The Wormhole Adventures officially released 2/25/08

The release date is set for February 25th, 2008. It can be pre-ordered on the PA site or through Amazon very soon. I'm pleased to note that it has already been given a favorable review and hopefully more to come.

Almost there.

I have my cover design and my book is off to the printers. I've been quite pleased with the whole process. I've been getting some very positive feedback from those who have actually read the book. I've heard mixed reactions from those who wonder why the book won't be in every book store in the world with billboards, etc. Some people think that advertising dollars equal good writing. That isn't necessarily the case and my book stands on its merits. I've written many other books and it has been a wonderful ride. Writing is my passion and as such, I shall never quit.

Productive patience

I've been writing tirelessly on my new stories. I keep writing related blogs and work full time. As a result, I've found less time here. I have been quite productive outside this cyber realm of words and insights. I am waiting for my final cover design. One thing a writer does is write. Outside of reading, writing is my greatest joy. The only way to be who I am is to write as much as inspiration dictates. I write stories, reviews, articles and personal insights. The best advice I can give any new writer is, like author Neil Gaiman advised, "write, finish and then write again."
When the publication process is complete for my book, I will post it here. Writing is my great passion, but then again, so is living.
Having nearly escaped death a few weeks ago, I am truly grateful for the life I have. The car I was a passenger in was destroyed by an errant deer who decided to cross the highway right where I was. The only thing that saved me was the hood which opened up and stopped the deer from entering the cab. After the air bags deployed my husband and I exited the car in disbelief. The officer on the scene was sure we had been killed or injured. We were given a second chance that fateful night. I have so much living to do and so little time to do it. Today is the first day of the rest of our lives. You never know when your exit will be. So, live for each precious moment as if it were your last.

Books?

In the blog Words From The Aether, they are soliciting book ideas. Most of the ideas are humorous takes on simple ideas. They want to see what hole in the literary market exists. I really doubt there are many holes. Have you been to Amazon or Barnes and Noble lately? Type in just about any word and there's a book on it or about it. It makes me wonder why I write? As a reader, I have an insatiable appetite for the next great read. Like anyone, I have subjects that appeal to me and once I finish a wonderful masterpiece, like food, I'm planning my next meal. In this case it will be a meal of words prepared by a master word chef, just for me, the reader.
So, I guess, being a writer is a natural extension for me. I've been writing as long as I've been reading. When I won a writing contest in sixth grade I thought, "finally I found something I can do." I was the quiet kid who was allergic to sports and liked weird things. I actually thought being called weird was a complement. Not one to follow the idioms of the natural order, I read Mad magazine, Tales From The Crypt and loved old horror films. I could relate to the poor misunderstood Frankenstein. Not in looks, so stop thinking that, but in the ostracized mutant that is Frankenstein. OK, I was the pudgy type, which in my mind, made me a soul mate for Frankenstein. Oh what a young mind will create in his little imaginary world.
I've raised on daughter and almost raised a son. They are fine little individuals in their own right. But you know what? I'm still waiting to grow up. As a child I was told it would happen. I would one day put aside my toys and enter the adult world of responsibility. I became responsible, but I've never felt grown up. I write this as I look at my sci fi figures and gargoyles aligning my desk. Here's to eternal youth, if only in the mind.

The Wormhole Adventures

My book, The Wormhole Adventures in Travel is Relative is being published. I will post how to buy my educational children's chapter book as soon as it is available. I am pleased with how it turned out. This book is intended to be the first in a series. In this story, three children discover a talking raven who takes them through a wormhole in time. They meet Albert Einstein and learn about the famous physicist. The book speaks to children between the ages of 8 and 15 and lays out scientific information in a way that they can understand. I believe that children are capable of learning a vast amount of knowledge. Most of the educational tales leave out too much information. Kids should not be talked down to. They should be respected as the intelligent little people they are.
Being an author started out as a dream and became a passion. We should all live the dream. We all have a dream, be it being a devoted parent, success in business, artist, etc. The ones that stand out are the ones with passion. So, here's to being passionate about something!

The Iron Gate

I've written stories of fiction integrating the metaphysical, sagacious wisdom I've acquired in my 30+ years of study. I lean towards the unusual and enjoy fantasy, allegory and abstract prose rather than the more monotonous literary tale of predictable outcomes following straight story lines. As a result of my overzealous scrawls, I've managed to pen several poems. I am an eclectic poet not using the same formats for my numerous verses. I write as inspiration dictates, not really knowing how it will all turn out. I've climbed the scripted mountain and sometimes slid back down. More often than not, I've managed to struggle to the peak of the great bluff. When achieved, I relish the beautiful view and draw in a deep breath of braggadocio. I'm humbled by the scene and thus am inspired to climb once again the precipice of composition. Here is an excerpt of one of my aforementioned poems:

The iron gate

Who knew that a soul could choose

That a cemetery had color

Within its dreary gates

Inviting the mortal to visit the soul

The morning requests your presence

There is no backing out

To inhale the air so dense

Acknowledges your attendance

The rusty fence overlooks the nameless

The demons entrenched within

Suffering in mute silence

Seeking the company of souls

Finley's Tale

My long awaited novel has been completed, copyrighted and formatted! Three cheers! Finley is a project that has been part of me for over seven years. Talking birds have dominated three of my books. Why? I really can't say. It just came to me from beyond. Really it did. I am able to tap into something outside of myself and absorb it. Call it channeling, inspiration or just insanity, it does not matter. I am what I am and do what I do. That is who I am. Writing is my passion and part of the reason I am here. We are all here, more or less, to experience. This is my experience.
Finley is a raven who dares to stray from convention. He is a philosopher and loyal friend. He lives alone because, as he puts it, "I have nothing in common with most creatures." At least that's what he thinks. Life tends to throw in a few surprises now and then. In Finley's world, animals and humans coexist as best they can. He has a human friend named Alice much to his surprise. He originally believed humans were to be avoided at all costs. That was until a crow named Ponce introduced him to Alice. Alice was an animal communicator and could understand them. Finley found quite a bit of common ground with Alice. They both were loners and loved philosophical discussions. Life had a deeper meaning to it and they were intent on discovering it.
This novel is an allegory similar but different from Animal Farm or Jonathon Livingston Seagull. Following messiah like teachings from the White Raven, Finley embarks on a journey of the soul. In the end he discovers more than he imparts.