* * *

Cerise dawn,
lawn still fresh with dew.
She withdrew to uncover
spades large enough,
their rough watercolor edges,
and smooth ledges worn by love;
all scenes she could not see.

Dug in,
she begins the task
to unmask stalemates
that bind her heart.
Another start, but no falter.
She’ll halter the opines
until the job is done.

Letting go,
walk slow to keep from tripping.
The ripping no longer sounds
like bugle calls at twilight,
No night to halt the day,
these memories stay intact,
but lack the shadow
pain once cast.

* * *

Healing for the mind… and heart… and soul.

* * *

Pain.

We suppress it. Look for any possible means to avoid it. Some people choose drugs and alcohol, others throw themselves into love, while still others are addicted to chasing after it as a completely different type of escape.

I did everything I could to avoid feeling the pain of losing that relationship—threw myself into writing, created the entire illusion of a life, including temporary relationships that would dull it for a time. Sure, they were all very nice, and the life I’ve created is less of an illusion now, but the truth is I needed to feel the full unbridled emotions of loss in order to move forward.

We all need to mourn. For many, they never get the chance to say goodbye. The long slow transition from lovers to friends hadn’t allowed me the closure I needed to let go of the first to fully embrace the second. I do blame him for part of that. My repeated attempts to say, “This is the end of the romance we had” were met with opposition because in some ways he was never ready to let go either. But, and this may sound harsh, his selfishness in not allowing that final moment, that final kiss prolonged what should have been a faster transition.

There would have been pain either way, but at least there would have been closure too.

After lying in a puddle on the kitchen floor, trembling and sobbing, the white-hot stabbing pain in my chest became a dull ache. It’s not over completely, one day of mourning isn’t likely to bring finality to anything, but it’s a start—one that was a long time coming to bear.

Happiness and bliss are wonderful, and I’d like to say that we grow more from love than anything else, but we’re human. So I’m not going to lie to you. Pain, loss, grief, anxiety, fear—they’re all a part of the cycle of growth and life. We must dig deep to find the tools to deal with them, instead of burying everything in an endless cavern for fear we won’t survive. We’re stronger than that, and built to withstand the successions of death and growth that face us. It’s a fact of our existence that everything eventually ends.

We are then confronted with another fact—The Next Step.

Where do we go after challenging our demons? Up?

Do we wake to another sunrise, drag out of bed, and then fall down into slumber to start again? Yes… and no.

Well, after a bout of compression (down cycle) we then move into expansion… or at least we’re supposed to. Some people get caught in a Bi-polaresque growth/death scenario because they have yet to fully deal with the pain. It’s rapid and destructive and tends to pull people back repeatedly. As long as we’re imprisoned there, we’ll never reach the expansion (up cycle) part of the journey.

Now, I’m not saying that up cycles are all giggles and laughs, but what’s important is the emotional and spiritual growth that happens because of the new tools we learn. Better ways to tackle anxiety, facing a loss instead of hiding from it, accepting failure as a part learning a better way to do something, creating long-lasting relationships built on a basis of love and trust, living in a daily state of happiness because you’ve seen the darkest days and know that the sun will eventually rise. All of these build a foundation. In them, we find that life can be as remarkable or ordinary as we choose to make it.

Ordinary is fine. However, most people choose it not because they desire a generally calm state of being, but because they’re afraid of facing pain, loss, grief, anxiety, and fear. Hiding ourselves from the world won’t stop any of those things from finding us, and can actually contribute to extended compression cycles in which no growth occurs.

Remarkable takes less work than most people think, but requires greater risk—risk of heartache, of loss, of failure, of everything not turning out in a precisely calculated way. But some of the best things, the greatest blessings in my life happened by sheer accident. I didn’t seek them out, but was open enough to let them in when they appeared.

That’s the way the universe works, it’s random and beautiful and calculated and spontaneous all at the same time. We may not know what lies in wait around the next corner, but after facing the darkness and coming out alive… what do really have to fear and what can we gain by risking it all?

*

So often writers complain about lack of inspiration or writer’s block. It’s not that these aren’t issues for us, but I see a larger problem behind the complaints. The best way to illustrate exactly what I mean would be to chronicle my journey as a writer.

When I first started writing, I waited for that lightning strike of inspiration to begin a post or story. Convinced that writing was a matter of feeling the words, I would go for days or weeks without putting pen to page, and then emotionally vomit out words. The posts were fair and well-received, but in all honesty they weren’t anything earth shattering. Sure, I had my own style—slightly clunky at times—and form. Again nothing any other writer couldn’t do.

This process applied to my novel as well. I would wait days, weeks, or sometimes months before I would block out a scene because I thought the universe needed to send me just the right inspiration to write it properly. I’d used everything from the dishes to laundry to my kids as an excuse as to why I wasn’t open to that divine hammer wallop.

The truth? I’d chosen not to do the work, chosen not to put in the long hours required to write properly or continually.

It’s akin to a toddler throwing a tantrum. “I can’t write, I can’t write, I can’t do it! You’re not gonna make me until I’m good and ready.” Yep, that was me inside my head.

*squeezes temples in shame*

After working with some incredible editors and writing coaches, I began to see the cycle clearly—the choice I’d made time and again to not write. Even now I fall back into that pattern for a little bit before I stop, reset, and refocus.

The work of a writer is not in waiting for inspiration or the right mood, it’s a dedication to putting our rears into the chair and blocking or outlining or actually writing. There’s never a lack of stories or subjects, only a lack of commitment to our craft. That may sound harsh, but more often than not I find that it’s true.

Writing is hard work. To do it well, we must continually hone our craft through reading, taking classes, writing, blocking, or working with people who can help us see through our bad habits. It requires the same devotion as any other profession. In order for us to continue to grow we must make the choice to work hard and work often. That’s the cold, hard, in our face truth.

Having said all of that, I do believe that taking a break from a WIP—consciously putting it aside for several months—can give us a new perspective. Time is good for that, but it doesn’t mean that we walk away from writing altogether. There are still other stories, posts, or craft-based books for us to seek out. Again, we must choose to evolve or find something else that better suits our personalities and passions. But even then, we’ll still need to put in the effort to make that new passion a success.

So, I guess this post is a call to action, a call to my fellow writers to make the choice to write instead of excuses as to why it’s not happening. I know it’s in you, I’ve seen the incredible universes inside your head. Make the choice to live out your passion whether or not you know exactly where it’s going or how to get there. All journeys start somewhere and it’s the steps in-between that make every moment worth it.

*Heart Hugs*

Q: What is the working title of your book?
A: The first book in The Binding of Twelve series is called Ring Binder.

 
Q: Where did the idea come from for the book?
A: I used to be an avid reader. In fact, I spent most of my childhood buried in books. They were a wonderful escape and kept my mind busy. In my late teens, I found that the books available on the market no longer captured my attention. So I started making up stories of my own. Initially, they were just movies that played in my head, but over time I began to write them down.

This is how Ring Binder began, from a fairytale I cooked up in my head. A couple of years ago, I started thinking about the concept of Binding. In fairytales, characters bind themselves to each. It’s a romantic concept, a way to show the world that their hearts are joined forever. So, I thought why not apply it to everyday objects?

Part of this has to do my spiritual beliefs. I believe that people leave an imprint of themselves on things they own. Part of their soul binds to their possessions. I ran with this concept and my secret love of all things magical. In the end, I created nine Binding objects (each with their own powers), the Mutani who watch over them, the Binders who use the objects, and the Iska (soul feeding demons obsessed with regaining the power that the Mutani had stolen).

Q: What genre does your book fall under?
A: *cringe* Young Adult and Urban Fantasy. I didn’t set out to write in these particular genres, but apparently that’s where I ended up.

 
Q: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
A: Honestly, I haven’t thought this far ahead. I suppose in the future this may be more important, but for now I want to concentrate on finishing the series.

 
Q: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

A: Sorry, but I couldn’t do one sentence even if I tried. You get the synopsis instead. #howIroll

“All power is borrowed, even ours. Eventually, it too will set as the moon rises.” ~ Samuel Lonary, Beyond the Veil (Character from Ring Binder)

Destiny. Power. Bindings.

All words from my childhood. Fairytales I once believed in, but everyone has to grow-up and live in the real world. At least, that was what I thought before the Iska appeared.

The townspeople thought Gran was crazy. In truth, so did I. Would you believe someone who told you an evil race of beings hunted you, and only you had the power to save the world? Yeah, I didn’t believe her either.

Then why did I feel so guilty? Well, the why was easy. Because she’d been right all along. The Iska hunted us both and I led them right to us.

But guilt and regret couldn’t change the fact that I had rejected my destiny, destroying so much. My only choice was to find out why she left our people, the Mutaní, and uncover the secrets she worked so hard to protect me from. In doing so, her truth would become mine…

My name is Allison, and I am the Ring Binder.

 
Q: Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

A: The Binding series is represented and will be published by Evolved Publishing.

 
Q: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

A: It took about two years to put all the pieces together, and three weeks to write the bulk of the book.

 
Q: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

A: I would have to say the best comparison is Harry Potter meets Twilight.

 
Q: Who or What inspired you to write this book?

A: Hm, should I admit this in public? Okay, so several years ago I’d gone through a difficult stretch in my marriage and life. I went to see a therapist to sort everything out. Through the course of our sessions we talked about my stories and the movies that play in my head as well as dreams.

Turns out that Cynthia, the therapist, was a huge supporter of writing and the arts. She prodded me to begin writing my stories down. After a few weeks, I delivered the very first chapter ever in the Binding series. Her overwhelmingly positive reaction gave me the confidence to continue. Now, several years later, I have a publishing contract for all three books.

Thank you, Cynthia!

 
Q: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

A: Pay attention to the covers of each book. My incredible cover artist, Sam Keiser, helped me incorporate a tarot card theme in the cover. A major plot element will be strung between the three books and the covers will be the map. Happy hunting!

And that’s the Ring Binder in a nutshell!

Now, I’m a perfectionist. I know there’s been some frustration on the part of my supporters and friends because the first book was supposed to be released October 1st. Here’s the thing, the very first book we put out sets the tone for our career. We either work to create a strong foundation that will continue to grow or throw books up just for the sake of saying we have something published. I prefer the former.

This is the first look the world will get at my work. I want to make sure it’s the best possible story I can create at this moment in my career. Attention to detail, flow, voice, and plot all need to be as perfect as I can get them. So, after a long and honest discussion with my publishers, we’ve decided that launching in May is our target. This will give me time to clean up the details, get everything out to beta readers and build-up buzz for the release.

Thanks for stopping by.  Check out who I’ve chosen to be the Next Big Thing!

P. S. this wasn’t easy…

Ellen Weeren

Emlyn Chand

Michael Dadich

Dan Conklin

Lisette Brodey

*

Grace bound

Not found, or lost

just tossed into humanity

A quick turn of clocks

tick tocks of phase

Center stage never ample

Its light too bold

for them to uncover

Cloud bound

Da Vinci’s sound, or silence

piece defiance collected

His turn of the clocks

still mocks the sage

Their page never ample

His riddles too bold

for them to discover

Rhapsody bound

Wings drown, or amplify

the mortality she hides

Her turn of the clocks

a flintlock ready to fire

Phoenix pyres always ample

Her rebirth too bold

for them to suffer

*

“And down the waterfall, Wherever it may take me…”

One star sits quietly in the universe. He regards each change the moon makes during her rotation, admiring her pull without being pulled in himself. He’s content in the knowledge that she will remain close enough, that her course is set by forces he feels no need to control.

The sea swaying maiden of the night knows his presence always. She regards the star from a distance as he burns in the darkest parts of the universe, bringing hope to those without. She’s content in the knowledge that he will remain close enough, that his placement in the heavens serves a purpose she feels no need to control.

Two wonders. Never twined, but ever aware of the power held within the other. To some, they go unnoticed as haphazard creations of a universe unable to bring about perfection. To others, they become beacons — guides on a journey that was mapped out long before their existence.

To each other, they have become companions. Tied in an endless loop, ancient as the first whisper, they ground to the now. Knowing that the past and future live within them. They are a breath from beneath the abyss, waiting for the few willing to seek them out.

*

The golden tips of the barley grass now reach above the old worn fence posts. In the evening, when the sun shines just right I swear it looks like spun strands of honey. Even the bees buzzing around them seemed confused, but they flit through them trying to catch the sunlit treasure anyway.

I can’t imagine a more peaceful place.

The fire licks the log. Though resistant, its smoldering edges eventually succumb to ancient embers, still showing signs of life from the burning man she created the night before. The ash of which circles the old wheelwell in gray-white reverence.

And… I can’t imagine a more peaceful place.

When the sun finally falls beneath the misty mountains, a milk sky of stars begin to form. Their twinkle is no map to some distant land. No, they’ve already led these weary travelers to their final destination. We lay beneath them, pointing out the constellations… or making up our own… because this sacred land can only be found by those who know the stars never move, but stay constant and fixed even when the largest of their kind come out to greet the day.

Still… I can’t imagine a more peaceful place.

The soft melody playing in the background dronws out a passing train. Its clickety-clack reminds us that adventure is a steel track away and waiting for us to venture down it. The knowledge soothes us, but fails to move us because we’ve seen that world. Its hustle and bustle isn’t suited for hearts that find more beauty in the twined flight of hawks overhead than the patchwork of cars roaring by.

Did I mention…? I can’t imagine a more peaceful place.

He gets the laundry while she sits next to me sketching another masterpiece. Soon he’ll find the words to describe his latest adventure. I wait patiently, watching the his long distant gaze into the now dying flames. I know he sees something hidden within them, but he’s not ready to share those secrets. So, again I write of the melody, and stars, and golden barley, and passing trains.

A more peaceful place I can’t imagine.

*

“What with all my expectations long abandoned
My solitary nature notwithstanding…”

I said it, I meant it… then, now and always.

Could it be? My first short story published by Evolved Publishing is out! If you’re into paranormal suspense you won’t want to miss The Living – now part of the Evolution: Vol. 2 anthology. I’ll give you a little teaser in a bit, but first let me say how much fun I had writing this little twisty tale.

The Living began as a Facebook post, a simple paragraph I used to warm-up for the day’s writing schedule. I really thought nothing of it. That was until I hopped back on my page and saw the response. Message after message from my super sweet followers and friends asking me to write more. When Lane Diamond asked for a short story for the second installment of Evolution I raised my hand and jumped into the writing fray, but that little Facebook post took a turn I hadn’t expected – from the slow walk into my deep dark writing cave straight into the world of the paranormal! That’s right, I descended through the veil between this world and the next to pull out a ghostly tale that will raise the little hairs on the back of your neck. And here’s where it begins… <insert Mwahahahahaha>

Cassidy returns to the spot of her childhood tragedy with the hope of finally putting the remains of her brother to rest, but soon discovers she wasn’t the only one waiting to find closure. She will face the secrets hidden in the cave and, in doing so, uncover the truth about the mudslide that ripped apart four families, including hers.

If that isn’t enough to wet your reading buds, there’s also nine great stories from nine other super talented authors. Evolution: Vol 2 is an eclectic mix that will excite, interest, and intrigue from the first story to the last. Laugh a little, cry a little, think a little. Many genres, many voices, one goal: Provide the reader with a fun journey through the short fiction format.

Edited and polished to a fine sheen.

Where can you pick-up this killer collection of stories? Right here —-> Amazon.

Branli Caidryn

It’s my great pleasure to introduce a talented new author in the world of Sci-fi! Branli and I met a few years ago at a Twitter New Years Eve party and he’s been making me smile ever since. His debut novel Splinter didn’t disappoint, with its fast-paced action and mystery that begs the reader to get to the end, but even then you’re hitting the refresh button on Amazon to see if the next book is ready yet.

Take a moment to get to know Branli and Phoenix Splinter!

~ ~Splinter Synopsis~~

Nineteen-year-old Keith Groenewald is an escaped experiment from Area Fifty-One. Harbored by a secret society, Veluz, Keith develops his telekinetic abilities, making him a key weapon for their covert missions. While working as part of an elite mercenary force, Keith is unsettled by rumors that Veluz may have orchestrated the experimentation that gave him his powers.

With each passing mission he learns his purpose goes far beyond that of a corporate pawn or mercenary-for-hire. His very existence is other worldly, not just alien, but something far more profound.

As he delves deeper into Veluz and the truth about the society’s sinister goals of worldwide economic and political dominance, he takes another step away from friends, family, and his hopes for a normal life—only to discover that every truth has its price and this one may cost him everything.

~ ~Meet the Author~ ~

1)      What obstacles have you face with self-publishing? What’s kept you going in spite of the challenges?

(I can’t help but remember how this question was originally worded; why haven’t you given up? Along with our talk about wording it; how can you live with yourself?)

Every new challenge presents a new opportunity. Yes, it’s incredibly cliché and you have no idea how long I wrestled with this question

The fact is, I love learning new things. It keeps my mind busy, and for most projects that simply require ‘learning’ a new skill, I take on the challenge. It comes down to, why should I pay someone else to do it, if I can learn how? Granted, there’s the whole experience factor, and reputation, but with enough confidence, know-how, and general can-do attitude, you can do anything. It’s all a learning experience and last I heard they no longer stone authors/self-publishers. :: crosses fingers ::

2)      Are you a plotter (prefer to plot out your books before you write), or a pantser (prefer to write by the seat of your pants), or somewhere in between?

Ah, this recently came up in a post with Jeffe Kennedy. I even guest blogged there and briefly mentioned it.

I’m a plotter. I can’t imagine writing as a pantser. The thought scares me. It boggles my mind. That’s like saying you’re going to drive blind-folded. Alarms immediately sound! But, I must admit that I’m incredibly jealous of those that have the ‘muse’ to such an approach. They must spend a lot more time writing, and a lot less time stressing over an outline. Kudos.

The closest I come to punster-status (did I just make that up?) is on projects that don’t have a definitive end. I’ll have the beginning, middle, and then a vague idea on the end. The overall story arc is there, the theme of the book, but I do somewhat let the end iron itself out. I guess the best way of putting is that the end is only vaguely defined. It gets clearer as I write.

3)      Many writers do their own editing because they can’t afford a professional. In what ways do you feel that a writer can best create a readable manuscript and maximize his/her chances of success?

:: winces :: Editing and cover design are just two areas I chose not to skim on. I went through a few editors, not settling for one or even two set of eyes. Each pass is important, and each editor brought in their own two cents to the project. And in general, listening to the advice—even if not followed—is immeasurable. Really. The advice will sit tucked away, dare I say acting as a counter-weight when you least expect it; making sure you don’t fall.

4)      If you got offered a big publishing contract with a traditional publisher, would you take it? Why or why not?

Gah! This has come up a few times. At first I couldn’t answer, but after feeling the thrill of it all, and getting this far on my own, I’d have to say no. I learned too much throughout this whole project to just sit back and let someone else take the helm.

I like to think of it as building your own car or house from ground-up. You put many years in getting the right supplies, hiring the right contractors, dreaming up the perfect model. Just mulling over things with the designers sends you dreaming of future-days. You break ground, construction finally starts and you start seeing the skeleton of your project. Soon it has its own arteries and complex inner workings. Perhaps you have a section built, a livingroom in this new house or at least drivable car but no stereo or even windshield wipers—depending on the example you’re going with here. Then someone comes along and tries to convince you to abandon all that. Could you do it?

5)      If I have 10 ice cubes and you have 11 apples, how many pancakes will fit on the roof?

Purple.

6)     If you had to live forever in one book, which would it be and why?

Replay by Ken Grimwood. The character is in this almost endless loop of dying and living again. Not reincarnating, that assumes one comes back in another life. In this book, the character goes back to a prior point in time, and then continues to die on the exact same date and time later on. Then, it starts again. It sounds torturous, I know. There’s nothing romantic in it, but I can’t help but think what I’d do differently, given the opportunity to go back in my own timeline. I just can’t give it up. There are so many possibilities!

~ ~Where can you pick-up a copy of Phoenix Splinter today?~ ~

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/phoenix-splinter-branli-caidryn/1112327990

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/208477

UK Site: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008R9DICI

US Site: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008R9DICI

*

Sun or rain

it’s all the same

when you’ve chosen to live

in-between

Full head, clear heart

you’ll never start

down undiscovered roads

until the slate is clean

Realities we can’t find

and perfect lines

new stories

hidden behind safeguards

There’s no shame

when you work to tame

the misty hell of

cherry-stained fears

Begin chasing stars

but watch out for cars

you won’t disappear

when you give the secrets away

Should you choose to pass

down this way again

more than a mere friend

remains…

to welcome you home

* * *

“The greatest thing…”

All cool,