The A to Z Challenge! M is for Multi-Mart

"Welcome to Wal-Mart.  How may I help you?"

How many times have you walked into a Wal-Mart and had a greeter welcome you to the store? What about the check stands? The isles of merchandise? The stockmen grabbing carts from the snow? These are all experiences that we are very used to in the early part of the 21st century. It's the new town hall, where neighbors, friends, coworkers and family meet and greet while browsing the current DVDs or picking up their milk.

I'm not saying I'm Wal-Mart's #1 fan. I realise they creep into towns, shut down the local businesses and set up mini-monopolies in every American town. But regardless of whether they are "good" or "bad" or somewhere in the middle, Wal-Mart is part of our culture.

So I go there every week. It's the only game in town and the city is 45 minutes away. I used to work for them as a stockman. I know them pretty well and you're suppose to write what you know.

Meanwhile, I've always been obsessed with alternate Earths. String Theory says that there could be billions of alternate worlds out there. Worlds where you might have turned left instead of right. Worlds where America lost the war of independence, Hitler won World War Two, dinosaurs still roam the earth or JFK was never shot.

I love the possibilities, understand the mechanics and thrill to the stories. It's all thanks to DC Comics and their many adventures with Earths 1,2, 3, X and S. Two Supermen or Wonder Women in an adventure, alternate Flashes and Green Lanterns, so many similarities and yet differences.

It didn't take long for these ideas to shape in my mind while strolling the isles of Wal-Mart. What of there was a store that set in-between ALL universes, where any number of characters could cross paths with each other? And if there is a place that touches all universes, who would see it as a perfect beachhead for multiversal domination?

These are the concepts in one of my favorite stories. It's half finished and I can't wait to return to it.
M is for Multi-Mart.
Multi-Mart stars Kyle Jordan as a kid thrown into the store whom has to escape with a Stockbot into the multiverse to get help before a tyrant takes over the store. It features Kelli the vampire girl from NIGHT CHILDREN: DARK THREATS and Bril the elf and younger brother to Eli from Farnalla.

Now as you ponder these concepts, here are some pics of alternate Earths...

The A to Z Challenge! L is for Lyndi the Dragon

L is for Lyndi Pendragon

Lyndi is one of the main characters in Myths. She’s hot headed, rebellious and sarcastic dragon. A natural trouble maker, Lyndi uses her shape shifting abilities to appear as a human girl. She pretends to be a sorceress apprentice and addends school with the other kids. Best friends to Flitty the fairy who is the only one who knows the truth. In human shape, Lyndi can move fast, fly, breathe fire and has sharp claws.

She does not get along with Eli the elf and causes a great deal of hot headed trouble during their quest. Lyndi is secretly scared because her father is searching for her and if he finds her friends, he might just roast them and start another war in Farnalla.

Here are some pictures of dragons I've collected on the web for research...

The A to Z Challenge! K is for Kyle Jordan

K is for Kyle Jordan
Kyle is the protagonist in my novel Multi-Mart.  He's a quiet boy who constantly gets teased at school. He has no friends and is an only child. His parents constantly argue so he hides away from everything in his comics.

 After school he flees from a bully right through an unseen doorway. Here is what he sees (remember, this is a work in progress so this scene might be changed at a later date)...

 

Multi-Mart

Chapter Two: Welcome to Multi-Mart, How may I help you?

 

Kyle screamed and the old lady alien stepped back, startled.  His eyes focused on his surroundings.  He stood in a large foyer.  Metal grating covered the entire floor.  The walls appeared to be thick crystal and the ceiling rested fifteen feet above.  It seemed to be made of crystal as well because it glittered as rainbow colored light reflected off it.

The light came from behind him.  Strange doorways seemed to open and close, each one framed with multiple colors.  If he wasn’t so scared, he’d admire their beauty.

He screamed again when he saw what came through the weird portals.  Something gurgled from a fleshy lump where its head should’ve been.  Eight tentacles pulled the thing through the glowing opening, which closed at once. 

Kyle couldn’t run fast enough.  With that thing behind him he had no choice but to bolt forward.  He passed the old alien lady in the blue vest and into the larger open area.

She sighed and replied in a bored voice, “Whatever.  Welcome to Multi-Mart.”

It was brighter here.  The ceiling and walls ended, revealing a building so big that he couldn’t see the end.  The new ceiling rose at least twenty feet.

At the front of the large warehouse-type building was an impossibly long row of noisy machines.  Each one had another short grey alien, grabbing small items and passing them under a device.  Lines of creatures stood by the machines, some placing other items on small black conveyor belts.

Rows of long shelves covered the entire floor.  Each one loaded with various items of different shapes and sizes.  Kyle quickly ducked between two. 

He bent over and put his hands on his knees.  His shoulder still stung but he was alive.  As he tried to catch his breath he took a second look around.

It all seemed terribly familiar to him.  Lines of beings, each completely different from the others, waiting while grey aliens checked... no scanned each item.  Every E.T. wore the same blue vests and each had a badge with their picture on it.  Most ran the machines, registers?  Others stocked shelves and some wore red on their badges and moved to the other grey aliens anytime a light above one of the strange cash registers would blink.

Like lightning it came to him.  It was Wal-Mart.  Yet so different.  A store for aliens? 

 

 

----

 

I'm not sure what happened to the formatting there but that is the general idea. Kyle winds up in a store that caters not just to aliens, but the entire Multiverse. This means that any universe could conceivably connect to this store. Both Annabelle's and Eli's worlds will appear in the novel, as well as many more. Kyle will have to save the store from a mad dictator. He'll make friends and learn about himself along the way.

More on this with the letter M.

 

 

 

 

 

The A to Z Challenge! J is for Janeen

J is for Janeen.

 

 

Janeen is my long suffering wife. She's my partner, my best friend, my support, my love and my soul. All throughout my struggles as an author she has been there for me. She has cheered me during my greatest triumphs, shared in my joys, helped in my endeavors and lift me up when I was at my lowest.

 

 

How could I possibly share my writer's journey without giving her credit? When the sky is the darkest, she shines her light into my being and shows me the way.

 

 

Thank you my sweetheart. Thank you for the last 21 years. Here's to many more to come.

 

 



The A to Z Challenge! I is for Incredible Artwork

I is for Incredible Artwork.  Yes, I realize I'm stretching things a bit because A should stand for artwork and I could have said I is for Invisible Man but this way I can show off the great art others have done for me.

I love it when people do pieces for me. It tells me that my stories have touched them enough to inspire them.

These two pictures are by Ian Watson. He did them for me on the Tales of the Parodyverse website where I used to post small stories.

These two pictures were done by Adam Diller. Adam is a very talented artist whom I also know from the Parodyverse site.

 

 

Adam also did the cover art for NIGHT CHILDREN: DARK THREATS

 

 

And here are two pictures by a real fan! Elizabeth Hansen did these for me...

 

 

It means a lot to have people actually spend time on artwork of my characters and worlds. I love them all and hope for many more someday.

 

Thanks again guys!

 



The A to Z Challenge! H is for Hawke

Like last week, we get a letter that gives us a bite from the story NIGHT CHILDREN: DARK BIRTH. H is for Hawke.

"Who is Hawke", you may ask? Hawke is the dreaded vampire hunter whom crossed paths with Annabelle and Roland in 1692 and again in 1714. He is one of two men whom successfully gives the vampire Annabelle daymares.

Chapter Nineteen: The Courage of Hawke

She didn’t want to face Hawke.  If she never saw him again, it would be too soon.  Unfortunately, Annabelle knew she wouldn’t be that lucky.

Within the week she was proven correct.  After a successful hunt, she and Roland sat on a log near the outer northern boundary and drank from two dead foxes.  Angry shouts drew their attention towards the barrier.

“After everything we’ve seen, I’m almost afraid to check anymore.”  She stopped at a large clump of bushes near the barrier’s edge and knelt down.

Roland joined her.  “Not me.”  He always worried her when he didn’t say much. 

Her breath caught at the sight of Hawke.  Defiantly standing within a clearing just outside the shimmering barrier he brandished long twin swords.  The weapons were made of thin metal and each had long black handles.  Annabelle saw a picture once when she worked at her father’s book binding business.  She thought they were called katana swords.

Hawke grinned with wicked insanity.

A male vampire stood beside Penelope.  Their backs faced Annabelle and Roland.  Behind Hawke towered a Sasquatch.  Surrounding him on both sides were four more vampire men she’d never seen before. 

Servo stood a ways off by a tree.  His face split into a yellow smile that didn’t reach his frightened eyes.  “We have you cornered, hunter.  The Master will reward us greatly for your death.”

Hawke laughed and Annabelle’s blood curled.  “Talk is cheap, ghoul.”

The four unnamed vampires charged and Hawke sprung to life.  He slashed wide with his swords; one vampire was cleaved in two from the right shoulder to the mid section.  He dissolved to ash before hitting the ground.  The other lost his head.

A third vampire bit Hawke’s arm but the vampire slayer slammed the flat of his sword against his attacker’s face.  He spun around and slashed off the vampire’s arm.  Another one punched Hawke five feet into the Sasquatch’s waiting arms.  Hawke dropped his swords as the towering creature squeezed him.

“Break him!” Servo commanded from the safety of the bushes.

“I will.”  The one who punched Hawke rushed forward. 

Hawke smiled and pulled out a strange silver blade from his long, dirty coat.  It reflected the ivory light of the moon.  Shorter than his twin swords, it had a thick tip that tapered down to its hilt.  A flick of a latch and two smaller blades sprung out from either side.  The weapon resembled a warped cross. 

Shock followed shock.  Hawke spun the weapon backwards and jabbed deeply into the howling Sasquatch, then pulled it from the creature’s gore.  The hulking beast fell back to touch its wound. 

His arms free, Hawke slashed upward, severing the charging vampire’s head at the neck. 

With his other arm free, Hawke whipped out three silver stars and flung them at Servo.  The creep screamed and ducked.

“Enough,” Penelope sneered as glowing sparks shot from her fingers and lit up the clearing.  Hawke dived, leaped and jumped out of the way.  Penelope kept sending blasts of magic at him but he didn’t stop.  He used his weapon to slice another vampire in two.

Hawke sneered. “You’ll all pay for polluting God’s earth.”

“Stop him!  Stop him!” Servo screamed while hoping up and down.

Hawke dodged various blows from the last unnamed vampire.  It was the one who lost an arm, but it didn’t slow him down.  Annabelle could almost swear Hawke was playing with him.  He ducked and cut, but only left minor wounds.  “After I kill the rest I think I’ll let you live, Guardante.”

“Why?”  A trace of hope flashed in Servo’s wild eyes.

“So I can use Hell-Slayer here to carve a message to your dark master.”  The hope melted into fear. 

Annabelle pulled on Roland’s arm, “Come.  Let’s leave before he sees us.”  Roland didn’t budge.  He watched Hawke’s moves with deep curiosity.

“Roland, please!”

“I want to see how he does it.”

“Does what?”

Hawke slashed off the last vampire’s head, rolled on the floor to miss a crippling grab from the Sasquatch.  He picked up one of the swords he’d dropped. 

“If we have to survive Dominic’s attack, I want to learn how.”

She hadn’t thought about it.  Hawke survived years fighting not only hordes of creatures, but Dominic himself.  He still scared her, but she started to notice something admirable about the hunter.  He stared certain death in the face and laughed.

Hawke drove his sword through the Sasquatch’s chest.  The monster gave an anguished howl, and then dropped to the ground, dead.  She felt sorry for the beast. 

She looked up in alarm as magic exploded across Hawke’s back.  His coat on fire, he writhed on the ground while strange red lightning crept over him.

“Witch!”  He threw a silver star her direction.  It came close enough to cut her cheek and break her concentration but the damage was done. 

Hawke rolled on the ground and let out a moan.  He stood up, placed Hell-Slayer in its sheath and picked up his other sword.  A large open hole in the back of his coat revealed deep, red scorch marks.  “I’ll be back.  Sure, I can’t heal like you filth.” For the first time she noticed fresh cuts that bled through his torn clothing.  “But I will return.  I’ll make sure you die like all those witches in Salem.  You’ll see.”

As a human, Hawke could enter the barrier any time he chose.  He wouldn’t be able to see it or even know it existed, but it didn’t matter.  He could return anytime.  The thought chilled her bones.

Annabelle’s heavy heart beats slowed once Hawke disappeared into the woods and Servo left with Penelope, but any of them could return at any time.  They had to take their training more seriously.  The threats were building.

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For more check out Dark Birth at your local online store. Links to Dark Birth on the web can be found on the Store Page on this blog or you could just go here, Dark Birth on Amazon.

The A to Z Challenge! G is for Ghosts

G is for ghosts.  I am not ashamed to say I believe in them. I've seen too many strange things in life not to believe. I've even felt things that I'll not share here, but lets just say I can never deny what I experienced.

Said private experience was enough to inspire me to begin a novel. Long after Myths became a forgotten/ stored away concept and before I discovered Annabelle, something happened in my life that effected me deeply. I began to write a novel I call Spirit Story which would chronicle the fate of two teens. One would experience life as a ghost, ignoring the tunnel, and the other would enter the tunnel and cross over. I even read a lot of books on NDEs (Near Death Experiences).

One day I'll return to Spirit Story. Maybe not for awhile but I do plan to get back to it.

I can tell you of an experience I had about ten years ago.

Our house has two stories. It's now a hundred years old and we even have an old coal chute so it's seen a lot of history. Ten years ago my youngest was very little. We slept in the finished basement to be near him if he needed help at night. He had a hard time falling asleep by himself so one night I laid down with him. His door was open to the hallway. I was drifting off to sleep when a woman in white passed the room to go upstairs.

This upset me a little because I'd just gotten him asleep. I carefully climbed out of his bed and left his room only to stare in shock. My wife was still downstairs, asleep in our bed. I went upstairs but found no one there. I'm not the only one who has seen this mysterious lady. My kids and even my wife have seen her. With some research, my wife discovered the woman was a school teacher who lived in our home decades ago.

That is only one of many experiences. So yes, I believe in ghosts.

Here are some spooky pics...

Interview on Anna's Blog

I was interviewed on Anna del C Dye's blog! Come see!

We spoke about Dark Birth and I answer some great questions.

Thanks for this opportunity Anna!

The A to Z Challenge! F is for Farnalla

F is for Farnalla

Eli the elf comes from a world called Farnalla. See Farnalla is just like Earth, except two things.

1) It's devoid of humans. There are all sorts of wild life, but no humans ever existed on that Earth.

2) Pangaea broke up differently and the continents took different shapes.

Long ago all the mythical creatures such as elves, fairies, dwarfs and even a small colony of humans all crossed from Annabelle's Earth to the world they call Farnalla. Then each species of mythical creatures separated into their own nations.

Some, like the elves, fauns, centaurs and fairies populated the western continent while the dwarfs, ogres, minotaurs, trolls and giants populated the eastern continent. The dragons flew off and took their own world.

Myths takes place centuries after the Great Farnalla Exodus, when a new generation live in a world where magic has given them all the wonders that science has given us.  

I created maps showing the various ages of Farnalla but I've since changed my mind on things. These maps are inaccurate now, but I'll post the current one anyway, show show you a peek behind the scenes.

The A to Z Challenge! E is for Eli the Elf

Vampires are not the only things on my brain. I'm a fan of several things, including fantasy books and movies like Lord of the Rings and Narnia.

Way back in the eighties I had an idea for a band of mythical characters trapped in our world. I played with the idea and mapped our various versions of the story. After I wrote Annabelle's rough draft, I  decided to become an author and share all these ideas. It was only natural that my mythical story would be one of the novels I'd want to write.

Today E is for Eli, the main protagonist of my novel Myths.

Eli is your typical teenage elf. He lives with his mom and younger brother. His dad used to train both his sons at archery. As an elf, Eli has a natural skill with the bow. He has a creative streak and has bought several pre-set scroll spells from a local merchant. He then fixed them onto his arrows to give them an extra kick.

Eli's family was happy until they got word that his father was killed in the war. Since that time he has withdrawn a bit. His mother hasn't helped the situation because she constantly compares him to his father, stating that he should be more like the heroes in their family.

All this has given Eli the desire to leave on a quest with his sorcerer apprentice friend Mark. Said quest will lead Eli not only to the other side of their world, Farnalla, but to another world.  He and his friends discover a mythical place only told about in fairy tales and horror stories. A place where only humans dwell. A place called Earth.

Here are some elf pictures I've gathered from the web...

The A to Z Challenge! D is for Dominic

Of course how can I resist? I must show off my main villain.

D is for Dominic Pratchet. He's the youngest son of the first vampire, Lilith. He's the dreaded monster lord whom all either obey or suffer his eternal wrath.

He's been known by many names over the centuries. His real name is Domi but for a time he took over from a famous figure in history and took the name Dracula. Yes, he's THAT Dracula.

I don't have any artwork of Dominic but I have collected various pieces that to me shows kind of what I imagine the tall dark demon of Annabelle's nightmares.  Here are those pictures:

And don't forget to pop over to Antagonize Me for their interview with Dominic!

The A to Z Challenge! C is for Capture

C is for Capture!
More specifically, a scene from NIGHT CHILDREN: DARK BIRTH where Roland gets captured!


Chapter Twenty-Five: Wild Blood Man

He woke in chains.  If he could see the position of the moon he’d know how long he’d been unconscious, but he sat inside a closed up traveling box.  Although it was completely black inside, his nocturnal eyes had no trouble seeing everything it contained. 

Thick wood paneling stood up on all four sides and the top, blocking out the sunlight.  He would’ve thought he might be inside a small building except he could feel it moving down the road. 

He pulled at the silver chains but they wouldn’t budge.  The metal felt too hot to touch.  Despite his overwhelming exhaustion, Roland forced himself to try to turn into a bat.  If he was small enough to slip out he might be able to fly to safety.  Nothing happened.  He tried to calm his frightened thoughts and focus again, but it still didn’t work.

Wildes Blut-Tier was sprawled against a corner of the room.  His blazing red eyes watched Roland silently. 

Looking away from those eerie eyes, Roland started to take in his surroundings.  There were strange traps hanging all over the walls.  Some looked like bear and rabbit traps, but others appeared more fiendish.  He then noticed the piles of animal fur.  Many of them were from animals like foxes, wolves, and bears.  Other furs seemed to come from animals he’d never seen before. 

A sasquatch skin caught his eye.  He wondered if Fenroth had a hard time killing it. 

Roland noticed something even more peculiar.  What looked like human sized insect limbs swung from the ceiling, swaying back and forth with the movement of the carriage.  Mysteriously large fish scales rested in a corner, glinting with an emerald hue.

Roland spotted the werewolves, Set and Hades, deep asleep in their cages.  For a moment he felt pity on them.  He shuddered at the thought of being trapped as a wolf forever. 

Wildes wasn’t the only one watching him.  A single crow eyed him sadly from its cage by the door.  He thought such a harmless bird didn’t belong in this place of horrors.  An empty bunk covered in fur and surrounded by strange weapons and traps rested in the back of the wagon.  That’s where Fenroth must sleep.

Henry rested against the wall beside him.  Relief briefly washed away fear when Roland saw his friend’s chest move slowly and heard Henry’s heartbeat.

He gently nudged him with his leg and whispered as quietly as possible, “Henry, wake up.”

“Whu...?”

“Don’t scream.  Fenroth will stop the carriage.  Are you all right?”

Henry pulled on his chains but of course they didn’t budge.  Roland had no success so he knew a regular human wouldn’t have any luck.

“Roland, I’m glad you’re here.  Charlie got me while I was sleeping.  He knocked me out with a shovel.  My head still hurts.”  His face white with fear, he kept trying to pull free.

“It’s useless.  How did you wind up here?”

“Charlie must have carried me into the woods, but I woke up and kicked him.  He dropped me, so I started to run but I heard Polly calling for help.  It startled me enough for Charlie to knock me out again.  I woke up here.  Can’t you change into a bat and escape?”

“Nope, but I’ll keep trying.”

He felt the carriage bump and realized it must’ve driven off the main dirt road.  Suddenly it came to a grinding halt.  He heard the sound of people climbing down the side of the wagon and then walking around.  The door opened, and Roland caught a peek outside.  A faint pink glow briefly illuminated the black interior, causing Wildes to squint and whimper.  It was almost dawn. 

An Indian girl entered, followed by Fenroth.  He closed the door and gave Roland a self-satisfied smirk.  “Better get some sleep.  We’ve got a long journey to the Master’s secret lair.” 

“Dominic told his servants we were off limits.  You’d better let us go.” 

Fenroth let out a big, deep laugh.  “The Master warned you to remain behind the barrier.”  He casually walked to his bed.  The girl sat on a small pile of skins.  She appeared roughly sixteen years old. 

Fenroth gave a toothy smile.  “He said if you left, you’d be fair game.”

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For more check out Dark Birth at your local online store. Links to Dark Birth on the web can be found on the Store Page on this blog or you could just go here, Dark Birth on Amazon.

The A to Z Challenge! B is for Bats!

Today on the A to Z Challenge:

B is for Bats. I love them. They flutter and hang upside down and are so cute in their fur!

Of course my affection for bats really started after Annabelle came into my life. Every vampire author has to be Anne Rice. They all have to say that vampires turning into bats is silly. Well I way "Why? Wouldn't there be far more story if you show that ability and the good and bad of it?"

Anyway, here are some bat pictures I collected on the web...