arminus9's Xanga

book clip; a film by `elliott

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:19:50 GMT

Friday, June 13, 2008

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:37:21 GMT

I rarely mention my work but I did contribute some fairly interesting work to a special book to benefit the Children's Wish Foundation. If you are unaware of who they are; CWF tries to grant the last wish of a terminally ill child. My friend Bonnie organized the entire affair but what we did not think of was setting aside any revenue for promotion. We gave 100% of the book's profits[if any] to CWF. What we're asking is to help spread the word about POETIC LICENSE, the book. None of the authors involved were paid to contribute and all of the royalties go to CWF.
here is the link-
http://www.lbfbooks.com/

If you are not interested but could pass on the link; I'd be very grateful. I believe that it is a good cause.
bill

FEATURED GROWNUPS ASKS THE QUESTION WHAT IS NORMAL

Sun, 08 Jun 2008 10:08:37 GMT

Oddly enough I did look in the Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus for the word, normal. Not satisfied with the results I went to my 1978 edition of Roget's and while typing this I recalled a quote from the legendary frontman of the L.A. band LOVE. Arthur Lee said " We're all normal when we want our freedom." Normal is a perfect word; its sound when spoken exemplfies the meaning. It sounds boring and average. Normal is also a very confusing word. The imagery can alter with its usage.

"Your daughter is not normal; she has an above average I.Q.; which may explain her restlessness in class."

"One of them is normal, I think the other one is out of his mind."

"It's normal for Helen to sleep late." So in our third example we see that normal doesn't equate with average in every instance. In most usage normal tends to be an oxymoron for with each person its usage differs. And so Dear Readers we might find this aphorism to be true. Normal only exists within the context of its usage which i suppose is normal.

bill

SUSIE HAWES reviews SHAMAN

Mon, 12 May 2008 19:06:37 GMT

William P. Haynes, The Shaman and the Rose

reviewed by Susie Hawes

The Shaman and the Rose

Author: William P. Haynes
Publisher: Outskirts Press
(December 2007)
Paperback: 424 pages
ISBN-10: 1432716727
ISBN-13: 978-1432716721

The Shaman and the Rose, by William P. Haynes, is the third story featuring the characters introduced in Mephisto’s Seed. This dark fantasy has elements of heroic adventure, romance, mythology, strong religious overtones, and characters seeking redemption. The passion and danger are real. The author makes his readers feel these emotions.

Tight plotting keeps this crowded story on track, and strong character development keeps the reader glued to the book. The protagonists in this novel are passionate and good-hearted. We care about what happens to these people. The antagonists are thoroughly evil and manipulative. The author’s use of drama and character interactions makes us want them to fail.

Angels and gods rub shoulders with demons and humans, and even the great deceiver, Satan, has his part. As the characters battle vampires and demons they evolve into warriors seeking to protect their world from the evil that encroaches on it.

Satan has been freed from his prison and seeks to initiate Armageddon. A handful of humans work with a god; a fallen angel; a Native American shaman, Orenda; an elfin wizard and a werewolf to put a stop to his plans. Themes of redemption thread throughout the tale; the humans seek a fallen sister while the angel, Semjaza, seeks atonement and redemption. He suffers a crisis of faith and must overcome it to help his comrades.

Elliot, the main antagonist in Mephisto’s Seed, seeks to be united with Sara, his love. He acts with ruthless disregard for the lives of those around him, attacking any he feels will interfere with his goal. Satan wants to capture the magical sword, Rutilus, and use it to destroy the world, and the heroes must stop him.

Part of the action takes place in the contemporary world, and part in mystic realms, and, eventually, in Hell itself. Mr. Haynes has built beautiful landscapes and terrible ones, with bloody seas, a ship of bones,. His worlds are filled with ruby-eyed demons and winged stallions.

Elliott gathers an army of demons, vampires, hellbeasts and dark creatures, seeking to bring about Armageddon, but the shaman stops him with a spell that creates a tornado. As his troops are destroyed, Elliott flees.

I think my favorite part was when one of the characters used a modern, non-magical weapon to take out a dragon.

There are sacrifices, and the hardships and dangers one would expect from a story like this. However, the sacrifices are handled with intelligence, avoiding the trap of becoming cliché. Dialog is sharp, internal logic is consistent, settings and action are colorful an the characters interact well with one another and grow from their experiences.

This is a very well-written book, and one I would recommend. William P Haynes has grown as an author. Be sure to read the first two novels, to get the full story. It’s quite an experience.

DEFINE WHO YOU ARE

Sun, 04 May 2008 00:46:24 GMT

http://www.xanga.com/Kween_of_the_Queens for milords and miladies

I've often wondered about who I am. Strangely enough I am more aware of who I was than who I am and the logic and purpose for either has always escaped me. As one grows older I believe there's a strong need to discover both reason and meaning to one's life. The only constant in my existence has always been the writing. I've always walked outside of life, watching the train, longing to travel but never buying a ticket. There were times that I envied those riders, those brave enough to board and take the train to what juncture it leads. But I never joined, never became a passenger; I've always remained a stranger watching from the platform as they pulled away. This is the only existence I've known, to watch and then to exit but never to be a part. I am the wind that blows across the deserted prairie, the furthest star in the deepest of nights. I am who you pass without seeing on your journey; the drunk in the alley, the fallen on your battlefields. I am all of these and more. I am the recorder of your journey. I am a writer.

bill/elliott

shaman

Thu, 01 May 2008 19:24:41 GMT

The murmuring among the parishioners grew. From the corner of his eye, Josh saw the reverend signaling for calm. An uneasy quiet fell over the chapel.

The intruder stopped two feet from Josh and Anne. He pulled back the hood of his robe to reveal long black hair speckled with traces of white and gray.

“Josh. It has been too long, far, far too long!” The newcomer fixed his eyes on Josh's face. Josh recognized the deep speech and finally knew this ghost. Josh felt his legs grow shaky. He clutched the ornate rail of the altar behind him for support.

Anne turned toward Josh. He stared at her face, confused, pale and tear-streaked.

“What's going on? Who is he?”

Josh ignored her and spun to confront the figure in front of him.

“I watched you die,” Josh murmured in disbelief. “I heard your last words before Mesphisto's beast killed you.” Horror twisted his insides and squeezed his chest.

“I've been granted a great honor,” the visitor replied. “I bear a gift for the one called Anne Talbot.” He reached toward the widow, who backed away from him.

The unwelcome guest held a pure white rose that he offered Anne. “You are lovely. Lifthrasir implied you were. Mark asked that you remember him with love.”

What would the title of your autobiography be?

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:58:05 GMT

I just answered this Featured Question, you can answer it too!

Bent but not Broken

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:55:48 GMT

Okay this time I brought some friends!

me

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:34:00 GMT

AN ANGEL IN THE VALLEY

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 23:38:23 GMT

It is in the valley of Sealius that Semjaza alights to rest. Turning from the path he treads the angel looks up on the hidden ranges of Maenalus in the distance. There is warmth and light in Sealius but not a single star graces the firmaments. Birds with plumage of wondrous colors dart through the skies. Tufts of rich burgundy and rosy-red all hover near to him. Deer and Doe gather by the water and drink next to tigers. Unicorns race along a woodland by a spring. Semjaza takes in all of this beauty and sighs heavily as he steps closer to the cerulean waters. The angel places his hand on the broad back of the tiger. The tiger turns toward him, growls slightly and then bows in his direction.

“You know why I have come, my brother,” Semjaza says.

“I have counted the horsemen and seen the Unus,” the tiger answers. “And you a devil seek redemption in a time where the hours may be no longer like the sands. You seek the true strength of the one named Azazel. Gaze upon the surface of the spring, angel.”

Semjaza brushes the crystal clear waters with his right hand. The spring glistens for a moment and then reveals. The angel stares at campfires that seem to burn endlessly with scores of hell-beasts and riders.

“It is hopeless there are too many,” Semjaza says discouragingly.

The tiger growls louder this time and shakes his large head. Then with a gentleness that belies its great size it paws the stream near to where the angel had placed his hand.

The reflection in the water changes as the campfires fade from view and the great wolf Skool appears next to Canus on the crystal surface. Semjaza stares at the image and the picture clears. Reaching over, the angel touches the paw of the great tiger.

“They stand guard over the fallen body of the young wizard,” the angel says in bewilderment. “But they must realize that they have no chance, that enemy encampments burn all around them.”

“They have what you sorely lack, faith,” the tiger responds disconsolately. “You cannot have salvation without belief.” The angel turns around but the great tiger is now gone.

“Father,” the angel whispers.