Almost Back to Normal: Progress Has Been Made

Posted on July 22, 2017 by Charles Yallowitz

This feels like a whirlwind of a week and I can barely remember the beginning.  I believe I was going to put these into sections for easier reading too.  Well, let’s get this clown car on the road.

Return of the Laptop

The laptop finally came back Monday and I spent most of the afternoon testing it.  The speakers had to be replaced and now the sound works.  Poor thing kept getting pushed to do updates though.  I’d be writing along and suddenly get a message about needing to restart the system.  The worst was one that had a timer, which is the easiest way to make a guy panic.  Just writing along with nary a care in the world.  Suddenly, you have a countdown on the screen and feel like you’re in a James Bond movie.  The first few seconds are lost to confusion and then a few more to flapping your arms in a wild panic.  That second part might just be me.  Either way, the laptop is back and I can get back to writing at my normal pace . . . except:

The HEAT!

It’s been so hot and humid here.  I know people live in areas that are worse, but it’s just oppressive here.  One reason is because the houses here were designed to retain heat for the New York winters.  Back in the day, you didn’t have to worry about this.  Now, it’s like Florida weather followed me here.  Even worse, I tend to work upstairs and that part of the house becomes a sauna.  Not quickly too, so I’ll be toiling away and gradually cook like that frog in boiling water thing.  I’ve had to retreat to the dining room and ask for the air conditioning by about noon, which still leaves me drained.  Nothing says fun like sweating up a storm and getting a ‘there goes the power bill’ comment when the air conditioner is turned on.  Really makes me miss how Florida operated. They knew you needed the AC on all day to keep things cool and avoid mold/mildew.  The power company didn’t take advantage of that like the ones here.  At the very least, you didn’t have to feel guilty about taking steps to avoid sweating enough to fill a public pool.

Sleep Apnea Appliance Has Arrived

Sleep Apnea Oral Appliance

This is what I have to wear to bed for the rest of my life.  Went to pick it up on Tuesday and I have to go back for adjustments in 2 weeks.  It’s weird since the upper part feels like it’s yanking my teeth, which hurt for a few minutes after I take it off in the morning.  The bottom one is fine, but my tongue managed to pop it out on the first night before I went to sleep.  To explain, this pulls my jaw forward, which pulls my tongue away from my throat where it tends to bunch up when I sleep.  A big reason for this is because my tongue is too big for my mouth.  That’s the gist of it.  Maintenance isn’t too bad since I have to brush it with alcohol free mouthwash.  Haven’t done the weekly denture tablet cleaning yet, but I’ll do that Sunday.

So far, I can’t tell if it’s helping me sleep.  People can’t hear my snoring through the vents and my wife says it’s reduced.  Might never be gone completely, but it’s a gradual change of things.  Do I feel like I have more energy? Not really.  One of the issues is that I’m up at 5:30 AM on the weekdays to get things ready for my son’s summer school and get some work done before everyone wakes up.  I don’t set an alarm for this.  I just happen to wake up at this time and I can never fall asleep before 11 PM.  Weekends will be the main test because I can crawl back into bed after hitting the bathroom.  Fingers crossed that it works out.

Bedlam

There aren’t any other projects that I’m working on.  I finished a few chapters and only have 9 left of Derailing Bedlam.  Reese did get brought up in passing as long as Lloyd doing a ‘that should tide you over’ comment.  One thing I’ll always enjoy about this series is reacting to the audience through the characters.  Will Reese make another physical appearance? No idea.  We’ll have to wait and see.

Another thing I have to figure out is if I put a link to Protecting Bedlam on the next installment.  It seems weird to do it with a blog book.  I feel like it would be wrong to take it all off the blog and make it a published work too.  Does it make sense to list a ‘blog only’ on the list of previous rampages?  Not to mention I’m still not sure how I’m going to pull off another release.  Doubt and worry is still going strong.

Life in General

Not much going on here.  I’ve fallen in love with the pretzel dog at Sonic and their shakes are delicious.  Thankfully, it’s not the easiest place to get to and you have to sit and wait for your food even if you’re taking it home.  So, I won’t be going too often.  This is going to work with me simply not saying no if somebody suggests going.

Next week is going to be a little busy, but not as bad as this one.  An event that I’ll mention next Saturday is looming.  There might be something else to mention here, but life has basically been covered above.  I really should do something about this notepad, brackets, cut out names, and Michael Jackson hat that’s been sitting in the corner all this time.  It was going to be a fun project with the kid.  Get him to help me choose the characters for each fight and then roll dice to see who will win.  Just haven’t gotten the chance because of homework or lack of privacy.  Doing stuff like this around people who already look at me strange tends to make the procedure more aggravating than fun.  Nothing like doing something quirky for a story and being questioned like you’re an idiot.

So, what’s up for this week?

  1. Write more Derailing Bedlam.
  2. Continue getting used to the oral appliance.
  3. Stop laughing when I write or say ‘oral appliance’.
  4. Read more Claymore.
  5. Help prep for next weekend’s big event.
  6. Try to stay cool.
  7. Remember what I was going to write about here and forgot.  Swear there was something I missed.
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Dirty Dozen – Character Interview – Gwyn Blaidd – Fantasy/Bundle

Posted on July 22, 2017 by Charles Yallowitz

eranamage's avatarLibrary of Erana

CHARACTER NAME: Gwyn Blaidd

  • Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a Heroka of the wolf totem. The Heroka are a race of shapeshifters. We are linked to our totem species, drawing our vitality from them, with the power to control those animals and to take their form.

I’m over 100 years old and have been living a life of a recluse in my wilderness retreat, surrounded only by my wolf brothers. I’m not big on humans. I have my reasons. Probably something to do with them killing anyone I ever loved.

  • Tell us why you’re embarking on this adventure?

Didn’t have a lot of choice, did I? First an old friend, Ed Three Rivers, emails me. His granddaughter, Mary, has been killed. Maybe a wild animal. Maybe a Heroka. He wants my help.

Then Mitch Ducharmes, head of the Circle of the Heroka, shows up with a teenage girl…

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Q & A with Ichabod Brooks

Posted on July 21, 2017 by Charles Yallowitz

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So, here are the questions and answers for the Ichabod Brooks Q&A.  Thank you to everyone who participated.  Enjoy the fun!

From C.S. Boyack: Ichabod, what experience do you have with the gnomes and their inventions?

I’m friends with a few gnomes who I go to for help on certain jobs.  Their inventions are a calculated risk, but only if they’re untested.  When I was starting out, I’d volunteer for testing jobs since I figured it was easy money and a good way to make friends with people smarter than myself.  As I’ve gotten older, I’ve shied away from being a guinea pig.  So, I only use the things that my friends know will work and I convince them to stay nearby in case I need help.  Personally, I prefer magic artifacts and relics because they’re easier to control.  It’s just that some situations call for a solution that hasn’t been invented yet.

From Colin-Noel Johnson: First, if you had to chose another career, what would it be?

I’ve thought about this many times.  There are the obvious ones like soldier, wilderness guide, and whatever else involves traveling.  Those are too easy to pick because they’re nothing more than lateral moves from adventuring.  So, to go completely off the battered path, I’d become a baker.  It’s a little hobby now, but I’d be happy to make a career out of that.  Maybe it can be a retirement plan.


Second, have you ever been asked to join an important quest with famous heroes?

Surprisingly, I haven’t had the opportunity.  I’ve crossed paths with a few, but was never invited to join.  Part of it might be due to my use of contracts and having a reputation for doing jobs instead of questing for the heck of it.  Although, I could have been invited onto one and not realized it.  Once I pass on a job, I don’t really check in on it.


Third, do heroes run in your family?

No.  My mother made blankets and sheets while my father was a shepherd.  So, I grew up as a farmer before joining the local army.  Most of my ancestors have been farmers, crafters, and . . . bards.  There’s been a handful of those.  Honestly, it’s better this way because it means I’m hired for me and not for what someone in the family did.  Even better, I don’t have any enemies who I didn’t make myself.  Few things are more irritating than a person hating you because of what your great-great-great Uncle did to their great-great-great-great-great grandfather.


Fourth… what’s the best way to get a zombie out of a house? I’m stuck on the roof until you answer.

Since it sounds like there’s only one, you have the advantage of speed and agility.  Now, the easiest thing to do is climb back inside, grab a blunt object, and kill it.  Zombies aren’t stealthy, so you can hear it coming.  If you simply want it to leave then climb to the ground, get some rotten meat, and make a path out of the house.  Start it at the edge of a forest or wherever you want the zombie to go then make your way to the door.  Never start at the door because it might come out while you’re still preparing and follow without you realizing it.  Knock to draw its attention to the food.  That should cover it.

From Deby Fredericks: You mention getting older and being a family man. Would you ever consider taking a more settled position such as captain of the watch?

It’s been suggested, but probably not.  When I settle down and retire, it’ll be the homestead for me.  No more excited, battles, monsters, and tales for the bards to sing about.  Just me and all the relaxing things I’ve wanted to do.  At least it will be if the joints and muscles aren’t a mess by then.

From L.Marie: Ichabod, do you have a favorite weapon(s)? If so what?

I don’t really have a favorite weapon because I need to take whatever I think will be good for the job.  My expertise is with the longbow, so that’s probably what I would consider my favorite.  Be rather silly to claim I love fire arrows, bring them on every job, and then get killed battling a lava monster.

How did you and your wife meet?

Going to have to be careful here because I don’t like giving the details when she’s not around.  I had done a job that resulted in her coming after me.  We fought, got into trouble that forced an alliance, and then had to spend three months surviving in the wild until we were found.  It was probably a year later that we ran into each other again and tried dating, which wasn’t easy given our careers.

Have you ever met a bard you actually liked? If so, who?

This is a common misconception.  I do finds bards obnoxious and pains in the neck, but I don’t truly despise them.  It isn’t like I get angry every time I run into a bard.  Most are okay and will stop singing about me if I ask.  It’s just that a handful of jerks have put me on edge about all of them.  There’s actually a bard or two that I go to for help if the job requires their skills.

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Indie Author Friday: Martin Allen #IndieAuthor #YA #Fantasy

Posted on July 21, 2017 by Charles Yallowitz

Teri Polen's avatarBooks and Such

It’s Friday again – and today Martin Allen is here with his extensive collection of multiple genre books.  Martin would like to be one of my favorite Avengers, and if any of you are looking for book reviews, he offers some ideas below.

An exploration of the perceived infallibility of DNA and Fingerprint Evidence as presented in UK Law. Until relatively recently there have been virtually no challenges to the reliability of these types of evidence. This title explores not only the cases that have challenged these evidential types in the UK but also persuasive authorities from overseas and expert opinions on their scientific validity as they are currently presented in the UK.

Recondite is a number of abstract digital pieces combined into one collection. Each piece is an invocation of a particular mood or concept. The pieces are grouped according to the original source material into a number of…

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Requiem for the Status Quo, on #LisaBurton Radio

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Charles Yallowitz

coldhandboyack's avatarEntertaining Stories

“Hello, caller. You’re on the air with Lisa Burton. What can we do for you today?”

“I don’t think I’ve met you, Lisa, this is Patrick Quinn, can you please put my daughter, Colleen, on the phone?”

“Sorry, Patrick I think you’ve got the wrong number. I’m actually a radio talk-show host, Lisa the robot girl.”

“Robot girl? What can I do for you?”

“Well, Patrick, you called me and I’m glad you did. Now that we’re on the air, what would you like to talk about?”

“If I had my druthers, I’d like to talk about and to Connie. She’s my wife. She died a few years ago. Let me tell you about her … did you say your name is Laura?”

“Close, it’s Lisa.”

“Let me tell you, Lisa, that wife of mine was a firecracker, she sure kept me on my toes but a few years ago…

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Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore – New on the Shelves – #Memoir – What Did I Do? by Chuck Jackson

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Charles Yallowitz
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The Mysterious Mrs. Brooks

Posted on July 19, 2017 by Charles Yallowitz

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In an earlier post, I brought up that Ichabod’s wife is mentioned in conversation, but never makes an appearance.  That isn’t to say she’s a total mystery in The Life & Times of Ichabod Brooks.  You get a sense of her background, the relationship, and her reputation without her showing up.  She’s always been a factor in the stories without being involved, especially if you see that she’s mentioned in his contract/sign.  Now, there are a few reasons this works out even though the idea came about by accident.  I was still trying to decide on having her appear or not, but never found the right spot.  Part of this is because I was considering giving her a short story collection if people took to her as well as they did with Ichabod.  Still a possibility, but I also get the sense that the story she shows up in would be the last one written for her husband.  So, what are the benefits of the mysterious Mrs. Brooks?

  1. It adds a little fun and mystery to the entire collection.  You can piece together a lot about her from Ichabod’s conversations and other hints that are introduced throughout the stories.  Think of it like searching for Easter Eggs in a movie or video game.  Just a few nods to paint a picture of the woman who is considered the legendary Ichabod Brooks’ equal.  It’s almost like a puzzle, but one that you can only put together once since the fun ends as soon as she’s out of the shadows.
  2. This helps to create a division of work and home life for Ichabod.  We see and talk about this mentality a lot in real life.  You don’t want to bring your work home and you don’t want to bring your home problems to work.  By having his family remain off-screen, the separation remains more palpable and physical.  There’s a line in Ichabod’s life that divides his two worlds and having them crossover could cause a mess.  This is a worry that all of us can relate to in a way.
  3. Mrs. Brooks’s mystery helps to reinforce the idea that she works darker jobs than her husband.  There are hints that she’s been a soldier, mercenary, and assassin.  At the very least, her career path is a combination of all three.  This requires that she avoid the high profile reputation that Ichabod has.  She can be well-known within her circles, but an assassin or spy that is famous will find it harder to get the job done.  It’s a very big difference between her and her husband, which also makes one wonder how they met.  Not to mention if there’s a moral division between them.
  4. I get time to figure out who she is because even I’m not sure.  Over the course of the stories, I add pieces to his wife that weren’t there before.  Every adventure that Ichabod has helps me decide on the woman that can match him.  Whether it be thinking of how she would do it differently or mentioning that he’s using a tool she gave him, it helps to slowly paint the picture.  That way, I can be sure of what I’m working with when she does make an appearance.
  5. Ichabod and his wife could run the risk of overshadowing each other.  I do fear that her showing up will take away from him being the protagonist.  Just like if I gave her a collection, I’d keep Ichabod out of it.  Both feel like they have strong personalities, but I get the sense that his wife is the more aggressive one.

So, will Mrs. Brooks ever appear or even get a first name?  That really depends on how well thinks go for the books.  I’d love to do more collections with Ichabod since I have more stories that didn’t get into this one.  Techinally, I could keep him going forever and then branch off to stories with his wife.  Anyway, this will be part of another post.

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Swift Six Character Interview – Fairchild #Sci-fi #Bundle

Posted on July 18, 2017 by Charles Yallowitz

eranamage's avatarLibrary of Erana

Swift Six Character Interview

Character Name (Lady Danielle Cooper) Fairchild

Which book/world do you live in? Fairchild by Blaze Ward

Tell us about yourself:

I just want to fly, man. Nothing else. That adrenaline rush of free-jumping from 20,000 meters with nothing but a bodysuit and thermals, racing to capture a flag fifty kilometres away.

What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

I suppose my greatest strength is that drive. It got me out of my father’s house, and out from under his thumb. If he cut me off, I have friends, and we’ll have far grander adventures than anyone sitting in a boring corporate boardroom.

Weakness? The darkness. It’s in me. Deep. Infecting my dreams and my days. Sometimes, it gets so close that ending it would only take a few ounces of pressure on a trigger.

Name three important people/creatures/institutions in your world (such as lovers, pets, government…

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Tuesday Anything Possible – The Enhanced League by C.S.Boyack – Book Launch #RRBC

Posted on July 18, 2017 by Charles Yallowitz

John W. Howell's avatarFiction Favorites

I have enjoyed C. S. Boyack’s books and am pleased to be part of his launch crew. Today I have a special guest, Lisa Burton who is here to talk about The Enchanted League his latest.  The post is yours, Lisa.

Thanks for inviting me back today, John. I enjoy getting away from the writing cabin from time to time, and these whirlwind tours are a wonderful way to refresh my attitude.

Craig and I are making the rounds to promote his new book, The Enhanced League. It’s a collection of short stories that serve to tell an overarching story by the end. It’s all about a professional baseball league where nobody cares about performance enhancing drugs.

They look at it like everyone is an adult, and can make their own mind up about supplements and drugs. To be competitive, there is a bit more pomp than you might find…

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Straight As an Arrow Archery School & Pincushion Pavilion

Posted on July 17, 2017 by Charles Yallowitz

Robin Hood in Men in Tights

Welcome to the place where you too can become a magical archer.  Just like all of those other archers that you’ve seen on television, movies, or read about.  What do you mean not all of them are magical?  Do they rarely miss even from far away and aiming at moving targets?  Do their weapons never break regardless of usage?  Well, there you have it.  Now, step over here and take a few shots to let us know what we’re working with.

One skimmed shot, two in the second circle, and one in the shoulder of our secretary who was half a building behind you.  I can see we’re going to need a lot of work and somebody is about to file for workman’s comp.  Just walk it off, Marcy, and get a healing potion from the break room!  You can take the rest of the day off too.  So, you might be wondering what we have to do now.  If you were thinking that the lessons will begin then you’re wrong because my job is only to determine your classes and gear.  A book list will be giving later and I assure you that they can double as weightlifting.

First, I’m going to give you a basic quiver of endless arrows because enchantment preferences aren’t picked until your second semester.  That can be elemental charges, transformations, or simple power and speed enhancements, so it doesn’t hurt to think about things now.  Your arms shake a lot, so I’m going to put you down for stabilizing bracers.  These go on your forearms and prevent the muscles for shaking while releasing a calming spell.  Given your height, I’m thinking a longbow, but the crossbow is another possibility.  Only because you seem jittery and I find it harder to aim with a longbow than a crossbow.  Keep in mind that I’m trying to figure out how to protect the people standing behind you.  Maybe a peacock shield belt that’s designed for someone bigger.  The barrier goes up from your back and fans out, so that could stop the arrow.  It will result in you getting smacked in the neck and head at times.

Did you have a certain occupation in mind?  Gardener?  Oh, you’re already a gardener and the squirrels are giving you trouble.  Have you ever considered getting a dog or hiring a professional.  The rabbits ate your dog and the professional hasn’t been seen since the elk arrived.  Far be it for me to ask for clarification, but it sounds like you only need a part-time student package.  No need for history or advanced tactics since you’re targets are animals.  All you need to know is how to shoot without getting yourself in the head, which is a cheap program.  If you’re willing to put in the time, we can put you on a two week . . . What was that?

I’m sorry, but did you say that ogres took over your house and have kidnapped your family?  Sir, I don’t think you need lessons.  I believe you need a professional that can solve your problem right away.  Yes, revenge stories are popular, but ogres are known for eaten people.  Don’t you think it’s smarter to handle this quickly instead of learning a skill that you obviously have no gift for.  Sorry if I insulted you, but I’m just worried about your family.  How did they know the risks when they took the job?  You built the farm on ogre territory and buried a murdered shaman under your house.  Nope, I’m just pulling this rope for my own amusement.  It isn’t like we have people on the premises who will remove you before your curse causes trouble.  Have a good day, sir.

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