The Realms of a Fantastical Mind

Welcome to another Blog Ring of Power, today we have my friend from the great AQC . Thanks for joining us Cat, let's learn a bit about your Creative Process. Cat: I am in my mid-twenties and I graduated with a BA in Anthropology and a minor in Humanities. The name I go by is Cat and I love to write about the apocalypse, but not in the biblical sense of the word. Any sort of dystopian, end of the world stories seriously interest me. I guess it has a lot to do with being part of the rat race of life, trying to climb the great ladder of success. BRoP: Where do you get your story ideas? Cat: Driving to and from work. You wouldn't believe how much I can think when I have to commute two hours a day. BRoP:  Do you have a specific writing style? Cat:  I don't outline anything, except the timeline, and I write from the beginning to end. I don't jump around the story. BRoP:  How do you deal with writer’s block? Cat:  Write another b...

It's Friday! Wait for it... You know what Friday means.  Ok ok there's the whole "The weekend is here." but it also means that it's Blog Ring of Power time! Barbara Ann Wright writes fantasy and science fiction novels and short stories when not adding to her enormous book collection or ranting on her blog. Her short fiction has appeared twice in   Crossed Genres Magazine   and once made   Tangent Online's   recommended reading list. She is a member of Broad Universe and the Outer Alliance and helped create Writer's Ink in Houston. The Pyramid Waltz is her first novel. She is married, has an army of pets, and lives in Texas. Her writing career can be boiled down to two points: when her mother bought her a typewriter in the sixth grade and when she took second place in the Isaac Asimov Award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing in 2004. One gave her the means to write and the other gave her the confidence to ke...

Yes, we come to another Blog Ring of Power Friday, please welcome Cornelia.  Don't forget to check out the other parts of this interview Part 1 with Terri Part 2 with T.W . Part 3 guess who Part 4 with Sandra Part 5 with Dean Cornelia Amiri is the author of 16 romance books, including the Steampunk/romance she writes under the name Maeve Alpin. She lives in Houston, TX with her wonderful son and granddaughter.  Section #3: The Creative Process BRoP: Where do you get your story ideas? CA: The ideas come from everywhere, a historical event, a dream, or something someone said. Once I have my idea (my premise), I pick a plot to go with it. Then I work up character charts on the hero and heroine, which include information on their family history and their likes and dislikes. Then, with a fairly good idea about the beginning and ending in my head, I begin the rough draft. Once I have a strong image in my head of the characters the dialogue starts...

Add caption The forest seemed to darken with each step.  Voices sounded all around me, birds and something else.  I couldn't understand the words that floated just beyond the trees.  My heart fluttered and I wrung my hands together.  It wasn't a good idea to cross that bridge but the damage had been done.  I would have to see this through.  Cursing my curiosity I kept walking.  The canopy held back most of the sun's rays, leaving a constant twilight to press on my shoulders. I stepped into a pine grove.  The sun broke through the towering trees, bringing the daylight back.  I sighed and moved forward with quick steps.  A hush fell around me.  No birds, no voices, I would think my ears had been filled with cotton, if it weren't for the sound of my own foot steps.  I slowed, my heart pounding in my chest. The light of the sun grew brighter.  I closed my eyes against the blaze.  Black spots against my lids blinke...

Welcome to another Blog Ring of Power Friday.  Hold on to your seats as we interview Sandra Saidak.  First I would like to thank Sandra for taking the time to answer all of BRoP long questions.  Part 1 with T.W. Part 2 rocking out with me Part 3 with Sandra Part 4 with Dean Part 5 with Terri SANDRA SAIDAK graduated San Francisco State University in 1985 with a B.A. in English.  She is a high school English teacher by day, author by night.  Her hobbies include reading, dancing, attending science fiction conventions, researching prehistory, and maintaining an active fantasy life (but she warns that this last one could lead to dangerous habits such as writing).  Sandra lives in San Jose with her husband Tom, daughters Heather and Melissa, and two cats.   Her first novel, “Daughter of the Goddess Lands”, an epic set in the late Neolithic Age, was published in November, 2011 by Uffington Horse Press.  Learn more at http://sandras...

My feet hit the soft littered floor of the forest.  All around me were the sounds of birds. At least, I thought they were birds.  The forest opened up to a path, dark with heavy foliage on one side.  The light of the sun broke in streams on the other.   Beautiful to behold.  I took another light step. "Magical or Mundane?"  The words echoed in my head.  I looked around. Did I imagine that? "Mundane or Magical?" I flinched, the voice deepened.  What was it asking me? If I was magical or mundane? I stumbled trying to think.  Should I answer it? "Um... mundane?" The trees hissed while a flock of birds scattered above.   A roar, louder and deeper than any voice in my head, made my knees shake.  Crashing through the thick woods a bear came into view.  It stopped when it spotted me.  Raising up on it's hind legs it roared again.  Holding my ears I took a step back.  The beast was taller than I had ever im...

So I wanted to give another Shout out Sunday to the things I like. I can't get enough of gaming, and there is no reason for me to stop.  D&D has a special place in my heart because I can share a good time with other like minds.  The game becomes the reason why everyone visits, but it's their company that makes it the best.  To brave the fantastical worlds together, then joke about the ogre we just shot down with a bolt from a sling.  Yup that is what I call a good time. Everything I Need to Know I Learned from Dungeons & Dragons By Mazzanoble, Shelly (Google Affiliate Ad)