The Realms of a Fantastical Mind

Pepe Don had owned a bar when he was young. Mike and his sister decided, now that they were adults, they would finally open the door and see what was left of it. He unlocked the door and the dust hit him. Coughing, he walked in. Becky kept her arm over her mouth as she followed. "Look at all those bottles!" Mike ran his hand on the wood of the counter, picking up a layer of dust. Each bottle had a label and a tag on it. "It is a bar after all." Becky shrugged and headed over to the piano. She plunked her finger on a few keys, the sound was pitch perfect. "This still works." Mike looked at the tags on the mostly full bottles. His jaw dropped. "I don't think this was a bar, Bek." "Look at this place, of course it was a bar." She played a few more notes, the music ringing out in wonderous tones. With each tune, the dust seemed to shake off the bottles. "This isn't a bar. It's an apothecary," Mike insisted. Looking fro...

 The bike path’s bridge had been my marking point of new adventures. I pushed hard on the bike petals and let myself crest over the top with time slowing along with the bike. My view when I reached the top was not the stunning beauty of the river or the shadowed trees dreaming of spring but of the beauty beyond. Her hair drifted in auburn waves in the wind. Her dark eyes only glanced at me but it was enough to make my heart skip a beat. Her dark skin and clothes mingled with the shadows beyond. This goddess stood with a stillness only forest animals could master. Watching me with those alluring eyes.  My bike coasted the other side of the bridge and I never took my gaze off her. I didn’t think about the turn around the rock that had always been, or the perfect ramp that rock made, until I hit it. My body rocked in the sky and my eyes left the enchantress to search for the landing I was sure to painfully make. I rolled away from the bike just as I impacted with the forest floor...

The wind blew cold against his white fur. The sun was high in the cloudy sky as he hopped along through the brush of the fence. He searched for food, all the while sniffing the air for that fearful scent of the hunter.  Soon he came to a clearing, open and exposed. He needed to get to the next patch of covering bushes. With a few more hops he came to a grooved trail. It’s dark stone underneath marked a human path. He looked up and around. There was no sign of danger. With careful hops, the rabbit tread onto the dark stone and a soft rumbling grew louder with each step.  He moved faster, fearful of what might be coming. Louder and louder the rumbling assaulted his ears. The ice on the stone only slowing his progress.  A dark beast raced up the human path, straight for the scurrying rabbit.  Faster he hopped, faster the beast came. The rumbling now roared as it came. The rabbit was so close to the other side of the human trail. So close to safety and yet still too far ...

As I have learned, When Words Count Writer's Retreat has a sweepstakes at the end of every year to generate free visits for writers from the beginning of January all the way to the end of May. I was one of those people who won. Coming to the retreat, I was blessed with stunning views of mountain ranges and winding back roads, a covered bridge and farms. All of this pleasant to look at. Arriving was just as beautiful. From the mountains in the distance to the little pond just beyond the house it gave a promise of peace and possible productivity in writing. My room is the top left corner. Hi room, I'm home for the next few days. I admit, when I had first won, I thought it was a scam, and in doing research I have not been the only one to think so. It's not a normal thing to hear about some random retreat in Vermont and also to win a 3 night stay at a country type house in the shadow of the Green Mountains in said retreat. It is real, however, I can attest to it....

Post by E.M. LaBonte . Thoughts?  Comments?  Join in the fun. Come up with some wild ideas for nightmares and if I chose them, you could win a prize! A painting from A Brush of Inspiration, a charm from Charmed Creations or a $10 Amazon gift card. 

Welcome to this week’s Blog Ring of Power guest, PK Hrezo, a native Floridian whose life could easily be a Jimmy Buffet song. She shares her home with her firefighter husband and their two children. When not creating characters and their worlds, PK can be found at her other job of rearranging passenger’s itineraries for a major international airline. The only hobbies she loves more than traveling, are reading, writing, and music, and when the four are combined she exists in total bliss. Don’t miss the rest of P.K.’s interview: Part 1 @  Sandra  - Monday, Nov.  4 Part 2 @  Vicki  - Tuesday, Nov. 5 Part 3 @  Terri  - Wednesday, Nov 6 Part 4 @ T.W. - Thursday, Nov 7 Part 5 Is here, take a seat and let's check out out PK Section #5: Words of Wisdom BRoP: Tell us about your route to success – how/when did you decide to self-publish? Did you query an agent first? How did you handle the editing, proofreading, cover d...

It's Friday!!! I've got my coffee, my critiques and edits to work on for today.  Now I just need my hug-me jacket.  I've got someone here today that can provide! Everyone jump for joy and pass them around. Don't worry, they come in all colors! Welcome T.J. Loveless to the Blog Ring of Power. T.J. can often be found surrounded by the wonderful chaos of life, writing, editing and laughing at the antics of family. Section #1: About You BRoP:  When and why did you begin writing? T.J.  In the fourth grade, we had an assignment to write a one page story. I don’t remember what I wrote, or even the accompanying illustration I turned in. What I do remember is my teacher, Mrs. Hunter, refused to return the story and said I had all the makings of a writer. I dabbled for years. In 2010, my beloved grandmother’s last words were to never give it up, to keep pushing, to be myself and not the person everyone else kept saying I should be. It was then that I realized Na...

One thing I've noticed while I've been striving for my goal, once you reach out to other writers, you're never alone.  AQC  is one of the best places I've found for writers. It helped me to realize that in this profession, it's not about competition but about helping each other reach our dreams.  We are there for each other, cheering on success, consoling during times of hardship.  We work together.  Learn together and from each other.   I always loved to write. It's always been my dream to get something of mine out there for others to read. Now I'm even more grateful to have such a goal, because I've made so many friends in the process.  Do you have a writing group? How has it helped you personally?  I'd love to hear about other experiences and groups out there!

Short Cuts: To save time or effort. In writing: There are no Short Cuts I saw that quote a week or two ago, and it's been bouncing in my mind since.  Sorry to whoever said it first to relay it to writing.  I can't remember where I saw it, so whoever you were/are, you are a genius! This is so true.  I've been procrastinating in writing.  It's my form of writers block.  It's not that I have nothing to say, it's that I wish I could say it right the first time and not go over it with my editor's eye.  However, just writing and skipping that oh so pesky self editor is like building a bridge and stopping before it's done.  Even if the writer finishes the MS, short story, or whatever else they are writing; in order to be done and happy with what we are working on, we must finish without skipping steps. From Daily Mail   London Bridge. Aren't you glad they finished it.  If we are to write but save our effort, we will end up with...

Welcome to this week’s Blog Ring of Power guest, former zookeeper turned author S.J. Drum. S.J. writes Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance Novels, each with a bit of Steampunk flair. She writes an erotic series with tattooed heroes–first-in-series is SINFUL SOUTHERN INK (Ellora’s Cave 7-6-12). She also writes LGBT Upper YA Dark Urban Fantasy under the pen name J.T. Fairfield. The first book in the Bayou Zoo series was released on 10/22/12, CAGED IN MYTH. When she’s not changing diapers or writing, she enjoys scuba diving and has been known to make an elephant do a headstand. You can find S.J. Drum on: Twitter @AuthorSJDrum www.SJ-Drum.com http://sj-drum.blogspot.com Facebook at facebook.com/AuthorS.J.Drum Don't forget to check out the rest of her interview with all of the other wonderful Blog Ring of Power Hosts Part 1 @ Terri Bruce –  http://www.terribruce.net , Wednesday, March 27th Part 2 @ T.W. Fendley -  http://twfendley.com/  Thursda...

These three words are killing my writing career. Only because I'm letting them. We all know that to be a writer is to write.  Just write.  It's not about how good you are(well, at least not at first), or how many words you can type a minute. It's about getting those words up on the screen. It's not about thinking about writing, or dreaming of what it's like to be a writer.  If you write, then you are a writer.  Simple isn't it. But what then? My dreams are to have my stories read.  I love when someone looks at what I've written and gives me honest feedback. (Good and Bad) So what is my goal in getting published? Readership.  I have a bit of that in my blog and Facebook.  Though that is far from the same.  I want to be able to write something that others will enjoy.  That is my goal.  I guess I could just do the whole, self-pub and set up my writing for free on Amazon.  I do write stories in this blog after all.  Though I h...

I walked into the book store the other day.  Anyone who knows me, knows this isn't something new, nor something to be rushed.  I always head directly to the Fantasy shelves.  I look over the authors I know. I remember that I already have each book that catches my eye.  I step back.  So many books.  The shelves look like chaos. I scan to see what covers look appealing, but in the end I don't pick up a new book to read.  Instead I'll head over to one of the books from those that have been interviewed on the Blog Ring of Power, or that have been suggested to me.  More often then not, it's a YA novel of speculative fiction base.  It makes me sad, even though I've picked up many great YA novels since the start of BRoP. (I admit I haven't picked up every book of every author we've interviewed.) It's hard for me to get into a book that is completely new to me.  Either by being from an author I don't know, or just a book I haven't heard...

I'm over at the Speculative Fiction Blog today talking about dealing with hard times during the holidays.  I know that every year people go through a lot.  It seems that we feel it the most during the holidays.  We all have our coping mechanisms.  I offer mine. I hope that everyone enters the New Year a little bit brighter, a little bit happier.  If you can't, don't worry.  Life is not all sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes it's healthy to stay in the sadness and feel it.  Just don't stay down forever.  There are people who miss your smile.

In October I took a full month off from doing what I love to do best.  Yes, I took off writing. Have you ever felt that you need to do something over and over again?  Have you felt the need to continue to do something because you've always done it? Try taking a break from that thing that you feel you NEED to do.  I know, it may be impossibly hard, but then, nothing is truly impossible.  So whether it be drinking beer, writing on your blog, or even writing. (I know, it’s a difficult concept, to not write, but bear with me.) I have to say that I did just that in October.  The stopping drinking the beer happened in my house too.  One thing I found out.  Not only did my hubby find out he doesn't need to drink beer, I found out I didn't need to write high fantasy all the time.  It was hard not writing at all, but instead of focusing on what I've been working on, my mind took different twists and turns...

Welcome, Sue Bolich, this week’s Blog Ring of Power guest. Sue is a member of  Broad Universe,  where she recently shared the news that she is battling cancer, and the medical bills are piling up.  Please help Sue and show your support by purchasing her novels as every little bit of financial help is desperately needed. Don’t miss the rest of her interview at: Part 1: Monday, Dec. 3, About You–  Sandra Part 2: Tuesday, Dec. 4, The Writing Life– Dean Part 3: Wednesday, Dec. 5,The Creative Process– Terri Part 4: Thursday, Dec. 6, About Her Currant Work - T.W. Part 5: Friday, Dec. 7, Words of Wisdom–  Emily  Words of Wisdom BRoP:  Tell us about your route to success –how did you land your agent/publisher? Sue:  I met my publisher at a science fiction convention. Get out of the house! Meet people. Learn the ropes. Demonstrate that you’re a professional and can get the job done, and that you have something great to offer....

Yes, I know you are as excited as I am!  No I'm not talking about almost to the end of NaNoWriMo, though I hope some of you have won, if not.  You're almost to the end! You can do it!!! Ok so it's Friday, and you all know that Friday means Blog Ring of Power Time!!!! Let's get to it with Jason Jack Miller on Deck. As always, this is a five part blog, make sure to check out the others Part 1 at the wonderful T.W. site Part 2, oh wait you're here, read this before you go on. Part 3 is with the fabulous Sandra Part 4 is hanging with the amazing Dean Part 5 is with our leader, the awesome Terri Ok ok, so let's get to it. Jason Jack Miller hails from Fayette County, Pennsylvania, as in, "Circus freaks, temptation and the Fayette County Fair," made famous by The Clarks in the song, "Cigarette." He is a writer, photographer and musician. An outdoor travel guide he co-authored with his wife in 2006 jumpstarted his freelancing career; ...