Princes of the Universe by Queen (Two stories and an extra video)

When I got into fencing, I got into Highlander.  This song came with that and it’s the only thing that’s stayed.  In fact, I keep pausing here to sing along.  (No man can be my equal!)  I should pause the song to get this done . . . I’ll restart it later.

There is a funny story behind this song.  In freshman year, I had learned how to put songs as my computer’s opening sounds.  I picked the beginning of this song, which was epic.  Unfortunately, I slept with my head by the speakers.  My roommate offered to help a fellow student (girl) to print her paper at 4am.  He thought he turned the volume down, but put it to the top.  The computer turned on and I was rocketed into a sitting position.  Half a sleep, I cursed at him, threatened him, and fell back asleep.  I found out later that my roommate and this girl were scared out of their minds.  I moved the speakers after that.

I also changed the sound to the T-Rex roar from Jurassic Park.  That came in handy when someone tried to prank call the Phi Beta crew.  They tried one room and got an air horn, which also let us know what room they were in.  Not to be outdone, I needed something to do when they tried me.  I put in earplugs and gave them a full volume T-Rex roar.  We heard a distinct ‘What the F?!?!’

Those are college stories.  Here is more epic Queen:

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

.99 Cent eBooks for the Month of July!!

Multiple books on sale for .99 cents for the entire month of July.

C.N. Faust's avatarC.N. Faust

obnoxiousadvertisement

View original post

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Wishing for the Void

Bring me to the void
Where noises cease to be
Wrap me in a womb
Made of silence and numbness
Take my ears and eyes
And dash them upon the ground
Leave me with my thoughts
As I listen to my heart and mind
Desperately trying to speak
Through the chaos
That fills my daily life

Posted in Poems | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Scenes of Awesome

The Cockatrice

One thing about riding my exercise bike in the morning is that I’m stuck in a simple procedure and can think.  My mind wanders to my life and my writing.  This morning I realized I have two awesome things that I can do in the scenes I want to write today (tomorrow too if necessary).

The Cockatrice

I have a few odd monsters that I love to use, but I’m careful because I don’t want to use them too often.  The griffin is one and another is the beast you see above.  The Cockatrice was introduced to me in my first D&D game as an evil chicken that turns you to stone by looking at you.  It’s more than that, but that’s the gist.  I’ve been looking for a reason to use it and keep forgetting.  So, I was thinking of a dungeon monster and the Cockatrice came to mind along with a great Nyx scene.  Worst of all, this Cockatrice has been dead for so long that it’s a ghost and still has its stone gaze, so the warriors are useless.  I might bring the Cockatrice back for a later story, but right now.  I’m really looking forward to this battle and it allows me to make quick work of another fight in the scene that I wasn’t too thrilled about.

Debut of the 6th

Overall, 6 heroes will be taking the center stage for Legends of Windemere.  The 6th one has a big story, but I think I can have this character make a cameo.  Let’s just say you won’t know if this one is friend or foe.  All you’ll know is that this is a character that you don’t mess with.

Now I Don’t Even Know

One of the big stories in my series and overall mythology is going to be a love triangle that spans everything.  My final book ever will be where the decision is made.  I thought I had the victory planned out, but I’m no longer sure.  It’s rather confusing because I’ve spent years thinking it was one way and now it might be the other.  This could change when the other character tries harder or the one in the lead does something else.  Do people always know how these storylines are going to end?

Now, I’m off to write about a phantom Cockatrice.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Character Paths: Destiny Vs Free Will

You ever wonder if something happens to you because it was destined?  You had no choice in it happening, but you’re stuck with it.  You do look back as see if there was something you did to earn your fate.  Was there a decision you consciously made that caused all of this to happen?  Then, you’re wondering about destiny and free will.  I could go into the big philosophy discussion of which one is real, stronger, or whatever.  My personal belief is that both have an equal hand in our lives.  We are destined to reach a crossroads, but our decision is in our hands.  That’s as far as I go with that.

Windemere is a world where the strongest god is Gabriel, the god of destiny.  He forges the heroes and villains of the world as well as putting a little into every mortal’s life.  He is the one being that can bend the law of influence, which dictates that a god cannot physically interfere with mortal affairs under penalty of sealing.  So, many of my heroes work under the umbrella of destiny.  This cliche of fantasy adventures is one of my main focuses, which many people might roll their eyes at.  Many character roll their eyes at it too.

You see, I try really hard to find the balance between destiny and free will.  For example, the heroes of Legends of Windemere might be destined to reach the final battle (in some form), but they aren’t destined to survive it.  That requires them to put faith in themselves. I’ve read many books and seen many movies where it says the hero is ‘destined to be victorious’.  First one that comes to mind is Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland.  The scroll showed her killing the Jabberwocky and it sounded like this thing saw the future. Well, why would I believe she would fail if the future telling thing has already said she would win?  You say victory is predestined then the hero cannot fail under the rules.  Free will is where victory and failure should come from.  The decisions that a character makes are more important than what the gods of their world have said.

This is very hard to do with characters.  As fictional beings in our mind, they are destined for everything and their ‘free will’ is nothing more than our imagination running unchecked.  Our mind gets into the scene and the character races off against our plans . . . so, maybe our character do have some form of free will.  They can race around doing the unexpected while still hitting the major milestones of the story.  It isn’t entirely far-fetched to believe this.

So, what do you think of destiny and free will in writing?

Posted in Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 42 Comments

Return of the Banter! (Long & Crazy)

In the comment section of ‘Spark You Can’t Explain’, Ionia Martin and I decided to return to our old bantering ways.  Though, it looks like we might have gone through withdrawal and overdid it. This time, we’re posting it here for those that have the patience and interest to see the insanity.  If you aren’t following her blog then you better get over there now.  (Left in its original state because I quit formatting after the first bloody hour.)

June 20, 2013 at 12:18 pm

You wrote the guidebook

June 20, 2013 at 12:19 pm

Yup. Sadly, it was rejected for publication because I used to many curse words.

June 20, 2013 at 12:20 pm

Lol mine too. Try again?

June 20, 2013 at 12:32 pm

Sure. We’ll use your curse words this time around.

June 20, 2013 at 12:35 pm

Bloody hell!

June 20, 2013 at 12:39 pm

I’ve always wondered. Why is hell so bloody over there?

June 20, 2013 at 12:42 pm

Because we off Americans as sacrifices

June 20, 2013 at 12:54 pm

Remind me to skip any invitations from you that mention events with fire.

June 20, 2013 at 12:20 pm

Or “something”

June 20, 2013 at 12:38 pm

That didn’t help the audiobook.

June 20, 2013 at 12:39 pm

lol I thought it would be funny. I’d stop and consider every time you said it

June 20, 2013 at 12:53 pm

Well as long as I’m not being stuuuuupid.

June 20, 2013 at 1:53 pm

I like U’s. Americans under UUUUUse them. Julian will agree with me I’m sure.

June 20, 2013 at 1:58 pm

We’re simply to busy to waste time with them. They’re like V’s that let themselves go.

June 20, 2013 at 2:24 pm

Really? We have been confused this whole time then. We thought you were too lazy to remember them.

June 20, 2013 at 2:28 pm

Nope. And we say ‘my’ instead of ‘me’ just to annoy you. It’s written into the Constitution.

June 20, 2013 at 2:35 pm

I can think of other things you say that make you less intelligent mortals but I will not repeat them for fear of my dignity being compromised. You do realise that realise is spelled with an S?

June 20, 2013 at 2:39 pm

Not according the the spellchecker. Careful. This less intelligent mortal has cute dragons and destructive gnomes at his disposal.

June 20, 2013 at 2:54 pm

Clearly spellchecker was designed by an American.

June 20, 2013 at 2:57 pm

Of course. How else are we going to make sure we’re right?

June 20, 2013 at 2:58 pm

By checking against the Oxford English Dictionary, of course

June 20, 2013 at 3:00 pm

That’s just crazy talk. We invented the dictionary.

June 20, 2013 at 3:09 pm

Where do you think you came from?

June 20, 2013 at 3:12 pm

They don’t teach sex ed over there?

June 20, 2013 at 3:16 pm

We just can’t understand single cell organisms

June 20, 2013 at 3:21 pm

Guess biology is a missing subject too.

June 20, 2013 at 3:22 pm

We spend more time learning English

June 20, 2013 at 3:26 pm

I should hope so since you guys keep telling us how bad we are at it . . . soccer.

June 20, 2013 at 3:29 pm

*cough* Wanker

June 20, 2013 at 3:40 pm

Throwing an insult is cheating because I can’t throw one back. What happened to chivalry and playing fair?

Beyotch ;P

June 20, 2013 at 3:40 pm

further proof that you people can’t spell.

June 20, 2013 at 3:45 pm

We’re a creative people. Why should we keep using the same boring words everyone else is using?

June 20, 2013 at 3:46 pm

Oh that must be it. Or you have no idea what any of us are saying because we believe in proper speech. Arse.

June 20, 2013 at 3:49 pm

We don’t really listen. We assume you’re always talking about tea and how you used to ‘rule’ the world until 13 little colonies kicked your arse.

June 20, 2013 at 3:50 pm

We kicked you out. We send all of our rejects to the rock called America

June 20, 2013 at 3:56 pm

Only you guys would evict someone and force them to keep paying rent. No wonder we whooped your butts.

June 20, 2013 at 3:59 pm

First off it not Butt. Second of all WE do not force you to do anything. You couldn’t figure out the directions anyway. They are written in English.

June 20, 2013 at 4:01 pm

First off, I think you meant it’s not Butt. Second, the directions are clearly written in Spanish and Chinese. Third, you’re right. We stopped listening to you guys a long time ago. Must be why we’re so awesome these days.

June 20, 2013 at 4:04 pm

Must be that you don’t listen because you are too busy talking in your slang.

June 20, 2013 at 4:10 pm

Dayum bitches be crazy.

That still makes more sense than bugger all.

June 20, 2013 at 4:11 pm

Stop acting like such a radge. Honestly.

June 20, 2013 at 4:15 pm

Now I’m sure you’re making words up. You short people sure get frustrated and hit gibberish rather quickly.

June 20, 2013 at 4:16 pm

I’m sorry. All I heard was “blah blah blah”

June 20, 2013 at 4:29 pm

That’s cause you’re too low to the ground. I can kneel down or get you a step stool, so you can hear me.

June 20, 2013 at 5:20 pm

Stand up and take it like a man…oh wait…you are standing.

June 20, 2013 at 5:25 pm

Stop threatening my kneecaps, Queen of Lilliput.

June 20, 2013 at 7:15 pm

They are all I can reach according to you.

June 20, 2013 at 7:19 pm

The term ankle-biter suddenly comes to mind.

June 20, 2013 at 7:20 pm

Leave the squirrels out of this

June 20, 2013 at 7:21 pm

If only I could. They’re always around.

June 20, 2013 at 7:22 pm

Furry little bastards

June 20, 2013 at 7:23 pm

I think somebody keeps feeding them and they won’t go away.

June 20, 2013 at 7:24 pm

*hides chips

June 20, 2013 at 7:26 pm

*squirrels tackle Ionia* Don’t worry. We have two more of you around here ever since we broke reality.

June 20, 2013 at 7:28 pm

3 of you and three of me sounds like world domination

June 20, 2013 at 7:30 pm

We can get behind that.

June 20, 2013 at 7:31 pm

at least we stayed on topic today.

June 20, 2013 at 7:37 pm

Of course we did . . . what post was this on anyway?

June 20, 2013 at 7:38 pm

That one about that thing. I think you wrote it. I see you standing in that profile picture.

June 20, 2013 at 7:43 pm

Guess so. That explains the familiar background. So . . . cupcakes and we start again tomorrow?

June 20, 2013 at 7:48 pm

Lol yep

June 20, 2013 at 7:51 pm

See you then.

June 20, 2013 at 7:52 pm

wait…you can see me? What window are you looking in? Peeeeeeeping Tom!!!! Heeeeelp!

squirvert

June 20, 2013 at 7:55 pm

Uh, you left your webcam on. Might want to clean up a bit.

June 20, 2013 at 7:57 pm

Again? Wait…so did you. Nice hello kitty t shirt btw

June 20, 2013 at 8:07 pm

Thanks. It came with a matching skirt, but I didn’t have the legs for it.

June 20, 2013 at 8:09 pm

are you sure? Short skirts and shorter legs are in this season. Have you seen my care bear?

June 20, 2013 at 8:13 pm

It’s more of a hair thing. Unless I plan on being a professional swimmer, I refuse to wax.

I see him in the corner wearing your bathing suit. I’m not going to ask.

June 20, 2013 at 8:15 pm

there you are sunshine bear!

Hey look I found my stuffed animal too.

June 20, 2013 at 8:17 pm

Okay . . . I think somebody found some tequila in her room.

June 20, 2013 at 8:18 pm

nope just a rose

June 20, 2013 at 8:19 pm

That still doesn’t explain why you’re dancing on your bed. Are you doing the Macarena?

June 20, 2013 at 8:22 pm

No there was a spider

June 20, 2013 at 8:24 pm

Oh . . . I was wondering why you had a spider tattoo on the back of your shoulder.

June 20, 2013 at 8:26 pm

I didn’t know I was going to have superpowers when he bit me

June 20, 2013 at 8:27 pm

I think they call it a rash actually, but superpowers can work too.

June 20, 2013 at 8:32 pm

I only got a rash because it was a radioactive spidey

June 20, 2013 at 8:34 pm

And Spider-Ionia takes to the streets to fight crime. Though, doing it in your pajamas might not be a good idea.

June 20, 2013 at 8:34 pm

Oh never mind that was just squirrel poo

June 20, 2013 at 8:35 pm

You really need to clean that room. I suggest using fire.

June 20, 2013 at 8:36 pm

Yeah you did make a mess

June 20, 2013 at 8:36 pm

I told you fencing with me in the house was a bad idea

June 20, 2013 at 8:40 pm

I never pass up a fencing challenge. Besides, you swung at me first.

June 20, 2013 at 8:41 pm

Only to protect you from a cupcake tossing ninja squirrel

June 20, 2013 at 8:43 pm

You promised you wouldn’t train any more of those. The last batch nearly got us arrested.

June 20, 2013 at 8:45 pm

Only because you decided to tell the cop that they were just confused toddlers with a facial hair disorder. He would have believed you if you hadn’t streaked down the street to distract him.

June 20, 2013 at 8:46 pm

And using his car as a trampoline was a good idea? How you changed into that bikini without anyone noticing is beyond me.

June 20, 2013 at 8:47 pm

I wear it under my spongebob Jammie’s

June 20, 2013 at 8:49 pm

That makes perfect sense for some reason.

June 20, 2013 at 8:51 pm

Never know when the victim will fall in a pool

June 20, 2013 at 8:52 pm

I keep telling you that you’re not a trained lifeguard just because you’re wearing a swimsuit and have a whistle. It’s a slide whistle too.

June 20, 2013 at 8:53 pm

Well I don’t get any other attention here so I like my whistle. Stuuuuuff it shortarse.

June 20, 2013 at 9:01 pm

I think somebody needs a nap, a hug, and a piece of a chocolate. Can you be a dear and get me those things, little hobbit?

June 20, 2013 at 9:05 pm

Get them yourself. Wizzard

June 20, 2013 at 9:13 pm

Hmmm. They weren’t that important.

June 20, 2013 at 4:13 pm

Well one had nothing to do with the other so I should think not. You know, Big Ben is awfully TALL. Shortarse.

June 20, 2013 at 4:14 pm

That’s funny coming from half a hobbit.

June 20, 2013 at 5:20 pm

At least I am happy that I’m not the bottom half

June 20, 2013 at 5:26 pm

Keep telling yourself that. *pats you on head*

June 20, 2013 at 5:30 pm

Yes I do rather like talking to myself. I speak excellent English.

June 20, 2013 at 5:33 pm

You know talking to yourself is a sign you’re crazy.

June 20, 2013 at 5:38 pm

Then you are stuuupid because the word is mad. Besides, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing time and again expecting a different result. You wouldn’t do that, right?

June 20, 2013 at 5:41 pm

Nope. Not like I continue talking to the same person hoping and expect her to be sweet. Are all backpack girlfriends this cheeky?

June 20, 2013 at 5:43 pm

Leave my cheeks out of this. Berk.

June 20, 2013 at 5:48 pm

They do kind of puff out like a squirrel. Guess that explains the squirrel queen title.

June 20, 2013 at 6:31 pm

Only because I am trying to hide all the cupcakes from you.

June 20, 2013 at 6:38 pm

It’s rude to talk with your mouth full. I thought you were all about manners.

June 20, 2013 at 6:41 pm

I said proper English I didn’t say shite about manners.

June 20, 2013 at 6:43 pm

Fair enough. You short people are so temperamental.

June 20, 2013 at 6:44 pm

You would know oompa

June 20, 2013 at 6:51 pm

I’m Wolverine height, which doesn’t help my case in any way. Still taller than you, so I win.

June 20, 2013 at 7:12 pm

Have you ever heard of small man complex?

June 20, 2013 at 7:15 pm

Yes, but you’re a woman, so you can’t use that excuse.

June 20, 2013 at 7:18 pm

Do you always call yourself a woman?

June 20, 2013 at 7:20 pm

You review books with that reading comprehension?

June 20, 2013 at 7:21 pm

I’m sorry I couldn’t understand you I was reading

June 20, 2013 at 7:23 pm

Are we suddenly have three different conversations on the same comment thread at the same time?

If we end up in a padded room, it is so your fault.

June 20, 2013 at 7:24 pm

I’d stick my tongue out if I wasn’t so mature

June 20, 2013 at 7:25 pm

The correct term is matuuuuuuuure.

June 20, 2013 at 7:26 pm

Would that it were all yanks were so easy to teach

June 20, 2013 at 7:28 pm

I still refuse to say humour. Humor, humor, humor, humor, humor.

June 20, 2013 at 7:32 pm

I still refuse to believe U can’t use U’s

June 20, 2013 at 7:37 pm

If we used U’s then what would you criticize us about? See. We do it because we love you guys.

June 20, 2013 at 7:46 pm

We would compliment your intelligence because we are very well mannered individuals.

June 20, 2013 at 7:48 pm

With some of the most colorful and amusing slang I’ve ever heard.

June 20, 2013 at 4:04 pm

G

June 20, 2013 at 3:51 pm

you zeem to think you are zo zuperior.

June 20, 2013 at 3:57 pm

We iz.

June 20, 2013 at 4:00 pm

Such Silly Statements.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 118 Comments

Author Interview: Misha Burnett

Author interview of Misha Burnett

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Orcs and Aliens – adspace campaign!

Want to advertise in the first issue of a new fantasy/science fiction magazine?

C.N. Faust's avatarC.N. Faust

Hello my darlings,

For Orcs and Aliens magazine, we have decided to open up some opportunities for YOU (yes, you) to advertise your business/book/craft/person/organization/whatever-have-you in the very first issue!!

WHAT YOU GET – Space in our issue for your ad! We have different sizes to suit your needs at prices that will suit any budget. And with a donation of an extra $10 on top of your add, you will get acknowledgement with sponsorship notation on our website, Twitter, and Facebook page.

WHAT DOES IT COST? A full page ad is $25, a half-page ad is $15, and a quarter or basic ad is $10.

HOW DO I PAY? All payments will be made through PayPal or by Cashier’s Check.

WHO DO I EMAIL? Email futurefantasypub@outlook.com and be sure to put “Ad Space – (size of ad)” in the subject line!

I have posted examples of each type of ad…

View original post 44 more words

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Wandering Hands

Been a long time, but I’m doing a We Drink Because We’re Poets Poetry Prompt.  At least if I can keep my hands from wandering off.

My attention slips
For the briefest moments
And off they go again
Right moves for a pen
Spinning it among its fingers
Left snags a slinky
Firing it at plastic cups
Get your act together, boys!
I need you to get work done
Right scratches my head
Left dances in the air
All ten fingers wiggle
Each playing their own piano
With a resounding clap
I knock their heads together
Now, my idle hands
BEHAVE!

Posted in Poems | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Really, Amazon?

If you aren’t familiar with Amazon then you might not realize that after a certain amount of reviews, their system picks review quotes.  These are sentiments that are mirrored in multiple reviews.  No idea how they pick these quotes, but I think Amazon needs to stop letting computers run their business.  Here is the newest one to pop up on mine.  This is to help ‘sell’ my book:

“The minor characters tended to feel like generic plot devices but did not detract from the story enough to break the flow.”- Rabid Walrus I 4 reviews made similar statements.

Thanks, Amazon!  Nobody knows this quote came from a 4-star review and they might not read far enough to realize it isn’t an insult.  I know it isn’t a person’s fault on this one.  I know that there is so much to do that they need computers to do stuff for them.  Yet, this affects sales.  I don’t know why this quote was chosen and replaced a fully positive quote.  Do these things cycle?  Is there an Amazon programmer that I offended with my book?

This isn’t even rage.  This is a face palm WTF!? moment.  I know Amazon doesn’t care because I’m one grain of sand in their desert and not even a surface one.  Still, I wonder if this is happening to bigger books.  If it is then Amazon might want to fine-tune this system and program it to not take backhanded compliments as quotes.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 49 Comments