Okay…Sorry, reblogged the wrong one. This one is me – Life Path 3. You should all check out this blog. It’s great!
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Yearly Archives: 2013
Why passion is important
A fantastic blog post. Take a look.
This time I would like to talk about passion. Why passion is so important in our life. I have read many books and articles about the passion. This article I summarize from some books and articles. Hopefully it might be useful to everyone.
What is meant by Passion
When I speak of passion, I don’t mean it in the romantic way. What I mean by passion is the powerful feeling of enthusiasm we all have inside of us. We are all enthusiastic and passionate about something, whether its finance, food or a favorite sport. That enthusiasm is very powerful. When we can combine it with our work, we are setting ourselves up well for achieving true success.
Why Passion is so important
When we are enthusiastic and proud of the work we do, the better equipped we’ll be to overcome the many obstacles that will surely arise in the…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Sea
(a poem) FOR THE DEFENDERS – YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL HEROES
A Re-blog…For Veteran’s Day:
**I began writing this poem way back during Operation Desert Storm. It was finally completed in 2009. I leave the copyright at 2009 because the poem hasn’t been changed much since. I wrote it for the people and animals who’ve died in “wars” for us since our beginning. I always like to share it somewhere on Memorial Day, Independence Day, & Veterans Day.** I hope you enjoy reading it. Someone once called this poem “profound.” I don’t know about that but I consider it the best piece I’ve ever written in my life…and the best piece I’ll ever write. I doubt I can ever top it. Nor do I want to.
FOR THE DEFENDERS – YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL HEROES, by Wanda S. Paryla
This work was written for every hero, past, present and future, of every state and nation: “Strive to forgive me as I seek forgiveness; seek forgiveness as I strive to forgive, for we are all nothing if not humankind.” ~Winter NightTiger
Some had an easy time, maybe even a good time; many had it insane. But, they all went, never knowing for sure what consequences it might bring, and that makes them brave.
FOR THE DEFENDERS– YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL HEROES
I wish only to hold your head in my hands
And tell you I am sorry that you were tortured on foreign lands.
But I am afraid to speak and I dare not touch your face,
For I fear you’ll look upon me with disgrace.
Young and beautiful heroes –
Defenders of a government’s cause –
Without questions,
Without pause.
Pardon me
For my naivety.
For I was not there to see;
Had I been, I’m sure I would have lost it all to insanity.
Hear my plea,
Pity me, forgive me, forgive me!
Europe, Korea, Vietnam, Somalia, Middle East, and in other places, not afar, but right here.
That’s where you’ll find their ghosts.
Ghosts of both the living and the dead,
Young and beautiful heroes,
Many Champions whom we have never seen.
People whom the Ass and the Elephant dare not look in the eye
Lest they display cowardice and for the grandest of excuses vie.
But, not I – I shall write in ode to you, to the freedom defenders, alive and dead
Who walked on many a foreign land,
Crossed many dark and watery seas,
Who, reluctantly or not, killed many a monster that, once dead, was just another man,
Like he, with unheard cries and pleas.
Oh, the things I wish to say; how they spin around in my head.
I dream of looking into your eyes,
Even as my American spirit slowly withers and dies,
For I can never be as you,
An American peoples’ Champion, true.
I recognize the heroes – I’ve seen some here, some there,
With their American spirits lost everywhere.
And then, they return to us,
Dead or living,
In boxes or for life, striving,
And the politicians only pretend to care
Because they know – hell, they’ll never ever have to go there.
So, here I am,
Sad that I cannot give you empathy
For I have not witnessed first hand
The vile acts of political man
Upon my young and beautiful heroes.
I am not even sure if I have a right to offer you sympathy,
So please forgive me,
For I cannot claim to understand
Your suffering and your woes.
I wish only to hold your head in my hands
And tell you I am sorry that you were tortured on foreign lands.
But I am afraid to speak and I dare not touch your face,
For I fear you’ll look upon me with disgrace.
I am humbled before you, Champions –
Young and beautiful heroes –
With biting souls
Wrecked with the poison of political scorpions.
Your pain could never be eased by another.
No, not by your father, mother, sister or brother, and certainly not by any lover.
Your eyes have seen a wild animal darkness,
That no other person’s sleeping mind would dare dream to harness.
Their wars become no good for anyone.
Once it is found that the crusade cannot be won –
They always leave you there then, with praise left undone,
And at just thirty, twenty-one, or as young as eighteen,
They asked you to behold things that, at any age, you should never have seen.
They leave behind the real defenders of the cause – taking with them their congressional bets.
The cowards leave you there, deep in the oceans, in stifling jungle-laden lands,
In strange desert countries strewn about their burning sands.
They leave you to die, young and beautiful heroes, without any damned regrets.
And, lest they be called failures,
They dare not turn to you a saving hand.
They leave you to your lunacy and wounds, without allowing any cares or cures.
They leave you there, burning, dreaming of easier days and helping hands.
I lived not through any wars,
But, I have shared in our government’s alleged reaped rewards.
They don’t feel to owe you a damned thing,
Even as in your head, sickening night terrors ring.
But, as – when just a child – my father fought,
I owe you everything.
However, I can offer you naught,
Save with my pen, your praises can I sing,
Through mediocre poetry –
writing being my single grace –
I attempt to offer you dignity,
As I dare imagine my hands touching your beautiful face.
You who will never be the same,
I am full of disdain
For the harbinger of your undeserved fate,
And I cry out for a cure to your pain.
It’s the only thing that might ease my hate
Lest I go guiltily insane
And end up myself at hell’s iron gate.
To the freedom defenders of now or then,
Those who risk their lives so people worldwide may live dictator free –
As our government has always claimed to us it should be –
Wherever you are, wherever you roam, wherever you die – I pray you’re not alone,
And for you, to the gods of warriors I beg for a safe return to your memories of home.
No matter how much time has passed us
Since your terrible war left you restless,
On my heart, you’ll forever be –
Young and beautiful heroes –
As I know that your night terrors
Will never see you free.
Do not be ashamed.
Keep your heads high.
Don’t take any blame,
For you have no reasons to deny
Your magnificent valor.
The one forgiveness sought here –
Outside of that between warriors –
Is the mercy that I seek from you
For the crimes of my country’s leaders.
The Ass and the Elephant owe you a debt –
One, shamefully –
They can never repay.
Forgive me, though, for the courage they lack.
And alas, to me you must make yet another promise,
Please come back,
And this time, say that you’ll stay.
I wish only to hold your head in my hands
And tell you I am sorry that you were tortured on foreign lands.
But I am afraid to speak and I dare not touch your face,
For I fear you’ll look upon me with disgrace.
Pardon me
For my naivety.
For I was not there to see;
Had I been, I’m sure I would have lost it all to insanity.
Hear my plea,
Pity me, forgive me, forgive me!
The way I remember and the way I know,
Is through television and history books.
This is how I seek young and beautiful heroes,
Of both today and yesteryear –
The freedom defenders who seemed to not fear,
And never knew what it took
Until they had already become history,
By another man’s quest of glory.
Defenders of the cause, I must share –
Courage is not the absence of fear,
It is but the conquest of it.
You are true glory,
Armed with many a mighty story –
Young and beautiful heroes
Of today, of yesterday,
Of every day
And I would never deny it.
Whether you are dead,
Or still yet cursed with nightmares in your head,
Whether you trudged across frozen Europe,
Or you met with torture in Korea,
Whether you sat in silent madness in the land of the Vietnamese,
Or crawled through the desert sands of Iraq –
You are beautiful heroes.
No matter what they say,
You are the Champions of our way.
Your childhood will forever remain
Somewhere far away – left behind –
Carrying on somewhere out there without you, left lame.
Your youth and beauty, and maybe even your mind,
Is where you abandoned the child
To become a person of class, rank and file.
And while there will always be some in denial,
There are those of us who shall never put you on trial.
There is no need for you to tell me –
Lest it helps to ease your pain and dread –
But only you can help me to see
What it is that lies deep in your head.
I wish I could ease your heart,
But I don’t know where to start.
I know that no words I could ever say,
Could hold your beast at bay.
Pardon me
For my naivety.
For I was not there to see;
Had I been, I’m sure I would have lost it all to insanity.
Hear my plea,
Pity me, forgive me, forgive me!
Young and beautiful heroes –
Defenders of a government’s cause –
Without questions,
Without pause.
I wish only to hold your head in my hands
And tell you I am sorry you were tortured on foreign lands.
But I dare not touch your face,
For I fear you’ll look upon me with disgrace.
Europe, Korea, Vietnam, Somalia, Middle East, and in other places, not afar, but right here.
That’s where you will find your ghosts…
Young and beautiful.
Copyright 2009 Wanda S. Paryla
Sneak Peek: Prologue (The Sheriffs of Roberston County: Angel Maker)
For any interested parties, here’s a sneak peek to the tentatively titled Angel Maker, the first book in The Sheriffs of Robertson County series. This prologue is done, but still needs a bit more editing.
A police procedural mystery/suspense drama (wish me luck!),The Sheriffs of Robertson County is a romantically titled, but crime-themed, series of books where the stories occur in sparsely populated, rural Robertson County, Texas; the county where I spent my childhood and the last place I’d expect major crimes to occur. Currently, there are two books in the works for this series. Hopefully, County Sheriff Dorian Storm and his associate, Detective Alan Keith, will arrive at squad room near you by early 2014 at the latest. 😉
***
ANGEL MAKER (THE SHERIFFS OF ROBERTSON COUNTY)
PROLOGUE
August 1977 – Robertson County, Texas
Eleven-year old Dorian tired of staring at the condensation dripping down his half-filled glass of tea. It was iced tea until a few minutes ago when the ice totally succumbed to the Texas heat. He looked at his father who was engrossed in the local newspaper. Dorian rubbed his fingers around the glass, smearing the dripping water all over the glass. He wiped his hands on his pants and looked out over the backyard. The grass was burnt brown from the sun, dried up and crunchy. Bare patches lay strewn about and red clay and sand dotted the yard.
“What are you reading about, Dad?” Dorian sighed.
Maurice grunted. “Hmm, nothing that would interest you, son.”
“Can we get a swimming pool?”
“No, sir,” Maurice responded adamantly. “No pools.”
The pair fell silent again and Dorian’s attention flittered to his parents’ bedroom window; his feet gingerly followed his interest. He stood there for a moment just staring through the glass.
“Dad, why do they call that guy Angel Killer?” Dorian asked. “The Angel Killer,” he whispered as he watched his mother move about her bedroom.
Maurice put down the newspaper article he was reading on the stock market. First he looked up at the sky, then to a nearby tree where a squirrel was ascending the trunk with a pecan in its mouth. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, meditating on an answer as birds chirped and dry leaves of nearby trees crackled.
“Dad?” Dorian asked again, not looking toward his father.
Maurice’s gaze landed on his son who still stood at the window looking in at his mother who sat at her dressing table fixing her hair. She spotted Dorian and smiled and waved at him then returned her gaze to her reflection.
Dorian was incredibly intelligent for a boy his age. School authorities tried to pass him on to higher grades to match his learning abilities. They tried to bump him from the second to the third grade, then again from the fifth to the sixth, but his mother wouldn’t have it either time. No matter how hard his father pushed for it. She said she didn’t want him to be an oddball; however, he already was.
“Well, son,” Maurice hesitated, searching for the right words. Dorian was just a kid, yes, but he was no fool. “I guess, because he nails angel wings to the backs of all those poor women he kills.”
“Why does he do that? Kill people and do that?”
“I don’t know. I can’t…” Maurice shook his head. “The man’s a devil, Dorian. Evil. Crazy maybe. I don’t know why he does what he does. Maybe he doesn’t know either.”
Dorian’s curiosity often tested his parents’ and teachers’ tolerance, got him in trouble with his friends and siblings, and often disgruntled the neighbors while he investigated all the neighborhood woes and looked for the lost kitties and doggies of pretty girls.
Dorian still gazed at his mother through the window.
“I wonder why he does it. I wonder if the police know why.”
“I doubt they know yet. We shouldn’t talk about this anymore. It gives the monster power.”
“Power?” Dorian said.
“I think it’s nearing lunch time. Let’s go in.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“I am. And your momma’s made egg salad. And guess what? She’s got us some potato chips, son. Isn’t that something? I knew she’d break down eventually and…” He stopped when Dorian’s eyes met his, squinting as he saw straight through his father’s facade.
“You’re glad we’re black, aren’t you?” Dorian probed.
“What? Why would you say that, boy?”
“Because, the Angel Killer only kills pretty white girls, not pretty black girls. I think Momma’s cousin, Harmony, would be his type otherwise. Maybe even Momma. Only that they’re black is what might be keepin’ them alive.”
“Dorian,” Maurice struggled to control his temper but his shock was something he could not conceal. “Don’t talk like that! Jesus.”
Dorian looked back in at his mother, studying her.
“Jesus doesn’t have anything to do with it. Look at her, Dad. How pretty. On the short side. Momma can’t weigh no more than a hundred-and-twenty-pounds. Big smile. And her eyes are wide and round and…well, never mind,” Dorian shrugged. “She’s a bit too old I guess. Thankfully. But Harmony, she’s just like those white girls, except she’s…”
“Dorian!” Maurice leaned forward in his chair. “Stop that! What have your mother and I told you about taking interest in those things?” He bolted up out of his seat. The iron chair grating across the cement patio startled Dorian and he shuttered. “Don’t ever talk like that again. Do you want to curse us?”
“Those women weren’t cursed, Dad.” Dorian said. “They were murdered. They’re victims.”
“Victims? Stop it, Dorian.” Maurice strode into the house, huffing like a freight train. “Alice? Alice! We have got to do something about Dorian.”
Dorian took one last look through the window but his mother had left her place in front of her mirror. The room was empty. He walked to the iron patio table and looked at the front of the newspaper.
“Alice, really. Dorian has got to keep his nose out of the adults’ business,” Maurice demanded. “And we shouldn’t let him read newspapers and magazines any longer. No more Time and no more newspapers.”
“Oh, Maurice,” Alice said. “He’s just a curious boy. And too smart for his own good.”
“What? Y’all are driving me crazy. He’s out there with his curiosity all over the monster that killed those women, Alice,” Maurice shook his head, waving his hands, hunting for his thoughts. “Oh, shit it doesn’t matter. I’m just afraid of what these interests are saying about him, baby.”
“They say he’s a child with a conscience, Maurice.”
“A conscience? Are you sure? Because his curiosity about crime disturbs me a little.”
Dorian read the article aloud to himself, just loud enough to drown out the voices of his parents who did not seem to care that he might be within earshot. His father, always judgmental; his mother, always pleading and defending him.
“Waco Woman Found Slain. Last night near sundown, twenty-eight year old Mrs. Dana Caldwell of Waco was found by farmer, Gill Cooper, lying in his hay field in Robertson County. Mrs. Caldwell had been missing for three days and surfaced on Sunday. Like the six previous victims who were murdered before her in a similar fashion, Mrs. Caldwell had been stripped of her clothing and redressed in what looked to be an angel costume. Pale makeup had been applied to her face which offered a porcelain doll-like appearance, and her cheeks and lips were colored baby-doll pink. Her cheeks were sprinkled lightly with glitter as was her chest. Her assailant…” Dorian choked back his distaste, “Her assailant nailed angel wings to her back at both scapulas. As with other similar cases, the victim’s hands were folded together and held a rosary.
Authorities believe the victim was already dead before the attacker redressed and spiked the wings to her back. The Robertson County Medical Examiner said the cause of death is not apparent at this time and is unsure of any sexual assault; however, it is common knowledge that the other women found in the exact same fashion were not sexually assaulted, and it was ruled their deaths were due to asphyxiation. Some of the women were killed by strangulation and others by suffocation.
Dana Caldwell was a Graduate student at Baylor University and just celebrated her three-year anniversary in May with her husband, Carl, who she leaves behind along with her twelve-year old daughter from a previous relationship.
There are a few differences between Dana Caldwell and the previous victims, however. Caldwell was on the tall side, and blue-eyed. Based on previous reports, the other victims were all brown-eyed and shorter than Dana. And according to her husband, she was about thirteen weeks pregnant. The pregnancy has not yet been verified by the medical examiner.”
Dorian looked to the black and white photo of Dana Caldwell then dropped the paper to the table. He wondered how this type of crime found its way into his city-less county.
His mother, Alice, called to him. “Dorian, lunch!”
“The Angel Killer. Why do you get glory while everyone you touch suffers?” Dorian snorted and squinted in judgment. “You don’t kill angels, you make them. Angel Maker.”
~Copyright 2013 Wanda S. Paryla
Click here to read Chapter One next!… https://wandasparyla.com/2013/09/12/sneak-peek-chapter-one-the-sheriffs-of-robertson-county-angel-maker/
Book Review – This Love
Hi All! Just me, here with another book review.
FYI: I purchased this book, and this review was not requested by the author. Regardless, as always, this review is in depth.
THIS LOVE
By Nazarea Andrews
My Amazon rating: 3 of 5 stars for this tale of forbidden love.
As a reminder, my reviews are my views on a book and its characters. I try to avoid spoilers and will forewarn of them. I do not synopsis a book like many reviewers do, which to me is superfluous.
I’ll start at the cover…Fine and lovely work by Melissa Stevens, The Illustrated Author.
There was mention in another review(s) that Avery calling her father “Daddy” is immature. Personally, I realized that this story takes place in the South. I am from Texas. I have 45 year-old, highly educated, female friends still calling their fathers, Daddy. To clarify, it’s often a southern thing. I do understand that maybe the author could have recognized she was writing for a national, if not an international, audience and should have avoided that term. But where’s the originality in that? Where’s the reality of culture?
In books similar to this that I’ve read before, it’s always the woman who’s whining about the man not showing her love or saying I love you, or not wanting to stick it out, and how he doesn’t want to give up everything for her. Some reviewers must like this old redundant theme. For me, in this book, it was the other way around. It’s Avery who unselfishly didn’t want to see Atticus give up his life for her though the whole idea of losing him hurt her deeply. And she was afraid to mess up her own life too. Doesn’t that show consideration and ambition? I don’t see it as being weak or selfish, but being strong and level headed. I don’t know if this was the author’s intention or if the characters just wrote it that way, but it’s refreshing.
Atticus’ willingness to give up his life, move on to another job just to give this relationship a try is something we see very little of in reality or in books. I would call it uplifting; gallant, even. He’s not a shallow ass-chaser where Avery’s concerned. And unfortunately, we still see a lot of male chauvinistic behaviors in romance or erotic novels. Come on…Overdone. I like it better the Nazarea Andrews way.
The age difference between the two characters didn’t matter to me. I mean, this book is about a relationship that is taboo. In actuality, this is how it would be between a professor and a student who’s a senior in college. That’s where the illicit relationship comes in. Don’t we still believe that art imitates life? What I would’ve liked to have seen, however, was more near misses during the relationship. In truth, I would’ve enjoyed seeing them – a time or two – trying to hide from Atticus’ colleagues in a restaurant or her classmates at the mall in effort not to be caught. There are no cliff hangers, no hold-your breath-moments as far as action and intrigue. This story had the potential to be longer.
The characters seem to be developed enough for this first book in the series, but they could be more rounded. I think Atticus is definitely a hottie, but out of the appearing characters, Dane was my choice for most appealing. I’m always looking for a deviant underdog. By that I mean, I’m looking for someone to prove to me they are better a person than I first thought them to be. It’s early on in this series, but I’m looking to Dane for that role.
My hopes for future UB books: I wish the author will develop Avery’s character more if she is still to play a big role. Who is she, really? I can see the author’s not afraid to be original, so she should be more daring as well. This Love needed more tension – but not of the sexual kind, and a couple of “Oh, no. Run!” moments.
There are some details I did not like about the book and they are my personal reasons for not giving it 4 stars and have nothing to do with the story in general. While I absolutely love a First Person narrative, I did not like the “present tense” the book is written in. This is my opinion and has no bearing on the author or her work, but I think it caused a few of the lines of prose to be delivered awkwardly. I feel it limited the book as far as delivery and description. My brain had a hard time wrapping itself around the present tense narrative. That being said, I still must give kudos to the author for writing in this format. It is different.
Next, usually when we open to a chapter and there’s a heading such as “Chicago” or “April 2010”, we know that the following passage is about that subject. So when I opened to chapter one of This Love and read “Avery”, I assumed the passage was about Avery. I did not right off realize it was a cue to her speaking…or that the title meant that the passage was written from her point of view. So it took me a bit to realize that Avery was the one talking. In fact, it took me to the middle of next section titled “Atticus” for me to realize what was going on.
Also, while I have no problem with sex in a book, this one was a bit overboard. I’d like to see Atticus and Avery doing more than sex and drinking coffee. While sex can sell a book, it cannot sell a relationship to an audience. The ending was a bit hurried. As I said earlier, I feel this book could have been longer. I’d love to see this author really let loose. I’d like to see more obstacles and tension. Maybe Nik should’ve set Atticus’ car on fire for revenge.
I enjoy young adult and new adult books, but usually go for action, fantasy, mystery, or paranormal so the romance side of those genres is new to me. Overall This Love is a good summer read, especially for young adults. Although there seems to be no plot (but a lot of books do not have one) its succession seems to be finely planned out, and This Love is well written. I did run across a few over looked editing issues but nothing that takes away from the story. This series has great potential.
I am also interested in the Scout character and was pleasantly surprised to read the Epilogue to find that the next book, Beautiful Broken, is about Dane and Scout. I’ll be reading that one as I’m sure Dane won’t disappoint me. *wink* I’m sure it’s a 4-star read!
Book Review – Kydona: From Ashes
(4 of 5 stars on Amazon)
Hello Friends,
Here is another review for a really great book. If you like action, battle scenes and war stories with an underlying bit of romance and erotica, read on. As always, I try to refrain from using spoilers.
This latest blog is a review for Kydona: From Ashes, by T.K. Krug III. This is the sequel to Kydona which I reviewed in May, 2013. In case you haven’t read the first book, Kydona, you can read that review as well if you’d like to. You can find it on my blog here: https://wandasparyla.com/2013/05/15/book-review-kydona-7/
I think it’s important for you to read my review of Kydona because in Kydona: From Ashes you’ll get more of the same, but this time with more plot and more places to visit. Some things I liked most about the first book besides that it was written by an author who knew his subject, was how a few characters showed me there was more to them than meets the eye, and how the story closed was awesome too. The door just slammed shut. I know some won’t like that type of ending, but if there’s going to be a sequel, it’s fine and dandy by me. It was a nice little cliff hanger for this, the second story.
I can say little more than I already have in my earlier review of Kydona about the author’s incredible ability to bring one into war with him…or his characters…and force you to see and feel everything and everyone. This book is less about the development of some old character and more about development of a human being in the midst of the greatest despair to date in his history. It’s about how people under life-altering, horrifying distress can do one of two things, give up and give in, or reach for each other in support instead of lying down their sword to an enemy whether that enemy be foe or oneself. This is a book about a path to destiny. In this book we see the main character, Marcus, grow tremendously, even if unwilling at times, unfurling himself slowly like a military banner. And, this is exactly as it might have been for a man like him, in his situation, 1,000 years ago…or even today.
Marcus’ ability to go from drinking and binging like a teenager in the first book to overcoming his feelings toward unspeakable crimes against humanity, as well as his need to commit them for the common good, and live to the bitter end to make peace with himself, is heroic. In Kydona, he was tossed headlong into a war, to the frontlines, carelessly as a punishment and/or to be rid of him, yet in Kydona: From Ashes we champion him on as he prevails little by little overcoming his foes.
And, of course, there is no shortness of scheming. There are still methodical wenches and politicians, and military men…we just don’t realize what’s truly going on off scene until closer to the end. And well, there’s lies. The place that these lies put Marcus in regarding his father is maddening and sad.
This second book has quite a few twists and turns in it and despite Marcus being let down at nearly every turn, it is his men…who were first his comrades, then became his very own army… that showed him the respect and loyalty that carried him through. It was for their honor, and not his own, that he trudged onward through to the end of the book.
In Kydona, the two countries, Elessia and Kydona, are forced into a battle because their leaders refused to realize the one thing that would bring peace. Then in the end of Kydona: From Ashes, the story comes full circle (maybe seemingly accidental, if you don’t believe in fate) and peace is, for the moment, derived from the very thing first denied. Can’t tell…I don’t want to spoil.
Again, as in the first book, there is a character that proved that he was not just hogwash. For me, in Kydona it was Vernon. In Kydona: From Ashes, it is Roslene. I thought the whole time she was out only for Number One, and while even in the end it seemed so, I realize that maybe she schemed for love to actually raise someone above her. Devious, yes; shallow, no. But you all may find the characters that surprise you to be different from my picks.
We don’t see a huge difference in some of the lesser characters, but the growth of Marcus as a person is overwhelming enough in and of itself, and while we still catch glimpses of Vernon’s love of mischief, wine and women, as this story progresses, it becomes more of a joke. After all, even in our own lives, as we grow and learn out of pain, do we not wish for the good ol’ days? And really, would we truly go back if we could? Vernon continues to be a pertinent piece of this saga, even though he disappears for awhile, while Marcus makes his mark in Kydona and deals his hand with its tzarista, then Vernon reappears just as loyal as ever in the end.
I am still stumped as to the underlying theme of immortality that wades around in the last quarter or so of this book. I am wondering, will that go somewhere?
There are a couple of small things that kept me from giving Kydona: From Ashes five stars. Of course, these are just my opinion. I think the author should have given an introduction to the characters and a little back story for those who didn’t realize Kydona: From Ashes is a sequel. And it would also be a good refresher for those who might read Kydona but take several months to pick up the next book. This information could be given in a prologue or even in bits and pieces in the first couple chapters of the book with Marcus reminding us who these people are. The next thing along that same line is that perhaps on the back cover, or in the description, it should be revealed that this is a sequel so folks know to grab the first book.
In passing, this book could use a bit more editing but the oversights did not distract me from the story, but I’d urge the author or a proof reader to have another go at sprucing it up.
Overall, the story is engaging, the feeling of camaraderie stays with you as you read. If you want to know how people make it through war…maybe this is it. My assessment of the first book, Kydona, stands true for From Ashes as well (don’t forget to read my Kydona review!). Once again Krug’s work reads as well-researched historical fiction from the start. Nothing about what goes on in this book seems forged or overblown to me.
Feel free to check out an interview I did with T.K. Krug III here: https://wandasparyla.com/2013/05/15/t-k-krug-iii-an-author-interview/
Happy Reading!
(a poem) FOR THE DEFENDERS – YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL HEROES
I wrote this some years back. I last shared it in May & I am re-blogging it as this is Independence month in the USA.
A Re-blog…For Veteran’s Day:
**I began writing this poem way back during Operation Desert Storm. It was finally completed in 2009. I leave the copyright at 2009 because the poem hasn’t been changed much since. I wrote it for the people and animals who’ve died in “wars” for us since our beginning. I always like to share it somewhere on Memorial Day, Independence Day, & Veterans Day.** I hope you enjoy reading it. Someone once called this poem “profound.” I don’t know about that but I consider it the best piece I’ve ever written in my life…and the best piece I’ll ever write. I doubt I can ever top it. Nor do I want to.
FOR THE DEFENDERS – YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL HEROES, by Wanda S. Paryla
This work was written for every hero, past, present and future, of every state and nation: “Strive to forgive me…
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James Funfer – An Author Interview
Greetings friends!
I’m back again. I’d like to present to you an author interview with indie author James Funfer. If you didn’t see my blog review of his book, Crystal Promise: The Shattered Crystal, please feel free to check it out here: https://wandasparyla.com/2013/04/02/book-review-crystal-promise-the-shattered-crystal/
*Tell us a little about Crystal Promise: The Shattered Crystal (genre; description, etc.):
(I stole most of this from my synopsis…but it does a good job of describing the book, I think!)
Crystal Promise is a coming-of-age, urban fantasy novel about young love and tough choices, set against the backdrop of a late-industrial era nation called Novem.
Most of Novem’s technology runs on crystals mined from the ground, but many consider them to be more than just a power source. The Church of Novem worships a ‘Great Crystal’, which is thought to be a liaison between the gods and humanity. Those who can alter crystals at will, known as crystal-speakers, are an important part of that link between the earth and the divine.
For finishing school students Jacoby, Timori, Racquela and Crystara, concerns about crystals and the church are overshadowed by school, dances, sports and summer vacations. But when the Great Crystal selects its arranged marriages that year, a chain of events is set into motion that threatens to upset the entire nation. Betrothal promises are made with rings of crystal, but if they shatter, hearts are not the only things that will break…
*Why did you choose this particular cover art? (Feel free to plug your cover artist!)
David Baumgart and I had been looking for a project to do together for a while. Originally we wanted to make a webcomic, but he’s pretty busy making awesome video games (http://www.gaslampgames.com/). However, when the opportunity came up for me to choose my own artist for the cover, he was the first person to come to mind.
I had this picture in my head of the main characters looking down from a bridge, with the city in the background. David started working on it, until his amazingly savvy partner and graphic designer Megan Seely of Chestnut St. Pixel Foundry (http://cspixelfoundry.com/) told him that writers have no idea what they want, or what looks good. She was right, of course (at least in my case)…she designed the subsequent cover, David drew it, and the result has a lot more pop than anything I had in mind.
*Tell us something about yourself both on a personal level and as an author.
I created my own tabletop role-playing game when I was a teenager. Designing it nearly cost me a passing grade in physics class, but I learned a great deal about storytelling from the campaigns I ran, which benefited me when I began writing longer works of fiction.
*Do you outline or write a synopsis before you begin the actual story, or do you just start writing?
I tend to just start writing. I have a general idea of where I want the story to go and I write down a lot of notes, but it’s all mutable once I get into the narrative. I don’t like to strictly plan out every plot point, because characters tend to surprise me when they react organically. I feel that when I allow the story to change as I go along, the reader is more likely to be surprised, as well.
*Please tell us about any current projects you are working on.
Currently I’m working on the sequel to Crystal Promise, which continues right where the first novel ends. I’m also writing a character-driven science fiction series about how we define the human experience and the nature of spirituality.
*If Jacoby was a real man today, who would be his favorite author? (Besides you, of course.)
Jacoby grew up on tales of heroism and romantic ideals. A lot of Noven stories feature talented crystal-speakers, which appeals to him greatly. However, central to Crystal Promise are the themes of political pressure and cultural identity. I think he would identify greatly with the works of Guy Gavriel Kay.
*In retrospect, what advice would Crystara give to people her age regarding friendship?
Friendship isn’t about earning approval. It’s about enjoying someone else’s company, and forgiving each other for choices and mistakes made. It’s important to find happiness within yourself rather than trying to find someone to make you happy.
*What advice do you have for writers out there who are struggling with getting those first lines down on paper, or are filled with self doubt about the potential quality of their work?
Self-doubt is a crippling thing. Nobody can pick up a paintbrush and paint a realistic self-portrait without practice. Like any skill, the more you do it the better you get. Most artists are their own worst critic. It’s easy to see all of the flaws in your work, but we are often blind to our own talents and the things that make our writing so good. Trust in honest criticism of discerning friends, and accept praise when it is given.
It doesn’t matter where you start, as long as you write consistently. You can’t always wait for inspiration to strike; set aside time to write, set manageable goals, and write. Even if you think it’s garbage, the more you write the better your work will get.
*Give us links to learn more about you and your books (i.e. Amazon links, personal pages &/or websites, etc.).
Here’s my author website: http://jamesfunfer.com
I’m also on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JamesFunferAuthor
…and Twitter: @JamesFunfer
And my books are available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Promise-The-Shattered-Book/dp/0615665195/
…and Kobo:
T.K. Krug III – An Author Interview
This interview is with the author of Kydona, T.K. Krug III.
I hope you enjoy the interview.
Please check out the book review here after you read the interview: https://wandasparyla.com/?p=454&preview=true
*Tell us a little about Kydona.
Kydona is a hard fantasy told through the eyes of Marcus Audric de Pilars, a prince who stands to inherit a nation teetering on the brink of collapse. Why this is the case, you see playing out as Marcus explores a court mired in debauchery and conspiracy. It’s a human story, meaning it’s built around its characters. The plot moves to their beat. Whoever likes a twisting, character-driven story would like Kydona. If I had to compare it to another series, I’d say it possesses the elegant setting of Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel’s Legacy series, married to the raw grit and pragmatism of Joe Abercrombie’s First Law trilogy.
*Why did you choose this particular cover art? (Feel free to plug the cover artist.)
Sam Carr at SamCarr.net was kind enough to draw this up for me. It’s a picture of Kaelyn, one of the main characters of the book. Why did I choose picturing her over the actual protagonist? A combination of factors. She was, in several cases, one of the key plot drivers. She’s the cause of a lot of angst and turmoil, and she’s actually my favorite character in the book. And also, I had to be realistic and admit to myself that few things draw attention as well as sex appeal. A thumbnail of an attractive woman will get people clicking to, at the very least, see her in more detail. Women will sense a romantic subplot, possibly some steamy love scenes (which Kydona has) while men will likely go, “Oh hey, pretty girl!” and bam, click. I have to say, the gambit has worked well, so far.
*Tell us a something about yourself both on a personal level and as an author.
It’s tough for me to talk about myself but I guess that’s everyone, too. I’m currently riding out the last few months of my U.S. Army deployment in Afghanistan, and I’m really looking forward to getting home to my fiance, Cait. Between her and the Army, I have plenty of inspiration to base my writing on. People I’ve met in real life directly inform my characters. So be careful of getting on my bad side; you might just find your name immortalized forever. And not in a good way.
*Do you outline or write a synopsis before you begin an actual story?…Or do you just start writing to see where it goes?
I just write and see where it goes, but that didn’t work so well. The first two books of Kydona took 7 years to write. Jeez. I think it’s time to switch gears for book 3. I think that’ll speed the pace much more.
*Please tell us about any current projects you are working on.
I’m set to publish Kydona: From Ashes on June 1! Book 3 is in the works. The first chapter is partially written and there’s a vague outline in shape. I know exactly how I want the book to end and how to get there. It’s the interim between plot points that gets me.
*If your book(s) was being made into a movie or TV show/series, who would you choose for the main character role of Marcus? I honestly have no clue! It’s kind of embarrassing, but I’d have trouble picking an actor or actress for any of my characters.
*If Marcus was a real man today, who would be his favorite author? (Besides you, of course.) Joe Abercrombie. I think he’d learn a thing or two from the fight scenes.
*What advice do you have for writers who are struggling with getting those first lines down on paper, or are filled with self doubt about the potential quality of their work?
I’ve learned that it’s very difficult to write a story from start to finish. While I was writing Kydona, I always had this certain scene floating around in the back of my head–a scene that would define both books. It nagged at me constantly. I fell asleep ruminating on that unwritten scene. What I ultimately did was pause in my manuscript, create a new word document, and punch out that nagging scene. Then I filed the document away. What do you know, getting those words down on paper brought my muse roaring back, and my writer’s block just evaporated. And when it came time to finally cut-and-paste that scene into the manuscript, it wound up being the best part of the entire series–without any edits at all! So my advice to new writers like me: just write the part of the story that inspired you to write in the first place. Get it out, and the rest of the story will soon follow.
*Give us any links to learn more about you and your books (i.e. Amazon links, personal pages &/or websites, etc.).
My blog: http://kydona.blogspot.com/
My twitter tag: https://twitter.com/TKKrug
Amazon purchase link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C7VZTGU
Smashwords purchase link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/302931 (it’s free!)
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