Adri Sinclair's Blog, page 6

Don’t objectify me, God dammit!

It has been on my mind for a good long time lately. It bothers me on levels that gets me chastised because I speak out about it and find that apparently, there is something ‘wrong’ with my thinking.

For years, women have been put through the wringer. On the political front we had advocates fighting for our rights to own land, vote and get jobs that did not entail war duty. Feminism is a beautiful thing when used correctly to aid in the growth of equal rights. But the battles are far from over and we still run into things like rape culture, objectification, unfair wages and work-loads in the professional arena, and a host of others. The minute, and I do mean, THE MINUTE a woman is being treated as anything unequal on any level, the Fem-army stands up and they too are joined by the Fem-gents who truly believe in the causes – against rape, against abuse, against objectification, against injustice, against crude sexual exposure, against … you name it.

And I am good with that. I am so good with it, I pee myself with puppy-pleasure every time some silly person [male or female] get their just deserves handed to them on a plate.

But this is not what bothers me. This is not what gets my goat.

See, I have this HUGE thing about cultures and learning about cultures. I have a massive love for tribal ANYTHING. So I posted a video of the NZ festival where they did story telling via dance – like the full Haka and many other dances. It was amazing, it was gorgeous, it was inspirational and it was moving … Then came the comments.

Grown ass women who completely missed the point of my post:

“OH they’re so fucking hot!” and “I’d go tribal for these guys” and “Damn! I’d do them.”

The first thing that came to my mind was: IF this was women, and MEN made those sort of comments … would it have been OKAY? You bet your ass it wouldn’t have. There appear to be a culture among a certain group of females, that makes it ALRIGHT to be crude, rude and derogative towards men – yet these very same women claim they want equal rights. They want to be treated with respect and dignity. They want to be heard.

But men? Oh no, not these guys. If they wanted that, they’d not pose without their shirts. If they wanted that, they’d not be models. If they wanted that, they’d not be putting their hot-hot-hot pictures online. Would they? Surely not. [Does this sound vaguely familiar? Like… things men used against women to justify their horrible behaviour? Maybe? You think?]

I remember one particular friend of mine – very handsome, pretty cool guy and his self-love had him take a few pictures of his beautifully muscled and toned upper body. The message he tried to send was to the younger generation, telling them that they can reach the same results through healthy eating, working out and loving themselves. His message was amazing and his words encouraging … and then the woman found the pictures on his HEALTH website, and the comments had ME cringe. When my friend told the females: Thank you for the wonderful compliments, but I am a married man, with a beautiful daughter and I do not want to be seen in that light…. He was insulted on levels I couldn’t imagine. He was told he is gay [which pissed me off because so what if he actually was?] and couldn’t appreciate a good woman if he was given on by God himself. [I can’t make this shit up!] He was told ‘All men enjoys the sexual attention from women! What is wrong with you? It’s a compliment, take it!’ He was told to ‘Grow a pair of balls and act like a man’. The verbal abuse was so horrible and this from females… Young and old … He took the posts and the pictures down.

Recently, I saw one of those pictures resurfacing on an author’s page. I contacted her and asked her if she has permission to use it, seeing as I know the model and I know his values and I doubt he’d have given it. Her reply?

“He’s a hotty ain’t he?”

I looked at my screen for a long time and eventually told the Author that it is best to get permission to use it – and gave her the FB contact details of my friend. She laughed and said:

“I’m sure he won’t mind, women are throwing themselves at him, I bet. And besides, it is just a teaser – it makes him look good.”

I choked up, I became angry but I walked away from that conversation and reported the image and its use to my mate. He was floored. Upset, angry, and insulted. Not because it was used, but HOW it was used.

But he was afraid …

Not long ago, a female model I work with had a similar problem – but she was backed up in a jiffy. Her pictures were removed and the account of the person using them shut down – the MOB went MAD to help her! [And kudos for doing so too! Of course!]

And here is the reality, as it stared me in the face, stabbed me in the chest and made me wonder what is happening to our world and why the forced reversal is equated to ‘equal rights’.

HE was afraid of the backlash it would cause if he asked her to remove the image – HE was afraid of the damage it may do to his business – HE was afraid of how it would affect his wife [as she has been attacked alongside him – they run their business together – for marrying an ‘egotistical narcissistic dick with masochistic tendencies’ – she was also contacted by several woman claiming an affair!]

This really pisses me off. The unequal distribution of equal rights. See the way I see it – equal means just that. Because we are women, and they are men, it is NOT fair NOR right to objectify them with the level of crudeness we as women ARE capable of. It is not OKAY to grab any male model’s picture and add our smut to it … The same way it is NOT okay to do that to women!

Sure, sex sells – I get that – and yes, erotic writing needs the ‘teasers’  … but here is my plea with those authors.

1. Make sure the person you feature, WANTS to be in that role.

2. Don’t objectify EVERY fucking male image/vid you see.

3. Respect the subject the way you want to be respected.

Equal rights, mean equal for EVERYONE. You are not MORE equal because as a gender we suffered longer under the hands. We are not MORE entitled to ‘let loose’ because we “don’t mean any harm.”

Just don’t do it. Don’t perpetuate the “Big boys don’t cry” or “Take it like a man” culture because realistically, it is as bad as anything projected against women.

To reverse the roles, is not to create equality.  You either stand FOR gender equality, or you stand AGAINST it.

Consent [debatably] is a big player in the game of gender equality and you should consider your role and the message you send out. Me? I’m not playing. Sure, a gorgeous man is a gorgeous man, and I’ll certainly say it out loud and proud – but I will not objectify each and every beautiful image I come across. But imagine you post a picture of your favorite person – let’s say your grown up daughter – who is an athlete and posed in a bather. Now let’s say that image was found by a male author you do not know, and that author puts it in his teaser. Now imagine all the comments…

“She’s hot!”  “I’d bang her!” “OMG who is this! Can I do her?” “Just cover her face, that body can rock my world!”

Not cool right?  But it is OKAY to do that to the guys. Hmmm.

I posted pictures of my baby brother and nephew with a few of their friends -they’re arm-wrestlers – and the comments I received [thank FUCK I monitor my posts diligently] was nothing short of disgusting! These were not models! They were family, with families, wanting to show off their sport and their achievements!

To reverse the roles, is not to create equality.

Think about that, the next time you make one of your ‘typical girly having fun’ comments. Because if you get another dick pic – you may want to look at the message you’re sending too.

It is about equal rights being equal – you don’t want those dick picks – but should you be posting them with the sort of comments you do? How many other women are you introducing to the abusive behaviour of men, by behaving abusively towards them yourself via sexual objectification? Are you helping or enabling the way woman are being treated by the way you treat the subject matter of men and sexuality? [Unintentionally, and for sure it says nothing for the mental capacity of those who take your work as encouragement!] THINK before you POST. Your ‘Ooh I’d do him’ lands some unsuspecting girl/women a dick pic in her inbox … Why?

“Well isn’t that what women wants these days?”

I am not a prude, but I am selective. Be selective. Choose Equal Rights and be part of the Fem Army even if you’re a Fem-Gent. But don’t play double dutch on the standards…

Thank you for making it this far. My rant is over now.

Adri.

Readfree.ly : For the booky people in the know

ReadFree.ly is run by a couple.  She is a radio producer/journalist covering the arts, and he is a computer programmer. Neither one of us is an author, but we are both voracious readers and both want to contribute, in whatever way we can, to the creation of good fiction.

Hence, ReadFree.ly…

The site is growing, and this is what we want. Our idea is for that growth to be organic, fluid – growing to fill whatever void it may come across.

(And, selfishly, helping us find our next favourite book!)

5* Review from InD’tail Magazine for Hidden Carmina

Hidden Carmina (Second Breath Chronicles) Volume 1









Adri Sinclair



Genre:  Paranormal-Urban-Fantasy


















http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BEOY4VQ

What would you do if you found out you were the only human in a clan of vampires? Would you be frightened and freak out? Or would you take everything in stride? Carmina Nightshade is not your normal human being but no one is quite sure exactly what it is about her that is unique. She is neither vampire nor werewolf and she doesn’t seem to be a hybrid. When she meets Liam Moretti, she is transfixed. Carmina wants nothing more than to spend the rest of her life with him but is she willing to give up her ‘life’ to do just that? Will she be able to choose? She turns the immortal world ‘upside down’ and causes myth and truth to become intertwined and brought to the surface. — read more here

Book of the Day: We choose the best books from traditional publishers and independent authors, and hold both to the same high standards.

We choose the best books from traditional publishers and independent authors, and hold both to the same high standards.

Hidden Carmina: Currently #2 on the Paranormal list. [14/4/2016]

Bookoftheday.org Paranormal Category

Plagiarism, Copying, Stealing is not flattering, it is Identity theft.

When I grew up, I was told all the time that if someone copied me, it is a huge compliment. They look up to me, they draw inspiration from me, blah-blah-fucking-fishpaste. Well, I tried to be the better person and accept this lesson through the years, but it became more and more difficult.

You see, I am vain. I admit that openly and not always proudly. I like being unique, different, creative, artistic and what-not. And I like being the only one to look a certain way, or write a certain way, or paint, draw etc in a certain way – usually these are ways carefully chosen to compliment my mind, mood and emotional reflection of where I am at in my life.  It is to draw my identity, to share my personality, to give my opinion unintrusively [well, sometimes some of my styles do a lot of attention-whoring but that part is not purposely designed for the limelight stealer].

But the thing is, I re-invent myself constantly to update my expression for the betterment of my identity showcase. So when someone copy me, my work, my style … at first I smile and take the compliment. When they continue to do so, I become a little stand-offish and when it turns into a set for “Single White Female” [to borrow from my Homie]  syndrome, then I get a) pissed off and b)hurt. Especially if it is someone near and dear; someone whose creative mind I’ve admired for years; someone who made me reach for higher evaluations of my person.

You won’t get me right, like the picture in this article, it may LOOK the same, but eventually, anyone who pays some margin of attention, will see how you got ‘me’ wrong. You have stolen the ingredients that describe me, but you have not got them in the right order, to BE me. And that is something others need to know and understand. This should give me comfort, but it does not – because at a glance, it will be hard to tell the real from the copy – and I often end up having to defend my authenticity [even if only to myself]. I end up having to proove myself, my worth, while you are the one stealing from me. Guilty until proven otherwise … and you strut along…

This copy-and-paste culture we live in, is not new. As I said, I grew up with it – it was like a competition with myself to discover myself and keep it secret because… Someone may steal my identity. AND THAT is how I see this.

Plagiarism, Copying of work/art, styles, speech … Identity theft. All of it. It robs the individual from their personal expression. It gropes and probes into their lives and steals from their souls. It betrays their friendships, it muddles their expression, it hurts… It hurts because …

You took something that you didn’t understand, and you made a copy of it without having any thought of the deeper meaning to me, or to you.

You took something that did not belong to you, impersonating someone you are not.

You took something that was unique and individual to that person and mass-brand it a dime a dozen.

You took something and you are passing it off as your own idea, your own personality, your own thoughts — but you and I both know it isn’t, don’t we?

So I go away, I re-invent myself. I make you run a mile-long sprint to chase and catch up. I constantly update, create and express because you see… I want people to know who I am. The original me. I want people to know MY work. I want them to understand MY style, MY thoughts, MY interpretations.

Me me me much Adri?

You fucking bet your ass.

When work is plagiarised, when styles are copied, when art is ‘printed’, when dance or stage productions are mass pasted into the world … you’ve stolen an identity. The worst part for me about that is not the thievery anymore, but the sadness for you.

What was so innately flawed in your own personality, work, style, skill – that you had to carbon copy someone else’s? How can you reject your absolute uniqueness, your personal creativity, your god-given right to be you and substitute it with someone else’s?  Why?

Look, there will be a time we do copy, we do try out a new style or genre or even go back to a long-gone era for one. There are times we play ‘dress up’ — those things to me are perfectly fine because we discover a lot about ourselves along the way… But when that becomes all you do, when that is the only way you can express yourself, then that is the pinnacle low of your self-esteem because honestly … When will YOU shine? Are you learning about yourself or just trying to be something you think is cool, fun and NOT YOU? Don’t be lazy, find out who you are and what you are capable of.

If you do get inspired by a personality trait – If  you are trying out someone else’s shoes for a while – borrow them but then give it back. Create your personal blend of unique and historical to express YOU and YOUR soul. Add to your repertoire an arsenal of creativity, one you have always had and is yours in so many ways. My success won’t rub off on you because you ‘act’ like me; my failures won’t give you an edge to out-do anyone. It is an ‘act’ without passion, without truthful individual expression – so the shine will dull because the meaning is diluted. Do you not see that?

At minimum, give credit to the person/personality you’ve ‘borrowed’ from. You don’t even have to explain, just give credit.

“The original concept was created by Adri Sinclair.” – See, not hard right? Not even indepth.

Identity theft is against the law for a damn good reason – it is damaging on many levels.

It is scary, it is hurtful and it is aggravating. But call it what you like … It is NOT a compliment. 

It is NOT a compliment. 

My book has been plagiarised: Not a compliment.

My brand has been ripped off: Not a compliment.

My style has been copied so many times, I sometimes wonder if I’m talking to myself when I speak to a ‘friend’.

But I am not complaining, don’t get me wrong here. I am simply stating that you can find a different way to ‘compliment’ me.

“Nice work.” Would do. “Ugly outfit but so you” I can live with. “Lovely story, but fix the mistakes” I appreciate…. Not hard to do either.

And if I stop talking to you – it is because vanity refuses to be cock-blocked by a muse-less individual in a sheeple-box.

Be you, and I’ll be me.

Adri.

Complicated words vs Simplicity: A personal take.

It was brought to my attention that perhaps I should explain the most complicated words for my A-Z Challenge, instead of the simpler words. I smiled at this and shook my head.

“No, no I shouldn’t.”

You see, I am not writing this to teach anyone anything. In fact, I am re-connecting with the purity of a language without the convolution of technical replacement terms, phrases, and words. It has become quite evident to me, that not many people truly appreciate the impact of their ‘everyday words’, nor do they understand the true meaning of such words. At least, that is my experience, and I share this truth based on my own mindset.

So caught up have I become in finding ‘better’ words to express myself with, that I lost all sense of emotion in my writing. This was the very thing that I myself, truly enjoyed about words. To use the word ‘morose’ and not ‘sad’ is to exclude people from other languages and ethnicities who are NOT all that familiar with the English language. It is to force a break in their enjoyment of a story by sending them off on a hunt to find the meaning of this word. It is to insist on an academic achievement I myself have yet to reach.

Instead, I chose to pick my favorite, everyday words, and learn where they come from, the various ways they can be used, how they impact on emotions and why they are important to me. I re-connected with the roots and foundation of a language that is beautifully poetic in its simplest form, even though it can be just as adventurous in the more complex forms. While I understand the ‘need’ for expanding my vocabulary, I have often asked the following question to the natively speaking English:

“How can you use such complicated replacements, when you barely grasp the roots of your own language on the basic and simplistic levels? You are raised with this language, shouldn’t you nurture it to grow, rather than infiltrate it with pretentious injections of grandeur?”

Of course, many felt insulted by the question, and many more insulted me for asking it. The truth of the matter is that there is a time and a place for everything – and it is not all the time and every place. I embarked on an adventure to discover and regard with utmost respect, the simplicity of language. Not just English, but various others I am capable of understanding [if not read or write it.]

For me, to try and undermine the native influences of a language in its most rudimentary form, is to create a canyon-like divide between emotional connections with the average readers, and technical accolades of academics. Sure, the technical and complicated words are definitely in need of explanation and expansion – but I personally prefer to savor the simplest of words for all the weight and impact it carries, than substitute them blindly because I am an ignorant learner.

I will not apologize for my posts, or my choice. I will not hold my opinion in higher regard than yours – I will simply state for the record that I do not always see the value of a complicated substitution when I wish to convey my raw thinking, with clarity and an open invitation to anyone who reads it.

Feel with me, when I thus say:

Barefoot Romance is … That moment when You found the lyrics to your personal joy because you learned to play the instrument of love.

And don’t expect me to replace the word ‘joy’ for any other in order for you to feel you are in the company of an intellectual equal or a worthy mentor. For I am neither. I am a person of a different language, learning to express myself in the most powerful, yet simplistic way, by learning the fundamental basics of your language.

Adri Sinclair.

A-Z Challenge, April 2016 – Why do it?

#AtoZChallenge

Two years ago, I came across this challenge – but then I chose to do a 24hour poetry marathon instead. Last year, I gave it another go, and around the “S” mark, things with the books became busy and I never finished it. [VERY upsetting!]

This year, I am determined to finish it, because you see, I learned something very important from it last year.

In the time that I participated, shared the tag, the posts and spend a minute a day on the FaceBook page – my brand, website, and confidence grew tremendously. Inspiration was abundant and the variety of reading material was almost overwhelming. Everything from recipe’s for home remedies to in-depth marketing tips, all available in one place. <>

Blogging From A to Z

But that is not all. While the branding and marketing for the Barefoot Romance Product took on a life of its own, the best part for me about this was the fact that every day, I felt I did something worthwhile – for MYSELF. It sounds terribly selfish, but it wasn’t/isn’t.

So hard do we focus as Indies on our friends, our colleagues, and our fellow Authors – that we often neglect that which is most important to us: Our own creativity. By participating, even though I did not finish, I was able to establish my brand and enjoy my creative thinking without a stick, judge or jury to tell me how I am doing it ‘wrong’. I could let my mind wander and simply be in those few moments – and when I was done, I could pick and choose from hundreds of sites to visit and gorge on the offerings. It felt good!

The benefit was a healing experience to re-establish the tenacity I needed for my writing. This year, I am taking it one step further – instead of writing, I am indulging in another passion of mine – Well, perhaps ‘instead’ is the wrong word… I am combining my love for prose, pretty pictures and Romance, to further my brand, create something special, share good vibes and be in love …

There are so many benefits to partaking:

Regular posts on your blog! Super important if you’re someone like me who cannot stick to a damn schedule.
Regular reading of other blogs, sharing their work. We forget to read for the simplicity of pleasure once we’re self-promoting authors. This, is my time allocated to me. I can read for a few minutes – anything that takes my fancy. Does not have to have a damn thing to do with marketing, or reviews, or traffic, or ass kissing.
Creating brand awareness. That is a hard thing to do when you have limited resources and a small pool of support. Great as our Indie friends are, not all readers are authors and while many will object to this statement: Not all authors are readers either. These bloggers aren’t always authors, they are normal people keeping diaries, artist sharing art, moms sharing advice, kids sharing thoughts and ideas. The best supporters come from unexpected arenas, and this is one of those for me. I met wonderful artists, great mentors in art and super supportive parents. Many of them reaching out to enjoy what I am offering. Not a sales pitch, not a quick dirty buck … but something publically intimate – my thoughts.
Traffic to blog: This was something major. I didn’t expect the inpour of visitors, but then again, I soon learned they too have their struggles and their cravings to do something other than ‘blog-call with benefits’.

There’s plenty more to consider, but I think you get the picture. It is a mutually beneficial excersise, and I promise it is one hell of a work-out. It is so easy to allow ‘things’ to distract us, derail us, interrupt us … and one month of one post every single day on a structured alphabetical scale – is both easy and the toughest thing to do. But I am doing it, and this year I will finish.

Who’s with me?!

Adri

A-Z Information:

1800 Blogs signed up

2,500 FaceBook fans and growing by the minute!

Cool, fun and unique merchandise!

A well organised team!

Arlee Bird @ Tossing it Out

Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh

J eremy Hawkins @ Hollywood Nuts

Damyanti Biswas @ Daily Write

Heather M. Gardner @ The Waiting is the Hardest Part

Author AJ Lauer

P am Brown Margolis @ An Unconventional Librarian

Zalka Csenge Virág @ The Multicolored Diary

Joy Campbell @ The Character Depot

John Holton @The Sound of One Hand Typing

 

AUTHORS IN DEPTH with Tammy’s Dragonfly Blog

Best of luck with your writing Adri.

Hidden Carmina is getting some fantastic reviews and I appreciate the interview!!  

You have a unique, interesting background-especially to someone like me,  who’s never experienced life outside of the U.S.  

P.S. I did a double-take when I read that you were 43 years old-you definitely don’t look it!! — Read more here

tammysdragonfly

A member of the Romance Writers of America, as well as the FTHRW Chapter, Tamara Ferguson is the top-ten best-selling and multi-award winning author of the Kissed By Fate Romance Series and the Tales of The Dragonfly Romance Suspense Series. Her latest release is Two Hearts Surrendered. This military romance is her contribution to the bestselling Magical Weddings anthology, which includes stories by fifteen USA Today, best-selling, and award-winning authors.

Tales of the Dragonfly Book II: In Flight was a 2014 WINNER at the Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards. Her latest release, That Unforgettable Kiss was recently a top ten Amazon bestseller in Kindle Saga Fiction and has earned 3-5★Reviews from Readers’ Favorite Editorial Reviewers.

Find Tammy Online


Twitter @Tammysdragonfly


Facebook tamara.ferguson.391


Google+ profiles.google.com

Review from Tome Tender Web Blog

Hidden Carmina
by Adri Sinclair

My rating: 5 stars
 
Series: Second Breath Chronicles – Book 1
Publisher: Booktrope Editions (February 2, 2016)
Publication Date: February 2, 2016
ISBN-13: 9781508460763
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Print Length: 374 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Don’t even think it! Hidden Carmina is most definitely not just another paranormal tale! Author Adri Sinclair is bringing her own special dish to the paranormal table and people are going to eat this one up! Read more here

Tome Tender 

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Second Breath Chronicles: Carmina Revealed, Volume 2

Cover Coming Soon!!

Carmina Revealed: Second Breath Chronicles Volume 2

Can the flesh of a dead heart remember the ache of love? Can it still be broken?

The saga of Carmina and Liam continues once more in the second installment of the Second Breath Chronicles. In his arms she lay … gone, her mortal soul torn from the bond they once shared. Fury, anguish and rage threaten to transform him into a beast, an accursed abomination, something that should never be allowed to exist. Will his only salvation be the ultimate betrayal? In life, Carmina Moretti did not fear death, but suffering life was not something she ever wanted. There is a price that comes with immortality, with the Second Breath, and she had clearly made her final choice. A new battle ensues, and it will become a deadly race against time. Will the Ancients and those she loved cross that line and yield to Liam’s tormented suffering? Will they commit this ultimate betrayal? Or … will they decide to eliminate the threat he has now become? Only one thing is for certain. When the flesh of her heart still beat, Carmina Moretti had been decreed a creature of evil. And, if that line is crossed, there will most assuredly be hell to pay.

Kill Liam, or save Carmina. Which is the lesser of two evils? The answer is only a second breath away.

Excerpt:

Introductions.

“Hmm,” I hear Liam’s murmur the moment consciousness returns to me.

Seconds later I panic, my arms and legs flailing off in their own direction as I try to establish if Liam is really here with me. It is dark in the room, and the groggy emissions of my brain are dampening my other senses. Frantic, I pat him down, moving my hands over his chest and shoulders, eventually finding his face. Relieved and satisfied that he is here with me, I relax, wrapping myself around him in a hug.

“Whoa, slow down, my Rockflower…” Liam laughs softly at my confusion. “Open your eyes, Carmina.” Oh right… that wasn’t very smart.

“Neat trick. I should remember that for the future.” I grumble against his neck, feeling the air escaping just a fraction faster than I would like when Liam wraps his solid arms around me, squeezing me tight.

“Hmm, I have missed you so much…” I hear the sadness in his voice and lean back, looking into his eyes. The gold-ombre orbs are charged, lively. “Carmina, I am sorry… it is becoming a habit these days… me hurting you and having to apologize.”

“Wolf-boy,” I lean closer to his face, keeping connected to his eyes. I move my legs to wrap around his waist, pulling my body even closer to him. “I would much rather be close enough for you to hurt me than far removed and hurting myself.” I seal my lips against his, and playing the memory between us, let him know what I was actually thinking while he held me in that death-grip. His hands wrap into my hair, pulling my head back and holding it in place shortly after the vision plays out.

“Carmina, I wish you were horrified or repulsed by what I did…” Liam groans against my lips. He anticipates my push to get back to the kissing part by tugging at my hair. “I’m serious, my Rockflower.”

“I know you are, Liam. I feel how I feel, you are strong… and beautiful… and powerful… and you held nothing back… like you promised.”

Once Lady E has given Liam and I the all clear on the health and hunt front, we decide it is time to introduce ourselves to Raina’s family and help out around the new site. Liam almost seems eager to get out from under his mother’s keen eyes, while I am excited to see my own family. In such a short time, so much has happened, and I still feel like there is no solidity in my life.

Because of Aunty Joshlyn and Uncle Edward’s clan being present, we decide to arrive in as normal a fashion as we can. No ghostly entities, no black beasts … Just us. Arriving on site brought a stir through the folds of the estate. Sidelong glances pass towards Liam and general awkwardness, along with fear, clear our path towards the structure used as the temporary main hall. Entering through the doors, two things happened almost at once.

Lilly nearly breaks herself in an effort to get to us. One would think that my sister has learned to curb a little of her enthusiasm, but one would be wrong. Lilly’s general outburst would not have the same meaning were it not for the deafening pitch she still manages to wrangle from her vocal chords.

“Mina, Liam! Goodness, you’re all right!” My sister bounces into a hug and nearly spreads me out on the floor. I stumble to regain my balance to find that the auburn-haired bundle of earth-shattering squeals has wrapped herself around Liam’s neck. Liam looks bemused, to say the least, though the tiniest of smiles steals away around his lips. It is not often Liam gets a warm reception.