Harule Stokes's Blog, page 5

Except from the First Chapter of Sectors - The Great War

It feels good to feel good about what you're working on doesn't it?  I think so.  Here's what I'm feeling good about today. :)

“No Clarence, same answer as before. No. The same answer in the future. No.”

“Oh come on. You'll enjoy-”

“Good bye Clarence.”

“So, are you at least coming to the party?”

“Good bye Clarence,” I repeat, picking up my pace, creating distance between us.

“I'm breaking down Jos.”

Even though the words were spoken in a near whisper, they hit me like a hammer. I turn abruptly to meet his eyes. He's serious. I can hear it now in the thump of his heart, the smell of fear emanating from his glands and spot his large brown eyes glistening with tears.

“Every time I look at myself, all I see is filth. I'm... I'm dirty. It doesn't... I mean, I can't seem to get clean,” He says, his eyes drifting down to the back of his outstretched hands.

“Are you serious?” I ask, but the answer is obvious to me. He's already told me by letting his guard down and allowing me to use these enhanced senses as proof. “How long did you know?”

“Months maybe? Every-thing's a blur around here, ya know?” With a tilt of his head, he smiles, tight and strained against the weight of the revelation. He's a very attractive young man. In ten years and some maturity, I would have seriously considered him as a partner. Now, I wonder if he'll make it six more months before his inevitable crash?

In a burst of speed, I'm in front of him, scaring those around shocked at my outburst of power. His forced smile doesn't change. “Are you fucking with me,” I whisper, leaning in close to his ear, my eyes fixed on the cheekbone, catching the edge of his long eyelashes.

“No. I'm not fuckin' with you Jos. I'm being straight up.”

Pulling back, I stare up at him, wanting a happiness for him he'll never be able to attain. He looks down at me, his eyes desperate and begging for something more. Is it sex he wants, or a sense of closeness to someone, the feeling of simply not being alone? I don't know. I'm not sure I want to know.

“I'm so sorry Clarence,” I say, hugging him close, attempting to offer some comfort. He returns the hug. His grip is tight and strong, and I find myself relaxing. Mistake. “Clarence... are you grabbing my ass?”

“Yeah, it's nice.”

“Was this another ploy?” I growl.

“No, I'm serious about my failing health,” he says with a slight shrug. “I just wanted to cop a feel while I had this rare chance.”

I can't help but laugh. Even with the knowledge that his mind is slow fracturing, he's still focus for an ass-grab. “The answer is still a no.”

“I know. But, at least I'll have the fond memory of having a handful of your butt-cheek to enjoy while I'm stuck in stasis-sleep.”

“You're a fool!” I say, as we laugh and the busy crowd sweep past us and into their future. Clarence's future will be cut short so their's can be continue under the banner of Northern Alliance. Blood of my country... if only they deserved the blood we gave and have given.

If only the cost wasn't the blood of the young.

Forgetting the Painful

As I find my writing stride again with the new project, I'm once again reminding myself of just how much I struggled writing Sectors.  Each chapter had moments (some longer than others) of long slogging writing that was just painful.  I wanted to just give up at times, but because I can be a bull-headed kinda fellow, I stuck it out.  Basically, my brain tried to erase the pain all together.  A trick to get me to write again I'm sure!

"It was a joy to write!"
"It was so much fun!"
"I didn't want to throw my laptop at all!"

Utter nonsense.  How did I let myself forget all of that?  Those times where I found myself barely able to type one single word without sighing and wracking my brain for something more useful and inspired.

I'm now about 15 pages into this project and starting to feel those moments of excitement.  Those times were creativity takes over and makes connects to things my conscious mind would and could never do.  It's like I'm reading the story someone else has written when those sparks fly.  It's fun!  But, those moments are bookend by the hard work of creating an outline and pushing through those moments where the creative spark is hard to capture and hold, or not present at all.

I'm going to have to write this kind of stuff down for future reference... oh, wait.  That's what this blog is for! Ha!

Starting from the Beginning... for the 2nd Time

Time to get back on that horse!It's not easy to get back into writing once you've set your creation free.

For some reason, I figured it'll be easy.  Just start the next book and keep cranking them out.  My brain is split right now, so it's kind of difficult to focus on the new project, when half of me is still desiring to promote the old (old... ha!).  I find myself checking for new reviews daily, hoping the find one, just one.  I want it to succeed and I want to put more energy behind it to get it flourish by sheer willpower alone.  That doesn't work.  I have to let it go, let it be and see where it goes.  Sure, I'll keep working on it, but not with the same energy.  I need that for the new project.

That's the test for a writer isn't it?  One good book isn't enough, you must have a body of work that shows the last wasn't a fluke.  You have to prove your previous creation wasn't an aberration, but par for the course.

That kind of worries me too.  Can I actually create another?  Can I do it again?  It's a scary prospect to think that it may just be a one time thing, and the next will be a big letdown for readers.  It'll be an even bigger letdown for me.

All that I can do right now is focus on the now.  Push forward, and make it happen.  Being afraid of the possible pitfalls guarantees you'll be in the pit... because you just created it for yourself being too afraid to move out of your own stagnation.  So, even if the next is just a big pile of poo, I'll have to write another and another and another, etc until I get myself to a better place.

The only true failure is giving up.

More review fun!

2... 2 reviews!  Ha ha ha hahaha!

The wonderful people over at http://serenityslovelyreads.blogspot.com/ gave me a 4.8.  Very nice!  Big thanks to those folks for giving me a shot.

The Full "I Have a Dream" Speech

Truth spoken to power.

Free Giveaway!

The wonderful blog "Mary's Cup of Tea" was kind enough to host a giveaway for Sectors.

Good luck to all that enter. :)

http://www.mmbearcupoftea.com/2013/08/sectors-book-review-giveaway.html

Prologue for the Next Book

A Small, Strange and Twisted PlantA Keynosian Fairytale

Before the time of walking, crawling or swimming life, the green of the Earth Mother ruled the land. The First Born, as they called themselves, grew tall and powerful and strove daily to reach Father Sky. Stretching their branches wide, they were greedy for his light and praise. Only the strongest received the largest quantity of his free given blessings, to which they loathed to share it with their sisters. “Yes you are young and we are already strong, but these gifts must be earned! If we allow Father's blessings to be easily received by all, how would you learn to appreciate his love?” And it was so, that all growing life must earn their blessings from Father. But, the truth is, they loved their long life and great size. They did not want to risk their standings as the great providers of Father's light.

The roots of the first born also burrowed deep into Mother Earth, feeding from her warm brown flesh all they needed for their own strength and security. Again, the strongest drank the most of the mother and shared nothing. “Children, you must earn your nourishment from Mother! Maybe one day, you will grow as we and have many seedlings as well. Do not fret what is, only fight to be what you wish to become.” Again, their words were not rooted in truth, but fear that these seedlings would eventually take what they saw as belonging to the strong.

Under this law, each subsequent generations did as the First Born taught. They harvested all they could from Earth Mother and Father Sky with the hope for life everlasting, great power and power over those below them. Sadly, the youngest of these always struggled to match their elder sisters and were always one step behind.

As it goes, each year, at the beginning of the rainy season, the First Born would announced the time for celebration. Of course, this celebration was mostly to satisfy their own competitive desires, but they often encouraged their sisters to work hard for the promise that they would one day reach the stature they've attained.

The rainy season marked the end of Winter's chill and the beginning of a new cycle of. As the rainy season progressed, all life on the planet would display their wonderful blossoms to Father Sky. This was the celebration. But the blooms were always fleeting and eventually Mother Earth would take the fallen blooms into her bosom to reclaim that which is hers.

The First Born, as in each time of celebration, would stretch out their vast limbs and show the sky their many hundreds of blooms. They would beseech Father for his blessings and pray the Earth Mother would accept their seedlings as fit for growth. “Soon, you will be seen. Just continue to work hard and one day, you will be as great as we,” they would call to the youngest of their sisters hidden beneath their vast foliage.

On year, a small, strange and twisted plant did not accept the way of things. “I will garner Father's sight and Mother's approval,” she whispered to herself. Sadly, due to her size, she knew she could only produce a few buds from what she could scrape together. Her buds were often drab and uninspired, and her blooms were largely ignored by all. “I will not be ignored again,” she promised herself, smelling the coming rains, preparing herself for what will be her time to shine.

Determined and resolute, the small, strange and twisted plant absorbed the little bounty she could gather from Father Sky and Mother Earth. But as she struggled, so did her elder sisters. They gobbled up as much blessings they could in an effort to outdo those of the same rank and hopefully even the First Born. Even with the little she could garner, the small, strange and twisted plant, it's roots barely reaching a few feet down, hidden in the shadows below it tall and powerful sisters, poured what little meager gifts she was able to receive into a single tiny bud. Day after day she filled the bud with all she was able to gather. But it was not enough. Desperate, she choose a different path... she gave of herself. Her singular bud, resting at her crown, grew wide and heavy as she strained to fill it with all of her love and light. The offering took its toll on her.

With only days remaining, her sisters of the same stature began to take notice of her fragile state. They feared her fall into Mother's welcoming. They watched her put forth even greater effort as they asked her to renounce this folly. “Release the bud to Mother!” they beseeched, as each passing day the toll of this single endeavor cost the small, strange and twisted plant more and more. But it was too late. The small, strange and twisted plant dearly loved her now soon to blossom child and could not give any less than her all.

Finally, on the day of the celebration, the sisters forgot about their small sibling as they often do during the celebration. “She is not fit for greatness,” is all they said about those that fell before her. Now, they say this of her. So, as the celebration began, each sister would in turn reveal their beautiful flowers. They boasted, comparing their vast number of creations and celebrated the beauty they created.

Unlike previous years, the small, strange and twisted plant did not call out. She did not beg Father to acknowledge her. She did not have to. It was Father Sky who took sight of the small, strange and twisted plant. Looking pass all others, First Born included, he pleaded for her to reveal the bloom that threatened her life. “What could she have been working on with such will?” All of creation asked. “What would, could possibly be so worthwhile of single bud?”

As they looked on, their little sister, unable to contain her child's great love and light, shed her protective leaves to reveal a flower of extraordinary beauty! All who witnessed the bloom wept with joy! Mother Earth shook upwards in its attempt to touch it. The sky strained down, desiring to caress its petals. Mother and Father praised her continuously day after day for blessing them with such a single exquisite bloom.

“What a wondrous sight to behold!” Father Sky exclaimed each day it visited the small strange plant.

“You are indeed worthy!” Mother called to her.

As with all blooms, the petals of her most precious gift eventually began to wither and fall to Mother. Its soft petals glided down resting on Mother's bosom, to which they returned into her womb.

Her sisters, now desiring to produce a flower to rival hers, begged her to teach them what she'd mastered. The small, strange and twisted plant was exceedingly tired, and winter was fast approaching, she could not survive its power after giving so much of herself to her child.

As the autumn winds stripped off her leaves, the tiny sister gathered the last of her strength to speak. This time, all her sisters, desiring her beauty listened. “My child, my love, my bliss was fleeting and now, I am as well. This is the price for such a life. Years before, I wished to be like you. It was something I wanted with all my heart. But that was not to be. That was not me. So, while you my sisters sought longevity, I sought fulfillment and joy in my single creation.”

Struggling through her rasped breath, the small, strange and twisted plant continued. “What you did not see while marveling at my glorious child, was the seeds Father carried by the winds to parts unknown. You did not notice the earth that nourishes us, happily accept my children within its warm, loving embrace. You my sisters have filled your lives with the thoughts of toil, competition and security and nothing more. So please sisters, do not weep for my passing or dread giving up so much to achieve what I have. I chose this fleeting life and accept my rejoining with Mother. All I ask of you is to rejoice in your knowing of me, your small, strange, twisted, but beautiful sister. Remember the joy I have brought to you in this, my final season. I accept my end with a full and happy heart.” And with that, she rejoined.

It's said that she is the mother of all that swims, crawls and walks.

We are all her children.

First Review!

This review is from...
AimeeKay's Reviews & Other Awesome Randomness!http://reviewsfrommyfirstreadsshelf.blogspot.com/2013/08/review-of-sectors-by-harule-stokes.html

I liked Sectors for multiple reasons.  There were a few things I didn’t like, but overall the book is solid and was a great read.Let’s start with the world Stokes has created.  I loved the rich detailing he gives.   I could almost smell the flowers as he was describing them.  I could see the beautiful way their homes are integrated with the nature that surrounds them.  I think there could have been a bit more description put into the northern areas.  But over all I could picture the land and the people easily.  As for the characters I really enjoyed them.  Following Joseph on his path to figure out who he is was very interesting.  Not that he doesn’t know WHO he is, but to finding out what type of person he is. Since it is told directly from his point of view, the reader really gets a feel for his emotions, fears, etc., that cause him to make the decisions that he does.   Also I loved the female characters.  Satpal, her grandmother, and Joseph’s mom, to name a view are strong and independent.  Even Jennifer, who grated on my nerves, was strong in her own way.   I really got attached to some of the other supporting characters as well.  Not to spoil too much, but when Reynold has his rejoining I almost cried! The story itself is well written as well.  There is a huge racism factor between the north and the south that Stokes doesn’t shy away from.  He brings it out and shows it exactly for what it is.  He also shows how it came about.  Along with this there are a lot of really deep soul searching moments as Joseph realizes he isn’t quite the person he thought he was.  While there are some great obvious lessons that could be applied outside the novel, it doesn’t feel overbearing or preachy.  I only have two main issues with the book.  One is minor.  It’s that since the book is told through first person present tense pov there are obvious parts that are Josephs direct thoughts.  But they are differentiated in the text in anyway.  So it would just throw me once in a while when I was reading.  Maybe if they had been put in italics? The other issue is my main issue.  It’s the ending.  It’s not really a cliffie.  I mean you know what Satpal and Joseph are going to do.  But instead of following them to the end of their mission, the book just ends.    I can assume that their plan succeeds, but I don’t know that for a fact. 

Overall I enjoyed the book.  Stokes descriptive writing style really pulled me in.  I became enthralled with the land as well as the characters.  I could easily recommend this one to both my male and female readers.  There’s no graphic sex, but the violence tends to the extreme so I don’t know if I’d recommend it to any younger teens.  I’m giving it 4 out of 5 stars.  It was a good read, but again I was disappointed with not having a more concrete ending. 

*I received an e-copy of this book for review from the author in exchange for a review with my honest opinion. All above opinions are my own*

SectorsPublishedFinally after nearly 3 years of work, Sec...

Sectors
Published
Finally after nearly 3 years of work, Sectors is complete and available for sale!

Big thanks to all of those wonderful people that helped me put this novel together.  Also, a thanks to those few beta readers that took the time to slog through a very raw book to provide me great feedback.

It's been a journey to say the least.  Now with the book finally complete, I can start on the next!

P.S.  In the name there's a link to the Amazon site where you can buy the book and/or get a preview.  Click it and check it out!  Tell me what you think.  If you do buy a copy, post a review.  Reviews are the lifeblood of a new author.

Blessings to all!

Anti-Environment = Self-Hate? I Say Yes!

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/24/us/gulf-rig-explosion
Massive natural gas leak in the Gulf of Mexico

http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2013/07/alberta-oil-sands-have-been-leaking-six-weeks-and-no-one-knows-how-stop-it
Tar sands leak

The massive natural gas leak in the Gulf of Mexico is a hint that we need to leave fossil fuels the heck alone.  Another hint?  A huge tar sands leak that's lasted 9 weeks and is absolutely wreaking havoc on the land and wild life in Alberta Canada.  You may say, "Well that's over there, and I'm over hear."  It's easy to do I'm sure.  But, the truth is, we are all connected.  Not only to each other, but to all life on Earth, including the Earth itself.  So a gas leak there, is a gas leak everywhere.  Tar sands in Canada's backyard is tar sands in all of our backyards.  We are one, regardless of lines drawn on a map to separate us from one another.

If we believe that mankind needs the Earth's environment to survive, why are we so intent on destroying it?  So I ask, how much of that is self-hate and how much is simple ignorance?

The ignorance angle is tough to swallow.  There's enough information to be informed, even by accident, of the ramification of using carbon bases fuels.  So personally, I can't accept that excuse.  Sorry.  That being the case, I'm going all in on the self-hate angle.  To slowly destroy your own world, poisoning it, so no one and no thing could live therein... including yourself, makes no sense and can only lead to one conclusion.  The end of life as we know it (the Earth well be fine with or without us.  Trust me.)

How about an nice analogy hmmm?  It's generally a fan favorite.
A person dumps gallons of insect spray into their own home, making it utterly unlivable, but they can't leave and ultimately the person becomes terribly, deathly ill.  You'd probably think they were completely suicidal.  I'd agree with that assessment 100%.  So why do we allow large corporations to dump insect spray (well, not really insect spray, but you get the picture) into our livingrooms?  We even take it a step further as we also allow them to coat our food with that strange liquid marked in a dark amber bottle, labeled with a white skull and crossbones.

When does it stop being "THEM" doing something to our planet, and start being "US" allowing something terribly to happen to humanity?

So enough with the rant, let's start with the solutions:
1 - Stop paying us to hurt us!
2 - Buy organic produce.
3 - Buy non-toxic goods.
4 - Stop driving when you can bike or walk.
5 - Start planting trees and trying growing your own produce (if you have the available land that is).
6 - Stop supporting the people that's hurt you by buying what they're selling!  Trust me, it'll only encourage them.
7 - This part is very important.  Treat the Earth as if you love it.

Stop punching yourself in the face humanity.