Back in 2007, I submitted a poem to Haruah.com, the magazine I worked at as an editor. After that, I later became the managing editor. The other editors liked it, but they also asked for a revision. As it happens, I became distracted and forgot all about that revision. So the other day I was browsing through our stash when I re-read the discussion thread on this one and realized that I had a rewrite pending. So, I rewrote it and now, about two years after I wrote it, it has finally gone into print.
It is called, The Angel of My Desire. I was inspired by the quick connection between mother and child, even before they leave the womb, but certainly after. And the emotion of a baby who has a disease that would send them to a early grave making that connection all the more striking.
So click on the title above and enjoy.
A few who read the first story wanted to find out what would happen once Sisko brought the ogre home for Christmas. I thought the story did end well enough for the original purpose, but obviously there’s more story as well! So I decided to bring on part two so you can see the consequences of Sisko inviting an ogre home for Christmas.
Sisko and Josh strolled down the street in Raul. Xilner, their newly befriended ogre, followed close on their footsteps. Citizens of the town stared at the ogre as he walked by. One man in a horse drawn cart nearly ran over a child as he stared at the bulky creature.
Josh turned down a street. “See you later. Have a good Nativity feast.” He smiled at Xilner. “And you too, my friend.”
“Thank you.” Xilner bowed.
“And Sisko…” Josh drummed his fingers on his jaw. “Good luck with your mother.”
Sisko smiled. “Have a great one yourself. I’m sure my mother will be fine, eventually.”
Josh turned and proceeded to his own house. Sisko resumed his trek toward his own.
Xilner stepped up beside Sisko. “You sure your mother will be all right with me?”
Sisko sighed. “It’ll be a shock to her, I’m sure. But you are my guest, and I think she’ll come around. She’s a very loving woman.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“Just be your loving self.”
Xilner grunted. “An ogre? Loving isn’t usually associated with us.”
“You’ll be fine. Don’t worry.” Sisko considered the best way to break this to his mother now that the time had come. They traveled down his street until he arrived in front of the white fence to his house.
Sisko turned to Xilner. “Stay out here.”
Xilner nodded.
Sisko walked up the steps and entered the house.
“Sisko, is that you?” His mother’s voice rang from the kitchen.
“Yes, Mother.” He stepped into the kitchen.
“It’s about time. I’m busy getting ready for the Nativity service and you’re out playing around. Probably with Josh no doubt.”
“I wouldn’t say playing around. Josh and I were exchanging presents.” Sisko sat at the table.
“Oh, well that’s nice. What did he get you?”
Sisko rubbed his chin. “Well, ah…a new friend.”
She turned from her dough kneading to stare into his eyes. “Josh got you a friend for Christmas?”
“Yes, and a friend who didn’t have anywhere to go for Christmas. I hope it is all right, but I invited him to spend Christmas with us.”
She kneaded the dough two more times, slammed her hand into it, and folded it over into a wooden slab, covering it with a cloth. She wiped her hands as she gazed into Sisko’s eyes.
“You could have asked me before you invited him.”
“Well…” Sisko bit his lip. “That would have been nearly impossible since we were miles away.”
She put her hands on her hips. “Miles away? Did Josh do something crazy again?”
Sisko shrugged. “I tried to stop him, but he used a transport spell before I could react. Next thing I know, I’m in another land, who knows where. I met my new friend there. When I found out he would be alone for Christmas, I was sure you would agree I had to invite him.”
She stared at the ceiling for a moment before resting her eyes on Sisko. “You have a big heart, son. I can appreciate that. It certainly is the spirit of Christmas to help those without family. I’ll set another place at the table tomorrow and increase the size of the meal.”
Sisko jumped from his chair and hugged her. “You’re the best.” He released her. “He’s outside waiting. Would you like to meet him?”
She strolled toward the door. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I want to meet your new friend. We can’t leave him outside.” She reached for the doorknob.
Sisko put a hand on hers. “Hold on, first you should know…”
“Yes?”
Sisko breathed deep. “His name is Xilner.”
“You could have told me that when you introduced me.” She reached for the knob again.
“Wait!” He pulled her hand back.
“Sisko, do you want me to meet him or not?”
“There’s one other thing you should know about him.”
She stared at him.
Sisko tried to think of a way to break this gently, but nothing came to mind. This was as gentle as it would get.
“My friend, he’s an ogre.”
She continued staring at Sisko as if his words failed to register. She appeared frozen, but then she sucked in a breath and let it out slowly.
“Are you sure this is a good idea, Son? We’re as likely to be eaten by him as to eat with him.” She peered out the window and stopped breathing again.
“Mother, he’s really nice. If he wanted us for Christmas dinner, he had plenty of opportunity with Josh and I. I doubt I would be here right now.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. He’s so big.”
“He’s my friend. I promised him he wouldn’t be alone this Christmas. If I need to, I’ll spend it with him out of the house.”
She pulled away from the window and faced Sisko. “I’d better send your father out to kill another calf.”
Sisko smiled. “Thank you, Mother.”
She straighten her dress. “Now can we meet him?” She put on a smile and swung the door open. “Xilner! How wonderful to meet you.”
###
The time neared for the Nativity service at Church. Xilner sat on the floor, not finding a chair big enough for his rear. “I’ve never been to a Nativity service before. What’s it like?”
Sisko pulled on a fresh pair of socks. “Very joyful and reverent. Just what you’d expect at the birth of a king.”
“You’ll have to tell me more about this king sometime.”
Screams echoed from the street outside. Then loud, deep voices gruffly arced through the night air.
Xilner’s jaw dropped open. “Not now. Not here!”
Sisko leaped to his feet and raced toward the door.
Xilner scrambled to his feet. “Wait, Sisko! Don’t go out there.”
Sisko swung the door open and stumbled outside. If anything bad was to happen, he couldn’t allow it to happen inside the house. He didn’t want to put his family in danger.
Sisko gulped as he examined four ogres holding torches in hands. Xilner exited the house and stopped on the porch.
One of the ogres spun his head around and saw Xilner. “There you are. We followed your smell from your house.”
Xilner clinched his fists. “Can’t you allow me this one luxury?”
“We told you not to leave your house. We warned you what would happen if any should help you.” He turned to Sisko. “Men, we have our Christmas dinner.”
Xilner leaped into the yard beside Sisko. “I will not let you take him.”
The ogre threw his head back and laughed. “As if you could do anything to stop me. Have you not learned anything?”
Xilner growled. “I’ve learned more from this human than I ever have from you.”
Sisko whispered toward Xilner. “Is he serious about eating me?”
Xilner nodded. “I did say some ogres do eat people.” Xilner met Sisko’s eyes. “Problem is, he’s a wizard too.”
Sisko groaned. “Naturally. Why wouldn’t an ogre be a wizard. Especially one who wants to eat me.”
Xilner stepped toward the group. “Leave us alone.”
The ogre grinned. “Good idea. Why don’t you leave us alone!” He cast his hand out and mumbled some words. A bluish light emanated from his hand and enveloped Xilner. He froze, grew bright, then dimmed until he had disappeared.
Sisko felt his gut wrench. “Where did you send him?”
“Back where he belongs. Alone, in his house.”
Sisko stepped toward them. “What gives you the right! He’s my friend.”
“Not anymore. You’re our dinner.” He spoke more words Sisko couldn’t hear and flung his hand out. Bands of silver whipped themselves around his body, immobilizing him. Sisko fell onto the ground with a thud.
The world dimmed. Sisko fought against it, but the spell pressed in upon him, overran his thoughts, numbed his fingers and toes, and then darkness rolled over him, drowning him in frightening thoughts and dreams.
###
Sisko heard gruff voices and felt rocks jabbing him in the back. He cracked his eyes open and attempted to wiggle into a more comfortable position. Tree’s lined a clearing. In the center of the clearing, a cast iron pot sat on a fire, filled with bubbling liquid. Several ogres sat around the area. Some in conversation, some napping.
Sisko found the moon in the night sky. The Nativity service would be in progress now, and his mother would be worried sick. Probably blame Xilner for carrying him away, never to be heard from again.
A foot jabbed Sisko in the back. He rolled over.
An ogre knelt beside him. “You’re a bit scrawny, but the bones are the tastiest part anyway. I think we’re about ready to chop you up and add you to the soup. Any last words before you provide us with enjoyment?”
“Yes. If I get a last request, I would that you cook me in the main steam house in Raul.”
The ogre laughed and shook his head. “You think ogres are dumb, don’t you. You think we don’t know about your steam house? When’s the last time you saw an ogre enter there?”
Sikso sighed. “Never.”
“Exactly. And for good reason. We know what would happen to us in there. Now, do you have any last words at all? Any message you want us to convey to your parents?”
Sisko didn’t want these guys going anywhere near his family. “No, but we have some calves you can have for your dinner. No need to eat me.”
The ogre grinned. “We eat cattle all the time. Humans, on the other hand, are a delicacy. Only for special occasions, like Christmas.”
Sisko shook his head. “How can you celebrate a birth with a death?”
The ogre drew out a long knife. “Who says we’re celebrating a birth? Christmas for an ogre only means two things. Giving gifts and eating good. You’re the eating good part.” He turned to the ogre manning the pot. “Is the broth ready for the meat?”
It nodded. “Good and ready.”
The ogre flipped the knife around so that the blade pointed down. “Nothing personal, you understand.”
Sisko’s mind raced. What could he do? “My name’s Sisko. What’s yours?”
The ogre sputtered. “I don’t need to know my food’s name, nor do I give mine to a meal. Hold still, I’ll make this painless.” He pulled the knife back.
That didn’t work. Sisko closed his eyes and gritted his teeth.
“Stop!” Another ogre entered the clearing. Sisko flung his eyes open to see Xilner moving toward them.
The other ogres all stopped what they did and stared. The ogre over Sisko ground his teeth. “How did you get here?”
“I’ve had a lot of time to study in my house. Some of my time I spent on learning spells.”
The ogre curled his lips. “If so, why haven’t you used them before?”
“I didn’t have a reason before. Now I do.” He stared at Sisko and smiled.
The ogre threw a hand out and said something under his breath. A flash of light blasted toward Xilner, but Xilner cast his arms up and it blasted short of its target as if hitting an invisible wall.
Xilner raced toward them.
The ogre over Sisko pulled his knife back and plunged it toward Sisko’s neck. A hand grabbed the knife’s hilt and shoved it back up, the tip missing Sisko’s neck by less than a quarter inch.
The two ogres rolled onto the ground. Xilner ended up under the other ogre. The knife pressed toward Xilner, the tip of the blade inching downward.
Sisko prayed for God to do something. He couldn’t even move his arms and feet. Only pray and hope it would be enough.
But his gut wretched when Xilner’s grip gave way, and the knife plunged into his heart. “No! Xilner!” Sisko felt his eyes tearing up.
The ogre lifted himself to his knees, and then pulled the knife from Xilner’s chest. Xilner breathed twice before his chest rose once more, fell, and then remained still.
Sisko wiggled, but his binds remained strong. The ogre knelt beside him once more. “Now his blood will be mingled with your own. We’ll still gnaw on your bones.” He raised the blade. “Time to finish this.”
He thrust the blade once more toward Sisko. But he stopped in midair as another blade shoved its way through the ogre’s chest. He exhaled a gasp, his eyes wide. Then he fell over onto the ground, revealing a bright angel holding a red sword.
The rest of the ogres scattered like cockroaches when a lamp is lit, leaving Sisko alone with the angel. The bright being waved his hands and the silver bands snapped one by one until Sisko could lift himself to his feet.
He gazed at his rescuer. “Who are you?”
“You don’t recognize me?” He cast his arms out as if allowing Sisko to get a better look.
“Sorry, not at all.”
“I’m Xilner.”
Sisko’s gasped. “Xilner! How? You don’t look anything like him.”
“This ogre put a curse on me, turning me into one of them. I denied them of a meal one other time. This ogre had cast a spell on me that locked me into an ogre’s body and required me to stay in the house where you found me.
“But there was one condition he didn’t know about. An angel told me if I were to ever give my life for another, the curse would be broken, for no greater love can one show than to give his life for another.”
Sisko smiled. “So when he killed you in your attempt to defend me, the curse died and this is the real you.”
“As God created me. Yes.”
Sisko smiled. “I always knew you were beautiful inside.”
“Thank you for being a friend. Without you, I couldn’t have been saved. I had to have someone to die for.”
Sisko had to grin. “You’re welcome.”
“Have a blessed Nativity celebration. You’ll find Raul about a mile to the east.” Xilner vanished.
Sisko didn’t waste any time grabbing a torch and jogging back home before the ogres decided to show up again. He dodged trees and brush until the village of Raul broke into view. He kicked up dirt as he shot through the streets until he reached the steps of the church.
He put out the torch in his hand and laid it by the entrance. He entered the service to hear the singing of the Nativity hymn. He slid in by his mother.
She jerked and saw Sisko beside her. She bent down and whispered, “Where were you? I thought that ogre had dragged you away.”
Sisko smiled at her. “Helping a friend to give birth, actually.”
About that time the priest raised his hand and said, “Christ is born!”
The congregation responded in unison, “Glorify Him.”
Sisko felt a warmth settle upon him. He mumbled under his breath, “Yes, it was glorious.”
THE END
As a Christmas Gift for my blog readers, I’m offering this free 1922 word Christmas story from the Realities’ world. What happens when you mix an ogre and Christmas together? You’ll never guess. Read on to find out. And have a Merry Christmas!
Sikso held out a gift. He hoped Josh would like it.
Josh smiled and lifted the gift from Sisko’s palm. A couple of children passed by on the road in front of his house as Josh ripped the wrapping off.
They had decided to exchange gifts on Christmas Eve. Sisko wished he could have found something prettier than green leaves stitched together, but he had nothing else to wrap it in. He put such thoughts aside. He knew his best friend Josh wouldn’t mind. The excitement of the Christmas celebration forgave many minor trespasses.
Josh pulled it out of the wrapping. A polished wooden stick. Josh smiled. “A wand.”
Sisko nodded. “I carved, sanded, and stained it myself. Should be useful in your wizard training.”
Josh waved it around. “I like it. Thanks.” He glanced at Sisko and back to his new wand. “Did your ring add anything to it?”
“No, why would it?” The ring he’d received allowed him to do miracles, heal people mostly, help them in general. He’d been charged to be his brother’s keeper, helping whoever God led him to.
“Just wondering.” Josh examined the wand close up. “As a matter of fact, this will help me to give you a gift.”
Sisko raised an eyebrow. “Josh, tell me what you’re planning.”
He smiled. “That would spoil the surprise.” He twirled the wand through the air over his head and mumbled some words.
“Josh, hold on!” Sisko jumped from the porch. He felt a wave of distortion pass over him. Combined with the movement, it caused his stomach to lurch. His front yard vanished and a forest of trees took their place.
Josh scanned the area as if searching. Sisko followed his eyes to see a house nestled among the trees. Josh pointed at the house. “Does that look familiar?”
Sisko shook his head. “Never seen this place before.”
Josh sighed. “I thought I had the transport spell down better.”
Sisko frowned. “Where are we?”
Josh stared at the ground. “I don’t know.”
“But you sent us here.”
“I thought I had a better picture of your Uncle Seth’s house.”
Sisko slapped his forehead. “So that’s why you kept asking me all those questions about my uncle’s house.”
“Milnore said a transport spell worked if you had a clear image of where you needed to transport to.”
Sisko leaned against a tree. “So why didn’t it work? I think I painted a clear enough picture of my uncle’s house.”
Josh thought for a second. “Milnore must have meant I needed to be there. To have a complete visual picture in my mind, I have to experience the place.”
“Do me a favor? When you’re experimenting with spells, leave me out of it?”
Josh hung his head. “Sorry. I only wanted to let you visit with your Uncle for Christmas.”
Sisko placed a hand on Josh’s shoulder. “You had good intentions. No harm done. Just send us back. You do have a mental image of our village, don’t you?”
He smiled. “Of course.”
The door to the house flung open and then a young boy flew from it. A man wielding an ax chased after him. “Get back here, you thief!”
Sisko’s heart leaped within him. He glanced at Josh. “I’m supposed to help someone here.”
“Are you serious? Who, that boy?”
Sisko shrugged. “That’s the only one I can see in trouble at the moment.”
Josh shook his head. “You can’t go running between that boy and an ax-wielding man.”
Sisko jogged toward them. “Someone has to.”
Josh huffed. “And of course it has to be you. Some Christmas present this turned out to be.” He ran after Sisko.
As Sisko drew closer, the man’s features grew clearer. Despite his size, he appeared hunched over, and big warts protruded on his forehead and cheeks. The young boy fled too fast. His black hair, shoulder length, flapped behind him as he ran.
“It’s an ogre,” Josh huffed from behind Sisko.
An ogre! Sisko had never met a live ogre before. The stories he’d heard weren’t too flattering either. And this one’s face, jaw locked as he chased after the boy, didn’t dispel those impressions.
The boy tripped and tumbled to a stop in the grass. The ogre caught up with him and held the ax over his head. “Give it back!”
Sisko drew close enough to attract their attention. They both watched as Sisko and Josh slowed to a stop before them.
The ogre growled. “Stay out. This is none of your business.”
Sisko stepped beside the boy. “When I see bullies chasing someone with an ax, it becomes my business.”
The ogre pointed at the boy. “He stole from me. I have a right to get it back.”
The boy shook his head. “He wants to eat me.”
The ogre laughed. “I don’t want to eat him.”
Josh cleared his throat. “I heard ogres like to eat people.”
The ogre shrugged. “Some do.” He raised his ax higher. “I don’t have to explain myself to you two. Step aside. I have no reason to cut you down, but I will if I have to.”
Sisko nodded his head. “Sorry. You’ll have to kill me first.”
Josh’s eyes widened. “Sisko, what are you doing?”
The ogre nodded. “He’s right. Why would you want to die for someone you don’t even know? Why protect a criminal?”
“Because he’s worth as much in God’s eyes as you or me. All I know is you’re chasing him with an ax.”
The ogre sighed. “Have it your way.” He pulled the ax back.
Josh flipped his wand out and said some words. Mud flew from the ground and splatted over the ogre’s eyes. The ogre dropped the ax and then wiped his eyes. “You idiots!”
The young boy leaped to his feet and fled into the forest.
Josh motioned for Sisko to leave. “You’ve done your helping thing, now let’s go.”
Sisko checked his heart. “No, I’m not done here.”
Josh groaned. “Why not?” He watched as the ogre splashed water over his eyes from a basin by the side of the house.
“All I know is I still haven’t helped the one I’m here for. The boy must not have been it.”
Josh stared at the sky. “I would at least recommend we go to a nearby town to find the one you’re supposed to help. I’d rather not still be here when the ogre comes back. He’s not likely to be too happy with us.”
Sisko ran fingers through his hair. “I feel this ogre is the one I’m supposed to help.”
“You can’t be serious.”
Sisko watched the ogre wiping his face with cloth. “I’m afraid I am.” But what the ogre needed help with, Sisko couldn’t imagine. Finding out would be the tough part.
The ogre approached them. “You two! Why did you interfere?”
Sisko glanced at Josh before facing the ogre. “Like I said, it appeared you intended to hurt the boy.”
“I wouldn’t have hurt him. I only wanted to scare him.” The ogre sat on a stump. “He’s stole from me before. It’s become a game with them. See who can steal from the fat, slow ogre.” He stared into the forest.
Josh glanced toward Sisko, and then back to the ogre. “What did you do to deserve that?”
The ogre jerked his head up and glared at Josh. “Why do you think I deserve it? Because I’m an ogre!”
Josh stared at the ground. “Uh, no, that’s not what I meant.”
“Of course it’s what you meant. Everyone assumes because I’m an ugly and lumbering hulk that I must be mean, dangerous, and deserve every bad treatment.” He barred his teeth. “What are you two still doing here anyway. You’ve done your humiliate-the-ogre bit. Begone and leave me in peace.”
Sisko wondered if the poor ogre’s problems would be changed if he appeared more handsome, trim, and winsome. He could change that with one prayer and the power of his ring. He reached out a hand, but stopped. No, it didn’t feel right. The creature had been created an ogre, and he shouldn’t mess with it. But then what should he do with his healing ring to help this ogre with his problems?
Josh met Sisko’s eyes. He motioned with his head to leave as the ogre suggested.
The ogre stood. “Go away. I’ve no patience for trouble makers.” He stepped toward the house.
Go away? The words resounded in Sisko’s mind. How lonely must this ogre be? Sisko froze. Orge. That’s all he was to the boy, to those who lived in this area. To even Josh and himself.
Sisko stepped forward. “My name is Sisko and this is Josh. What’s yours?”
The ogre stopped and paused. A few seconds passed, then he turned. “What did you say?”
“I asked, what’s your name?”
The ogre’s eyes softened and his mouth relaxed. “No one’s ever asked me that before.” For the first time, a hint of a smile creased his lips. “My name is Xilner. Glad to meet your acquaintance, Sisko and Josh.”
Sisko bowed. “The honor is all mine, Xilner.”
He sat back on the stump. “So tell me, how come you stayed?”
Sisko grinned. “Because God told me I needed to help you.”
“Help me?” He shook his head. “That’s a first. No one has ever helped me. Called me names, scream at me, beat on me, steal from me, yes. But help me? No.”
An idea popped into Sisko’s head. He’d likely get in big trouble for this. “Xilner, do you have any plans for Christmas.”
“Plans? What I do every year. Sit in my house, munch on food, and watch the world drift by oblivious to me.”
Sisko nodded. “Not this year. This year, I’m inviting you to my house for Christmas.”
Josh’s mouth fell open. “Your mother isn’t going to like this.”
Sisko smiled. “Probably not. But I have a feeling Xilner will grow on them pretty quick.”
Xilner grinned. “I wouldn’t be too much of a problem, would I?”
Sisko waved a hand. “No, no. You’re my personal guest.”
“And your mother isn’t going to like it.” Josh glanced at Sisko. “Just sayin’.”
Sisko stared into the sky and nodded his head.
Xilner rose and headed toward his house. “I’ll get ready. I need to change clothes.” He stopped and turned around. “Sisko, thank you.”
“For the invite?”
“Well, yes, for the invite. But mostly for treating me as a person.” He grinned big before heading back to the house.
“What do you know, Josh. I didn’t even need to use my ring to fix this one. He’s just lonely. Needs someone to care about him.” Sisko slapped Josh on the back. “You gave me the greatest Christmas present ever.”
Josh watched Sisko from the corner of his eye. “Really? You’re helping him. What are you getting out of it?”
“The satisfaction of being my brother’s keeper. And for finding that brother in the most unlikely of beings.”
Josh crossed his arms. “Well, glad I could help. I had this planned from the beginning. Just wanted it to be a surprise.”
“Right. Now how about getting that transport spell back in gear. And please, please, get a good image in your mind of Raul before you do the spell? I don’t want to end up in some strange place for Christmas.”
He blew air from his mouth. “No problem. I’m ready.” He watched as Xilner exited the door. “But I know your mother isn’t going to like this.”
The End
Tags: Josh, magic, ogre, Realities, Reality Series, Sisko, wizard
If you like good fantasy and science fiction or know someone who does, you may want to consider a subscription to Residential Aliens print magazine either for yourself or as a gift.
Readers of this blog know that I’ve had some stories appear in the web version of this magazine previously. The editor, Lyn Perry, had done a great job culling through stories and finding the gems. But many would rather read such great stories on paper than on a computer screen. Well, now you can!
He’s offering an annual subscription of $25.00 for six issues, one every other month. You can’t go wrong if you love a good story that takes you to new worlds, strange places, an all in a manner that is not only good for you, but an enjoyable ride.
Check it out. You’ll be glad you did.
My flash fiction titled Life Intruders has been published by the on-line science fiction and fantasy magazine, Resident Aliens!
This is a space opera story involving the crew of the Neptune 2, a ship I created as a teenager in a comic strip. This time frame actually takes place in the world I created with the novel I first wrote (not yet published) titled World’s Apart, but several hundred years after the events in that series (I have two more books planned for that series, but haven’t started writing them yet).
I’m hoping to create a series of these stories, so this is only the first to come of what I hope will be many more. If I’ll just get busy and write them!
Thanks to Lynn for publishing this first entry. And enjoy the story. Be sure to check out other stories in the magazine, it is a good one to read.
That’s right. Yours truly will be doing a 30 minute presentation for the Austin region National Novel Writing Month group about how to plan to write a novel. Following that I’ll be moderating a panel for another hour.
It is open for anyone to attend, you don’t have to participate in the National Novel Writing Month to come. Shoot, you don’t even have to be a writer. If you’re interested and are in the Austin, TX area, plan on being there!
Here’s the info from the Austin region’s NaNo calendar:
Novel Planning Presentation
When: Wed, October 21, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Where: Pflugerville Community Library, 102 S. 10th St., Pflugerville
What: Are you a planner or a seat-of-the-pantser? Wrimo RLCopple will present a useful planning technique, and then our panel will discuss the merits of different planning - and not-planning strategies. Panelists are: ballyhoot, NicoleMD, DaShlom, and Lady Eshen.
Who: Suitable for all ages; everyone is invited!
Come if you can. Pray if you can’t! Thanks.
I wrote a flash fiction back in 2006 called Life Invaders. After a few attempts, it has finally found a home at Residential Aliens Magazine. Look here for the announcement of when it comes out in the next two to three months. And visit the magazine; they have enjoyable genre fiction.
Residential Aliens magazine editor, Lyn Perry, has turned in a review of Transforming Realities to SFReader.com. It isn’t a five-star review, but it is balanced and honest.
On the one issue he has with the book, I expected some wouldn’t care for it. So I’m not surprised I’ve run across someone who doesn’t. It’s one of those things you either enjoy or don’t. Depends on what type of book you like to read. And interestingly, this is the only novel out of the five I’ve written that has this specific quality. But in writing it, it fit the plot.
He missed some info I would have liked to get his input on, namely character development–a major part of any story. I can only assume they weren’t “cardboard” characters for him, or he would have mentioned it.
That said, the review is fairly positive aside from his one main complaint. I appreciate his view and hope it helps readers to decide if they’d like to read the book or not. If you want to find out what Lyn Perry thought of the book, read it on SFReader.com.
Thanks for reading.
Tags: book review, Lyn Perry, R L Copple, Resident Aliens, sfreader.com, Transforming Realities
Author Karina Fabian is promoting Transforming Realities this week on her blog, and has a good interview with me posted. Please visit her blog and leave a comment. And while there, consider picking up one of her books. Her latest will have you laughing.
Thanks, Karina, for doing this!
My book, Transforming Realities, is in the running for the New Covey Cover Awards. E. J. Mickels did a great job on the cover and I think it stands a good chance of winning. But to do that, enough people have to vote on it. The voting is already in progress, and ends on June 30, 2009. So I would appreciate all who like this cover to go and express your opinion by voting for it.
It is number 14 in the list. Be sure to click the right one!
Thanks.
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