low
My heart is aflutter I hope this does not show
He leads me gently to the side of the room
Sweet roses enchant us, we smell their perfume
Time flies by so fast and we dance all night
He looks in my green eyes and to my delight
Whispers so gently those words I long to hear
You simply are the belle of the ball my dear
He reaches out gently and kisses my hand
My first ever ball has been oh so grand
Sadly now it is time for me to depart
I bid adieu to the man who has stolen my heart
���
What’s your favorite Fairytale? What Fairytale character would you say most resembles you in character or appearance?
Tagged: Cate Blanchett, Cinderella, Cinderella Movie, fairytale, Helena Bonham Carter, Jan Allison, Kenneth Branagh, Lily James, Lucy Bevan, movie, poetry, review
March 20, 2015
Haiku Friday – Beacon & Field
Welcome to Haiku Friday! Well this week Ronovan from RonovanWrites did not make it easy with his Weekly Haiku Poetry Prompt Challenge! Check out these prompt words: Beacon and Field. Yikes! I almost broke my brain trying to come up with something and just when I was about to give up, Florence Nightingale popped in my head. Here’s my haiku.
The Lady with the Lamp
by Vashti Quiroz-Vega
���
Florence Nightingale
Shinning on the battle field
A beacon of hope
���
Florence Nightingale was the founder of modern nursing. During the Crimean War she managed a group of nurses, trained by her, and she organized them to tend wounded soldiers.��She elevated the reputation of nursing and became an icon of Victorian culture, especially in the persona of “The Lady with the Lamp” making rounds of wounded soldiers at night. She was a hero in the war especially in those days when most of the soldiers that died did so from infection and disease rather than from their actual wounds. She changed a lot of that. And guess what? She was also a writer, although��much of her published work was concerned with spreading medical knowledge. You can read more about her here.
���
In many medical facilities nurses are overworked, underpaid, and in many cases unappreciated. Are you a nurse? Is there a nurse in your family? Do have a friend who is a nurse? If so, thank her or him for me. It’s one of the hardest jobs.
Tagged: beacon, Crimean war, field, Florence Nightingale, haiku challenge, haiku friday, nurse, poetry, RonovanWrites, The Lady with the Lamp
March 17, 2015
Q & A with Zee
Author Z.R. Southcombe
Z.R. Southcombe is a teacher, children���s fantasy writer, surrealist painter, and all-around cool person. She is the author of recently released picture book What Stars Are Made Of and upcoming chapter book The Caretaker of Imagination.
���������
About her books
What Stars Are Made Of was released December 17, 2014. Print will be available soon but is currently on Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords etc. as an eBook. Click on the book cover below to get a copy for your kindle.
���
The Caretaker of Imagination – Will be released 21 March 2015 (The Caretaker of Imagination is available now for pre-orders)
Click on image to pre-order this book
���
Lucy’s Story: The End of the World – Will be released July 2015
And here’s a sneak peek of the illustration for Lucy’s Story (this may be the cover art).
���
Z.R. Southcombe��usually has a few creative projects on the go, including a personal blog, and is always inspired by the young people she meets in her teaching job. No matter what project she is currently working on, Zee is usually accompanied by a cup of tea.
���
Q & A
When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
This is a two-part answer. I realised I wanted to be a writer when I was very young, probably about seven years old I think. However, I only actually decided to pursue it a couple of years ago, when I was 24.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
In terms of my writing process, perhaps my quirk is that I���m not a coffee nut but rather an *ahem* ���tea connoisseur���.
As for my actual writing, although I write books for children, I don���t shy away from deeper ideas and themes that are usually reserved for adults. There were a few things that cropped up from my beta readers ��� concepts such as mindfulness, and deep loss ��� that were pointed out as aspects that children might not understand. There���s also a lot of big words in there (e.g. luscious, delectable, scrumptious��� apparently I talk about food a lot!) but I see it as a teaching point for children.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing or drawing?
As you well know, being a writer involves a lot more than writing! I enjoy most of the other aspects of my writing life, and most of my day is doing something towards my writing career.
Outside of that completely, I play ukulele & guitar, love hiking (though I haven���t been for a while) and enjoy my teaching day job. Obviously, I enjoy reading, and a typical Saturday night is takeouts and watching some sort of Sci-Fi series with my partner.
What do you enjoy more, writing or drawing?
Yeah, no fair. Can I pass?
I enjoy them both equally, for different reasons. I find it easier to express emotion and self through my painting. I am also more practiced at painting, and therefore more confident. This makes my work more freeing.
Writing is more of a challenge, but one that I am thoroughly enjoying. I feel like I���ve had to play catch-up with you guys who have spent years knowing you wanted to write and actually doing so. I���ve devoured books and podcasts and blogs to get to a place where I can write with some confidence. One thing I enjoy more about writing is that it is more easily shared, and lends itself to a wider audience.
���
How did you come up with the titles of your books?
�����The Caretaker of Imagination��� is who the story is all about ��� he���s the man of mystery, and it simply made sense to title the book in this way.
For my wordless book, I did consider calling it ���The Star Maker��� for this same reason, but I went with ���What Stars Are Made Of��� because the story is not about the man who makes them, but about the fact that it is our darkness that helps us shine.
���
What inspired What Stars Are Made of?
The story was inspired by Roald Dahl���s ���The BFG��� and the theme was inspired by my own journey to self-acceptance. I have spent a lot of time over the course of my life wallowing in lowness and self-pity, and I am sure that without the experience of depression, I wouldn���t be half the person I am today.
I hope that this can help other people realise the beauty in themselves.
Briefly tell us what your upcoming book, The Caretaker of Imagination is about.
��It���s a chapter book about a grown-up who realises his life is boring, so runs away (with his cat in tow) in search of adventure. He discovers a real, magical world and is challenged to become magic���s hero.
�����
How would your best friend describe you?
Wise, pretty and intelligent. I don���t claim to agree with her.
���
What are your favorite books for a child?
Anything by Roald Dahl, The Chronicles of Narnia, A Series of Unfortunate Events and Tolkein���s ���The Hobbit���. Also Dr Seuss, but we all know his books aren���t really for children!
What is the most shocking thing one of your students ever said/done in your classroom?
Well, the most shocking thing is something that should not be repeated. Ever.
The most personally insulting was having a child seriously not believe that I was under forty. I was twenty-four at the time. Thanks mate.
Oddball Questions
What songs best describes your work ethic?
I���ve come to realise the importance of self-belief. It is only when I believe that I am and will continue to be successful (in my own way) that I get anywhere with my writing and illustration. On that premise, it���s ���I Just Can���t Wait To Be King��� from Disney���s ���The Lion King���.
���
What do you think about when you are alone in your car?
I think the better question would be ���what don���t you think about when you are alone in the car?��� (the answer would be ���nothing���).
Here���s a list of the most popular thought-patterns:
��� Hmmm, what can I make for dinner?
��� It���s not that hard to use your indicator!
��� Story ideas (I wrote the first chapter of The Caretaker in my head while on the way to work, then got there and had to write it all down before I forgot it!).
��� Discussing whatever���s on my mind with the imaginary person next to me.
��� I wonder if I���ve got time to stop at a caf�� for a bit?
��� Do I need to fill up petrol? Nahh���. It���ll last.
��� My current WiP (in this case, nutting out ���Lucy���s Story��� and thinking of funny things animals could be doing for my illustration job).
��� Are we out of milk / eggs / bread? Oops, passed the supermarket. Too late now.
Connect with Zee on Facebook, Twitter, website, or on Instagram.
Tagged: art, artist, author, Author Interview, Books, children, Dr. Seuss, Imagination, Roald Dahl, teacher, What Stars Are Made Of, writer, Z.R. Southcombe
