R.M. Ridley's Blog, page 40

Sad, Bad Days Ahead?

And it begins – I see the end to my being able to effectively, economically, and enjoyably get the nicotine that has a clear and documented positive effect on the mental health issues I suffer from.

I quit cold turkey many years ago – what resulted from this was two years of nicotine free living. That life was hell – perhaps the worst time – in both my life and my wife’s. After two years I realized the only thing that had changed was my lack of nicotine – so I went looking for facts. What I found was shocking.

Report after report from psychiatric studies showed that those suffering from mental health issues benefited in numerous ways by having nicotine in their system. From more focused thoughts, to better uptake of their medicine. I started on nicotine again – but as I vowed not to start smoking, I took up e-cigarettes.

What a difference in only 24 hours. I felt better, more in control and clearer of mind. Still – though better the damage from quitting cold turkey had been done. My one regiment of medication was no longer enough to battle the worst of my issues. I had to start on a second medication just to bring myself back to where I had been before quitting.

I need the nicotine. I can get it by vaping. I get an enjoyable experience, that I can utilize whenever, where ever I need to. Should this go away first – I am certain I can get my doctor to prescribe a nicotine inhaler or such – and guess what – it will be covered by my disability. This high cost pharmaceutical backed answer will come out of tax payers pockets instead of low cost out of mine.  Plus – I won’t enjoy it.

Second – how well will the transition period go? The regulating, re-categorizing, and re-marketing will take time. It will not be ‘oh you can get it there anymore but you can get it here’ all in the same day – It will take forever between taking them off the public market and getting them out through whatever (if any) other means. During that time I have to  fight to gt the alternative (because at first no one will want to admit nicotine should be covered)  – I’ll be back to no nicotine and what results will that bear this time around.

That’s my rant – this is the article that caused it:  e-cigarette seller told to stop by health canada (after CBC did a special on her).

Here is a well written site about the myths and facts of e-cigs in Canada

 

Filed under: Mental Health, MIscellaneous Tagged: benifits, Bi-polar, blog for mental health, Brain, crazy, cycle, E-cig, e-cigarettes, frustration, Health Canada, hell, hypocrisy, medication, Mental Health, nicotine, pharmaceutical, psychiatric studies, tax payers pockets, vaping

Character Interview – Christmas Lites III (now available)

A week ago today, I posted the cover of the anthology Christmas Lites III and told you that it would be coming soon – today, in point of fact.

To give you a little taste of what to expect, I managed to get a hold of this interesting bit. It is an interview with one of the characters from that anthology. A rare treat and a mysterious thing – well, read it for yourself and see what I mean.

A Dickens Fireside Chat with Ginny Peabody

   Two people, a man and a woman, are seated in a parlour. A blaze crackles in the fireplace, as a light snow falls gently outside. Tea is served, and the man smiles.

Now it begins…

   “Welcome to the Dickens Fireside Chat. Today we have as our guest, the plucky heroine of ‘Once Upon a Christmas Eve’, Ginny Peabody. Greetings, Ginny, so nice to have you join us today. Why don’t you begin by telling everyone about yourself.”

“I’m so glad to be invited. There’s not much to tell, really. I live in the village of Westerly, with my mother, and my brother Edward. We’re a close family, especially since Father passed away. Mother’s a dear, but she worries over us too much. Of course sometimes she has cause, as my brother and I can be quite trying at times.”

   “No doubt. I dare say we’ve all vexed our mothers at one time or another. What’s village life like? I hear you celebrate Christmas with quite the flair in Westerly.”

“Well,” she pauses a bit, and fidgets in her chair, “we do have our reasons for our Christmas celebrations, things best not talked about openly.” She picks up a cup of tea and smiles to lighten the mood. “The rest of the year is very sedate though, just your typical village goings on: a bit of gossip, visiting neighbours, that sort of thing.”

   “You make Christmas in Westerly sound rather ominous. It can’t be that bad, surely?”

   Ginny shudders. “Trust me, these matters are best not discussed. We don’t want to give anyone nightmares or lead to regrettable consequences. Christmas in my village is a tricky season, and can be, ah, perilous.”

   “Very well, I’ll leave the matter be. Let’s chat about a more personal subject. You’re a young girl of marriage age, do you have a beau?”

   Ginny blushes. “There is a young man I’m sweet on, but I’m not certain I’d call him a beau. Not yet, at least.”

   “Does this young man have a name?”

   She giggles. “Of course he does. But I couldn’t possibly say. It wouldn’t be proper.”

   “I understand, ladies do have to maintain their decorum. And speaking of such, what passes for polite society in Westerly?”

   Ginny sets her tea cup down with a clatter. “I’m sure it doesn’t come up to city standards, but we do fine. We have a Sewing Circle, the Ladies Charitable Auxiliary, the Westerly Scientific Society, and we even have a Readers Club.”

   “I certainly didn’t mean to ruffle any feathers. It sounds like a very lively place. Except of course at Christmas. Then some decidedly unlively things occur, don’t they? What really goes on in the village of Westerly at Christmas, Miss Peabody?”

   Ginny gasps. “None of your business, sir. And quite rightly so, for your own protection. Keep your nose out of our affairs, lest you regret it.”

   “Is that a threat?”

“No, sir, but is a friendly warning.” She shivers. “Is it getting cold in here? I think I’d best leave.”

   Ginny abruptly rises from her seat and departs the room, leaving her interviewer to stare at her now vacant chair. He quickly recovers his composure.

   “Well, apparently that ends this session of the Dickens Fireside Chat. Join us next time for a talk with Fred, that mysterious nephew of Ebenezer Scrooge.”

   The man settles back in his chair, to finish his cup of tea, never noticing the grey mist gathering outside the window…

And that’s it!  That’s all I could find. But now the anthology is available and perhaps we can get to the bottom of this mysterious interview.

Author Bio:  A. F. Stewart was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, and still calls it home. The youngest in a family of seven children, she has always had an overly creative mind and an active imagination. She is fond of good books (especially science fiction/fantasy), action movies, sword collecting, and oil painting as a hobby.

Ms. Stewart is an indie author with several published novellas and story collections in the dark fantasy or horror genres, with a few side trips into poetry and non-fiction. She has a great interest in history and mythology, often working those themes into her books and stories.

Filed under: Writing

Stains on the Soul – A Fellow Author’s Novel Release

CHECK OUT MY FELLOW AUTHORS NOVEL!!!!!

Reblogged – from

 

WOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After over a year of writing, revising, and editing, Stains is now out!!! Even better? I got an amazing review from author Laura Deluca, whose Dark Musicals trilogy is one of my favorites. I’m geeking out and ready to celebrate! Please check out all the info and, if you like, join me today for a party in the Street Team.

Book Info

It’s her last summer before going away to college and Fiona finds herself facing more than she bargained for: A boyfriend she doesn’t want who has a strange hold over her, a friend pushing her to expand her boundaries, and a new guy named Ted whose presence is more than a distraction.

If that isn’t enough, Fiona is being haunted with horrifying nightmares of burning at the stake—nightmares so real, she feels as though she’s losing her mid.

Are they only dreams, or are they trying to warn her about this new guy she can’t help but want?

Release Date: November 29,2013

Pages: 82

Genre: New Adult Paranormal

Publisher: Pagan Writers Press

Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords

“ It’s a fast paced story with characters that are well-developed and easy to relate to. The scenes are vivid and striking, with emotion that seeps off the page.” –Laura Deluca, author of The Dark Musicals Trilogy

 

Excerpt

The flames from the torches danced around her, creating a terrifying glow on the gathered crowd. The young girl struggled against her restraints in an attempt to escape the fate that awaited her. The jeers of the spectators echoed through her mind like a demonic chorus, sending chills down her spine.

The more she struggled, the tighter the ropes that bound her felt. She knew it was a futile endeavor—even if she did get free, she was in no condition to attempt an escape. Plus, contrary to their insane notions, she had no special powers. Her only power was her knowledge of the earth and how its resources could be used to cure ills. What good would that do against a mob such as this?

Her heart pounded and her breathing came quick and ragged as the men kneeled down to light the kindle piled beneath her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, willing herself to keep calm. Her fate was sealed, but she could at least deny them the pleasure of seeing her fear. She opened her eyes, and her gaze settled on one of the spectators.

Filed under: Writing Tagged: Crystals, dreams, muse, New Adult, New Releases, Novellas, Pagan Writers Press, paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Reincarnation, Stains on the Soul, writer, writing

Keeping Busy

Well my cycles of insanity is definitely winding up. Little by little, I see it. Concentration failing. Clarity of thought waning. Twitches and temper. All adds up to one thing.

I’m not complaining. So far this cycle has been good – on the scale of things. Still think I’m safe to drive, so that’s something.

And while I am reaching the state of needing distraction more and more – silly on-line games and lots of movies -  I also have the escape into my ‘work’.

With the edits on the second novel – now one third finished – and the writing of the short story, I have ways to make myself feel I’m accomplishing things.

My work on the fourth novel – besides the one early scene – has become, for the most part, not written but cerebral. Research and thinking through the issue I made myself when I said they had control of the ‘three unnatural elements’. I think I almost have figured out what those three things are – when I have them I can dive into the actual writing of the story.

Theoretically I could anyway and just go back and insert that bit when it’s needed – which is, in a way, what I am doing with the short story – but I think I will hold off just a bit longer.

So I write, I watch TV, I edit, and apparently I blog.

I keep busy so the symptoms don’t overwhelm me.

Filed under: Mental Health, Writing Tagged: Bi-polar, blog for mental health, Brain, characters, crazy, current work in progress, cycle, edits, frustration, Mental Health, novel, paranormal, paranormal private investigator, plot, short story, wierd thoughts, writing

Book Trailer

I did and interview recently with the author of this upcoming book – Now you can see the trailer for it! And it is something!

Filed under: MIscellaneous, Writing Tagged: A Midsummer Night's Steampunk, muse, novel, Steampunk, world building, writer

Reality or Fantasy – Who’s to Say?

Just the other day I finished writing the third novel featuring my paranormal P.I. Jonathan Alvey (you know, the one that is the protagonist in my short story in this Anthology with all the great reviews). And – as I informed you – I started edits on the second novel.

I had hopes of getting a short story written while I was doing the edits but I didn’t expect to get the idea for one only a couple days after I started editing. What I really didn’t expect was to get the idea for the fourth novel at the same time!

But such is the life of a writer. What am I going to do about it? Well, luckily I have a good amount of time in my day so I can write the short, edit the novel, and do the necessary research to start the novel.

Both the short and the new novel are about witches, the short actually ties into the novel. I have wanted to write about witches in Alvey’s world since I started the first novel – but the occasion never came up. Now it has in spades.

But witches work in a different way than other magic in my novels and I have to pinpoint down just what some of those differences are.  The line I have to start with is from the first novel – the first time I wanted to go exploring this facet of my reality – and it is that witches use ‘the four natural elements and the three unnatural’. It’s a great line but what does it mean? I honestly had no clue.

Now, I am getting closer to it, but it means doing some research. I started at the phrase – bell, book and candle. The phrase is from around the 9th century Roman Catholic church, and it is a ritual for excommunication. Three things – three unnatural elements…

But it didn’t really click – not fully.

So I went further back – much further.

And I started looking at witches and witchcraft in Mesopotamian times.  Ah the fun.

You see I had pictured witches as a natural order of magic, innate power to those born with it. I saw my practitioners of the esoteric arts as also needing to have the talent but theirs was a magic harnessed by word – spells. In the end more powerful because of the shear mass of spells to call on but not really natural. In fact, to use energy to fuel a spell a practitioner in my world draws on something from beyond – something which transforms and takes over little by little.

Practitioners, as I saw it, grew from the written word to gain their power and had an animosity towards witches. One was for the building of cities, society, structure and gods. While the other, witches, wanted to keep the earth green, mankind living in harmony with nature, and myths vague. I’m not talking ‘tree huggers’ per say, but more along the lines of Native North Americans. Live in nature, respect natural, move with it – not control it.

Research into Mesopotamian culture and witchcraft actually shows this progression of power for the ‘priest’ through writing and building of large, set societies, and the ‘demonetization’ of the witch’s powers by the same …. just as I had imagined it. Just as I had it formed in my written world.

Reality meet Fantasy – Fantasy, this is Reality.

Oh – and did you know what Jonathan’s father was? Yup – A priest.

 

Filed under: Writing Tagged: anthology, bell book and candle, characters, current work in progress, edits, elements, esoteric arts, Mesopotamia, Mesopotamian culture, muse, novel, paranormal, paranormal private investigator, plot, priest, reality, Roman Catholic, short story, Urban Fantasy, witches, world building, writing

A Collection of Christmas Stories that is Collecting for a Good Cause!

Coming out on December 3rd – just in time for the Holiday spirit – is an anthology filled with great stories by a number of authors. Not only will this collection get you some good reading material, it will also get  people in need some money…

   The Christmas season is upon us yet again. Yes, my friends, it is a time of giving, loving, and sharing.

Within these pages is a way you can help many people desperately in need of love, support, and

goodness: the victims of domestic crime. By purchasing this anthology, you are sending every last dime

made off this book to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The NCADV is an amazing

charity that saves these people and lets them know there is still hope, still goodness, and still a reason to

carry on.

Twenty-one authors have joined in this year, giving their time and their stories to these people – and to

you. We all hope you enjoy our holiday tales captured in bite-size pieces. Whether you read this on the

bus, before bed, or snuggled by the fire, please, do read – and share.

Authors in this anthology:

Addison Moore                   Monica La Port

A.F. Stewart                        Ottilie Weber

Amy Eye                              Patrick Freivald

Angela Yuriko Smith        Phil Cantrill

Ben Warden                       Robert Gray

Cassie McCown                 Ron C. Neito

Elizabeth Evans                S. Patrick Pothier

J.A. Clement                      Tricia Kristufek

JG Faherty                         Vered Ehsani

Jonathan Tidball 

M.L. Sherwood                *Brandon Eye bonus story

Editor/compiler: Amy Eye of The Eyes for Editing

Cover Design Kyra Smith

Click the link to learn more about the NCADV

Filed under: Writing Tagged: anthology, awarness, Christmas, Christmas Lites, dreams, editor, muse, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, NCADV, readers, short story, The Christmas season, writing

All About The Edit

So I’m seventy pages into editing ‘Bindings & Spines’ – the second of my Jonathan Alvey novels.

It isn’t a fast process. There are so many things that must happen for every sentence in a story as you review it that you can’t speed through or become compliant. Every sentence must work in the paragraph and the story. It has to be grammatically correct and read easily.

Each sentence must develop the story in some manner, be it description, mood, or plot advancement. It is all too easy to become relaxed, to accept that a written line is okay, but that leads to disaster. Every line must be scrutinized. The entire plot must be in your head, so that it isn’t tripped up by a single sentence. Every word chosen for every sentence must correct and can’t be over used.

While doing all this, you must still make sure that as a whole, it flows. That it doesn’t become jilted or stiff.

Editing is not for the faint of heart, or those not committed to writing. Editing is the elbow grease – writing is the rough shaping.

Filed under: Writing Tagged: Bindings and Spines, current work in progress, editing, edits, grammar, Jonathan Alvey, novel, paranormal, paranormal private investigator, plot, scene, sentence, Urban Fantasy, world building, writer, writing

Never Ending Process

This morning, before checking all my on-line social outlets, I decided to continue in the routine I had while writing Nine of Cups. When I was writing it, would try and write first thing after my necessary cups of coffee. With NoC done, I now switch to editing the novel I wrote before it, ‘Bindings & Spines’. So first thing this morning, when I sat in front of my computer, I edited the first chapter of that novel.

Editing is, in so many ways, completely different than writing. However, it is as important as getting the thoughts down in the first place. One can not be a writer if they are also not an editor.

To be a good editor you have to be passionate about the story and yet distanced enough to be able  to make the cuts needed. You have to be a fanatic of the technical process of writing and still be a creative creature that is capable of thinking outside the box. You have to double think the whole time. You must love the cuts as much as you love creating.

Needless to say, learning how to be a good editor takes as much time and effort as learning how to become a good writer. And much of it is mind set.

To learn how to write, one must read, and edit. To learn how to edit, one must read, and write, and edit. I spent many hours editing other peoples work so that I could learn how to edit my own. Reading other peoples words taught me how to see, spot, and understand why certain things didn’t work. Once I was attuned to these issues, I could then find the same problems in my own writing.

I just went through a lengthy edit process on my short story published in Shades and Shadows: A Paranormal Anthology. The story had already been edited by myself a number of time before sending it to my personal editor (who does so much voluntary work for me and always teaches me new stuff that I could never repay her). Once the two of us had hammered out the edits we thought were necessary on the story, I then sent it to beta-readers (to whom I also owe a great debt) for their thoughts. Once I had made edits based on their opinions, I then submitted it. And then came more rounds of edits from the publisher themselves.

Did I resent these new edits after so many had already been done on one simple short story? Not a chance. In truth, I relished them. Here was another, and different, view point guiding me, helping me be being able to make my story stronger, to make my writing better, and to teach me new ways of viewing my own work

Only a fool thinks they have learned it all. One who plays with words but thinks their work doesn’t need edits, or thinks that they themselves don’t need to edit other people’s words, or doesn’t read books written to help learn to write better is simply NOT a writer. Without that never ending process – no one is a writer. With out that process – one is only deluding and pretending to be what the could be.

Embrace the process and embrace your potential.

Filed under: Writing Tagged: anthology, beta reader, Bindings and Spines, current work in progress, cycle, editor, edits, Nine of Cups, novel, paranormal private investigator, publish, read, Shades and Shadows: A Paranormal Anthology, short story, Urban Fantasy, writer, writing

And with 762 words – it is Done

It is written.

I just finished the third of my Jonathan Alvey novels, ‘Nine of Cups’.
With a total word count of 93,757 I typed – The End

It took me much longer than I thought it would when I started it about a year ago.

I had a long dry season where not a single word was added. This occurred around the half way mark of the book and the longer it went on, the more annoying it was, and also – the harder it was to get back into it.

Now though, I am happy and relieved to announce that the first draft is completed.

I will put it away for a bit, while I do the first round of edits on the second installment in my paranormal P.I. novels, ‘ Bindings & Spines.

Sometimes it is good to be a writer. The birth pains can be extreme on occasion, and the process that happens from birth to maturity is hard it is also thoroughly rewarding.

So now I change tracks – and mind set – and begin to raise the second novel up properly.

Filed under: Writing Tagged: Bindings and Spines, current work in progress, edits, First draft, Jonathan Alvey, muse, Nine of Cups, novel, paranormal, paranormal private investigator, Urban Fantasy, world building, writer, writing