Auden Johnson's Blog, page 11

Preorder The Seeking, a Horror Novel by Marlena Frank

Author: Marlene FrankTitle: The SeekingGenre: Fantasy/HorrorPublisher: The Parliament House Press Release Date: October 27th, 2020
Each Seeking, the magic that protects the town of Carra must be renewed, which means the children of the Exalted Family must go into hiding. Whether it be through disguise or bribe, through trusted friends or perfect hiding places, every child of the Priest family must avoid capture for the full day. 
When things go wrong with the renewal, it’s up to seventeen-year-old Dahlia, the middle child of the Priest family, and her girlfriend, Bisa, to escape Carra and find the magical beings responsible for the protection. They must learn who would require such a cruel game to be played every year and if the protection of the Gray People is really worth such a deadly cost. What they will discover is far worse.
Preorder Today
Goodreads | Amazon| The Parliament House Press 

For booksellers interested in purchasing copies The Parliament House Press 




Marlena Frank has always been fascinated with monsters, and now gets to write about them. She has been writing horror and fantasy short stories since 2010 and has had her work published in a number of anthologies, from Heroic Fantasy Quarterly to The Sirens Call.

Her YA Dark Fantasy novella, The She-Wolf of Kanta, was released in April 2018 from Aurelia Leo. Her debut novel, Stolen, came out January 2019 from The Parliament House Press, and on release day became an Amazon Bestseller in a YA category. When she isn’t thinking up strange tales, she’s an active member in the Atlanta cosplay community and the Atlanta chapter of the Horror Writers Association. Her novel Stolen hit Amazon's bestseller status on release day, reaching #34 in the Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths for Children category on Amazon on release day.
Website | Instagram |Twitter | YouTube


Want your diverse fantasy, sci-fi or horror book featured on this website? Email me at audendjohnson@gmail.com

Life Lessons While Hiking to Bull Hill/Mt. Taurus Overlook

Don’t look at someone on top of the mountain and forget they had to climb to get there. Thoughts like that kept crossing my mind as I hiked up Mt. Taurus/Bull Hill near Cold Spring, NY.

Living in NY for 11 years, the crowds and the closeness are starting to get to me. More often, I spend my weekends hiking the Hudson Valley. I haven’t done it in months because everything was closed. Since NY is opening, so are the trails.

But COVID isn’t gone. I had to be careful. I left my apartment earlier than usual to avoid any crowds on public transportation. I chose a trail said to have moderate traffic which meant there’d be certain stretches where I’d be alone. I wore a face mask and brought gloves for those points where I couldn’t stay 6 feet away from people or I crossed someone who wasn’t wearing a mask.


Before I left, I researched the trail to get an idea of the terrain and the type of photos people have taken. I don’t hike just to be around nature. I’m chasing the views. Part of my research involves looking at photos to see what kind of views I’ll get. I keep those photos in mind so I could take something different. Fortunately, Bull Hill didn’t seem like a popular spot.

If you’re coming from the Cold Spring Metro-North train station, you have to hike just to reach the trailhead.


It wasn’t the longest I’ve walked but is it a pretty long walk when you’re destination is a hike up a mountain. I knew the trail would be strenuous. I took my time getting there, enjoying the sights along the way.

I highly recommend, if you can, shooting your photos in RAW. Since I left NY earlier than normal, I got on the trail around midday. It was hot and the sun was high. Midday under clear skies is usually a bad time of day to take photos because the sun is so harsh. It wreaked havoc on my photos’ exposures.



But, I didn’t worry about it. With a combination of Lightroom and RAW photos, I got back the parts of the images that were overexposed or underexposed. For those who don’t know, RAW is another image format like jpeg.



This was just a view on the way to the trail.

From my research, I knew the trail would be uphill. When I saw this, I wasn’t really surprised.



Last time, I hiked uphill, I walked like it was in a race. I took a slower pace this time and was rewarded with a nice surprise.



It felt like I was standing in a canyon. Out of all the photos I saw during my research, I never came across that scene.

But, that wasn’t the overlook so I continued on. I came across this and started contemplating life.



That’s the trail. I expected uphill trekking but nothing rocky. They’re making me work for that nice view. It’s a lot like life. Success is rarely easy or painless.

I perched on a rock to rest because that wasn’t the worst of it. This was:

I recorded that video on the way down. This narrow trail just to get to the view was a beast. Nothing in the review mentioned this.

But, the overlook was literally on the other side of this path. If I’d give up right there, I would’ve done so steps away from my destination.


 I didn’t realize how far I traveled until I saw this.



Remember that photo I showed you farther up, the one that looked like it was taken inside a grassy canyon? Those people on that path are walking where I had taken that shot.

I hiked a bit farther. At different spots, the mountain opened to reveal a beautiful landscape. Eventually, my body started rebelling. At one point, I was just so tired. No matter how long I sat, it never seemed enough. When I’m on the trail, I usually put away my headphones to property hear the calming sound of nature. But, at that point, I started blasting Born for This by The Score through my headphone to motivate me up the mountain. It was hot out. My water was warm. My shoulders stung from carrying my bag. It wasn’t that heavy, either.



 I had started carrying my tripod about a mile in because I didn’t want to go through the effort of taking it out whenever I needed it. That also meant I had an extra thing to carry. It made a good walking stick, though. My camera’s light compared to other DSLRs. But, it’s still pretty heavy. Carrying it for several miles in the heat was not fun.

On a positive note, a couple of years ago, I started having lower back issues. If I was on my feet for too long, my back would hurt so much that any simple movement caused me pain.  I felt the normal kind of aches associated with walking long distances but my lower back never hurt. Not even the following day when it felt like everything hurt. My ankles weren’t sore either.

My shoes get all the credit. My family had suggested that maybe my shoes were the reason for my back issues. Before I started hiking last year, I bought a pair of Merrell Siren Edge Q2 shoes. They aren’t waterproof but they do the job just fine.

I turned around shortly after I took that photo.

I got a little surprise on the way down. Freaked me out a little.



I looked around to make sure the snake wasn’t still nearby and snapped a couple of photos. It was a good reminder. In the middle of the woods, I should observe my surroundings more carefully, no matter how tired I felt.

I ended the day with a cup of half and half and gelato from Rincon Argentino while relaxing by the harbor.



There are people who reach the top by letting someone else do the work. But, if you read a lot of author success stories, you’ll see over 30 rejection, of seasons where they were so poor they didn’t know how they’d pay rents, years of working a job that despised because they needed the money.  Even some authors with hundreds of thousands of followers and a list of awards work part-time because they can’t pay bills on book sales.  If you’re in the middle of it and you’re wondering when it’ll get easier, just keep pushing. The pain is part of the process.

I didn’t do the full Bull Hill loop because afterwhile my body was like, I’m not going up one more hill. I often hike alone so, if I get sick on the trail, that’s going to be a problem.  I don’t see it as giving up, though. I took the hike because I wanted to photograph the view. I did. Eventually, I’ll be able to do the full loop.


To see more photos from my other project, check out my Photography page.

Life Lessons While Hiking to Bull Hill/Mt. Taurus Overlook

Don't look at someone on top of the mountain and forget they had to climb to get there. Thoughts like that kept crossing my mind as I hiked up Mt. Taurus/Bull Hill near Cold Spring, NY.

Living in NY for 11 years, the crowds and the closeness are starting to get to me. More often, I spend my weekends hiking the Hudson Valley. I haven't done it in months because everything was closed. Since NY is opening, so are the trails.
But COVID isn't gone. I had to be careful. I left my apartment earlier than usual to avoid any crowds on public transportation. I chose a trail said to have moderate traffic which meant there'd be certain stretches where I'd be alone. I wore a face mask and brought gloves for those points where I couldn't stay 6 feet away from people or I crossed someone who wasn't wearing a mask.
Before I left, I researched the trail to get an idea of the terrain and the type of photos people have taken. I don't hike just to be around nature. I'm chasing the views. Part of my research involves looking at photos to see what kind of views I'll get. I keep those photos in mind so I could take something different. Fortunately, Bull Hill didn't seem like a popular spot. 
If you're coming from the Cold Spring Metro-North train station, you have to hike just to reach the trailhead. 
It wasn't the longest I've walked but is it a pretty long walk when you're destination is a hike up a mountain. I knew the trail would be strenuous. I took my time getting there, enjoying the sights along the way.
I highly recommend, if you can, shooting your photos in RAW. Since I left NY earlier than normal, I got on the trail around midday. It was hot and the sun was high. Midday under clear skies is usually a bad time of day to take photos because the sun is so harsh. It wreaked havoc on my photos' exposures. 

But, I didn't worry about it. With a combination of Lightroom and RAW photos, I got back the parts of the images that were overexposed or underexposed. For those who don't know, RAW is another image format like jpeg. 

This was just a view on the way to the trail.
From my research, I knew the trail would be uphill. When I saw this, I wasn't really surprised.

Last time, I hiked uphill, I walked like it was in a race. I took a slower pace this time and was rewarded with a nice surprise.

It felt like I was standing in a canyon. Out of all the photos I saw during my research, I never came across that scene. 
But, that wasn't the overlook so I continued on. I came across this and started contemplating life. 

That's the trail. I expected uphill trekking but nothing rocky. They're making me work for that nice view. It's a lot like life. Success is rarely easy or painless.
I perched on a rock to rest because that wasn't the worst of it. This was:

I recorded that video on the way down. This narrow trail just to get to the view was a beast. Nothing in the review mentioned this.
But, the overlook was literally on the other side of this path. If I'd give up right there, I would've done so steps away from my destination.

 I didn't realize how far I traveled until I saw this.

Remember that photo I showed you farther up, the one that looked like it was taken inside a grassy canyon? Those people on that path are walking where I had taken that shot. 
I hiked a bit farther. At different spots, the mountain opened to reveal a beautiful landscape. Eventually, my body started rebelling. At one point, I was just so tired. No matter how long I sat, it never seemed enough. When I'm on the trail, I usually put away my headphones to property hear the calming sound of nature. But, at that point, I started blasting Born for This by The Score through my headphone to motivate me up the mountain. It was hot out. My water was warm. My shoulders stung from carrying my bag. It wasn't that heavy, either.

 I had started carrying my tripod about a mile in because I didn't want to go through the effort of taking it out whenever I needed it. That also meant I had an extra thing to carry. It made a good walking stick, though. My camera's light compared to other DSLRs. But, it's still pretty heavy. Carrying it for several miles in the heat was not fun. 
On a positive note, a couple of years ago, I started having lower back issues. If I was on my feet for too long, my back would hurt so much that any simple movement caused me pain.  I felt the normal kind of aches associated with walking long distances but my lower back never hurt. Not even the following day when it felt like everything hurt. My ankles weren't sore either. 
My shoes get all the credit. My family had suggested maybe my shoes were the reason for my back issues. Before I started hiking last year, I bought a pair of Merrell Siren Edge Q2 shoes. They aren't waterproof but they do the job just fine. 
I turned around shortly after I took that photo.
I got a little surprise on the way down. Freaked me out a little. 

I looked around to make sure the snake wasn't still nearby and snapped a couple of photos. It was a good reminder. In the middle of the woods, I should observe my surroundings more carefully, no matter how tired I felt.
I ended the day with a cup of half and half and gelato from Rincon Argentino while relaxing by the harbor. 

There are people who reach the top by letting someone else do the work. But, if you read a lot of author success stories, you'll see over 30 rejection, of seasons where they were so poor they didn't know how they'd pay rents, years of working a job that despised because they needed the money.  Even some authors with hundreds of thousands of followers and a list of awards work part-time because they can't pay bills on book sales.  If you're in the middle of it and you're wondering when it'll get easier, just keep pushing. The pain is part of the process. 
I didn't do the full Bull Hill loop because afterwhile my body was like, I'm not going up one more hill. I often hike alone so, if I get sick on the trail, that's going to be a problem.  I don't see it as giving up, though. I took the hike because I wanted to photograph the view. I did. Eventually, I'll be able to do the full loop. 

To see more photos from my other project, check out my Photography page. 

ELECTRIC DREAMS: SEVEN FUTURISTIC TALES by Deborah A. Bailey

A collection of speculative fiction stories set in future worlds from Earth to the far reaches of the solar system. At the intersection of technology and humanity, what could happen?
 

 

Electric Schemes – A frustrated employee plugs himself into his computer everyday in his boring job, but when his micromanaging boss tries to get him fired, his computer decides to take charge by managing his career.
Between the Mirror and the Heart – A robot is ordered as a lover for a human woman, and as he adapts to his humanity, he realizes his human buyer is having second thoughts about their relationship.On the Beach – The last caretaker of a lonely space station must stay there alone for three months to shut down the systems, so the station computers come up with a plan so that she’ll have company.

Stranger in Town – Desperate to survive in the harsh 21st century dystopia, a mother agrees to be a mail-order bride to rich foreign businessmen, but what will she have to sacrifice in order to provide for her family?

When Words Leave Off – During a deep space mission, what else is there for two officers to do except fall in love?

Roots of Deception & A Place in the World – On a faraway world, a woman must decide what she’s willing to risk in order to guide her planet to peace after a devastating war and military occupation. Caught between personal sacrifice and self-interest, she discovers that achieving absolute power always comes with a price.

| Amazon |

Deborah A Bailey’s Science Fiction & Paranormal Romance novels include suspense, a bit of mystery and a lot of romantic heat. Her books include the Hathor Legacy science fiction romance series and the Family Pride and Once Upon A Princess shapeshifter paranormal romance series.

Her short stories have won awards from the Philadelphia Writers’ Conference and have been published in US1 Magazine and the Sun and are included in, Electric Dreams: Seven Futuristic Tales.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Amazon | Bookbub

Newsletter | Deb’s Books on Payhip


Want your diverse fantasy, horror or sci-fi book featured on this website, email me at audendjohnson@gmail.com.

ELECTRIC DREAMS: SEVEN FUTURISTIC TALES by Deborah A. Bailey

A collection of speculative fiction stories set in future worlds from Earth to the far reaches of the solar system. At the intersection of technology and humanity, what could happen?

Electric Schemes – A frustrated employee plugs himself into his computer everyday in his boring job, but when his micromanaging boss tries to get him fired, his computer decides to take charge by managing his career.
Between the Mirror and the Heart – A robot is ordered as a lover for a human woman, and as he adapts to his humanity, he realizes his human buyer is having second thoughts about their relationship.

On the Beach – The last caretaker of a lonely space station must stay there alone for three months to shut down the systems, so the station computers come up with a plan so that she’ll have company.

Stranger in Town – Desperate to survive in the harsh 21st century dystopia, a mother agrees to be a mail-order bride to rich foreign businessmen, but what will she have to sacrifice in order to provide for her family?

When Words Leave Off – During a deep space mission, what else is there for two officers to do except fall in love?

Roots of Deception & A Place in the World – On a faraway world, a woman must decide what she’s willing to risk in order to guide her planet to peace after a devastating war and military occupation. Caught between personal sacrifice and self-interest, she discovers that achieving absolute power always comes with a price.
| Amazon |



Deborah A Bailey's Science Fiction & Paranormal Romance novels include suspense, a bit of mystery and a lot of romantic heat. Her books include the Hathor Legacy science fiction romance series and the Family Pride and Once Upon A Princess shapeshifter paranormal romance series.

Her short stories have won awards from the Philadelphia Writers' Conference and have been published in US1 Magazine and the Sun and are included in, Electric Dreams: Seven Futuristic Tales.
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Amazon | Bookbub
Newsletter | Deb's Books on Payhip

Want your diverse fantasy, horror or sci-fi book featured on this website, email me at audendjohnson@gmail.com.

Fantasy Art and a Story: Beleondin City

Vidar was frowning again. Neru tapped his friend’s foot under the table to get his attention. Vidar had been staring out the train window since they sat, eyes locked on Beleondin City as it shrank behind the trees.

“It was nicer than I imagined.”

He’d been saying that same line for the past week. Like always, Neru nodded in agreement.

People outside told terrible stories about that city. Tales of savage monsters hunting in shadows even during the day. Of ritual sacrifices to a cursed deity. Barbaric people living in a wicked city. It had all been so far off the mark Neru wondered where those lies originated. Maybe people thought the worst as they viewed the towering landscape and foreign structures. They saw the looming city and were convinced all the monsters they feared as a child were real and they lived in Beleondin City.

Neru still didn’t know why they’d been invited to live there for six months. Like everyone in their home city, they viewed Beleondin as a place for bad people. Until six months ago, they’d only seen the dark city in books clearly written by people who never visited.

“How could such lies be spread so wide?” Vidar asked.

A question they’d been pondering for a while with no real answer. As soon as they had stepped off the train all those months ago, it felt as if the ground said, “Welcome home.”

“Maybe something’s wrong with the city and we never witnessed it,” Neru offered.

“Beleondin is supposed to be an unbearable constant nightmare. The city’s not exactly pretty but it’s normal.”

Neru nodded. It was a small let down how normal the residents turned out to be given how alien their structures looked.

Vidar leaned forward. “You think they know,” he whispered.

Neru kicked his friend’s leg. People with unnatural abilities were banished or killed as children. Adults were tortured before being publically executed. Vidar and Neru had been careful. With their almost black skin, their appearance already drew stares and comments. They practiced in a secret area you only found if you knew the way. People whispered and accused because they looked different but fortunately, they were too afraid to act on their assumption.

The train’s brakes screamed as it jerked to a halt, throwing Neru forward in his seat.

A man walked into the car. He looked normal. His height was unassuming but he somehow caught people’s attention. He carried himself like he had a great deal of authority. The man stopped in front of their table.

“We forgot to give you this before you left, Neru and Vidar.”

The male’s smile was unnerving in how pleasant it made him appear.

No one could’ve have heard them. The car was nearly empty. Even if they did, no one could figure out everything from that short sentence.

Vidar’s foot was shaking under the table. Neru tapped his leg. At least his friend appeared unaffected otherwise.

The man rested his hand on each other their shoulders.

“I hope to see you soon.” He tipped his head and left.

He didn’t give them anything.

The train started moving again. Vidar fished through his pockets as though he misplaced something.

He smiled when he pulled out a piece of paper that wasn’t folded nearly enough to fit in that pocket. He beamed when he opened it and read the letter.

“You’ll have one too.”

He did. Neru glanced around the train car. They weren’t alone but they were far enough away from people that no one could see what was going on.  He kept the letter in his lap as he read.

Beleondin City will be relocating soon. We hope you will join us on our journey.

…….

 I made the above image by combining these two in Photoshop.

I took this photo while spending the weekend in Peekskill, NY.

I downloaded the below image from Shutterstock.

Fantasy Art and a Story: Beleondin City

Vidar was frowning again. Neru tapped his friend's foot under the table to get his attention. Vidar had been staring out the train window since they sat, eyes locked on Beleondin City as it shrank behind the trees. 
"It was nicer than I imagined."
He'd been saying that same line for the past week. Like always, Neru nodded in agreement. 
People outside told terrible stories about that city. Tales of savage monsters hunting in shadows even during the day. Of ritual sacrifices to a cursed deity. Barbaric people living in a wicked city. It had all been so far off the mark Neru wondered where those lies originated. Maybe people thought the worst as they viewed the towering landscape and foreign structures. They saw the looming city and were convinced all the monsters they feared as a child were real and they lived in Beleondin City.
Neru still didn't know why they'd been invited to live there for six months. Like everyone in their home city, they viewed Beleondin as a place for bad people. Until six months ago, they'd only seen the dark city in books clearly written by people who never visited.
"How could such lies be spread so wide?" Vidar asked.
A question they'd been pondering for a while with no real answer. As soon as they had stepped off the train all those months ago, it felt as if the ground said, "Welcome home."
"Maybe something's wrong with the city and we never witnessed it," Neru offered.
"Beleondin is supposed to be an unbearable constant nightmare. The city's not exactly pretty but it's normal."
Neru nodded. It was a small let down how normal the residents turned out to be given how alien their structures looked. 
Vidar leaned forward. "You think they know," he whispered.
Neru kicked his friend's leg. People with unnatural abilities were banished or killed as children. Adults were tortured before being publically executed. Vidar and Neru had been careful. With their almost black skin, their appearance already drew stares and comments. They practiced in a secret area you only found if you knew the way. People whispered and accused because they looked different but fortunately, they were too afraid to act on their assumption. 
The train's brakes screamed as it jerked to a halt, throwing Neru forward in his seat.
A man walked into the car. He looked normal. His height was unassuming but he somehow caught people's attention. He carried himself like he had a great deal of authority. The man stopped in front of their table.
"We forgot to give you this before you left, Neru and Vidar."
The male's smile was unnerving in how pleasant it made him appear. 
No one could've have heard them. The car was nearly empty. Even if they did, no one could figure out everything from that short sentence.
Vidar's foot was shaking under the table. Neru tapped his leg. At least his friend appeared unaffected otherwise. 
The man rested his hand on each other their shoulders.
"I hope to see you soon." He tipped his head and left.
He didn't give them anything. 
The train started moving again. Vidar fished through his pockets as though he misplaced something.
He smiled when he pulled out a piece of paper that wasn't folded nearly enough to fit in that pocket. He beamed when he opened it and read the letter.
"You'll have one too."
He did. Neru glanced around the train car. They weren't alone but they were far enough away from people that no one could see what was going on.  He kept the letter in his lap as he read.

Beleondin City will be relocating soon. We hope you will join us on our journey.
.......
I made the above image by combining these two in Photoshop.
I took this photo while spending the weekend in Peekskill, NY.
I downloaded the below image from Shutterstock.

Black Lives Matter Brooklyn Protest Over the Weekend

By now, I’m sure you’ve seen or even participated in the Black Lives Matter protests going on across the country. Fortunately, and maybe, unfortunately, I live in Brooklyn. New York seems to be the center of everything. Protests began, I believe, in Brooklyn at the Barclays Center. Then, the next day, they spread throughout the borough and the city.

The one in Flatbush was closest. I found out about it through Twitter.

This protest was peaceful but I’m neither going to condemn or praise the people resorting to violence or destruction.

I understand why they’re doing it.

What George Floyd suffered through was kind of an average day for many black men in this country. We don’t see it because they don’t die or it’s not recorded. They swallow it and move on because if they retaliate, then they become the bad guy. Don’t assume they were doing anything wrong.  I know black men who were doing absolutely nothing when police stopped them.

Trevor Noah talked about this far better. There really is no right or wrong way to protest.

(1/2) Trevor on George Floyd, the Minneapolis protests, Ahmaud Arbery & Amy Cooper:

“While everyone is facing the battle against coronavirus, black people in America are still facing the battle against racism… and coronavirus.” pic.twitter.com/eaVUdq6NzJ

— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) May 30, 2020

Before you condemn these people just try, really try, to see where they’re coming from. To say they’re angry is a gross understatement.

I was bullied from 6th through 12th grade. I, fortunately, didn’t grow up with social media but even then, it felt unending. In movies, you see bullied people have that one friend or that one place they could go to for relief. I didn’t have that. My parents tried. But, when you have a few people telling you one thing and the world telling you another, you’d listen to the world. After a while, I just stopped talking about it. I tried Girls Scouts and I was shunned. I went to summer camp and was shunned. I didn’t have friends at school. I had people I hung out with so I wouldn’t be alone.

Then, one day at school, someone said something to me. Don’t remember exactly what it was. It wasn’t the worst thing someone said to me but I just snapped. I cursed out the person and started throwing things at them. I remained angry, at everyone, for years after that.

So, I understand.

People always quote Dr. King about peaceful protests. They seem to forget there was a man named Malcolm X who’s motto was “by any means necessary.”

Quite a few people during the Civil Rights Movement didn’t believe peaceful protests worked. I, personally, don’t plan on rioting but I’m not going to judge people who do.

Also, as I scroll through Twitter, I see that a lot of the looting and destruction isn’t being done by protesters. Social media has it’s problems, it seriously does, but that’s also one of the reasons why I sometimes prefer it. News often shapes stories in a way that’s not entirely accurate.

Fortunately, I haven’t seen any misinformation about the Flatbush protests. The most we did was disrupt traffic and drivers seemed fine with it. Cars and buses honked their support.

Flatbush made me proud.

Black Lives Matter Brooklyn Protest Over the Weekend

By now, I'm sure you've seen or even participated in the Black Lives Matter protests going on across the country. Fortunately, and maybe, unfortunately, I live in Brooklyn. New York seems to be the center of everything. Protests began, I believe, in Brooklyn at the Barclays Center. Then, the next day, they spread throughout the borough and the city. 
The one in Flatbush was closest. I found out about it through Twitter.  

This protest was peaceful but I'm neither going to condemn or praise the people resorting to violence or destruction. 

I understand why they're doing it. 
What George Floyd suffered through was kind of an average day for many black men in this country. We don't see it because they don't die or it's not recorded. They swallow it and move on because if they retaliate, then they become the bad guy. Don't assume they were doing anything wrong.  I know black men who were doing absolutely nothing when police stopped them. 
Trevor Noah talked about this far better. There really is no right or wrong way to protest.

(1/2) Trevor on George Floyd, the Minneapolis protests, Ahmaud Arbery & Amy Cooper:

“While everyone is facing the battle against coronavirus, black people in America are still facing the battle against racism… and coronavirus.” pic.twitter.com/eaVUdq6NzJ

— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) May 30, 2020

Before you condemn these people just try, really try, to see where they're coming from. To say they're angry is a gross understatement. 
I was bullied from 6th through 12th grade. I, fortunately, didn't grow up with social media but even then, it felt unending. In movies, you see bullied people have that one friend or that one place they could go to for relief. I didn't have that. My parents tried. But, when you have a few people telling you one thing and the world telling you another, you'd listen to the world. After a while, I just stopped talking about it. I tried Girls Scouts and I was shunned. I went to summer camp and was shunned. I didn't have friends at school. I had people I hung out with so I wouldn't be alone. 
Then, one day at school, someone said something to me. Don't remember exactly what it was. It wasn't the worst thing someone said to me but I just snapped. I cursed out the person and started throwing things at them. I remained angry, at everyone, for years after that. 
So, I understand. 


People always quote Dr. King about peaceful protests. They seem to forget there was a man named Malcolm X who's motto was "by any means necessary." 

Quite a few people during the Civil Rights Movement didn't believe peaceful protests worked. I, personally, don't plan on rioting but I'm not going to judge people who do.
Also, as I scroll through Twitter, I see that a lot of the looting and destruction isn't being done by protesters. Social media has it's problems, it seriously does, but that's also one of the reasons why I sometimes prefer it. News often shapes stories in a way that's not entirely accurate. 
Fortunately, I haven't seen any misinformation about the Flatbush protests. The most we did was disrupt traffic and drivers seemed fine with it. Cars and buses honked their support.

Flatbush made me proud.










 

5 Creepy Short Horror Films to Watch on YouTube

Some horror short films have better acting and visuals than some feature-length movies. And, they're free.  I used to watch a lot of short horror movies on YouTube. My favorite was Lights Out which actually became a movie. I think that film got me into horror shorts.
I stopped watching them for a while, though. Don't remember the reason. I think I got distracted by video game Let's Plays. Recently, a new video by ponysmasher, the channel behind Light Out, popped up on the feed. It came out a month ago so not really new. I decided to see what other horror shorts were now on YouTube. Here are some good ones I found. 

Not Alone in Here: Ponysmasher



The Sky-Cosmic Horror: Matt Sears



Here There Be Monsters: Alter


Behind the Frame: Dylan Clark


NSFW: Screamfest

Do you have any horror shorts recommendations?
If you're interested in more creepy films, check out my playlist.