December's Chill; Christmas Nears

As the end of the month approaches I am feeling extremely pressed for time. I had hoped to finish edits to my novel by the end of December, but that will be difficult. If necessary I will push my self-imposed deadline to mid-January; my focus, after all, is not how fast this is completed, but on the quality of the produced novel.

Christmas is nearly here. Just a few days away. Here in CT the weather is back to classic New England, just as I remember in my childhood days. We have several inches of heavy snow and ice to boot. These past couple days have made driving conditions slippery at best, and for that reason I have called out of work for tonight and tomorrow.

I'll say this for white weather: it puts me in the creative groove. Just looking at the Christmas tree lights makes me cozy and the cold outdoors only serve to draw me into the warm house.

If you will offer a prayer for me, I will appreciate it. I am trying to cram a lot down my calendar, so much that I feel sometimes I might choke. On the bright side: I know God has all things in His hands and my future really is not my own, but His. May it be His path I follow, rather than my own.

Bookmarks Now Available!

Swords of the Six bookmarks have arrived! They are 2 x 6-inches And the local library has sold several already. I'm asking $1.00 each and the profit from these goes against book production expenses. I'm going to set up online purchasing via my www.theswordofthedragon.com website and all three bookmarks will be available. I have a select number of larger bookmarks, as well. The image of Specter in Al'un Dai covers the face of the larger bookmark quite handsomly and a teaser portion of text from the novel is readable on the reverse side. . . . Posters will be next.

Website Published

My website is ready for use. It is published at: http://www.theswordofthedragon.com Over time I will dandy it up/ or hire someone to do so. But for the time-being it is both functional and feels solid to me. Please check it out and let me know what you think.

The Writer and the Journey of Self-Exploration

If you have ever sat down and written an imaginative piece of writing, I'm sure you'll understand the title of this post; writing is a journey of self-exploration. I was talking to a guy at work last night and he likes to write poetry and also about poetry. He doesn't do it because he gets paid (he doesn't) and he doesn't do it for the prestige (he doesn't often receive recognition) he writes for the love of it.

While he talked I was reminded of how my writings, as I look over my work from the past several years, have often mirrored the points I was at in my life at those times. Composition is best fed by the heart and best inspired by a willingness to reach into our deepest fears, desires, and hopes.

Applying Edits to SoTS

Applying substantive edits to Swords of the Six is 10% completed. That is encouraging for me; I've been feeling overwhelmed by all that I have to do. Working full-time taxes my writing energy but I'm sticking with my original plans to release the novel early 2009. It is looking to be 350+ pages now, rather than 300. We'll see what happens . . . but I suspect it will end up closer to 400 by the time I give it to the typesetter in January.

... *goes back to editing*

Take a Stand against Mass Murder

Take a stand against Obama's liberal policies and the FOCA. Sign this petition for PRO-LIFE: http://www.fightfoca.com/ Obama has stated that he will sign this abominable act as his first act in office. What does this act entail? It would eliminate every restriction on abortion nationwide! Sign the petition. Speak out. Take a stand. .... and spread the word. Tell everyone you know who will sign this petition.

Treading Water/Dog-paddling

Well, dear readers, seeing as I have not posted for so long. I think it is time I say something here so that you'll have something to read!

The novel is coming along. The new prelude is making a great impression with my trial readers. It takes the opening of the story to a higher plane of action, suspense, and drama.

Also, Amber Hill is chipping away at the spot illustrations. They are turning out amazing.

Too, my fiancee and I are busy with wedding plans. It is a very exciting time for us. We're very much looking forward to having a place of our own.

And there! That's that! The scoop. I'm making slow progress, steady but slow. I feel like I'm in one place in a pool and I'm treading water, just waiting to swim to my destination. That destination is clear but it is not here yet.

God, have mercy on us

Those who know me well, know that I am a man who sheds few tears. But tonight I felt the deepest sadness, disappointment, and even anger at the absence of morality as America accepted with thundrous applause the speach of its new leader: Barach Obama. He addressed his speech to the "gays and the straits" among other things, and opened the world to his "new" ideas. His speech reminded me of past dictators appealing to the masses, feeding them lies spiced with promises.

Change is on the wind . . . but those who voted for this man, for his kind of change . . . do not realize the extent and type of change he wants to, and probably will enact. I fear for the future of my generation in this country. Will this land of the free become the graveyard of Christianity? Will the government involve itself in all aspects of life until it is not safe to raise your children for fear of having them taken away from you?

God is in control. He allowed this to happen for a reason. America is going to receive the reward of its sin. God's hand is withdrawn. I feel it. Mayhap this is only a short while. But I think not and I pray this nation will not rise under Obama's leadership. I hope tonight we did not witness the rise of another Castro, or Marx. But it seemed to me that we did.

A spiritual battle for the minds and hearts of the people of this nation is in full swing. But now, it seems, an uphill battle is before us. Pray! Pray! Seek God! Repent and call men everywhere to repent! If we do not now win souls for Christ then we will leave to our children a heritage worse than this which the 60's generation left us.

I believe a test of Christianity's true metal in this country is at hand. Liberalism is going to assault traditionalism and only if we stand bold and free will we prevail through Christ. A government which does not stand by the one true God is a government I will not serve. For we cannot serve two masters.

Look to Jesus and don't give in to despair. It is clawing at us right now, trying to peel away the rot of materialism that has overtaken and distracted us. And remember that, whatever is ahead, the past has been worse. And, most importantly, I still believe that a few good men can stand against evil and prevail!

Tonight I shed tears.

Edits for the First Novel

I am in the midst of editing Swords of the Six. The prelude needs honing and it has taken me a couple weeks to write something I feel satisfied with. There is still a lot of work to do on it but I thought I'd post an excerpt from what I have so far:

His black scales shimmering with the blood of a thousand warriors, the dragon Valorian spread his wings and drew back his long neck. Smoke rose from his nostrils, veiling the glint of sunlight in his dark eyes, and a swath of flames issued from his maw. Mauled men lay wounded and dying all around him.

Line upon line of grim-faced men knelt behind their shields, facing the creature, whispering silent prayers as the dragon's attack melted the shields of those closest to him and roasted them inside of their armor. The screams of the dying birthed anger in those closest to the victims. With fierce determination the lines of men rose with cries of revenge and charged the dragon.
But he looked upon them with disdain and stabbed his serpentine head into the ground, burrowing into the soil. Within moments his sleek body and ashen tail followed his head, disappearing into the inordinately small hole.

The warriors froze in their tracks. Beyond their ranks they heard the march of thousands more of their allies. They heard shouts of victory and could only hope it did not originate with the enemy.

The ground collapsed under a dozen of the warriors. Valorian rose through the soil, his mighty claws raked the warriors near at hand, spilling their blood into the pools forming around their companions. The warriors raised their swords and some sought to impale the monster on spikes, but Valorian growled with delight and burrowed into the ground.

The warriors fell back, fearful of his next assault. But they did not retreat far enough. The black dragon burst into their midst and slew a hundred more by the might of his claws.

Stumbling over one another, the warriors sought to escape. Valorian burrowed into the ground yet again and a rout ensued. Men panicked, dropped their weapons and fled.

"Weak and futile!" The dragon growled as a small line of braver souls formed in his path. "Are all of Albino's warriors as children in comparison to me? Are they mere fodder?" He swung around and the scales along his tail rose like barbs. "Treat me not as any other foe," the dragon uttered darkly. His tail whipped into the warriors' midst and the scales along it cut through their armor, snagging like hooks in their flesh.

Valorian drew out his tail, half-a-dozen warriors impaled upon it. He smashed their bodies against the ground . . ..

Book Readers

Books have stood the test of time. Their form may have changed from engraved stone tablets to scrolls and then to pages fitted between two leather/cloth-wrapped boards, but people love books.

Have you ever wondered why it is that watching too many movies or playing too many video games gives you a headache and drains your ambition to go out and do things? The well-used phrase 'couch potato' is well put.

I believe that the primary difference between reading a book and watching a movie is the sort of task your brain is performing. If you watch a movie (particularly one you have already seen) your brain is tuned to relaxation, brainless activity. But if you pour over a book you learn new things and must rove your eyes over the pages instead of staring at a screen.

It has been scientifically proven that people who exercise their brain through learning and creativity live longer, healthier lives. I remember reading a news article once on a group of nuns in their 90's who regularly knitted, sewed, and read. Their eyes were healthy and their minds sharp . . . I wonder what would happen if nursing homes dispensed with television sets and encouraged reading. I am certain alzheimers patients would dimish greatly and, in fact, perhaps that is why memory loss is so prevelent today whereas it was not seventy years ago.

Well, that's all, I guess, that I had to say. I need to get cracking on my fiction writing and novel edits....

The Truth of Salvation and Sin

Lately I have spent a lot of my thought process on considering salvation and the sinner. The depths of Christ's atonement are unfathomable and often our finite minds seek to understand how full pardon from all sin is possible. There have been times in my life when I questioned wether or not I had truly been saved. But always my heart turned back to the mercies of Christ and my seeking was rewarded with contentment; peaceful satisfaction in the grace offered by God to sinful mankind.

I would like to see a conversation started on the topic of sin and pardon and the acceptance and/or denial of God's pardon. What are my reader's thoughts on the matter of sin and the Christian? What are your thoughts on the change that occurs in a person who is saved? Are all truly saved individuals able to overcome habitual sin and press on toward perfection? I have more thoughts on this but I would like to hear from others.

Please use the comment link to converse on this topic. And I would love to see both my Christian readers and those of you who are not, discussing this. Christ encouraged people to think on his teachings and he said "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free."

Preliminary Artwork

Today I received the preliminary spot illustrations. Amber is doing a marvelous job. The samples below are only roughs/first stage.

Bit by Bit

It is 2:30 in the morning and I'm staring at the computer screen thinking about everything that is and needs to come together before Swords of the Six goes to print. Becky Miller sent the first manuscript edits. She is doing a wonderful job . . . and by wonderful I mean that she has left me with more work to do. I'm in the process of ripping apart my prelude. I'm not starting over, but I am reimagining it as a better hook to draw my audience into the story.

I thought of a good opening scene while packing chips into boxes tonight at work. Now I have to buckle myself to the chair and type out the story that comes to me.

My eyes are tired so I'll (as my grandfather loves to say) "hit the hay!" Tomorrow I should receive the initial spot illustrations from Amber Hill. Yes, everything is falling into place bit by bit . . . At last. (:

FPP Logo

And here is the logo... Pretty nifty, don't you think?

More Progress

The new banner for this site was designed by Kirk DouPonce. I am waiting on the logo for Flaming Pen Press. But once it is finished I will post that here as well. This banner will be used for this blog and also for the Flaming Pen Press website, when that is created (which will be some time this year).

Fulfillment of Dreams

Having finished my first six months temporary employment at the factory, I am now happily settling in to a new schedule. Beginning this week I am working there only three nights in a part-time permanent position and putting my new free time into reporting jobs and preperations for releasing Swords of the Six.

With my focus returning to writing I must admit feeling a little confused where to begin. When I was writing full-time I averaged 2,000 to 3,000-words per day. But my focus then was on writing my novels. My focus now is coming up with new, richer short fiction stories to submit to magazines and e-zines.

I remember sitting in Steven James's class at Glorietta Christian Writers' conference almost two years ago. He told, in summary, how he had started off his writing career. One year his income was $10,000 and someone at his church asked his wife "Why doesn't your husband get a real job?" If his wife had not supported him during those rough times, had not cheered him on when he was plugging away at stories though few were selling, he would not be the successful writer he is today.

Steven James pursued his God-given dream to become a writer. He pursued it in spite of other peoples' opinions.

Too many people let the opinions of those around them not only influence but sway them away from their dreams. But the successful person ignores the scoffs and plugs away at his/her dream, honing their skill, seeking opportunities to put to use what they have learned along the way . . . until one day the door upon which they've been pounding budges and then gives way.

Who are the happy people in the world? Who are the lonely? The happy are often the poorer, from what I can tell, and the lonely are often the rich. In another vein, the happy are often the people outside of the social circles, those who seem to close themselves into their own little universe and don't let others' bring them down. And if you are thinking I am crazy for saying so, then consider how many prominent and successful singers sing of their poor beginnings and how they valued those days and the love they remembered. I think of Loretta Lynn's song "Coal Miner's Daughter." The line in that song that goes "We were poor but we had love, that's the one thing that Daddy made sure of . . .," is the summary of my point. We need to place value on what has true value; the things that make a diffference in this life and beyond.

Three things I greatly value in my life and these things I guard jealously.

1) A family life that is not an open book to the rest of society; this provides an irreplaceable feeling of security. My parents provided that for my entire life and both I and my siblings greatly love them for that. What was said or done in the family and was meant to stay in the family, did.

2) My dream of becoming a successful writer; and steering clear of people who discourage me. I have disassociated myself with a couple individuals because they were questioning the wisdom of pouring my energies into writing.

3) The happiness of one person above any other: my future wife. Without this as a priority I could easily let slip the greatest asset I have. When her spirits are high, mine are too. When I am down she encourages me. I would be a fool to not place her happiness before others'.

Maintaining these three things and having the Lord as my strength, gives me wings to fly to places most people never do. Most people start life with dreams and, as time progresses, they allow the busyness of life--and the pressures of society to be 'successful' as the world determines success--to push their dreams backstage. It is true that adjustments have to be made along the way. Falling in love and getting married is something I genuinely believed was a long way off but it has always been my greatest aspiration and now I am making adjustments accordingly, putting marriage and writing as my top priorities.

I believe in the fulfillment of dreams . . . but only so long as the dreamer refuses to listen to other people who would influence him otherwise and only so long as he is willing to make sacrifices to achieve his dreams. To be content with little is a concept not accepted by society, but if we live our dreams we can be content with less.

I'm Engaged!

Life moves along faster than it seems possible. A mere five years ago I graduated high school and went to Thailand as a student missionary. For the past five months I've been romantically involved with my childhood friend, Kelley. Well, I completely fell for her charms. She has a great capacity to love both God and me and those around us, and she enjoys the same things I do: namely, reading and writing! She completes me in every way; she is my Angel. Last Sunday I went down to Waterford and purchased an engagment ring, on Monday I asked her father's permission, and on Wednesday I proposed on our very first time out alone.

This is a big step and I'm privilidged and overjoyed to take it. I've always desired to find my other half... my better half... and now I will have her.

The Lord said is "not good for man to be alone." So I'm taking His advice! Also, as I've told my fiance, "He that finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord" -Proverbs 18:22 ....So I have a hidden agenda: I want God to favor me!

Now my endeavors will be shared as will my memories, my life. With her support I will continue writing. And with her inspiration my imagination will expand.

"Swords of the Six" book cover

Here at last is the book cover designed by Kirk DouPonce of DogEaredDesign. Next year, in the spring, the first of The Sword of the Dragon novels will be released to the public. I am very pleased with Kirk's work on the cover. It's a real eye-catcher.

"Splintered Sacrifice" to be Published

Long Story Short has accepted another speculative fiction story that I wrote, this one will be published in their November issue. I'm very pleased to be gaining more fiction credits. Once I am finished working full time at the factory job I've been doing for the past 4-1/2 months, I am planning to focus on writing again. But, in the mean time dear readers, you will enjoy this story about a tree who makes its ultimate sacrifice.

Website Content

Slowly the content for my upcoming website is coming together. Check out the illustration below of the gentleman mouse from my first Trapped in Imagination story. The website will include this illustration (in color, though) along with the story Trapped in Imagination for pleasurable reading. There are four illustrations so far like this, but not of mice. But I am saving the revealing of those for website publishing day!

Star Wars: Clone Wars

Rumors of proposed Star Wars television series have circulated for the past several years. Stars Wars: Clone Wars introduces viewers to a new level of digital animation. From what I could tell, this film (which serves as a pilot episode for the upcoming TV series) plays off of the ideas given in the Anime-styled Clone Wars series.

I really enjoyed the new movie. Besides being surprisingly humorous, this film packs an interesting story and I recognized some of the character voices from Star Wars computer games. It was well done (I thought) and I'm hearing a lot of positive feedback from other viewers.

Now I am hoping that the rumors of a live-action television series set between episodes III and IV are true.

Kirk DouPonce, Book Cover Design

The process of starting my own book publishing company is involved and a bit slow. Part of the reason is that I am outsourcing for most services in order to have everything done professionally for the first novel before its release in Spring '09.

I'm pleased to announce that Kirk DouPonce of DogEaredDesign is working on the cover for Swords of the Six. Kirk has done work for Random House and Simon & Schuster and has a host of other professional book covers to his credit. The book cover will be completed in four weeks. If you would like to check out Kirk's past work, visit his website: http://www.dogeareddesign.com/

Also, Amber Hill has agreed to do spot illustrations to be used as chapter headings. Each illustration will be unique to the chapter it graces. This adds considerable expense to the publishing process . . . and time . . . but the end result will be worth it.

"Comet's Passage" Accepted for Publication

It is my pleasure to inform my readers that Long Story Short, the ezine that has already published three of my fiction pieces, has just accepted my first work of poetry for publication in their October issue.

"Comet's Passage" is a fanciful telling of how a comet traces its path through the heavens. Look for it after October 7th of 2008 to appear in the poetry section of Long Story Short.

Obama: An Observation

This will be a rather short post, but I felt like putting it here.

I heard Democratic presidential candidate Barach Obama speaking on television the other night while I sat down in the break room at Frito Lay. Obama stated, in words even a child would have difficulty misunderstanding, that the "walls" must come down. The two particular "walls" to which I remember he referred were the walls between nations, and the "walls" between Christians and Muslims!

The short conclusion I came to is this: Obama is an insane liberal politician; Obama must not become the next president of the United States of America.

Rebecca Miller to edit SOTS

Rebecca Miller, editor for Bryan Davis's Dragons In Our Midst books, has agreed to edit my first novel. Among Bryan Davis's novels, Circles of Seven has always been my favorite. I need someone, in whom I have confidence, to edit Swords of the Six. Having seen her finished work I have no doubt she'll do a wonderful job on my novel.

The next step toward publication is line art. I need one of my illustrators to do banner-style images to be used as headers for the chapters in my novel.

Currently I am looking for a book-designer. I'd prefer someone with a track record of professionally-done fantasy books.

Taking the Open Door: FLAMING PEN PRESS

Well, my dear readers, after two years of back and forth with AMG Publishers, my proposed novel was shot down at the final stage before contract. Both the acquisitions editor and the senior editor of the house expressed their disappointment to me... and their surprise. Both of them felt the other editors would go for The Sword of the Dragon series.

Some people have expressed sympathy to me for having spent so much time with that publishing house only to be rejected. But their sentiments are not mine. I asked God to close the door to AMG if that was not the best venue for me to release my book through, and He has . . .. So now it is time to move on to the next stage of the publishing process.

I'd made the decision in the last six months to start my own publishing company if AMG did not offer contract for Swords of the Six. During the past year and a half I have researched and studied the process of doing just that. It is complicated and, initially, more financial capital is required up-front. But it also allows me to control 100% of the book rights and keep 100% of the profits.

Many people who have not studied the publishing process will confuse what I am going to do with Print On Demand publishing services (offered through places such as BookSurge and Lulu.com). I will not be following that route. The cost of the books, per unit, is too large for there to be a profit for the author that prints that way.

Traditional publishing houses order 'print runs' from book printers after they hire editors (either in-house or freelancers). They also hire (and I will be out-sourcing for) book design/typesetting. Currently I am in the process of commissioning final artwork, negotiating marketing rights, looking for one more editor (I have two already committed), and planning the first print run.

This Fall I will open Flaming Pen Press and, come Spring of 2009, we will release The Sword of the Dragon--Book 1--Swords of the Six. Flaming Pen Press will launch a website in the near future and I will feed updates on the novel's progress into this blog as things move forward.

Rescheduled Meeting & ongoing Artwork

AMG's new product meeting has been rescheduled due to one of the editors going in for surgery this week. July 8th is the new date.

On the bright side I know for certain now that I have at least two possitive votes for Swords of the Six because I spoke with one of the editors.

Also, check out some preliminary artwork for the interior of the book. This is copyright property of the artist, Amber Hill:

AMG's New Product Meeting

Dan Penwell at AMG Publishers informed me today that they are having their next New Product Meeting on June 30th. My manuscript is the first on their agenda and they will give me a final decision after that meeting. ...Please pray. I know that whatever happens will be in God's will and thus in my best interest, but after all this work I cannot help but be a little anxious. Over 90% of manuscripts never make it to this point in the publishing process... I would like it to jump this last hurdle.

Positive Attitude: It Makes a Big Difference

What do you surround yourself with? Do you hang out with negative people or positive? The first group will drag you down, the second will build you up. As a writer I occasionally come across people who look at me funny and invariably say something along the lines of "Why don't you get a real job?" The people who say things like that to me find that I avoid their company. I don't shun them or despise them, rather I avoid them in order that I may surround myself with people who will encourage me to strive toward my goals. I do not have a large circle of friends and this is why. If I were to hang out with the crowd I could have more 'friends' . . . but in actuality they would be acquaintences. A true friend is a kindred spirit; someone who encourages you in what you do and is honest enough to tell you when you've done something wrong. Those that I count as my friends are not acquaintences, they are encouraging individuals who appreciate me for who I am and what I want to be. I can count my friends on one hand. They are few in number but strong in heart.

The same principle applies to entertainment. When you watch television, is the show or movie a positive force on your attitude or a negative? I enjoy watching movies. Any of my friends can tell you that. But there are certain things I avoid at times. For instance, we have several seasons of the I Love Lucy Show on DVD. I can't watch too many of those at a time because I find that the sarcasm adversly affects my attitude. The same is true of science fiction shows. Some of them get too dark and the characters are always down in the ruts. I have found that watching less television empowers me for a more productive day. That's not to say television is bad, in fact, at times, it is a very good thing. But exercising wisdom in what you fill your mind with goes a long way toward being a positive individual.

Fill your mind with clean thoughts by sifting out the images you allow your eyes to see. And surround yourself with individuals who will encourage you to attain your goals and be a constant, unfailing encouragment to you.

"The Little Children Come" Published

Long Story Short, the ezine, has released my fantasy story "The Little Children Come" in their archives. This work is clear allegory and one of my favorites (if I may be permitted to say that of my own story!) It examines the faith of a child who trusts in Christ without reservation, contrasting it with the doubt of those who refuse to believe. But I don't want to say too much about it for fear of ruining it for my readers. Follow the link I've placed under 'My Published Works' and open the 'fiction' tab when you reach the Long Story Short main page. My story is at the top of those listed there . . . And of course I would love to receive feedback on this story right here on my blog. So once you've read it please comment here!

Blinded to the Truth

Last night at work I spoke with a coworker whose naivete concerning Scripture was nothing short of disturbing. He believes that in the passage in Genesis where it says the stars bowed down to Joseph, the stars are literal stars; stars in the constellations we see today. The passage to which he referred was Genesis 37:9 "And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brothers, and said, Behold, I have dreamed another dream; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars bowed down to me." The man I spoke to last night said he looked at the constellations and thinks he found the constellation Joseph saw in the dream. What is wrong with this man's line of thought? He is taking the dream as a literal, real-world occurence, rather than examining the meaning behind the dream. I find it sad to see that many people claim to be searching for the truth, but they are so bent on finding 'hidden' meanings and 'undiscovered' truths that they miss the plain, simple message. This searching for hidden or new truths becomes an excuse for not accepting the Truth of Jesus Christ. In a way, they blind themselves to the Truth. This is becoming common in our society and it reminds me of someone else in the Bible. Exodus 8:32 "And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go." We have many people hardening their hearts so that they will not have to repent. They don't want to change their lifestyles. They will continue proclaiming their open-mindedness while denying the evidence . . . because they don't want to be convinced of the Truth. They don't want to surrender. They don't want to take a side. And God says of these: "So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth."

"Prince Caspian" the Movie

On Saturday, Kelley and I went to see the second Chronicles of Narnia movie, Prince Caspian. Her family was there and so was mine as well as my sister and her husband. The movie was very well done. The mood was considerably darker than The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe . . . which made for a better film than the first one because it didn't feel as kiddish. Brittish actor Ben Barnes played the lead role of Prince Caspian and I was please and impressed by his performance. He acted smoothly and realistically, allowing the audience to lose themselves in his character. The visual effects took a step forward as well; several battles dominated the screen and the trees took the spotlight in the final battle. I had two complaints: 1) the humor was mixed in at what seemed odd places, and 2) I listened closely to the music and it seemed to be all the same pieces from the first movie . . . as if they couldn't budget for additional compositions. I would give this movie a four out of five star-rating. It is definitely worth the ticket cost. And perhaps I didn't enjoy the movie as much as I might have because I was having more fun sitting next to my girl!

My Girl

I had given up on finding my special someone and had determined to focus solely on my career and relationship with God for the next year or two. But it seems God has different plans for me. I have entered into a relationship with Kelley, a childhood friend and steady Christian.

At first I did not intend to post this here because the focus of this blog is my writing. But I realized that that was foolishness because I want my readers to hear about this blessing; Kelley and I are working toward marriage and striving to keep our relationship pure until that day. Today there are few young women who have a blend of physical beauty, godliness, and commitment. I can say with 100% confidence that Kelley is one such girl.

I want to take this opportunity to encourage my peers, girls and guys alike. Don't dispair of finding a special someone to share your life with. And don't let past mistakes stop you from entering a pure relationship. I've made my share of mistakes . . . but God has seen fit to let me learn from those mistakes, instead of letting me fall away because of them. He can do it for you, too.

Please pray for both of us as we move forward with this relationship.

Update on "Swords of the Six"

I finally heard from AMG Publishers regarding Swords of the Six. The editor assures me that my novel is the first on their agenda for their next new product meeting. They are waiting on one editor to return from a mission trip. He said I can expect the meeting to happen at the end of this month or the beginning of next. Really that is only a few weeks away. I've waited this long... I can wait a little longer.

In the mean time I've been reading a lot concerning starting my own publishing company and book marketing. This will help me prepare for next year's release of my novel. One way or the other I will publish this book no later than next year. My readers have waited long enough and I want to reward them for their patience and loyalty.

Beyond the Reflection's Edge-a book review

Last year I had the privilige of pre-reading Bryan Davis's first novel to be published by Zondervan. Beyond the Reflection's Edge was a non-stop action ride from start to finish. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. I don't usually finish books in a day, but this one I did.

Imaginative in a unique way, this young adult novel blends fantasy with science fiction. Parallel dimensions, extra-sinister villains, a mirror that shows things and people that aren't there, a violin that plays voices instead of music (but only for one girl to hear) and an underlying romance make this a memorable and enjoyable read that begs you not to put it down.

This latest of Bryan Davis's books packs a punch equal to his Dragons In Our Midst series and introduces a new hero and heroine so successfully that it completely won me over.

"The Little Children Come" Accepted for Publication

Long Story Short, the e-zine, has accepted another of my short stories for publication. This one is titled "The Little Children Come" and will appear in the e-zine's June issue. This story was my first purely allegorical piece of fiction. It deals with faith . . . particularly the innocent faith of a little child that comes to know Christ. I will post again when this story becomes available.

Neil & Laura Warner

Laura and Neil, I love you both

& I pray God will bless you in the years to come

Congratulations to Neil and Laura on their marriage. Saturday's ceremony and the following reception were both beautiful and many tears of happiness were shed. I am not ashamed to admit I shed some of my own when I danced with my sister. I'm going to post a couple pictures here and put them and others on the wedding blog. Keep in mind that, because I was in the wedding party, these pictures do not cover the ceremony.

"Beowulf" a book Review

Ah, finally another book to add to my list of favorites. It's not a new release, in fact it is quite old . . . the sort of literature that is very old indeed.

Enter "Beowulf" a classic that I should have read years ago. The mighty warrior who sails across the sea to confront a monster, the famed Grendel. Upon slaying the creature, Beowulf and his company feast with the king and the people who feared Grendel's nightly visits. But they rejoice to soon. Not long after killing the beast, Beowulf discovers that the creature's mother is out for revenge. He goes after her and, to the relief of those awaiting release from these monsters, he slays her as well.

The hero's victory over Grendel and Grendel's mother, earn him high esteem in the sight of his king and his people, upon his return to his homeland. And the story tells how he eventually was named king of his homeland and fought and won many battles in his people's defense. His life at last ends when he confronts a dragon.

Here is a quote from Beowulf, one that shows where the heart of literature used to be and is, I believe, the place to which it must return:

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

So Hrothgar's men lived happy in his hall

Till the monster stirred, that demon, that fiend,

Grendel, who haunted the moors, the wild

Marshes, and made his home in a hell

Not hell but earth. He was spawned in that slime,

Conceived by a pair of those monsters born

Of Cain, murderous creatures banished

By God, punished forever for the crime

Of Abel's death. The Almighty drove

Those demons out, and their exile was bitter,

Shut away from men; they split

Into a thousand forms of evil--spirits

And fiends,Goblins, monsters, giants,

A brood forever opposing the Lord's

Will, and again and again defeated.

Not that I believe the interpretation of Scripture that is represented in these verses, is accurate. But the fact that the literature recognizes the order of creation and the Orderer of creation . . . is something I appreciate.

Now I must finish Homer's The Iliad. I read it many years ago, but I think it was an abridged version. The Iliad is, also, a wonderful piece of literature. I've read Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress at least five times . . . excellent reading . . . and I'm working my way through it again.

Published Works now Available

The day has arrived, my faithful readers, to point your browsers to MindFlights Magazine and to Long Story Short. To the upper right in my blog, you will see two more works added to the 'published' list.

First there is an interview with author Bryan Davis, which I believe you will find very interesting. The link will bring you straight to the interview.

Second, and this is the one I am most excited about, Long Story Short just published "Moses and the Lamb." This story tells what happens when a little lamb witnesses its young master commit a sin, and decides to offer itself to Moses as a sacrifice. This is the second speculative fiction piece of mine, to be published. Unfortunately I couldn't link directly to the story, so the link at the upper right will bring you to the ezine. Just click on the 'fiction' tab when you reach the ezine, it will display a list of the recently published stories. Mine is near the top.

I hope you will all check out these published pieces and, of course, comment here with your thoughts!

"Specter" the bookmark

At last, the "Specter" bookmark is finished. There will be more artwork in the near future. I have already begun discussing a poster-size (high-resolution) image that I'd like done for the book cover, but I have not decided if I will have her collaborate with Jennifer Miller, or have her do the whole thing.

Also, artwork for the Sword of the Dragon website is on the agenda.

Vacation's End

After a lot of driving (a total of approximately 50 hours) I am back home in good old Connecticut. I had a wonderful vacation, albeit a rather busy one, what with the wedding and all. Below is a picture of Stone Mountain in GA. It was the first time I've seen this Confederate monument and a memorable moment.

After viewing this gargantuan piece of artwork, it was time for me to climb the mountain. See the tiny man to the upper left in the photo below . . .?
Believe me, the climb was not as easy as it looks!

------

I want to post a congratulations, here, to my friend, Nathaniel. He and Eden, his southern belle, are now happily married and, I think, back in CT.

Anyways, I am back in CT. On Monday, April 7th, two works of mine will be published. One is an interview with Bryan Davis for MindFlights Magazine, and the other is "Moses and the Lamb" a short story to appear in Long Story Short, the ezine where my previous story "The Woodland King" was published.

I now have to get into a routine again before I start working at the Frito Lay factory. The job itself is not something I'm looking forward to, but the money will go a long way in helping me to pursue my writing.

A Breather

With the wedding behind me and most of the driving, I'm veging out in Lexington, NC. Since I don't have wireless access, I will be unable to add photos to this post, but when I return home in a couple of days I will be doing so. I have a couple nice pictures of Stone Mountain in GA, and Amber Hill emailed me the finallized "Specter" bookmark illustration. Many of you already know that my car broke down prior to leaving CT. Brian was generous, lending his car for my use on this trip. So, automotive repairs are at the top of my priority list when I get home. I am also going to quit the camera shop and work at the Frito Lay factory for a while. It's not my favorite idea, but I can use the money for car repairs, and for another illustration for my book (which I have begun discussing with Amber.) The rest is going to pay off a loan, and to build my savings. During that time I will continue writing for ReminderNews. Also, April 19th is my sister Laura's wedding. 2008 is looking like an interesting year. Please pray that I will be full of creative energy to continue my writing while holding a full-time, and a part-time job. I need to finish edits on "Swords of the Six" so that I can get back to writing the sequel.

Visit to AMG Publishers

After leaving the Davis's house in western Tennessee, I drove to Chattanooga to meet with Dan Penwell at AMG Publishers. We discussed the issue of names (which had come up in my last communication with him) and he concluded that he was mistaken and my characters' names were fine. So that was a possitive thing.

I also asked him bluntly, if AMG would consider doing my books in hardcover. He said definitely not. The cost is prohibitive which raises the sale price by a considerable margin. I was disappointed to hear that because it seems that fantasy readers, as a whole, prefer a hardcover volume.

Next I showed him the artwork I've commissioned for the novel. He called in several other key men at AMG and had them look at the artwork. A couple of them had quite a few questions for me and we talked at length about the resistence to fantasy in some of the Christian market.

Later, when the other editors had left us alone in the office, Dan placed a call to Gina Bucy, one of his readers. She came in within fifteen minutes and I was thrilled by how excited she was about my novel. It was encouraging to hear her complement me on my writing.

It was a profitable visit. They didn't hand me a contract, but Dan assured me they will be in touch after their next meeting. Please pray I was able to pull the necessary people into my corner so that, when they have the meeting, they will decide for contract.

My Stay at the Davis's

It's my last night at the Davis's. I'm excited about meeting with the publisher, tomorrow, but I cannot help feeling sad at leaving. Bryan and his family have been wonderful. He treated me out for lunch at a local restaurant, critiqued and showed me how to improve my writing. He spent a lot of time with me that he was in no way obligated to. Our daily conversations about spiritual things has my gears turning on the subject of living a holy life. I have been greatly blessed by the godly atmosphere here.

Thanks to Mrs. Davis, Legossi, and R. I had home-cooked meals. Such a refreshing change for this lengthy trip. I'm going to miss all of them.

I got to ride one of their horses. That's Angel, in the picture below, with me on her back. It's been a very long time since I've ridden.

I will especially miss "Mr. Bunn." I had a great time with her, playing, editing, laughing (we did a lot of that!) She also helped me as I replaced 'weak' verbs in my manuscript. She has a sharp mind a lovely smile.

Once I have my contract, Bryan Davis and I plan to book tour together. I look forward to that very much. Now I must sign off. Tomorrow is another eight hours of driving to GA (and I'm on Central Time so I'll be losing an hour) . . . and I have an important meeting with Dan Penwell at AMG Publishers.

"Moses & the Lamb" contracted

I'm pleased to announce that Long Story Short, the ezine, has accepted my short speculative fiction story "Moses & the Lamb" for publication. This story is my second fiction piece contracted.

I just arrived in NC and decided to check my email. This acceptance was a lovely surprise.

Long Story Short will publish "Moses & the Lamb" on April 7th. When it appears in the ezine, I will post here and place a teaser line to pique your interest.

"The Door Within" a Review

I just finished reading Wayne Thomas Batson's The Door Within. It started off slow but really ended up being one of the best fantasy books I've ever read. Too many fantasy books fall into the trap of making action and suspense their primary elements merely for the sake of drawing in the reader. I have nothing against using action in fantasy, in fact my books are rife with it, but when action is not necessary to the plot it can be a hinderance.

The Door Within felt, for the most part, like a fairy tale setting. But I liked that. It started off slow, introduced many characters, and then wrapped up in such a way at the end that I am eagerly waiting to read the second book. Also, I feel I must praise Mr. Batson for doing something that I think is necessary to good fiction, something that most authors are afraid to do: he's not afraid to kill off main characters. If you are like me, when you read, you don't want to be able to predict who will live and who will die. You want to worry for the characters, root for them while all along wondering if they are going to survive.

I recommend this book, especially for Christian readers (the allegorical elements are strong).

"Specter" in Color

It's coming along now! Keep in mind that this is only rough color. But it certainly is dark . . . the perfect contrast to the other art pieces. Does this draw you in? It also looks like AMG Publishers is leaning toward giving me a contract. Their acquisitions editor said they are "finalizing" things and will get back to me. They had two more people pre-read Swords of the Six and both of them gave an overwhelming rating. I'm heading down to TN end of next week and will be staying with Bryan Davis for a couple of days and work on my second novel. Also, AMG Publishers wants me to stop in and meet everyone at their office, so I will be going there as well. A lot may be happening in this next month. Pray with me that I will get a contract to my liking.

Freelance Reporting

After several people who I know and trust handed me copies of the Reminder/Broadcaster advertisement for freelance writers, I decided to check into it.

Praise God, I'm hired and the pay is quite satisfactory. I get to write and take pictures . . . both things I love to do! And this is for pay . . . that's the important part!

I was considering a job at Frito Lay but now that should not be necessary. Factory work pays well but is both boring and tiring, leaving little energy for my novels. But this freelance reporting should be great; not only will I be making decent money, but I'll be doing most of it from home . . . my own boss!

"Specter" final sketch

Next, Amber will be adding in colors. That will be the tricky part because a couple elements in this piece could conflict with its intended dark mood.

Another Endorsment for "Swords of the Six"

Riding upon the wings of an eagle . . . that's what I'm doing right now!

I have another endorsment for "Swords of the Six"

"Scott Appleton has a big story to tell and just the kind of
outside-of-the-box imagination to pull it off. There's much
at stake in the world of Subterran, and when the six fabled
swords are discovered, the stakes rise even higher.
Swords of the Six is a tale replete with heroism, betrayal,
despair, and hope. If you like stories that take you to the
edge and make you think, Scott Appleton has a tale for you."

-Wayne Thomas Batson
author of The Door Within, Isle of Swords, etc.

Check out my link to this author's site.

Books to Look forward to in '08

Bryan Davis has two books releasing this year. "Beyond the Reflection's Edge" which I had the privilidge of prereading and loved! And also "The Last of the Nephilim" to continue the Oracles of Fire series.

Christopher Paolini is releasing his third "Inheritance" book in September, but contrary to previous knowledge, this will not conclude the series. There will be a fourth book.

Donita K. Paul is releasing "DragonLight"

"Specter" Bookmark

Amber Hill sent me the preliminary sketches today for a bookmark illustration of Specter in the temple of Al'un Dai. The mood of the sketch is exactly as I'd hoped . . . dark, foreboding. This illustration is contracted to be completed by March 20th.

Mike Huckabee for President

Among the candidates for the presidency of the United States of America, Mike Huckabee, former governor, stands out from his peers. He stands for a traditional America where pro-life is rewarded, homosexuality is discouraged, and income taxes are removed in favor of a national sales tax.

I had the privilige of hearing Mr. Huckabee speak last night in Rhode Island at the Crown Plaza Hotel (I think I got the place right). His speach conveyed a confidence and ease reminiscent, to many present, of former president Ronald Reagan.

The evening began with the candidate playing his guitar in a band and ended with his very well-presented speach. He spoke on his belief that government should support families, not undermine them. He expressed his disgust with the way that taxation is penilizing the average American and making it easier for foreign manufacturers to put them out of business. At the end of his condemnation of the tax system, Mr. Huckabee tore up a 1040 tax form and threw it on the stage, saying that, were he president and the changes he proposes implemented, there would be no more need to fill out that dreaded piece of paper.

Governor Huckabee deserves our ear, he deserves our votes . . . he deserves the chance to implement his reformative proposals. He has my vote. Will he have yours?

All photos are property of the author

Coming Soon!

My website is nearly done! I've put a lot of time into it these past couple days and, in the process, have learned a whole lot about aspects of web publishing that had previously eluded me. But after several calls to my web hosting service, and perusing through one of the books for "Dummies" I've learned how to publish web pages. But, my oh my, it is time-consuming!

"The Spiderwick Chronicles" Movie Review

Last year I reviewed a series of small children's fantasy books called "The Spiderwick Chronicles" and this year, yesterday, the movie was released.

In a refreshing way, this movie did not so much retell the story in the books, but rather condensed all five books into one movie. The creature designs stayed fairly consistent with the artist's vision and the feel of the books. The actors did a nice job (there were a couple spots where I thought the boys could use some extra work). I absolutely loved the manner in which the actor portraying Arthur Spiderwick played his role. I wish I could remember his name but it eludes me.

And they used the field guide with the illustrations from the book you can purchase on store shelves. That, I think, was ingenious! Think of all the kids that'll want to buy the Field Guide . . . even some of the kids at heart (I unashamedly count myself among them!)

This movie has the most natural movements and interaction of fictional creatures that I have seen since Lord of the Rings. The Gryphon was absolutely fabulous and they inserted a long scene in which it takes the children for an exciting flight. In Harry Potter & the Prizoner of Azkaban they did a nice job with the Hypogryph . . . but this movie's effects with the Gryphon beat it (in my humble opinion) and the movement of the wings was natural, not a hint of the stiffness usually accompanying such special effects. They also did a marvelous job with Thimbletack . . . marvelous!

Overall, I give this movie a great rating. It didn't make my top ten, but it certainly was enjoyable and will find a special place in my collection. Please note: there were several uses of God's name in vain, even by the children in the movie. Thank goodness that wasn't in the books (though the authors' latest book has one instance of that in "Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles." This movie was a worthwhile investment for my 6 dollars!

A Redirection of Spiritual Focus

I do not read from Oswald Chamber's "My Utmost for His Highest" as often as I should. As with all man-written books, this one contains truth and error. But the grains of wisdom sometimes startle me.

I don't read according to the date and today I picked up this little book, opening to January 31st "Do You See Your Calling?"

Lately I've felt spiritually low. And, as with all such moments in my walk with the Lord, the fault is on my side. I have failed to maintain daily devotions and prayer, letting other things of an entertaining appeal take their place. So today I opened "My Utmost for His Highest" as a starting point of spiritual renewal . . . and I found a precious grain of wisdom from Oswald Chambers that I'd like to share:

"Personal holiness is an effect, not a cause, and if we place our faith in human goodness, in the effect of Redemption, we shall go under when the test comes. Paul did not say he separated himself, but, 'when it pleased God who separated me...' Paul had not a hypersensitive interest in his own character. As long as our eyes are upon our own personal whiteness we shall never get near the reality of Redemption. Workers break down because their desire is for their own whiteness, and not for God . . .."

How often are you at fault for this? I know I have been, often, too often. And I am ashamed of that. Do I seek my own personal glory and purity, or the glory and purity of Christ? My eyes have been inward, not outward. So focused on the goal of establishing my own path that I neglected the One who blazed that path so that I might live. It is good to meditate on the attributes of Christ, for it is not our own goodness that brings us closer to him, but the humbling of our own selves in order to praise and honor Him.

"Swords of the Six" Goes to Committee!

"Swords of the Six" passed with the editor, Dan Penwell's, approval.

I received notification this morning that he is going to bring it to committee within the next few days. This could be very good, at the least it is farther than the vast majority of novels make it in the process. And I have little doubt I have God and Bryan Davis to thank for bringing it this far.

Novel, Title Help

The second Sword of the Dragon novel is under way now. I put 3,300-words in on Monday night into early this morning.

My current title idea is "Rise of the Offspring" instead of the original "Offspring"

But I'd like to steer away from the rise of, I've seen it used on a couple other fantasy novels and I don't think it's as catching as my first book's title, "Swords of the Six."

If you have ideas please post them here. I'd love everyone's imput.

"STARDUST" A Review

I'd heard of the movie, Stardust, when it came into theatres. But for some reason, though I see many films before their DVD release, I put this one off.

Recently I bought the film and, excepting a few lines and gestures, it is a good movie. I prefer to look at the positive side of a thing, when possible. And the love story is one of the most romantic I have ever seen. The actors did a superb job (the witches were disgusting, but, I think, effectively so). I would not recommend this for young teens and younger, but this is a good movie for, say, seventeen and up. There seems to be hints of homosexuality with the captain, and at one point the witch, seeking to regain her youthful appearance, ruins her figure. So there are unnecessary parts, but I think the message of true love far outshone the negative elements.

After seeing the movie and watching the special features, wherein the author, Neil Gaiman, spoke of his writing the novel, I decided to check out the book. I purchased my paperback copy at Borders the other day, started reading last night, and finished its 250 pages this afternoon.

It was a fascinating literary work, full of lyrical prose. A fresh look into Faerie, somewhat akin to Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson. There is little continuity with the book, as far as the movie was concerned, so reading the book proved more interesting because one cannot be certain of the tale's outcome.

But, be warned, this was targeted for adult readers. There is a curse word, and two sex scenes. The hero was honorable in the story, chivalrous. And the end was written with such elegance that I felt I could see the star standing in that lonesome tower, gazing into the heavens she once occupied.

"The Reminder" Spotlights my Writing

Besides mixing up a few details about my writing career (the article states that the novel I've just finished is the conclusion of my series, rather than the preclusion, and the article makes it sound as if AMG Publishers has contracted me, which they have not) the article was good.

I was pleased to see the quotes were, for the most part, accurate and didn't pass over my convictions but rather held them out, openly.

So, any of you visiting this blog as a result of the Reminder's article, please note: the first novel is a prelude to the series, you will not have to wait for the subsequent books to discover the novel's back story!

Overall I found the article well written, and surprisingly long!

At the Canterbury Public Library

That library event was a lot of fun and much easier than I'd expected. People were in and out for over two hours, asking questions and taking my advice. I made a small pamphlet to hand out, I think I had nine copies, and I ran out. I'm estimating there were between a dozen and fifteen different people throughout the evening and there is a possibillity that I will be doing the same thing at another library in the near future.

A reporter from the Reminder came later in the evening, interviewed me and took a picture. That felt strange but thrilling as well because I will need the media's support when my book is ready to hit shelves and if I create enough pre-publication buzz it will increase sales.

Overall, I had a wonderful time and was pleasantly surprised to meet several Christians excited about my convictions.

Interview to Appear in MindFlights

I interviewed Bryan Davis for MindFlights Magazine and received a contract for the work, today. When it is published I will post here so that you can check it out.

Novel, Finished and Sent

It took a few nights staying up until 4 o'clock in morning to do it, but the novel Sword of the Dragon: Swords of the Six was completed yesterday just after midnight. It's longer than I expected (over 75,000-words) but I'm happy with how it turned out.

I sent the manuscript to Dan Penwell as an email attachment early this afternoon. Now I must again wait for AMG's response.

In the mean time, I've started reading prospective stories for the anthology of fantasy and science-fiction stories that I am editing for Double Edged Publishing. I'm really excited about this project. It will be fun to see my name on a printed book for the first time and I enjoy reading the stories and picking my favorites.

I've also submitted a couple stories to magazines, one sci-fi and the other fantasy. So I'm waiting on a response to those.

Writing is an unending learning process, always room for improvment. But I wouldn't trade this ambition for anything!

Library Appearance

My first public appearance (as a writer) is coming up fast. January 17th I will be at the Canterbury Public Library to inform people of my writing and to encourage aspiring writers.

I'm honestly feeling a bit nervous because I've never been strong in front of a lot of people. My thoughts tend to fly out the windows! But I'll have to get used to it and the librarian is advertising it in the Norwich Bulletin so I will have to be prepared for a decent sized group.

I do hope it's only a few... it would be a much easier break in to public speaking!

In the Wake of the Holiday Wave

I had a wonderful Christmas. Relaxing, mostly, not hectic. I'm always sorry to see the Christmas tree go. The lights are fun to watch and very condusive to writing because they put my mind in "the mood" to compose.

Dad and Mom bought me a Crossley combo player (I think that's what you call it). It plays cassettes, CDs, and records. It's something I mentioned last year to them and completely forgot that I had. The sound quality is very nice and I enjoy the fact that I can listen to some music that otherwise I'd have to forego.

Whenever I look at the Christmas tree I think of the fact of where it stands out the most clearly: in darkness. When all the lights around it are put out the beauty of it stands out from the darkened room.

So it is with Christ, born into this dark world, He stood out amidst the sin, a reminder that there is and always has been hope for humankind. It is up to us to honor Christ, our hope, and not dim the light of his glory. We must share it by living it out in our lives. Let people know that He is truth by showing the truth in you.