Sunday, February 26, 2012

Six Sentence Sunday


Just like last weeks Six Sentence Sunday, this weeks is brought to you from my current work in progress (well it is what I’m working on when I’m not editing).



Cadrala’s long dark hair was pulled from her mud covered face, in only her boiled leathers, her true armor hidden in the under growth so it did not slow her speed.  She waited in her spot beside the thick oak; the sound of heavy steps reached her long before she saw the first rider atop his large black stallion.  There were more than she had expected, nine in all, each wore their large black helms with horns stretching to the sky, black aged leather armor over their chests and long flowing black cloaks whipped in the cold breeze.  She had second thoughts, her plan was surely suicide, their thirsty long blades, and spears still caked with blood from the battle days before.
She held her breath as each past her, none giving so much as a glance in her direction, two long steps is all she needed.  Jumping from the embankment, knees pulled upward as they landed into the last rider’s chest pushing him from his position on the horse, just as her dagger found the soft flesh under his chin.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

What are you reading?


If I disappear for a few days or even a few weeks, I know where you can find me.  I’ll most likely be somewhere rocking back and forth, cursing George R.R. Martin’s name….or incoherently mumbling (no comments from the peanut gallery). Season 2 of the HBO series Game of Thrones is coming up soon (April 1st) (trailer below)…



…okay, only had to watch that twice before I moved on to finish this blog.  The second season is based on the second book of the ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ series, Clash of Kings.  I finished Clash around the second week of February as I wanted to read it before the series came back to screens.  Part of me wanted to read it so I wasn’t utterly shocked (and throwing things at the television, okay, I might not have went that far but know people who did) when something unexpected happened.  So I know the surprises coming up in the second season (not to mention a couple of true ‘wtfmoments that the audience will be talking about the next day).

When I finished the second book I made myself an agreement, I would avoid the third book until at least after the end of the second season of the series…  Fast forward to Friday, after work I found myself at the local bookstore (sadly it isn’t much but the only one around)…and A Storm of Swords in hand when I left.  By the time I got up and decided to write this I’m already four chapters into the book.  This is why I will be cursing GRRM’s name probably before the second season even starts…  I am going to attempt to only read so much of the book at a time, squeezing in other books while I’m at it. 

Now the real purpose of this blog, I want to know what you’re reading.  And if you have any suggestions of books or series I should check out, looking forward to adding some stuff to my to read list.  I prefer fantasy/horror, but also very interested in checking out some steampunk novels.

In 2011 I read a total of four books (including Game of Thrones), so far in 2012…I have read four books (The Hunger Games trilogy, and Clash of Kings).

My current to read list:
Boneshaker (Cherie Priest)
A Brush of Darkness (Allison Pang) (I actually started this one last year but put it down to write for NaNoWriMo just haven’t gotten back to it).
Conan (I have a collection of the Robert E Howard stories to read and the movie novel adaption from last year).
I also plan on rereading The Hobbit this summer before the movie comes out in December.  And rereading the Lioness as it has been a few years…
And if I do finish Storm of Swords…I’ll move on to Feast for Crows…

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Versatile Blogger award


So a couple weeks back I was given another blog award, thanks to Margaret McCrina over at The Bookworm. 



I don’t really have a list of bloggers to send this too, after looking most already have it (Plus, the last time I stole most of my list from Lillie McFerrin).   But I thought I should at least post seven new things about me. 

1 – I don’t watch a lot of sports, but living in the state of Kentucky it is a requirement to follow the Wildcats.  J  Also, ever since I’ve been old enough to watch NFL football I have been a Denver Broncos fan (Elway fan).

2 – I worship at the alter of Whedon!  Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly/Sernity, Fray (comic), even Dollhouse to a lesser degree.  Basically anything Joss Whedon is involved in, I’ll follow!  Really looking forward to Cabin in the Woods and especially Avengers coming out this summer!  Favorite Whedon related character, easy, River Tam (Firefly/Serenity) who was played by the unbelievable awesome Summer Glau (will watch her in pretty much anything)


3 – I’m a comic book fan, especially Marvel (X-Men).  Even though I haven’t bought many the past few years but that is more due to financial reasons and not because I’m no longer a fan.

4 – Last time I this list I mentioned how much I listen to music, so figure I should list some of my favorites.  Sheryl Crow, Tom Petty, Areosmith, Pink, Michelle Branch, Chelly Wright, Godsmack, Rob Zombie, Evanescence, Kelly Clarkson being some of my all time favorites (yes, I like variety and don’t follow just one genre)

5 – I like wolves, I’m a big dog person in general.  But my favorite animal is the wolf!



6 – Love the Harry Potter movies but still haven’t read a single book (I tried, I really did but never got through the first one).

7 – I’m a fan of most things zombies!  One of my favorite shows currently on television is The Walking Dead!  Love Dawn of the Dead, both the remake and the original.  I have met George Romero (at DragonCon) and the man is very much awesome in person!

Link to the other blogger award.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Six Sentence Sunday - Cadrala

I had planned on plucking this weeks Six Sentence Sunday from my long in edit fantasy novel The Heart of Quila.  At the same time I've been struggling to write pretty much anything for a few weeks now.  Then came  Lillie McFerrin's Five Sentence Fiction - Sacred a week ago and I finally had a spark of an idea.  For the past few days I've been continuing the story of Cadrala and developing the fantasy world she lives in.  So this weeks Six Sentence Sunday is from the start of what will be the second chapter...



“We lost one in the night, the politician fell behind in the darkness,” Dra’hen stated as he took a knee beside her, his eyes on the sash around her neck forced her hand to grapple with them.  “We are a group of mostly women and children and the elderly, what are we going to do if they catch us?” close enough to touch the sound of his voice made her ill. 
Once a comrade, then a lover, she would never look at him as anything but a coward now, “Die.”  But he was right to worry; she could only hope the small dusting of snow from the night before would cover their tracks keeping the stalking army from discovering their escape. 

Her fingers tightly grasped at the two sashes around her throat, the realization she was the last of her order bit at every emotion.  She wished she had stayed behind ignoring her mentor’s wishes, her destiny to parish with the others instead of leading the last survivors to hopefully survival.  




Saturday, February 18, 2012

Five Sentence Fiction - Exquisite




Five Sentence Fiction – Exquisite

I could not have picked a more perfect night or location, a bright full moon lights the sky for the stars to dance.  The cabin with its cedar siding, large windows over look the lake was everything I had hoped for, just as the agent said.  Not another person around to distract us, just the oaks and pines whispering to one another on the wind.  The odd owl bellows breaking the sound of the roaring fire as it fights the cool breeze forcing me to her side.  I don’t have to say anything, take her hand in mine, mimic her breath taking smile, and I am instantly lost in her eyes and nothing else matters.

For more Five Sentence Fiction entries check out the wonderful Lillie McFerrin's blog.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Five Sentence Fiction - Sacred



The scent of battle swept across the courtyard, past the tall statue of a man long dead.  He stood with his massive stone arms leaning against a broad sword nearly as tall as him.  A hood fell over his face covering his eyes and crown, the last true warrior king and the ones whose deeds they still sing of.

Cadrala sat on her knees with her own sword on the ground before her, wounds from the mornings battles covered with blood soaked bandages.  “Grant me the strength on this day to uphold the sacred oath of the order; I will not surrender in the face of my own end as long as long as I have life in my hands to sacrifice to the true king.”  

For more Five Sentence Fiction entries check out the wonderful Lillie McFerrin's blog.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Yearning for Wonderland Flash Fiction Contest: 3 A.M.


Yearning for Wonderland Flash Fiction Contest:  3 A.M.

Never again!”

I said it the night before as well and here I am.  Awake at 3 a.m. reaching for the empty bottle, “Why is the Rum always gone?”  I smile at my own terrible joke, even laugh out loud.  I hate this feeling, this emptiness.  I moved up here to the middle of nowhere to escape my life but she haunts my dreams.  I feel my small dinner raging a war in my stomach with the alcohol forcing me to move from the uncomfortable couch.  I creep to the porch with its rotted banister and steps; the swing isn’t safe to sit in, I may fix it next week.   
           
 I am studying the darkness when I hear it.  A song on the wind, soft and delicate but I can’t make out the words.  A mile from the nearest neighbor…  “I have a gun.”  I do but don’t remember where.  I take a dozen steps from the porch and see her, moving toward me and the snow has started to circle us as she is close enough to touch.  I know this has to be a dream. 
                                     
I can’t stop my eyes from examining every inch of her naked body though she says nothing, only smiles.  Her skin is soft and warm I don’t need to touch to know.  Wondrous wild raven hair, perfect breasts, full lips, beautiful green eyes and wings… 
                                        
Wings…she has WINGS.

Thin and transparent the shape of a butterfly’s, the snow bounces softly from them as they flutter in their purple brilliance.  I bite my lower lip wanting to touch her more than ever.  I can’t see them move but hear them, they distract me from her perfect body and everything I should be fearful of… 

…her teeth…
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Good Luck To All!
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Sunday, February 12, 2012

Six Sentence Sunday : Howling Moon



I do not own the rights to the photo but thought it was very cool.  This weeks Six Sentence Sunday is from my werewolf novel Howling Moon.  Still working on editing it, but hope you enjoy.  



She could hear it stir behind her no rush in its movement as it stalked its quarry.  Emily’s face soaked with tears, mud and sweat as she stumbled to the road, for a brief moment she tried to run.  A few steps into her sprint she fell to the hard rough pavement with a thud jarring her entire body.  “Why,” she muttered, she wasn’t sure if she even made a sound beyond a whimper. 
Her side still ached; she ran a hand down and could feel the sticky wet texture on her clothing.  She did not have to see it to know it was her own blood from a bite sending a shrill scream to escape her lungs.   

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Five Sentence Fiction - Shiver


Five Sentence Fiction - Shiver




He could still feel the pain from the bite, the shiver of anxiety over took him as he looked at the discolored wound on his hand.  A cold sweat started to drift down his forehead, vision blurred, and stomach churned as he felt his hard earned meal unsettle.  He looked at the others, his friends, dear sweet Meghan and a new pain gnawed at Dyson, heartache.  He hurried to Meghan’s side and quickly pulled her into his grasp, kissed her lips softly as he gazed into her blossoming green eyes with his best forced smile.  His eyes swelled, his lips parted to speak words of warning, it was then he knew what he had to do.  

For more Five Sentence Fiction check out Lillie McFerrin's blog.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Six Sentence Sunday



Six Sentence Sunday

I figured I would join in on the fun, and each Sunday in February (or maybe more, haven’t decided) I will post six sentences from one of my current works in progress.  This week comes from my Steampunk novel, the Ulysses.

Hair black as the feathers of a crow, set in a faux hawk, Mia perfected the traditional style of her Cherokee ancestry every morning. A few lose strands of hair still floated wildly around the back of her neck.  It was never easy to capture her shoulder length hair alone for the time consuming process. Her dark brown eyes glared out into the openness which was the reason for her smile. Everything looked at peace so high above the world. War paint, once it would have intimidated those she face now lost its effect  with her clothing, a thick streak of red paint stretched across her eyes to her ears and two black of finger width rested on each cheek.

Gravity


This week’s artist is Sara Bareilles, I never knew who she was until sometime in the last year.  But now I consider her one of my favorite artists.  A near perfect voice and her songs don’t distract you from the task at hand while writing.