Sonia Fogal - A Journey Through Words

The Power of Music

2013-05-28T23:43:00.000-04:00

Music - the universal language, expressed beautifully by Ji-Hae Park. I will let her tell her story in her own beautiful way. It's a story of the power of music.

Reading and writing are my passions, but very close behind is music. It does all the things that reading and writing do, without a word. It carries us away. It takes us back in time or to a future that we dream of. It takes us deep within ourselves and beyond ourselves. It expresses our sorrow and our joy. It's the expression of our hearts. It unites us regardless of who we are, where we are from, or what our journey has been. It unites us as human beings that share the same emotions.

The following video is another of Ji-Hae Park. In this one she performs some gospel music. I don't think it matters that the words that go with the music are religious, you don't know that just from watching the video. What you do know from watching the video, is that the music is so very important to her. Her passion, her connection with the music is obvious, and contagious.

"You don't have a soul. You are a soul". - C. S. Lewis

Music touched the soul of Ji-Hae Park. Such is the power of music.

Enjoy.

Passion Makes All the Difference

2013-05-14T22:04:00.000-04:00

I agree completely with Ms Graham. It is passion that makes a dancer great. I would extend that to any kind of artist. Great musicians aren't great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion. The same for great singers, painters, writers, any kind of artist. Which is not to say that technique is not important, it is. But it's the passion that makes the artist stand out.

I was never by any stretch of the imagination a great musician or dancer, but I have done both. I miss both greatly and want to do both again.

I was very good at both, not great, but very good. One thing I learned has really stuck with me over the years. There were songs I knew by heart and loved to play on the piano. I practiced them over and over and over until I didn't need music. I didn't think about it. I just put my hands on the keyboard and played. It was at these times that I was my best.

There was something in me though, something that remains with me. Something that kicked in when I played them without thinking. My brain would kick in at some point and tell me to think about what I was doing more. At that point when I let my brain squelch my freedom on that keyboard I would mess up. Every time. Although I wasn't great, I was best when I let my passion come through. When I just felt the music. When I let the music fill me and pour out my fingertips.

I think there is a life lesson in this. I think as the years go on we forget our passion. We ignore it. We ignore the thing that could transform our lives as it transforms artistic expression.

Life takes a lot of brain power, no doubt about that. But a great life, a great life experience, takes more than brain power. Perhaps great lives are great because of passion.

I want to share two dancers with you. Both great in their own way.

The first is Marquese Scott. The things this guy does with his body are amazing. The music he dances to is very modern and his dance style (Dubstep) is very modern.

The second is Polina Semionova, a ballet dancer. She is dancing to an instrumental by H. Gronemeyer. There is such beauty and grace in her dance.

Two very different dancers that evoke very different emotions. Two people who work very hard in order to dance so well. When they started dancing every bit of brain power went to learning technique. And they still think about technique, but they have mastered it. Which frees their mind to simply feel the music and pour the music and the emotions it creates within them into their movements.

Enjoy.

The Precious Gift I Received 17 Years Ago

2013-05-03T01:49:00.000-04:00

My little girl turns 17 today. In a year, that girl that thought the little tea set with pink flowers all over it was the best thing on the planet will be 18 and out in the big world on her own. It simply doesn't seem possible.

I'll never forget her second Halloween when she dressed up like Piglet or how she always wanted to sit on the kitchen counter and watch me cook. I'll never forget going on walks and having to stop every few yards so she could squat down and watch the ants on the ground or watching tears fill her eyes when her Elmo balloon slipped off her wrist and floated away.

When she is out there on her own I will worry as every parent does. But this is a strong girl.

"It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that! "

My girl is no coward. She is strong. She has had some hits in her life already and they have shaped her into the beautiful person she is. But she is young and life will hit her hard many more times in years to come. And I will be there for her every single time. I will always love her, no matter what. No matter what happens. I will always be there to help her find her strength and to help her stand again when life knocks her on her backside.

She has a strength that inspires me every day. On those days that I'm trying not to let my struggle to just put one foot in front of the other show, she sees it and hooks her elbow in mine and encourages me or hugs me and tells me she loves me. And when I see she is having one of those days she sits on my bed and we talk and go to Starbucks for one of her favorite drinks.

She's special and strong and beautiful in every way. On the day she was born 17 years ago I knew I had been given a precious gift. I had no idea what an amazing and blessed experience being her mother would be.

Happy birthday Panda. I love you more than I can say.

Frank X Walker - Kentucky's Youngest and First Black Poet Laureate

2013-04-28T13:07:00.000-04:00

On Wednesday, April 24 Frank X Walker, age 53, became Kentucky's youngest and first black Poet Laureate. He is an associate professor in the University of Kentucky's English Department and Director of the school's African American and Africana Studies program. He received his journalism degree from UK. Walker's "Affrilachia" was published in 2000 and is was responsible for spreading both his name and his message of the role of African Americans in the history of the Appalachian region internationally. Walker has written six books of poetry, his latest being "Turn Me Loose: the Unghosting of Medgar Evers".

Walker was raised by his two sisters and his late mother in the projects of Danville, KY where he got more excited about the bookmobile's visits to his neighborhood than other kids got about the ice cream truck. In fact, as a child, he considered the driver of that bookmobile to be his dream job. .

Governor Stephen Beshear described Walker in this way:

“To read Frank X Walker is to sometimes leave yourself emotionally exhausted. His poems take you to uncomfortable places – cemeteries and prisons, street corners, mountain hollers, playgrounds, poverty, the kitchen of an angry mother, the heart of an anxious father," said Beshear. "And you leave these scenes both drained of energy and a little bit more enlightened. He helps you recognize things about yourself, including things you'd rather not embrace. And he does this in the context of Kentucky's complex history.”

Below is one of his poems from "Affrilachia". It is titled "Statues of Liberty" and honors the strong women that raised him.

mamma scrubbed
rich white porcelain
and hard wood floors
on her hands and knees
hid her pretty face and body
in sack dresses
and aunt jemima scarves
from predators
who assumed
for a few extra dollars
before Christmas
in dark kitchen pantries
they could unwrap her
present

aunt helen, her sister
took in miss emereen’s laundry
every Sunday morning
sent it back
hand washed, air dried,
starched
ironed, folded
and cleaner
than any professional service

she waited patiently
for her good white woman
to die
and make good on her promise
to leave her
a little something
only to leave her first

aunt bertha, the eldest
exported her maternal skills
to suburbia
to provide surrogate attention
to children of money and privilege
and spent every other moment
preaching about
the richness of the afterlife
before the undertaker
took her
to see for herself

housekeepers
washer women
maids
a whole generation
of portable day care centers
traded their days for dimes
allowing other women
the freedom to shop
and sunbathe
the opportunity to school
or work

this curse-swallowing sorority
dodged dicks
and bosses
before postwar women
punched clocks
they birthed civil and human rights
gave the women’s movement
legs
sacrificed their then
to pave the way for a NOW
their hard-earned pennies
sent us off to college
and into the world
our success is their reward
we
are their monuments
but they
are our statues of liberty

You can check out Mr Walker's web site by clicking here.

Souls and Bodies

2013-04-24T22:49:00.000-04:00

“You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body”

C.S. Lewis

When live sucks my self-esteem down the drain, I sometimes have a little talk with myself. (Don’t judge me, it works). One thing I may tell myself during one of these talks is

“I am not _____ “,

and I fill in the blank. Such as, when an unexpected expense comes along and drains my bank account after months of scrimping and saving and finally getting to a point where I was beginning to see a glimmer of light at the end of the dark tunnel, I may tell myself –

“I am not my bank account”.

Sounds silly, right? Of course I’m not my bank account. We are separate from each other. We sometimes define ourselves by things like bank accounts however.

Do you like to “people watch”? I do. One day when you are in a crowded place, look around at the bodies moving all around you and think of them as what they are - containers. The body

of that sweet little girl isn’t who she is. She is the innocent joy that fills the soul within her. She may also be the hurt that comes from losing a parent at a tender age.

That boy’s teenage, clumsy, pimply-faced body is not who he is. He is the persistence within that deals with the constant conflict between his desire to fit in and his desire to do what he knows is right. That woman is not her 80-year-old body. She is the spirit within that body that was shaped by living through wars, losing friends and relatives over the years, witnessing things you never imagine when you look at an 80 year old body. The souls that are these people are contained by the bodies you see.

“You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body”.

Writing Prompt - Dear Father

2013-04-23T06:00:00.000-04:00

I should begin by saying that this is in no way based on my relationship with my own father. He was, and is, a wonderful, loving father. This is not about him. And now the writing.

When I was six years old I had the nerve to go outside to play with my friends, leaving a messy room behind. You screamed in front of my friends “get in here you spoiled brat”, then made me stand in the corner of my room as you threw every toy I had left out at me. I’m sorry dear father.

At ten my failure to wash the dishes and vacuum the den earned me a race around the house with you yelling at me that I was useless and a poor excuse for a daughter. You sprayed your beer-infused spit in my face as you screamed at me, tears running down my face. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again

dear father.

At twelve, you couldn’t find your precious coin collection and were convinced that I stole it. You yelled at me that you were going out to get shit-faced and that if you died that night it would be my fault. I ran out after you to stop you. If I had not moved in time you would have backed right over me in your haste to get to the bar. Please don’t die tonight dear father.

Now, at 16, you were drunk by noon, again. Going on and on to me about how ugly I was, that no one would ever want me. And why don’t I put some clothes on because I look like a tramp. I’m sorry my shorts and t-shirt offend you, you SOB. It’s 85 fucking degrees outside. I turned to go to my room and you stumbled your way down the hall behind me. I was leaning over next to my bed when you walked in. You slapped my ass you pervert. I’ll never forget the look on your face when you felt the end of the barrel of the gun in your chest. Go to hell dear father.

The Boston Marathon Tragedy

2013-04-22T09:24:00.000-04:00

There is so much to say about the Boston Marathon. The world is both infuriated and heartbroken by such senseless acts of violence. These things become politicized. Politicians and interest groups use them to support their cause. Beneath all that though are humans. Yes, there are larger issues related to such occurrences and we can not overlook them. We divide ourselves because of religion or race or ethnicity or political views, but in the end we share a human experience. We all mourn terrorist acts that kill and injure so many people.

In the video below John Greene speaks to this. The video isn't about politics or any agenda. It's about people. About our shared humanity and what it means to be an American.

In Mr. Greene's face, voice and body language I see the variety of emotions we all feel - anger, sadness, and frustration. I see him reminding himself and all of us that even when violence like this that we can not begin to wrap our minds around happens, good continues in the world.

He reminds us of Fred Rogers' advice to "Look for the helpers. There are always helpers". I won't post it here because it's difficult to watch, but if you have not seen a video of the blast and the moments following it, you can watch one here. It is evidence of the truth of Fred Rogers’ statement. The video shows the many people that rushed toward the site of the blast to help the injured. There are always helpers.

We can't make light of such events. There is nothing more serious or horrifying. These occurrences bring to light a variety of issues we must examine and deal with. They can make us cynical and kill our spirits. Or they can inspire us to seek out and focus on good in the world. We need to deal with the tragedy and educate ourselves on the issues surrounding it so we have informed opinions. But we must look for the helpers as well. For each one of these people who commit such evil acts there are millions of people who would do exactly what the Boston Marathon spectators did; millions of people who would rush to help the injured. Good and kindness persist and are abundant even in the midst of evil acts like the Boston Marathon bombing. Let’s keep our eyes on that as we deal with the aftermath.

There are two videos going around the internet showing attendees of two different Boston sporting events doing just that. A little background on the first one. Years ago the Boston Red Sox adopted "Sweet Caroline" as their anthem. It is always sung in the middle of the eighth inning. They cancelled Friday's game but played on Saturday to a sold-out crowd. Neil Diamond decided to fly to Boston for that game and when he arrived he called team officials and asked if he could sing it for this game. Of course they said he could.

The second is at a Boston Bruins hockey game two days after the bombing.

This is what we do. We don't let the horrific attacks of a few kill our spirit. We don't become weaker. We pull together. We lean on each other. We proclaim to the world that we are the UNITED States of America and our lives will go on. We don't stop playing and celebrating because of their acts. We mourn together and keep going - learning, healing, and working through the aftermath together.

I'm Baaaack!

2013-04-21T20:39:00.001-04:00

Well, my friends, I've been away for a bit but I'm happy to say I'm back. When things creep into my life that keep me from focusing on the important things, I feel scattered. I was getting that feeling recently and knew I had to re-evaluate things. I planned to take a few days away in order to do this. The rest was a handful of unpredictable things life likes to throw our way now and then.

My team at my day job recently developed a vision statement. What do we aspire to? Why should others care about us and the work we do? When I apply these questions to my blog, I know the answers right away, but my actions haven't been supporting my vision.

There are some very good indie authors and I am very happy to promote them and their work in any way I can. I was in overdrive on this though. I was doing nothing but promoting

indie authors. This is important to me, but my blog is about more than this.

In one sentence, my vision for my blog is to brighten your little piece of the earth and make you think. I want to do this through art, music, humor, books, or something I write. I will spend more time on this from now on. I miss it. I love getting comments or emails that tell me what you think - good or bad. Communicate with me in either of these ways so I can give you more of what you like and less of what you don't like.

Time to get back at it. I'm glad to be back. Happy dance!

My Fascinating Interview with the Author of "Blood Related" - William Cook

2013-04-04T09:00:00.002-04:00

William Cook, author of the great "Blood Related" was kind enough to answer a few questions I had about his book, horror, and the writing experience. He had some fascinating answers. Enjoy!

1. Well I guess I have to ask the question at the top of my mind first. I loved "Blood Related", I thought it was a fascinating read. It is very graphic and very violent so I must ask about where all that came from. I'm assuming you aren't a serial killer so you must have done a great deal of research. Wondering about where you went for that research.

I don’t know why but I’ve had a fascination with the darker side of humanity ever since I was a teenager. I am a huge Horror fan; movies, books, art, theory. I’d say that this obsession comes from the same source. In fact if I hadn’t channeled my predilection for darkness into the writing of Horror I would hate to think where it would’ve taken me otherwise! ‘Blood Related’ is a story about a family of serial killers, each with varying degrees of psychopathology. The two central characters are twin brothers, one who is of the psychotic variety and the other a more organized and cunning psychopath, and yes there is a difference. I researched as much about abnormal psychology as I did about serial killers and their methods and characteristics. Most serial killers are basically psychopathic, of reasonable intelligence, appear normal when occasion calls, and so on. And of course this is one of many aspects to a complex and evolving criminal psychology. I read both fiction and non-fictional accounts of these fiendish characters in order to get inside the mind of these killers. I’m not sure if I’d write another first-person narrative from a serial killer’s perspective; at times it was quite harrowing and disturbing to envisage the kind of thought processes these people operate with.

2. Now I don't condone the actions of serial killers in any way but one thing I liked about "Blood Related" is that we got in the head of the killer. We learned about his childhood and the horrors he witnessed that played a part in him becoming the monster he became. He actually seemed to care about a couple of people. I actually felt bad for him sometimes because in a sense he was a victim too. As with the plot, I wondered where this came from. Was this from research or was it you considering what may go into the creation of a serial killer?

What a lot of people don’t realize is that these freaks of nature are capable of portraying human emotion and on the surface probably appear more normal than Joe-average. One of the basic tenets of writing good characters is that the reader must be sympathetic to at least some aspect of the protagonist as a fellow human being. It is because of these two factors that Caleb the main character does have a

sensitive side and has had a crummy upbringing. Nature vs nurture is an old debate when it comes to the development of criminal behavior and I would have to say from my research I believe that given the right circumstance everyone is capable of murder. Sounds shocking but when you really think about it, there are certain things that would drive the most placid of us to react with violence, e.g. the murder/assault of a loved one, perceived injustice, road rage, protection of children/family members, self defense and so on. So just because Caleb has had a crappy abusive childhood and is also genetically predisposed to mental illness because of his lineage (coming from three generations of murderous kin), does not necessarily make him a serial killer. There are plenty of people with the same experience and familial history who don’t turn into killers. But with Caleb I wanted to show how his thinking is twisted and trace the source of his urge to kill. Hopefully by the end of the book the reader will be asking the same questions and have a more in-depth understanding of the motives behind this kind of criminal behavior. If we can have some understanding about how these people operate, hopefully it in turns gives us a greater sense of our own nature. But essentially, I am trying to scare the hell out of my readers while stimulating the morbid curiosity inside most of us by presenting a complex fictional character, slightly distanced from reality (because he is fictional), that people feel safe enough to analyze in the comfort of their own homes.

3. Am I crazy to enjoy a book so graphic and violent? If I am then many people are. I think there are a lot of reasons people enjoy this kind of story. What are your thoughts?

Have you ever slowed down to rubber-neck at a car accident? I think most of us have. There is a reason why the news on television streams hours of violent imagery from across the world. 80-90% of most news broadcasts focus on negative events; war, murder, serial killers, accidents, death, etc. It is seldom that we see positive stories on the news and this is because the general audience laps up this kind of media side-show. I think it was Thomas Hobbes who said something like “war [violence] is the essential nature of [hu]mankind,” and as I said earlier I tend to agree – especially in the male of our species. I won’t get into the gender difference/similarities on this topic as it is a whole discussion in itself filled with interesting facts and potentialities. But in answer to your question, no you are not crazy. People enjoyed being scared and confronting death from a safe perspective. Someone said that we spend our whole lives preparing for death and this may well be why we pursue horror in literature (in all genres). If we can confront death from a distance and survive, in a way this affirms life, but for some of us (like the characters in Blood Related) it also serves to hasten that realization to its ultimate conclusion.

4. Did you enjoy writing this book or was it difficult? What did you like the most and what was the most difficult part?

I enjoyed parts of it but found it difficult to write due to the subject matter. I love creating worlds as I did with this story in the form of ‘Portvale’, a fictitious industrial city within a larger metropolis. I also created the small rural town of ‘Repose’ which was fun to populate and landscape. So I guess that the most difficult part was placing myself in the mind of a seriously disturbed serial killer. The most enjoyable aspect was the sense of completion I felt when I had achieved one of my life goals – writing a novel.

5. How long did it take you to write "Blood Related"?

Blood Related took nearly six years to write. I really did do a lot of research and possibly got bogged down in that side of things, hence the extended period of writing. The novel evolved from a shorter work titled ‘The Eternal Now’ and took on a life of its own. I wrote a lot of it as I sat on the train on my way to and from work, scribbling frantically in my notebook. In the end one notebook grew to ten and the outline turned into a solid novel-length manuscript. After

many edits and changes it finally reached a presentable level and I started subbing it around to traditional publishers in New Zealand with no success. I write in an American style/vernacular so the obvious choice was to look to the US for a publisher. I subbed the manuscript to three different publishers including my current publisher and received three offers to publish. I originally chose Angelic Knight Press as they were the first to come to the party, and in retrospect my decision was probably a bit of a hasty one, because the day I signed the contract I received two others one of which was my preferred choice, Black Bed Sheet Books. Things were amicable enough with AKP and I was one of their ‘flagship’ writers as they were just starting off and thank them for taking a chance on a previously unpublished novelist. Nick Grabowsky from BBSB left his offer open and when my contract term had finished with AKP and no new contract was forthcoming I happily accepted Nick’s offer to publish and here we are. The new edition is a lot tighter and the formatting is professionally done and I’m really happy to be with BBSB who are also publishing the sequel ‘Blood Trail.’

6. I have seen on a couple of places on the internet that there will be a sequel! Got a title yet? Any idea when it will be available?

As mentioned above, the sequel is titled ‘Blood Trail’ and should be available sometime later on this year from BBSB. I am halfway complete and am aiming for a June wrap for the completion of the sequel. It will be quite different from the first book, in that the perspective has shifted from a first-

person account by the killer to a focus on Ray Truman, the troubled investigator who is trying to bring down the Cunningham clan. The following is an excerpt from the sequel:

I looked and I observed. When I turned away, I looked some more. And I continued looking, into the night, into my dreams, into my waking hours. The vision of Jean-Marie Palliser, lying there, and there also, and there, and up on the shelf there, and

slowly charring on the glowing element. Pieces of Jean-Marie scattered like roadkill across the kitchenette, in the room at the lodging house. I put her back together in my mind with one exception. Her head to the lower portion of her neck was gone; a conspicuous absence if ever there was one. I coughed and lit a cigarette to rid me of the stench of warm blood and other bodily fluids.

He had killed her right there in the kitchenette. She was nude with no sign of restraint visible, on the clear parts of her pale flesh. Blood still dripped from the bench, a shiny black pool of blood looking like an expanding hole in the linoleum.

I guessed that’s where the fucker had rested the head, on the bench, while he finished playing with the rest of the dead broad’s young body. I had to push the image of her away and it wouldn’t budge. I felt a nauseous growing horror creep up my body like a bad trip. I was shit-scared for the first time in my professional career as a cop.

I heard movement in the hallway outside the kitchen area. I ducked to the ground, scanning the room as I snapped the snubnose from my ankle holster.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! My chest heaved, as the backdoor slammed shut, I had just missed him.

I sprang from the bloodied floor, pain exploding up the length of my spine, and burst out the swinging screendoor at the rear of the building. I busted my face pretty good on the side of a head-high clothesline as I ran across the back yard. I went down hard, my face pissing blood like a geyser, and fired from the ground two quick shots at the back of a black-hooded figure bursting through the hedge. I glimpsed a woman’s decapitated head, bobbing by his side, the long bloodied hair gripped in the clenched fist of Caleb Cunningham, as he disappeared away into the black night.

I lay there breathless, the pain in my lower back unbearable so that I couldn’t even feel the gushing wound in my cheek. And then I ended up back in hospital, lying in that damned same bed in a cast from armpit to knee, thinking of Jean-Marie Palliser, as if one might think of a jigsaw puzzle missing a few pieces.
Laying there in that stark white hospital room, I started thinking of all the ways I wanted to kill Caleb Cunningham. The blank dead eyes bored into my memory, like two pits of oil, where the fires of hell slowly smoldered. This was the second time I had caught up with Cunningham and I was flat on my back, mortally injured once again. This time I would have to wear a back brace permanently and be consigned to light duties. I was fucked if I was gonna be a desk jockey. The drugs they started giving me did their job and I knew I could get a continuous supply if I needed one. It took time and a lot of thinking and planning and expectation. I firmly believed towards the end of my stay at the hospital, that Cunningham was watching me, plotting against me in a similar fashion. And then Caleb’s ex-shrink, Dr Morrison, walked in and I forget all about Jean-Marie Palliser and Caleb Cunningham, for a few minutes.

Great stuff William! Can't wait to read "Blood Trail"! Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions.

If the excerpt above has you eager to read more of William's work, make sure you click HERE to enter to win a free ebook copy of his first book "Blood Related"! The giveaway is at the bottom of my review of that book - a book I highly recommend.

Links:
http://www.bloodrelated.wordpress.com
http://www.amazon.com/William-Cook/e/B003PA513I/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Website: http://williamcookwriter.com
Twitter - @williamcook666

"Blood Related" by William Cook - Review and Giveaway

2013-04-03T02:30:00.000-04:00

BLOOD RELATED

BY WILLIAM COOK

WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS EXCERPTS FROM "BLOOD RELATED" THAT INCLUDE PROFANITY AS WELL AS GRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS OF VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL REFERENCES THAT SOME MAY FIND OFFENSIVE OR DISTURBING

"I remember looking at Charlie and noticing he was visibly erect as he stood there staring, trembling with excitement and fear.

The sick fuck.

I would never stoop to be so obvious.

How tactless!

My curiosity got the better of me and I made the mistake of asking Pa why they had to die and, just before he knocked me unconscious, he said that they were a ‘present for a pig.’ Later on, I would find out for myself exactly who Ray Truman was and what he was capable of."

My Review

“Blood Related” is a fascinating journey through the mind and life of a third-generation serial killer. He is both a victim and a victimizer. He is deeply damaged and mentally ill. He embraces and is turned on by his murderous lifestyle. He finds fulfillment in it and sees it as an expression of who he is. But he also knows it’s wrong and dreams of “one day becoming a better person”.

Graphic, tortuous, nauseating violence. Definitely not for the weak of stomach. If you can handle this though, you must read this book.

This book goes way beyond slash-em-up horror. We are witnesses to the life of a serial killer, Errol Cunningham, through his child’s eyes, those of Caleb Cunningham. We learn of the unimaginable horrors that Caleb saw and learned from as a child. He was a witness to, and object of brutal abuse and it contributed to his evolution into the monster he became. He shows some capacity and desire to love at one point, but the pursuit of what he views as his art will not allow that bond.

He is pursued by a policeman who inherited a passion for apprehending a Cunningham murderer from his father, who pursued earlier generations of this murderous family. Caleb is highly intelligent and clever. He learned how to get away with his crimes from his father and fellow inmates and used those skills to formulate his own methods.

We see Caleb transform. We see it through his own eyes as well as through the eyes of outsiders. Cook includes viewpoints of policeman Ray Truman, the media and psychologists. This variety of perspectives provides new insights and information on Caleb Cunningham’s psychoses and torturous acts. It is cruel and black and heartbreaking all at once. He is a deranged, twisted killer, but he is also a victim of a brutal childhood, and he has a desire to love and be loved and to live a normal life buried inside himself.

There were times when a change in perspective occurred and I became confused about who was speaking. There were also spots with grammatical issues or incorrect word choice. From a plot perspective, the editing was outstanding. The plot was tight. Grammar and word choice edits could have been better on occasion.

The weaknesses are easily and greatly outweighed by the strengths of this book. If you can't tell, I love “Blood Related”. It is complex, fascinating and entertaining. You

know the writing is good when part of you feels sorry for the serial killer. I can’t wait to see what happens next. I will watch eagerly for the release of the sequel.

I really want you to read this book! And the author has graciously provided an ebook for me to giveaway! Enter to win it below!

AND

Come back tomorrow for a fascinating interview with Mr William Cook himself!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2013-04-02T19:23:00.001-04:00

THE RADIO MURDERS: THE COLLECTORS

By Chuck Collins

“The Radio Murders: The Collectors” by Chuck Collins is a compelling story that pulled me in from the first page and never let me go. The plot was tight and well paced. Every page revealed something new and intriguing. Every character was well developed and interesting, none of them ordinary or predictable. My only complaint is the end of the story. It was a total surprise and I found some of it not completely believable.

The story begins with a standoff between a woman who has killed several people before and a man she believes has something of great value to her. The entire ordeal is aired live on the radio show that is hosted by the brother of the murderous woman. When the opening scene ends, we are left with many questions that are dealt with in the rest of the book. It’s a story of family and greed and the things we will do for either. It has intrigue, sex, exotic locations, politics, and murder. The one thing it does not have is a dull moment.

The behavior of some characters at the end of the book seemed contrary to their nature and out of character to me. This is my only criticism of the book. It’s a ride that starts on page one and keeps moving and turning until the very last page. I highly recommend “The Radio Murders: The Collectors” if you’re looking for a fun, intriguing read. I look forward to the next installment in the series.

Cover Reveal: Made to Forget by Samantha LaFantansie & giveaway!

2013-03-29T00:30:00.000-04:00

MADE TO FORGET by Samantha LaFantasie

There’s something that lies within my memory. Hidden in the dark. Something that can kill me and those that I love. But I was in an accident, covered in mystery and deception. And my memory…was lost. There are those who want me to remember. I don’t trust them. And those I do trust…are fighting for me to forget.

Elsabetha Ellery wants to get her memory back, even if it kills her.

After waking up in a hospital with no memory, Elsabetha quickly learns those who claim to be her friend are anything but. And those who are her true friends keep themselves unseen.

Stuck with piecing together her broken memories alone, Elsa struggles with having faith in those she trusts and heeding the warnings of the dangers in recovering her memory. Ignoring them, she faces heavy consequences. Ones she doesn’t see until it’s too late, and a life is lost.

If you'd like to be updated on the release of MADE TO FORGET -- sign up HERE.

A Kansas native, Samantha spends her free time with her husband and three kids. Writing has always been a passion of hers but she only took up writing seriously a few years ago. Among her writing credentials, she’s a board member of the Kansas Writer’s Association and has founded her own critique group lovingly named The Fighting Hamsters.

You can find her presence on...
Facebook † Twitter † Website † GoodReads

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Cover Reveal & Giveaway! - Skeleton Key Guild

2013-03-28T13:43:00.000-04:00

Book 5 in The Doorknob Society Saga

Release: May 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Steampunk, Paranormal

Her parents dead, her sister missing, and those she loves branded traitors to the Old Kind... Chloe Masters is on the run.

To fulfill a parent’s dying wish she will do anything to save the sister she has never met. Can she learn the secrets of the Artifacts before it’s too late? Surrounded by her friends; Slade, Edgar, Jess, Val and the man she loves James Nightshade, Chloe has never had so much to live for... but will her enemies let her?

Reviews about The Doorknob Society

“I am SO GLAD that I said I’d review the

book!! It had me interested from the first

chapter, and HOOKED shortly after that!”

Puretextuality.com

“Let me start by saying that I'm a pretty picky

reader. I have to be captured by a story almost

immediately in order to continue reading. Well, I

was captured by The Doorknob Society...and I

am hooked!” Amazon

“I couldn't put it down and read straight

through and was so mad at myself for finishing

it. I. CAN. NOT. WAIT. FOR. THE. NEXT.

BOOK!” Goodreads

Other books in the series...

About M.J. Fletcher

MJ Fletcher is the creator of the comic book series Adam Zero: The Last Man of Earth published by Ronin Studios. He’s also been published in Hope: The Hero Initiative and Digital Webbing Presents. The Doorknob Society series is his first book series and he’s thrilled about it. He lives near the beach with his wife, daughter, and dog.

Website † Twitter † Facebook † The Doorknob Society Website

The Doorknob Society Book Trailer

Win an ebook copy of the first in the series, The Doorknob Society! Open International!

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Writing Prompt - "Lost and Alone"

2013-03-25T00:11:00.000-04:00

Lost and alone - that's how she felt despite the fact that she was surrounded by people. She took the customer's money, gave them their coffee, took the next customer's order, and so on. Auto-pilot. Forcing a smile.

"Keep it or not? Marriage - absolutely not. Let mom and dad send me away for nine months? Joy. I'm an embarassment. Carry it for 9 months, then give it to a stranger? Spend the rest of my life wondering where it is and what it's doing? Get rid of it and feel guilty the rest of my life?"

"I agree we're not ready for marriage. I hate your parents for making you feel like an embarassment. I'm not crazy about any of the options honestly", Phillip had said.

"Thanks for the help", she had said and stormed off.

Any of the above would hurt someone. In the end it was her body, her choice, her that had to deal with the consequences of her decision every day for the rest of her life. Yes, she was very much lost and alone.

Would love to hear your thoughts on this or any other writing prompt I post. Tell me what you think of the content or any technical aspects. If you had to sit down right now and write about the words "lost and alone", what would you write about?

John Greene! Dying Declarations

2013-03-23T23:19:00.003-04:00

The vlogbrothers, Hank and John Green, have a quirky, nerdy style that people either love or hate. I love. They vlog about everything from honey beavers to Fahrenheit 451 to dying declarations. For some reason that I can't put my finger on, I prefer John. Below is one of his vlog entries. The subject is dying declarations of famous people. Take a look.

Come on! How can that not make you smile? A light-hearted, enthusiastic look at what is usually a very serious subject - that is what the vlogbrothers are all about. They educate about many things without being condescending and make us smile and laugh as they do so.

So tell me, did you know the vlogbrothers before reading this post? Do you love them or hate them? And what about this topic - dying declarations. I think this book that John bought sounds fascinating, do you? Got any favorites you'd like to share? I always love hearing what you think!

"Bubbles Tastes and Flirts" by Parisjean

2013-03-22T19:00:00.000-04:00

I found Parisjean's poem, "Bubbles Tastes and Flirts" on fanstory.com and I love it! It tickles your senses and has a seductive, flirty feel. Hope you enjoy it as well.

Bubbles Tastes And Flirts by Parisjean
Artwork by simonka at FanArtReview.com

You light a flame
And so I relish your
Cold taste teasing
My taste buds like never before
So as you awaken my taste buds
And slide your coolness down my throat
I welcome your flirt in my mouth
Making me beg and want you more
I am so so thirsty scream my thoughts
As I take another big swallow
From you
My delicious sweet champagne
Of bubbles taste and flirts

You can connect with Parisjean in any of the ways shown below:

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

Pinterest

A Note of Sympathy - Rick Hautala

2013-03-21T22:42:00.002-04:00

I am truly saddened today by the sudden, too-early passing of the talented Rick Hautala. I didn't know Rick personally. I have read some of his books and we were friends on Facebook. His book "The Wildman" was one of my first reviews on my blog. He was always a pleasure on Facebook. Without exception everyone who knew him describes him as a great friend and, to the aspiring authors who knew him he was a great teacher and source of encouragement.

A great writer and a great friend -

you will be missed Rick.

R.I.P.

55 Words - "Cries of Desperation"

2013-03-21T18:44:00.001-04:00

The challenge

"Write a 55-word fictional story on any subject. Use exactly 55 words. The title does not count towards the 55 character count."

I had been looking for a writing contest and figured I could do this - 55 words, how hard could that be? Harder than you think.

A story - so it needs to have a real plot, conflict, a rise and fall in the action, a resolution to some problem, characters of some depth. All in 55 words - exactly 55 words. But I did it. And so far the reviews have been great!

We shall see where I place in the competition, but since it apparently isn't completely awful, I thought I would share it with you. Here it goes! Oh - profanity alert, just two words, in case it matters to you.

Cries of Desperation

“I’m going to fucking shoot myself!” from the apartment below.

Heart pounding in her ears, she calls 9-1-1. Someone else already called. Police are on the way.

Unintelligible screaming.

He’s 15! Damn drugs.

She watches outside as police rush to his door and pound on it. When they enter, female sobs drift out.

Bang. Silence.

Blog Tour Review - "Wanderlust" by Elieba Levine

2013-03-19T10:21:00.003-04:00

Publisher: Pinnacle (September 26, 2012)

Category: Erotica
Tour Dates: March, 2013
Available in: ebook 196 pages

ADVENTURE From New York to Kenya to Katmandu, Jane Perry sets out to explore the world and finds romance and excitement at every turn... PASSION From Bali to Sydney to Hawaii, Jane follows her heart's desires... and leaves behind men who will never forget her... WANDERLUST An erotic odyssey of passion and obsession. Part of a trilogy: Wanderlust, Interludes, Escapes

About Elieba Levine:

Elieba Levine is a passionate writer and discerning editor who currently resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has written five fiction novels, a picture book, and an award-winning screenplay. Her extensive world travels greatly influenced the settings in her erotic trilogy Wanderlust, Interludes, and Escapes-which have recently been released in electronic format. She is currently working on her next novel.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EliebaLevine
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elieba-Levine/118028291680615?ref=hl

My Review:

"Wanderlust" is the story of passionate affairs had by Jane Perry as she travels to exotic places all over the world. The descriptions of her travels add interest to the story and provide some insight into things one might witness in these locations - things like the exotic animals and their behavior in Kenya and the markets of Kathmandu.

I found the characters flat and didn't care much for the main character. Every time she turned around there was a man she was considering have sex with. I understand that the point of the book was that Jane was allowing herself to have new experiences but she just seemed easy to me. A total stranger on a plane asks her to share his room and she agrees. I would have liked more intrigue, more emotion, more connection between the objects of her desire.

The sex scenes were fairly well done. I did get caught up in some of them. But it didn't help the book overall much. Much of the plot was very predictable and lacked much imagination.

Cover Reveal - "The Avery Shaw Experiment" by Kelly Oram

2013-03-19T00:00:00.000-04:00

Title: The Avery Shaw Experiment
Author: Kelly Oram
Publisher: Bluefields
Format: ebook
Genre: YA contemporary romance
Release Date: May 2013

Summary:

When Avery Shaw’s heart is shattered by her life-long best friend, she chooses to deal with it the only way she knows how—scientifically.

The state science fair is coming up and Avery decides to use her broken heart as the topic of her experiment. She’s going to find the cure. By forcing herself to experience the seven stages of grief through a series of social tests, she believes she will be able to get over Aiden Kennedy and make herself ready to love again. But she can’t do this experiment alone, and her partner (ex partner!) is the one who broke her heart.

Avery finds the solution to her troubles in the form of Aiden’s older brother Grayson. The gorgeous womanizer is about to be kicked off the school basketball team for failing physics. He’s in need of a good tutor and some serious extra credit. But when Avery recruits the lovable Grayson to be her “objective outside observer,” she gets a whole lot more than she bargained for, because Grayson has a theory of his own: Avery doesn’t need to grieve. She needs to live. And if there’s one thing Grayson Kennedy is good at, it’s living life to the fullest.

A Peek at Avery

Grayson finally noticed Aiden and I on the couch. “What are you two dorks doing?”

“Learning about steroids,” I said cheerfully. “You should probably know that using them can cause acne, testicular atrophy, decreased sperm count, prostate enlargement and gynecomastia.”

Grayson looked rightfully appalled. “Gyneco-what-ia?”

“Enlarged breasts in men,” Aiden translated. “So you should lay off the juice before you have to start borrowing Avery’s bras.”

I gasped at the mention of my underwear and whacked Aiden’s shoulder hard.

Behind me, Grayson laughed. I knew he was about to deliver a comeback, but I refused to look at him. Seconds later his breath was warm on my neck. He whispered just low enough that his mother couldn’t hear what he said. “I like my bras colorful and lacey, Aves. Not sure your collection would do it for me.”

Total mortification. Grayson may be as close as family to me, but he was still one of the hottest, most popular guys in our whole school. Him discussing my bras in that low sexy voice that could stop a girl’s heart on the spot made my lungs constrict. Plus, he was right of course. My bras were all of the plain white cotton variety.

A Peek at Grayson

I started to leave the room but she stopped me at the door. “Grayson?” Her tone tugged at something inside me. “You really want to take me with you tonight?”

She sounded so small and unsure of herself. It was how she always sounded at school and around strangers, but never when she was at home with us. I think my brother had really broken her. I was seriously going to have to beat him sometime.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to. I know I really freaked out on you earlier, but I promise I’ll be fine. Aiden’s right.” She swallowed back a lump in her throat. “I’ll manage without him somehow.”

“Aiden’s a tool. You can learn how to manage tomorrow. Tonight’s New Years Eve and for once in your life you’re going to spend it without Aiden or The Discovery Channel.

I knew I was making progress when she cracked a smile and asked, “What about Whootylicious in 7 B?”

I thought of the luscious booty I’d originally planned on seeing tonight and sighed. “That will be an unfortunate loss, but, like you, I will just have to deal.”

I winked and then decided I’d give her ten minutes before I came back and physically dragged her out of bed.

Other books by Kelly Oram

About Kelly Oram...

Kelly Oram wrote her first novel at age fifteen–a fan fiction about her favorite music group, The Backstreet Boys, for which family and friends still tease her. She's obsessed with reading, talks way too much, and loves to eat frosting by the spoonful. She lives outside of Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and four children.

Website † Twitter † Facebook † GoodReads

Win all four books by Kelly Oram in ebook format. This giveaway is open international, as long as you have a way to open the file.

Must be 13 or older to enter.

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Chief Complaint: Brain Tumor Cosmic Blast

2013-03-18T18:30:00.001-04:00

Chief Complaint: Brain Tumor

At 57 years old, I thought I was the poster child for fifty-year old healthiness: I competed in triathlons, rode in 100 mile biking events and ate a healthy diet chock full of organic vegetables. Then I discovered that I had a brain tumor the size of my wife’s fist. My memoir chronicles the first year I spent addressing tumor-related health issues: preparing for my first operation, discovering a dangerous skull infection, having the infected portion of my skull surgically removed, learning about my substantial vision and cognitive losses, undergoing rehab and radiation treatments, and learning to live with my “new normal.” And, as best I can tell, the phrase “new normal” is the medical community’s code words for “You’re alive, so quit bitchin’.” As my health changed, so did my sense of humor. My humor started out superficially light-hearted prior to the first operation; transmogrified into gallows humor after several subsequent operations; and leveled out as somewhat wry-ish after radiation and rehab. Topics I write about in the book include:

How not to tell everybody you have a brain tumor
Why it’s a lot of work to die in this country
Why I had difficulties in naming my tumor
How I negotiated bathroom visits with “Nurse Don’t-Bother-Me”
Why I could prove that I was the “dumbest guy in the room”
Why someone compared the back of my head to a diseased goat
How I flunked a job interview with myself

This is a book for anybody interested in memoirs about people dealing with personal crises, for patients trudging through rehab, for caretakers helping victims of serious illnesses, or for anybody looking for an unexpected chuckle from an unlikely subject.

Purchase Chief Complaint: Brain Tumor at Amazon.com

About John Kerastas

I've worked at a global advertising agency, at several technology start-up companies and as a free-lance writer. Currently I spend most of my time blogging, speaking and writing about brain health, brain tumors and rehab. I speak to hospital rehab groups, stroke and aphasia groups, and last summer spoke at the American Brain Tumor Association's annual "Patient and Caregiver" conference. My charity and non-profit efforts includes work through the Taproot Foundation on behalf of Apna Ghar (a Chicago-based non-profit providing domestic violence services to immigrant communities). I also go on Appalachia Service project trips through my church, participate in Early Response Teams that follow first responders into disaster areas, and teach and certify Early Response Teams through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (e.g.UMCOR).

Follow John Kerastas

Website | Facebook | GoodReads

Giveaway

The author is giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Card. Open to US & Can residents only Fill out the form below to enter! a Rafflecopter giveaway

COVER REVEAL and GIVEAWAY!! - "Eyes of Ember" by Rebecca Ethingtong

2013-03-18T00:00:00.000-04:00

Paperback, 380 pages

Expected publication: April 6th 2013 by Imdalind Press
Eyes of Ember is the second book in Ethington's Imdalind Series.

Joclyn is in hiding, hunted by the man she still desperately loves. Ryland is gone, his mind erased, no memory of Joclyn remains. But, Joclyn’s heart desperately begs her to hold out hope. While, in reality the black eyed monster that possesses him, attempts to kill her over and over.

If it wasn’t for Ilyan, Joclyn would be dead by now.

Ilyan. The man who once stalked her, is now Joclyn’s protector, the only thing she has left. He protects Joclyn from the men who seek to end her life, and while she is haunted by dreams where Ryland begs her to break the bond between them.

Ilyan is there. Always there.

Ilyan trains and prepares her, teaching her everything she needs to know in the hope that one day she can avenge Ryland, if not protect herself from him.

And then there is her father.

The man who has never been there, is suddenly responsible for everything. And who he is has made Joclyn into something she never wanted to be.

The Silnỳ.

Kiss of Fire (book #1)

______________________________________________________________________

Find Rebecca Ethington...

Twitter, Facebook, and Website

Books Available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble

______________________________________________________________________

GIVEAWAY

- US ONLY

- Must be 13 or older to enter

- Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or else a new winner will be chosen.

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Writing Prompt - Truant

2013-03-16T00:54:00.001-04:00

“Dear Parent, this letter is to inform you that your child is truant as the result of three unexcused absences . . . “

Blah, blah, blah. Whatever. I go, you yell at me for not sitting still or falling asleep. I don’t go, I’m truant. Damned if I do, damned if I don’t.

Chris left the letter on the kitchen table for his mom and glanced at his watch. 10:40. What time does the bus come? Maybe mom . . . he looked on the counter. Yep, she did. He smiled. She left his ipad on the counter before she went to work and put a post-it note on it - “Bus at 3^rd and Hill at 11:00”. Oh, crap.

He went to his room and banged out a question to a discussion group for indie game developers.

“game locks up. problem lines below. What’s the prob?”

Enter

Back to the kitchen to grab an apple and his ipad. Another post-it under the ipad – “Don’t forget your keys – on hook by door”.

Apple in mouth, ipad under arm, ipod in pocket, out the door with his keys. As soon as his butt hit the bench at the bus stop, he saw the bus turn the corner and had to stand right back up.

10 minutes into an online TedTalk about super string theory, his phone vibrated.

“Catch the bus?” his mom texted him.

“Yep”, he answered as he bounced his leg up and down.

“Good”.

“Letter came”

“K. No worries. We’ll work it out”.

“ Thanks mom”.

“YW. Send me pics! I love Dali!”

“K”

Back to super string theory. As he removed his ear buds when the video ended the guy next to him nudged him with his elbow.

“School out today or something?”

“Nah”, he responded. "School’s boring. Got better stuff to do”.

. . . And Because I'm Legally Obligated to Do So

2013-03-14T08:58:00.001-04:00

Each post I create has a different motivation behind it, a different inspiration. Today's isn't deep or philosophical. Why today's post? Because it has David Letterman, children, and music and I love all three! And because I'm from Kentucky so I am legally obligated to thrust Bluegrass music on you at some point and it might as well be today. (We DO wear shoes in Kentucky by the way).

These boys are brothers and are all under the age of 16. And before you go running at the phrase "Bluegrass music", check them out. They are very talented musicians whatever their age. The fact that they are so young makes them even more impressive.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Sleepy Man Banjo Boys!

Amo L'Italia

2013-03-13T21:00:00.000-04:00

I have done a few posts the last couple of weeks about the movie “Eat Pray Love”. It's a good movie, not a great one, but it has some good life lessons and allows us to see some beautiful parts of the world. This movie was the beginning of my love for Italy and its people's passion for life.

In one scene a character named of Luca Spaghetti (love the name!) says that Americans don’t know how to enjoy life. He says we have to schedule our fun. We kill ourselves working all week, go home and drink a six-pack on Friday night and wake up feeling awful. Pretty dang close Luca! However, Italians, he says, they just enjoy life every day. They enjoy their wine. They experience their food instead of being so hurried that they don’t even taste it. The movie portrays eating as more than consuming food. Both preparing it and eating it are about love, friends, and family.

There is an important restaurant scene with Liz and her Italian tutor soon after she arrives in Italy. So many things in this simple scene that I love. The mood of the scene isn’t romantic whatsoever, but the shots of each of them cutting into their food are mouth-watering and seductive. Liz learns a beautiful new word at that meal that foreshadows the end of the movie – attraversiamo. It means “let’s cross over”. Even the Italian language is beautiful and seductive. There is one more thing in this scene that I like because it made me laugh. After she learns to speak “attraversiamo” correctly, she tells her tutor that she has an English word to teach him. She picks up the large carafe of wine that they are drinking with lunch, does a Vannah White hand wave in front of it and says “therapist”. :) Love it!

Besides all this, I’m in love with Italy because it’s just gorgeous. The waterways of Venice, the architecture, balconies and flowers. The fountains and outdoor restaurants, the music. It seduces me, I’m in love.

In everything, I have a wide range of taste. When someone asks me to pick a favorite anything, it’s difficult. Book genres – I like horror, some romance, historical fiction, some science fiction, everything. In art, I like modern and classic. And in music, there is some of every kind that I enjoy, including opera.

I can’t think of Italy without thinking of opera. So I leave you with the awesomeness of Lucianno Pavarotti singing "Nessun Dorma". Ciao i miei amici!