Da'Kharta Rising's Blog: Thoughts of a Slightly Social Anti-Socialite, page 3

Is “The Perfection” Perfection?

What’s happening everyone? The SASS here. I confess that I’ve grown slightly bored with looking at my same favorite horror movies over and over again and wanted a break from the hum drum. So, I was surfing Netflix, because a few people had told me about Veronica as well as this movie called The Perfection.

Funny enough, The Perfection had been sitting in my queue for at least a month, but because of the little automatic play previews, I thought it was one of those apocalyptic, end-of-days type deals. I mean, why else would you show a black woman flipping shit what seems like the middle of nowhere? When a black woman flips out, it must be the end of days indeed, since they are built to survive more than most, in my humble opinion.

Then, I noticed that it’s classification is “horror”. Okay. Let me bite. Will The Perfection drag me out of my disdain of the modern day horror? Will I discover a cure for my boredom?

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One of my favorite things in The Perfection is this perfection. Like, seriously, Logan Browning just needs one really good role. Sure, she’s great in this movie, and her dire straits was what kept me looking at the movie, but someone needs to cast her in a superhero movie. DC needs all the help it can get #justsaying.

There was one element of surprise, although Netflix almost spoiled it by making that precursor the auto playing snippet. Not much surprises me, but the fact that Logan’s character (Lizzie) not only believed what Alison William’s character (Elizabeth) told her but also went ahead and follow Elizabeth’s advice, knowing that it would put the main activity she loved in jeopardy. Whoo wee! Drugs and influence is a hell of a motivator indeed!

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Side Note: Not for nothing but Allison Williams looks like a cross between Kristen Stewart and Ellen Page. The Ellen Page reference is made highly prevalent in the end. Think Hard Candy.

Okay, moving on.

I guess because I mentioned the pro at the start means that there are a lot of #fails making The Perfection far from perfect.

Marvin (whoever the hell that is), let’s hand that person a cookie. Well, I don’t have any cookies and I don’t share my popcorn. Just take pride in the fact that you were right.

Here’s why The Perfection fell short.

(1) Putting too much focus on certain key elements.

There is a difference between lingering the camera on certain objects and focusing the objects to the point where you’re telling the whole dang story.

I knew the moment they kept zooming in on the prescription medication that said medication was going to play a factor in the whole story. Also, the way Charlotte was looking blankly intense (I didn’t think those went together but she made it work) all throughout, as if she was constantly disengaged. Come on! If you have to practice your “cordial, friendly tone”, that means it’s not your normal and you’re up to something.

(2) Trying too hard with the girl-on-girl angle.

To me, it wasn’t organic. It felt like overkill. Sure, Elizabeth (Lizzie) could have been crushing on her from the beginning. But just because you crush on someone doesn’t mean it automatically lead to sex. Like, what if Charlotte didn’t roll that way? Then, Lizzie wasted those lingering glances and flirting for nothing. It just was overplayed. Then, inviting Charlotte on a road trip when it was really supposed to be a break from the music world. The glamorous life. I would have been like, “I know you, but I don’t know you, know you.” You know?

(3) Spelling out what you should’ve left the viewer to figure out

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What is it with these movies spelling out the play-by-play with the surprise? Have the viewers really gotten that stupid?

I figured out the pill angle by myself, but then they had to pause and show all the elements which led to what happened instead of letting the viewer be surprised. That takes all the fun out of the horror film if you ask me. Once they started doing that, I was livid.

After the first play-by-play, I really hung in there just to see what would take place with Lizzie. That was it. I didn’t care that much about Elizabeth, although the movie’s goal was to make the audience feel for her. Then, they had to do another play-by-play in the later part of the movie, although I also figured out that if Lizzie didn’t kill Elizabeth, then they were teaming up for a larger goal.

Overall, this was just a different version of Hard Candy, slightly combined with Jigsaw’s philosophy (“the hurt you to save you”). The aspect of music and religious cult like jargon was just to make the concept seem unique.

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Well, The Perfection, you tried.

I recommend this for the beginner paranormal drama watcher who needs slightly more kicks than the vanilla drama. To me, it isn’t really horror because it doesn’t have anything in it that’s a gross out, just elements that could have a bit of shock value.

For the hard core and those a bit more in touch with seemingly senseless elongated camera shots that are really dead giveaways, then it’s a definite pass. I am damn near hesitant to look at Veronica but I gave this person my word that I would, so when I do, I will share my views with the rest of you.

Oh well! Back to the drawing board!

P.S.: Hard Candy is a much better crafted movie, so if you haven’t seen Hard Candy, see that before looking at The Perfection if you want to do a comparison. Hell, you may not even want to see The Perfection once you see Hard Candy. Ellen Page is dynamite in the movie.

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Does Creativity Now Clash with “Correctness”?

Yo what’s hot? The SASS here, wanting to spit on something different. Make no mistake, I like bragging about my craft. Every once in a while, giving dabs to authors who write well. And, on occasion, ribbing on movies or movie remakes that should have stayed unrealized.

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Lately, it seems as if the right to free speech is constantly bumping heads with “proper terminology”, or as some would say, “political correctness”. Sure, there are unspoken rules on certain terms, because it would make one appear discriminatory, bigoted, racist … you get the idea.

But, what if, particularly if one is doing a historical write, for example, especially during a time where that type of behavior was taking place. Does one not use that type of dialog in the book in fear of offending those in the present? I know, that question being typed out looks ridiculous but that is the trajectory in which we (particularly us creative types) are headed.

Maybe it’s just me, but last time I checked, humans are not perfect. We are chocked full of flaws. We mess up regularly, although most of us wisely choose to not let our screw ups be filmed. Honestly, I do blame social media. I do blame one’s propensity to find comfort in someone’s tragedy. The whole, “I’m glad that didn’t happen to me”. Or not feel the impact of a situation until it’s in your own back yard.

Because when you are focusing on the screw ups on the world, you don’t have to look at your own life. You don’t have to realize that it’s less glamorous than it’s portrayed on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram … wherever you tout about your life.

Look, I’m using You in the general, so if you get all butt hurt, that’s on you.

But see, that’s the very thing I mean. If we were all proponents of true free speech, I wouldn’t have to put that there. I wouldn’t have to put some sort of disclaimer message, or any “just so you know”. Like free speech is only okay until it offends. In that case, it isn’t free … it has a price.

For me, if something isn’t for me, I don’t look at it. I don’t subscribe to it. I don’t act like I’m interested in a thing when I’m not. I’m just sick of people hopping on a thing just to be “trending” or caring more about how the people will perceive them than just being who they actually are.

Are we really going to act like there are personalities that have always acted like they haven’t liked a certain demographic? Are we going to keep behaving as if we didn’t know (especially famous people) which people had deviant tendencies?

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Those just don’t sprout overnight. They take a bit of development … all that’s needed are the right ingredients, or lack there of.

The reason why the behavior isn’t stopped at the interim really boils down to …

(1) There’s enough people cosigning on the bullshit.

(2) There are enough people enabling the behavior.

(3) The antics aren’t being taken seriously.

(4) The radicals have gotten away with it for so long that they’ve gotten too big, behaving like untouchables, believing that even if word does come out that they are less than savory individuals, it’ll only get 15 minutes, 2 weeks tops, before people are on to the next scandal.

And/or

(5) Some people just don’t care that much.

I’m all for rebelling against something that is unjust. Hell, the main stuff I write about deals with my wicked sense of justice. Yet, one theme which is prevalent in my writing that isn’t paramount in how humanity conducts business is the end game.

It takes more than making people aware. It takes more than making people accountable. There has to be an action plan, how to fix the screw ups … not just in plain sight, so the world can see we are doing something, but long after the media has gone on to a new topic that’s more trending than something which happened three years ago. It’s almost like the ones who’ve been down since Day One get lost in the blitz of the individuals who expertly get social media to notice.

Injustice has always been the thread of America’s tapestry. That has lasted longer than the fight to write the wrongs. If you don’t realize that, then you truly have blinders on or you’ve been the beneficiary of such, and therefore, don’t want to do anything to upset the apple cart.

I guess the points I’m trying to make are these:

(1) I’d rather know who truly don’t like my ass than for someone to be fake.

(2) The behavior of someone has an authenticity that surpasses the words.

(3) Trying to take certain vocabulary out of circulation just to make some groups feel better, from a creative perspective, causes more harm than good. It drains the concept of literary correctness, for one, and tries to shove some into sounding all the same.

I am unlike anyone out there. I’m not about to start being mainstream now.

If my character likes using a lot of cuss words, I’m not going to censor it because someone else may find it offensive. More than likely, that person isn’t part of my core audience anyway. Nor am I going to start substituting words because a certain subset connects it to something negative.

Plus, last time I checked, it’s mainly the nonconformists that get noticed.

Guess which side I play for?

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Impromptu Release: Hairy Situations by C. Desert Rose

What’s cooking everyone? For me, I’m having a waffle. Yeah, it’s different from movie butter popcorn but who eats that for a breakfast meal? Definitely not me.

Today I again play the role of a somewhat gracious hostess, giving C. Desert Rose the opportunity to talk about her newest (albeit unplanned) release “Hairy Situations”.

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I admit, sometimes these random story ideas just pop into my head out of nowhere. I could be just sitting there minding my own business when a brand new character yells into my ear. This happened when I wrote “Nethanyel’s Lady Lune”, “From When Jasmine Blooms”, and now with “Hairy Situations”.

What is “Hairy Situations”, you may be wondering? Let me take a moment to fill you in.

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The long and the short of it is that “Hairy Situations” is a Paranormal Comedy. A spoof on the quintessential and beloved Vampires and Werewolves.
What was really interesting was the progression of events that lead to the final product.

I had just gotten done with a long day of work and laid in my bed to relax for a little bit. Instantly, I heard the voice of the main character, speaking in first person, say this:

“Okay, so this is going to sound crazy …” I braced myself before finishing. “I’m a werewolf.”
“Oh. Okay.” Silvia nodded, her bottom lip in a pout. No sign of question, concern or insecurity on her face. Acceptance; that was it.
“Did you hear what I just said …?” I asked, confused as to her reaction.
“Mhm, yep.” Still nothing.
“I just said I am a werewolf, Silvia. I’m serious. I, like, mean it. Not kidding.”
“Okay.” She replied. No change, no denial, no inkling that she thought I was crazy.
“Silvia …? Seriously?”
“Rogg, dude, I heard you the first time! Now you’re just irritating me.”
“You’re just accepting it? Just like that?”
“Yes! For the love of God! What do you want from me?”
“Oh, I don’t know …! An accusation of insanity … A recommendation to a psychiatrist … An offer of medication … Shit if I know!”
“Rogg, are you seriously mad at me for NOT overreacting? Are you listening to yourself?”
I paused for a moment. She wasn’t wrong. “Roger, I have seen enough paranormal movies and TV shows to teach me that denial is a feeble concept. It’s easier to accept and move on. Now, can we please move on?”
Well shit, I couldn’t argue with that logic either. And here I was preparing myself for the worst. Who knew? Finally resigned, I shrugged.

I thought it was hilarious. Could you imagine a movie starting like that? It would be incredibly fun. Before I knew it, I was writing down the lines. Just like that the words flowed. I finished the entire novelette in three days.
Roger, the main character who is also called Rogg (with 2 Gs) is basically a loser. In a tight position monetarily speaking he chooses to tell his secret. It would be the only way to get the much-needed funds. Basically, his choices were “tell it all” or “get evicted”. He chose the former.
In comes Silvia, the journalist for a newspaper called The Harbinger. She was sent on a mission by the Editor to look into the story and see if there was any value in it.
In no time at all Silvia finds herself complete sucked into the fantastic misadventures Rogg has braved throughout his life. “Is it real or make-believe”?, Silvia wonders. More than that, she is downright outraged at the ungodly and extraordinary calamities of Roger’s life.

That’s all I am going to say about that. Just know that if you choose to delve into “Hairy Situations” you’re going to laugh out loud. This is not your ordinary paranormal fiction.

BLURB:

Roger is at his wit’s end …No family, no friends, no home, no money. He has one last resort … tell the truth. Calling the local newspaper, The Harbinger, Roger does a “tell-all” story. Silvia, the journalist, is keen to find out more about this so-called werewolf. Before she realizes it, she is sucked into a tale that enthralls her completely. A comedy. An adventure. A really fascinating memoir.”Hairy Situations” is guaranteed to keep you absorbed and make you laugh out loud.

Available on Amazon:

Rising Red Light (Y. Correa)

It’s Monday once again at the cave, and I’m feeling all mad-scientist like. Not sure how long I’ll be doing this, so if you get the shine … be glad.

Today I want to talk about Author Y. Correa. Yeah, she’s affiliated with All Authors Publishing House. But, she has no idea that I’m even doing this spiel, which is the “beauty” of it.

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So … why Y? (See what I did there?)

The top reason is because she doesn’t really do the overly-sappy stuff. You may be thinking, “What about that historical romance mashup called MarcoAntonio & Amaryllis?”

Okay, so it speaks of love. It has a couple behind the balcony. I get it. I was deterred a bit too, almost didn’t give it another look until I checked out the other characters, particularly Mother Haydie (#abadass) and Aishe (#abraveass). So it was the action while the love fest took place which kept me invested. I want the rumor of Book 2 to be legit because it’s supposed to be strongly about Mother Haydie. I show up for the antagonist, especially if it’s executed correctly.

The closest she’s ever come to doing romance, to me, has a splash of comedy in it. Two free short stories come to mind: “Ryan” and “Loving … Them!” Therefore, if you like a little rom-com, those are the short stories to read. The titles are hyperlinked so you can get to them … after reading this, of course.

Where Y. Correa excels at is being a Sci-Fi Samurai.

I’m not talking about the “hard” sci-fi (it feels eerie even typing that) but more of a mashup. If I were a hard core science-fiction type, I may give a fart about the craftsmanship of the spacecraft, the color and shapes of the different knobs and buttons, the nipples on the alien lifeforms, and how their sex lives are more exciting to humans. But I like my reading similar to how I do my writing: if it doesn’t serve a purpose, then why is it included?

Like, I don’t want to be snoring by the time I get to Chapter 1. No one has time for all of that. I could be popping popcorn.

The Earth 8-8-2 saga … I’m here for it. It’s one of those books a person reads and thinks … shit I can see that as a movie. No, not one of those D-rated joints that one may be able to watch on some obscure channel past eleven pm and never on Sundays. Like, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime worthy … if they didn’t mess up the casting.

Even the book trailers, which I’m about to put in, look like mini films. Peep it!

On top of that, she does a top-notch job at storytelling. There was a question that I read which stated, “If one is a great storyteller, does that automatically translate to being a great writer?” I don’t necessarily think they both come hand-in-hand. I equate it to the difference between talking about something and translating it on paper, or even intimate conversation vs doing a speech in front of a crowd.

For me, I don’t do a lot of talking. The way I express myself in my cave is the way I’d interact with you if we were on the street. But when you read my stuff, you’d think it was someone entirely different.

I know people who excel at talking. Can tell me stories, going on and on about the details. If I were to ask those same people to jot it all down on paper, so I could share it with others, there’d only be a handful that could do it with the skill of a great writer. There’s a science in making inter-connectivity transcendent, which is why some people talk so much shit about “writing” being easy … until they do the damn thing.

Y. Correa’s short story anthology “Dimensions of Literary Seduction” flexes her storytelling muscle. She’s not dropping “morals of the stories”, but more of things to make you think, going beyond just the whole “beginning”, “middle”, and “end” type spiel. She rebels against the use of simple statements, padding on a bit of antiquated wording and style, meshing it with contemporary literature. Hence, the whole “romancing the words” style Y. Correa often incorporates. It’s not my design, but I don’t think all authors need to write in the same way for people to understand them. DOLS (as I nickname) has something for everyone, even me.

Stay tuned to see if I do any more of episodes of “Rising Red Light”.

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Transcendent Choice: The Update

It’s another Monday here at The Cave. I do realize there is one project I have not discussed in quite a while. So, before I satisfy my appetite, let me satisfy your curiosity.

The building blocks of the original story was a love affair gone wrong with a twist, an unthinkable twist. When the story was transferred from the pockets of my brain to a computer screen, I wanted to add additional elements, so one wouldn’t say, “This is the same old ‘boy-meets girl’, ‘situation is complicated’ type stuff.”

The elements that were added wasn’t like that little sprinkle of low sodium salt you add to a dish, just to say you added seasoning. Think Himalayan salt, freshly ground black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, chili pepper, and paprika. That is how it all turned out by the time I was finished.

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The end dish was a story that was richer than the original three. I’ll drop the existing cover, blurb, and excerpt before carrying on.

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There’s Love … and then there’s Love Beyond Limits.

Felipe and Therice had a love that knew of no boundaries. When Therice and “Mama” lose their lives in a tragic car accident, Felipe has a gaping hole that just refuses to heal and Therice has a determination to see him again that just refuses to die.

Heaven feels anything but, when Therice discovers that spirits are prohibited from visiting loved ones after they have died. Sensing that her angelic guide Amare possesses empathetic traits, Therice develops a plan of appeal in the hopes she will see Felipe near the anniversary of her death.

Grab your copy on Amazon.

Excerpt:

Light grey drained the typically blue sky. The sun was on vacation and invited moisture for an extended stay. It wasn’t the pitter patter of drizzle—bearable yet irksome—but a delicate balance between steady showers and powerful downpour. Who would want to go out in this?

Not Therice.

All she desired was to stay inside and admire the finesse of Mother Nature from afar. The warmth perfectly positioned between her thighs: her touch of Heaven on Earth. Smears of black and dried skin foiled her index finger upon wiping her eyes.

Damn, I forgot to take off my mascara once again!

Therice was slightly distracted the night before … no, very distracted. Although the relationship had just started getting hot and heavy these past few months, Therice had always belonged to Felipe. They had a connection that bypassed time constraints or labels. Her whole existence just illuminated with accelerated degrees of love.

Before Felipe, Therice’s romantic life was a dormant one. She did have her share of relationships in high school, along with a brief affair at the beginning of college. Yet, Therice believed they were placeholders for the One who would be the real thing. Therice didn’t want to acquire a harem of men to satisfy her every whim; she craved One that would fit All.

The All was Felipe. Yes he was quite older than she, but Felipe’s youthful spirit obliterated any initial concern with numbers. All she knew was that he was a handsome man who was in undeniable alignment with all she wanted. Felipe was initially quite timid in the courting process; patience was never her strong suit. Yet, each moment Therice spent with Felipe tempered her restlessness.

Once “Boundless Limits” was completed, the original plan was to have the 2nd book come out within a year or two. I got pulled in different creative directions. By the time I circled back to even thinking about the 2nd book, I didn’t hear the culprits who started the drama but the other characters who I first deemed supporting cast: Amare and Vindicta.

[image error]Amare[image error]The closest representation that fits Vindicta.

These two characters began to tell me their stories more so than the dangling threads of Therice, Felipe, and “Mama”. I am one that is used to order, so for characters to talk to me “out of order” is unusual for me. The disadvantage is that it can make it difficult to stay focused on the matter at hand.

I revisited “Boundless Limits” from both the creative side (author) and from the enjoyment side (reader). I realized it would be an injustice if I minimized the original gears I sent in motion with Therice, Felipe, and “Mama” just to satiate the other characters who weren’t initially in the creation in the first place. On the same token, I did not NOT (yes, I did the double negative on purpose) want to discuss the others.

By doing one story, I had created multiple stories … stories that would extend after the original three were gone. That is when the vision became clearer, and on top of that, made more sense.

The “Boundless” segment is its own entity and is the first three books. Boundless is a saga, meaning you would have to read the 1st one before the 2nd one, so on and so forth. This new structure paved the way for me to officially name the next two books in the saga: Boundless Odds and Boundless Omens.

The “Transcendent” segment is its own entity and is the remaining four books. One would not have to read one book to understand the next, but for a richer reading experience, it is recommended. The working title I mentioned in passing Efficacious Ennui will actually be better utilized here. I’m just uncertain which book it’s for at this point.

While one is waiting for the remaining books, the graphic design team is putting together a TC website. The Transcendent Choice website will not only outline each book but will also talk about the inspiration and the core characters. I was going to put the info on my author website but thought it would make my spot too cluttered, and I’m not a fan of clutter.

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#HOTP (All Authors PH Summer Newsletter)

What’s sizzling everyone? The Slightly Antisocial Socialite here. The summer is almost here, which means an increase in outside temperatures and a decrease in clothing in most areas. It also means that it is time for the Summer edition of the All Authors Publishing House newsletter.

This summer, the focus will be on … insert drum roll …

So far, there are two books that are part of the Divergent Ink short story collection.

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The first book is entitled “Crackles of the Heart”, focusing on short story answers to the question “Can the hot, handsome guy fall for the average, awkward woman?”

Book Trailer for “Crackles of the Heart”





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The second book, entitled “Pleasure Prints“, runs more abstract, asking “Where is paradise?”

The Newsletter is an overview of how each participant (yes, I’m included) approached the questions of the books. For you reading pleasure, click on the D.I.E. (Divergent Ink Emblem).

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Oh, before I step out, there is a giveaway being held where the winner receives a copy of not one, but both Crackles of the Heart and Pleasure Prints paperbacks. Just fill out the form (

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My Feature on the AAPH Newsletter

Yo everyone! In case you missed it, I want to share my past spotlight on the All Authors Publishing House newsletter.

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Oh, is that spotlight for me? Must it be so bright? Can it be a bit dimmer by about sixty percent? Cool. Also, make it a different hue, like a crimson.

Now that’s more like it. The perfect way to make a badass feel welcome.

I stepped out of my cave at the request of All Authors Publishing House. Plus, not just the House but I myself have some hot events happening within the next few months.

Cool what I did there, huh?

First I’m going to talk about me since I’m the feature. Then, I’m going to talk about my role in the most recent All Authors Publishing House project.

When All Authors Publishing House took me on some years ago, they understood that I operate on my own schedule. I was not the type of writer, much less person, where they could dictate a set deadline to me and I’d automatically follow it.

Please note that there are deadlines to the group projects where I just happen to get the work in on time—don’t get it twisted. I’m talking about my individual sh … I mean, stuff.

Oops … I almost forgot I wasn’t on my site.

Anywho, back to what I was saying.

Everyone was hyped up after I released “Boundless Limits”. I did leave it like “holy crap, what the hell” type moment … which was intentional, for the plan was to come out with the next book “Efficacious Ennui” within a year, two years tops.

Needless to say, it didn’t happen.

 

Unfortunate incidents happened to people close to me. Not too many things shake me but those things did. I was pissed because there was nothing I could do, apart from bleeding these parasites of their blood and breath, except sit back and watch them in pain.

My strength is my ability to take my emotions, especially the most volatile ones, use them as ammunition and fire with accuracy on the screen/page to produce work. This round, I was constipated, so it sat … and sat … and sat.

The first hint of movement was with the 2nd book for Divergent Ink, “Pleasure Prints”. Wait, that doesn’t count because I finished that entry before the stank stuff happened. Someone else held that up, so scratch that.

The real first movement was having a long talk with one author I network with.

 

It was the closest I came to believing that I had lost my stride. I was that one who’d usually say, “What writer’s block? There’s no such thing. The characters will come to you. The story will manifest.” That’s how it worked for me. Until it didn’t.

It got to the point where I didn’t even hear Amare’s goody-two-shoes butt or Vindicta’s wings flapping near my ears. How in the name of angels and demons were the rest of these books going to come out? I’d gone bigger with the vision than intended (#BlamingDesire) which meant more installments that initially outlined.

In talking to this author (no it wasn’t Desire), she told me that I could still use the rage if I perceived it as therapy.

Therapy? I scoffed as such rhetoric. To approach it in this way would make it personal and I relished the ability to write in a way to subtract myself from the scribe. I was doing the whole “nodding but didn’t plan on doing anything with it” deal.

Well, I didn’t want to be extra rude.

Shortly thereafter, the call came for submissions for CV4. The topic interested me right away. Fire? Inferno? Sheesh … that’s right up my alley. I’ll knock that out in no time.

The 1st swing at the topic was not quite a home run. Not that I won’t use the story but like TC, characters were getting out of hand. That got me lit, like, “How are YOU going to tell me? I made YOUR ass, not the other way around!”

See, I wasn’t trying to drop a juggernaut of a story (#TheRosieThing), despite getting a 15K max limit, but I know that the House was hoping I’d not do a “Masato”. (If you don’t get it, that’s okay—it’s an inside joke between fellow writers.)

While getting together an alternate story for Inferno I reflected on the whole therapy business. As I was doing so, strange scenarios left and right started flowing. I didn’t know what it all meant but I jotted what came.

What came is the foundation for a series entitled When Karma Speaks. All tales of When Karma Speaks are in the form of episodes and they will be standalones. Therefore, if you don’t read “Disaccord” which is the title of Episode 1, you won’t get lost if you decide to check out “Soul Cooking” which is the title of Episode 3.

Like I said, I tend not to give definite dates, but I will give a hint. The release date of each episode will land on Friday the 13th.

 

It adds a bit of extra spook and it’s the only thing they all will have in common. Maybe I’ll even do 13 of them but perhaps I’m being way too ambitious.

While I was outlining episodes of WKS, lines unrelated to WKS demanded to be written. I put them down. Each portion symbolized a journal entry—a “chronicle” of recollection. The name “Aidan” suited the character because of its meaning. I won’t give that way. I’ll let you look it up.

Conviction is a powerful ingredient. It can warp perception. It can define reality. The origin and healthiness of that trait is humanity’s temperature. In my opinion, it is the reason why it is so easy to start an inferno but so difficult to put it out. I would speak further on how this applies to the world today, but I will save those ramblings for the walls of my cave.

Looks like I’m done here.

The Chronicles of Aidan (#SSE8)

What’s cooking everyone? I’m trying to decide whether I want a deluxe cheeseburger with fries or steak and potatoes. While I’m making up my mind, let me treat you to another episode of Short Story Excerpts. If you missed any of them, click on the following links:

Unrest (Episode 1)

Omitted (Episode 2)

The Kutters (Episode 3)

Inside Me (Episode 4)

Masato’s Zion (Episode 5)

Coalesce (Episode 6)

The Bunny (Episode 7)

 

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Today’s episode comes from “Inferno”, the 4th book in the Concordant Vibrancy collection. The element explored was “fire”, which is my favorite.

The question: What element contributes to a sustainable blaze?

Here is why I chose Conviction.

That is the thing about conviction. It is a powerful ingredient in the human existence. It acts as pliable clay, possessing the ability to warp perception and reality. The foundation and steadfastness of conviction marks humanity’s temperature. In my analysis, it is why there’s ease in starting an inferno but challenge in dousing the flames.

 

My contribution to the anthology, “The Chronicles of Aidan”, begins when Aidan starts speaking on the sad condition of the world to anyone who hears. Fearing that his opinions are signs of a mental break, Aidan is placed in a facility that’s supposed to tackle his ailment.

Here’s an excerpt:

The Dreamspace is where I see her.

Bettany. She’s back and in my favorite outfit—a black polka dot blouse with puffed sleeves and a red belted poodle skirt.

My Bettany, always so vintage. Such a rebel.

Hence my love for her.

I did not believe the rebellion would sully core values. Core traits I needed in my forever person.

Passion. Loyalty. Honesty.

Bettany is passion in spades. I dare say she overflowed with it. Bettany’s power: seduction, the ability to make every inch of me her bitch. I should have known this wasn’t natural talent but acquired by experience.

Perhaps I was naïve in those times. But Bettany was my first. She sprung my physical and emotional cherry. Not sure if she ever knew, or if I ever told her.

The initial dream scene is the same.

I walk up the dirt hill to greet her. Late, as my usual. Bettany scolds me for not being punctual, then runs into my arms. My forehead, cheeks, and lips decorated with traces of her Bubble Gum lip gloss. She takes my hand. We walk closer to the tree. Our tree. Bettany is talking but the swish of her buttocks beneath the skirt’s fabric distracts me. When I look up, her expression is different.

I don’t ask her to repeat what she says, only what’s wrong.

Bettany’s confession … also the same.

The narrative of what happens on “Storm Night”, as we deemed it, is a lie. She isn’t in our city, which is impacted by the storm the heaviest, but is in a state over with another person. The other person who is hired by her family to be a tutor. Yet there is a different type of schooling taking place.

This concludes another episode of Short Story Excerpts. I think I will have the steak and potatoes after all.

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Freebie x 3 w/ Y. Correa

What’s up everyone? Just as I was about to dig into these leftover ribs someone dropped off at the cave, Y. Correa decides to come visit to talk about three free short stories (including her newest one in the series). Since she already knows her way around the cave, I’m going to grab my wet wipes and chow down.

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Hey, y’all.

Hope you’re all doing well.

Okay, okay. I’m gonna keep it real.

I procrastinated way too long to finish this chapter in the A.L.O.M. adventure. I know.

Considering that I wrote the very first story in 2014, I should be ashamed of myself for waiting 6 years to write the 3rd part. The worst of it all is that it’s a short story! Shame on me! For shame, Y. Correa! For shame!

Okay, now that I have beaten myself with a stick for tarrying on this release …

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It was the year 2014, midsummer.

Lying in her bed was a lowly author who was binge-watching Ancient Aliens on Hulu. This was one of her favorite things to do next to binge-watching Doctor Who on Netflix.

There she was, munching on popcorn whilst she lay; the popcorn bowl sitting on her chest. Periodically a kernel would fall into unmentionable places. She cared not to fish it out. She could save those for later should she get a hankering for a treat.

Soon, her eyelids fluttered with drowsiness, the popcorn bowl teetering, threatening to fall over completely. As she dozed, she heard the prominent voice of the Ancient Aliens narrator as it proclaimed, “Ancient aliens theorists say yes …!” In that instant her Muse simultaneously tapped her on the shoulders and whispered in her ear, “What if ancient aliens were actually time travelers from the future?”

Raptured with inspiration—and actually quite startled because the lowly author thought she was alone in the room—she jumped to a seated position, a single digit in the air as the epiphany came alive. The popcorn bowl went flying to who knows where.

“Yes!” she trumpeted, “Yes, yes and yessss! That’s a phenomenal idea!”

Her parents who were in the other room yelled at her to keep it down.

Cowering, “Oops” she muttered. Shrugging it off she got up, turned on her computer and pecked away at the obnoxiously loud keyboard.

And so it was that “A.L.O.M.” the short story saga began.

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Blurb:

The year is 2130. Long gone are the days of high definition television and rock and roll. Mankind has entered the greatest age of technology. Vlad Kappel is a man of few words and even fewer desires, one of them being a dream to pilot the world’s first time machine which he has helped to invent and build. A fan of the eons-old television show Ancient Aliens, Vlad has always been intrigued by the ideas of time and space travel. When he is suddenly and unexpectedly given the opportunity to live out his secret dream the results are astounding … and none too coincidental.

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Blurb:

Vlad’s travel aspirations should have been a dream come true. Yet the reality of his scholars’ teachings concerning the ancients is quite sobering. A.L.O.M. is in need of dire repair and lack of technology, industrial science and language barrier prove hefty challenges for Vlad. Will he gain cooperation from the ancients to save him from this travesty or will the final destination remain Stranded?

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And now, without further ado, it is my pleasure to introduce you to “A.L.O.M. Episode 3: Underearth”.

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Blurb:

At this point in his adventure Vlad wants nothing more than to get back home. However, with the advanced technology with which the A.L.O.M. was created, Vlad realizes that he is in a pickle. In order to make the A.L.O.M. run he needs fuel. Not just any fuel. Lava.

With the help of the princess Vlad endeavors to seek exactly that. It is this enterprise that leads him Underearth.

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Today and every day you can read the first three books of the ongoing A.L.O.M. collection for free by visiting the link below. Enjoy!

And …

HAPPY SHORT STORY MONTH!

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The Bunny (#SSE7)

Guess what time it is? No, it’s not Peanut Butter & Jelly time. Who came up with a song about Peanut Butter & Jelly anyway? I guess that’s a discussion for not only another time, but on another blog.

It’s time for another episode of Short Story Excerpts.

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This selection comes from the 3rd installment of the Concordant Vibrancy collection “Lustrate”. The theme in this book was “What embodies the composition of fluidity?” My answer to this was justice but delivered in an unlikely form.

 

 

Hence “The Bunny.”

Excerpt:

These shoes weren’t made for a lot of running, Eden concluded. Her feet were in a ton of hurt. She was unaware of how much time had passed. Eden didn’t want to chance being late for school. Just as she was turning around, the bunny hopped closer, then sat within inches of a touch.

“Stay still bunny. I won’t hurt you. I promise.”

The bunny gambled with other intentions. He just wanted the chase to continue.

“Okay bunny. A few more minutes but that’s it. I can’t be late for school.”

Eden took off her new shoes and sprinted after the bunny. The only reason she caught up was that he abruptly came to a stop. The bunny’s brown fur bristled as he scampered in the opposite direction, no longer paying mind to Eden.

Two tall figures approached, one on each side of Eden. Her eyes darted to them, then to the deep hole and mounds of dirt, before settling on them again. Her bottom lip quivered.

“Sorry, I took a wrong turn on my way to school.” Eden told the two guys. “I will be on my way now.”

“Come on man. She’s just a little girl. She don’t even know what she looking at.”

Eden turned and headed to the dirt road. She believed she was out of harm’s way when gloved hands covered her mouth and neck.

“Dude we can’t take that chance. One set of eyes is a set of eyes too many.”

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Stay tuned for the next episode of Short Story Excerpts.

I’m out this mutha.

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