Mary Lynn Plaisance Presents The Small Chandelier - A Fantasy Tale of Morality???

,,,"That girl Sandy," Jenny shook her head while talking aloud to herself. "She's one of the sweetest customers I have. She's got a heart of gold. Always satisfied with my work. She never complains about one thing. I adore her. She's one of my best friends...makes me feel good all over inside."

Jenny went back to pulling the clump of weeds that didn't want to come out of the ground. She used two hands to et the grass out and it wouldn't budge. All of a sudden, Jenny screamed so lous, her voice was heard in the shops that surrounded her little cottage and in Walmart.

"Joseph, there's a big snake right here! Help me! Hurry!"

"Jenny, don't move. I'm coming, honey." Joseph heard her yelling for help over the sound of the riding mower. People came running out of their shops, including Sandy from Walmart. jenn's voice seemed to echo to Sandy's ears and she knew it wasn't good.

"A snake bit me, Joseph. Help me!"

Joseph cut the riding mower off and went running to Jenny. She was terrified. She saw others standing around her and no one knew what to do.

"Where did it bite you, honey? I don't see any marks...and I don't see any snake."

"I saw a big snake, Joseph. It bit me on my leg and slithered away."

When she saw Sandy, there with five other people from inside the surrounding shops, she asked, "Sandy, did you see the snake. You just left. You had to see the snake. It was big and tall, standing right in front of me."

"No, Miss Jenny. I didn't see any big, tall snake while we weretalking... or after I left."

"Joseph, I think it went under the house. Look for the bit marks. It's right here on my leg." Jenny had shorts on and gloves to pull weeks, but the way she was sitting, Joseph couldn't see the snake bite. Her hat was still a foot away from her, still on the ground. She turned her leg to show Joseph.

"Oh my God. It's beginning to turn blue and it's getting swollen. Stay calm, honey. It's not good to get your heart rate up if it was a poisonous snake. I'll call 911. Did you see what kind of snake it was."

"I don't know what kind it was, but it was huge. It was tall, Joseph. It looked like it was standing in front of me." Jenny was trembling with fear.

...Jenny's eyes were beginning to give a blank stare at Joseph.

"Jenny, don't pass out. Please, please don't pass out on me. Stay calm, honey. The paramedics are on their way here now. They's on the phone with me. They said to stay calm and take deep breaths. They're almost here."

"I'm trying. My leg hurts and I'm getting dizzy."

"Stay calm, honey. I can hear the sirens now. The hospital isn't far. Everything will be okay. They're almost here."

Sandy and the rest who were standing around began to cry seeing Jenny like this and not being able to help her.

Still trembling, all of a sudden Jenny managed to say, "Joseph I don't want to die, but I'm not afraid anymore. Everything is so good for us now in this screwed up world we live in. I've cried a lot of tears in the past two years that were nourishing my soul. I'm ready to harvest those tears into peace of mind. We're so lucky to have each other. Remember, I don't want to die, but I'm not afraid. Hold me, I'm cold..."

!!!

The Small Chandelier

By Mary Lynn Plaisance

I found it fascinating that this author, taking a concern from her present life, could pound out a story of how she would fix things if her fantasy could come true! I was told that the small chandelier presently resides in her Louisiana shop. Yet he takes that one item and builds around it to represent "good" and moves on from there...

Jenny and Joseph, the main character couple, have been able to build up sufficient funds to buy a small, cottage for Jenny to open her own shop, "Jenny's Parlor of Beauty... Everybody was excited about the new location. And with a little chandelier that was already in the house, Jenny had been able to create a small cozy waiting area for her clients...

They had been both shocked when they learned that the chandelier was always lit and had been since built years ago...There was no power lines and no light switch. Yet the glow welcomed all who came...

Until one day, it was Joseph who came to the shop, looking for something--anything to help Jenny... And the chandelier talked...

Jenny had been bitten, it was thought, by a large snake as Jenny and Joseph were working in the Shop's yard. Jenny had screamed and screamed when the snake came toward her and she cried that she had been bitten. Joseph looked but there were no bite marks and no sign of the snake. Before long, however, Jenny's leg was turning blue and she was losing consciousness...

When the doctors came back out from their check, they verified that she had not been bitten...but there was definitely something that had been done to her leg...Most surprisingly, they discovered that her blood was blue...but had concluded that everything else was working fine and that she should regain consciousness soon... But they were going to call in specialists to check on her blood color...

But while she slept, Ruth, her mother, started talking to Joseph about what was going on in the news. New York was being bombed... They talked about Jenny having felt concern for something like this for years, and both had realized that Jenny had a sixth sense about things beyond what they felt.

But Jenny didn't awaken. Finally, in desperation, Joseph visited Jenny's Shop... First, he went back to see if he could recover Jenny's hat which had been swept under the house when the ambulance left. Immediately he heard a hiss and went to get a broom...He pushed that under, heard another hiss, and realized that there was no way he could pull her hat out at this point...But there was definitely a snake living there!

Later he went into the shop and heard a soft feminine voice telling him to sit under the chandelier. She told him, "I am the light..." Holding his breath in amazement and distrust, he still was willing to hear what she said... First she explained about the snake, that the snake had chosen Jenny because she was good, and that her hat served as a connection to Jenny...

But she explained that Joseph had a part too...She gave him instructions that he had to follow because Jenny was needed to help save the world from destruction. She was the 20th person needed and the time had finally come to move on a plan that had been put into place decades ago... The time was now--as long as Joseph was able to do what he had to do to help Jenny evolve...

Even after I finished this book several days ago, I am still amazed as to the creative imagination needed to fold today's world, into a fantasy realm that was found on another planet, so that our world could be saved...through magic... For surely we know that is not the way of earth...war after war and deadly radicals and leaders have proven that... Sure, it's fantasy, but, you know, I loved how the book ended... Sometimes justice takes somebody with blue blood, different from we humans that can't seem to make our way through to peace...

Meaningful, insightful, unforgettable. The book is just plain fun. I loved it and might even say it's my favorite of Plaisance's books...at least until I read another one... Highly recommended!


GABixlerReviews

Journey to Creepy Hollow this Halloween with Erika M. Szabo and Joe Bonadonna

Nikki, Jack, and Mister Bonejingles!

They jumped to their feet at the same time. “How come you can talk?” asked Jack, feeling scared but curious. “You’re not supposed to talk, Mister Bonejingles! You’re just a wind chime.” 

“I am not just a wind chime.” Taking a step closer to get a better look, Nikki asked the silver skeleton, “Then what are you?”

“My name is Wishbone Jones.” 

“Where did you come from and how come you can talk?” asked Jack.

Creepy Hollow - Find Celestria, Wormbelow!

“I come from Creepy Hollow, a land that exists in another realm,” said Wishbone Jones. “Never heard of it,” said Nikki.

“Of course you haven’t,” said Wishbone. “Few people in your world know of its existence, and those few are all children, just like yourselves.”

“Well, my name is Jack, and this is my cousin Nikki,” said Jack. 

“I’ve been watching you two kids and it’s very nice to meet you both.”

Nikki took the wind chime off the hook and held it in her hand.

“So how did you end up here, on Grandma’s front porch?” 

“That’s a bit of a long story,” said Wishbone.

“We have plenty of time before we go Trick or Treating,” she said.

“Well,” Wishbone began, “once upon a time I was a great warrior. I fought many battles until I was badly injured in the Troll War, protecting The Trinity of Wishmothers, who watch over Creepy Hollow.” 

“You mean…you don’t mean you’re dead, do you?” asked Nikki 

“No, I’m alive but I’m not a flesh and bone man anymore,” Wishbone told her. “I’m sorry.”

 “Me, too,” said Jack. 

Nikki frowned and said, “Wait! Your body is silver. How can that be?” “The Healing Witch turned my body into silver in order to save my life. That’s how I became known as the Silver Skeleton of Celestria,” Wishbone explained with a cynical tone in his voice. 

“What’s Celestria, Mister Wishbone?” Jack wanted to know.

“Celestria is the Realm of Spirits, where I live with my friends. It’s a cemetery in Creepy Hollow.” Wishbone cleared his throat with a metallic-sounding cough. “You see, in Creepy Hollow the spirits of the dead can live side-by-side with the living.” 

“Awesome!” Jack exclaimed.

 “Wicked!” Nikki said, clapping her hands. “Okay, but now you’re a wind chime. So how did that happen?”

“Well, let me tell you, and I’ll try to make it as short as I can,” said Wishbone. “It all began with a Goblin named Hobart. Hobart was just another ordinary goblin who had fallen on hard times. He lost his job and his home and had no luck at all. So one day he went to visit The Trinity of Wishmothers and begged them for help. 

Taking pity on him, the Wishmothers gave him a test in the form of three wishes. He was supposed to use the three wishes to help others, which in turn would help him and bring him good luck. 

Hobgoblin and Tasmanian Devil

But Hobart was greedy and he used the three wishes for selfish reasons. He wished for wealth and power and fame, so he failed the test. When he wished for power his body turned strong and his new strength made him over confident and mean. 

The Wishmothers tried but they couldn’t take away the three wishes they had granted him...”

Nikki and Jack hung onto every word Wishbone said as he continued. “First, Hobgoblin used his wealth to build a great castle, which he calls Crag Heap, and he used his fame to attract a large band of followers. Then he used his power when he and his minions took over Goblin Acres and locked the mayor in the Deep Dark Dungeon.”

“That Hobgoblin sure is one bad dude,” said Jack. “He certainly is,” Wishbone agreed. “But wait, there’s more. Hobgoblin wasn’t satisfied with all that he had accomplished. He wanted more wealth and more fame, but most of all, he wanted more power…magical power. So he summoned one of his favorite minions, the Tasmanian Devil, who helped him murder the three Wishmothers... 

~~~

Three Ghosts in a Black Pumpkin:

Creepy Hollow Adventure 1

By Erika M. Szabo

and Joe Bonadonna

Nikki and Jack were wondering what to do until time for Halloween treat gathering! Nikki wanted to go to collect rocks since she was fascinated with them and that day, she found an especially beautiful shiny blue stone in the river... Jack on the other hand was interested in weird things and he always took a picture to post online, but when he came upon a large black pumpkin, both were excited and carried it back home to Grandmother's...

And by that time, magic had happened!

For Mr. Bonejingles, the wind chime, started talking and suggested that they not carve the black pumpkin. Well, once he got started, Nikki and Jack wanted nothing more than to learn more about a talking wind chime. Immediately Jack wanted to know why he could talk! (check out some of their conversation above). 

But, it wasn't too long before Nikki took Wishbone Jones--that was his real name--down from the hook on the porch and they set off for Creepy Hollow! And wouldn't you know that that beautiful blue stone Nikki had picked up was the magical piece needed for them to go there! And if you held that stone and said the magic words, you could go too! Or you can travel along with Nikki, Jack and Wishbone, like me, to go there right now! Soon a whirlwind of color appeared and everybody walked through! 

Whew! By this time I'm really enjoying the book...The writing is great. I always wonder how two writers work on one book. Erika Szabo has written many children's books, and this is Joe Bonadonna's first effort. I found myself comparing these magical books with the Harry Potter series. First, I found these more age appropriate and more exciting, moving more quickly into the fast-paced action. After all, Nikki and Jack had to be back home by Midnight when the the Ectomagic gate closed. The writing is edgy enough to spark an immediate interest and, for me, I was already hooked on the fantastic cover and internal pictures within the book and was so excited that the artist, Erika M. Szabo, was willing to allow me to share some of my favorites! The formatting and overall effect of the book is excellent, with each of the "spells" by the witches placed within borders for added highlighting!

Hannah - Ghoulina

Otto - Catman

The first place entered was Wormbelow and that's where Wishbone introduced us to two of his friends! We noticed right away we were in a cemetery! But here in Creepy Hollow, both the dead and alive, mostly magical creatures, are able to communicate. And the dead's ghosts float above the ground. In fact, we also met three powerful Wishmothers who had been murdered by the villain, Hobgoblin! 

The never-ending story of good versus evil is played out as, now that Wishbone is back, there is new hope that they will fight to free the land from Hobgoblin. Each of the wonderful characters have a fascinating backstory that allows readers to know and get to appreciate their personalities and magical attributes. Hannah, for instance, who prefers to be called Ghoulina, and dresses Goth all the time, was in training to become a Wishmother before they were murdered. That was bad enough, but the three women were chained inside the Black Pumpkin which, thankfully, at least had been returned home, found and carried back by Jack. Jack, by the way, was enchanted, you might say, with Ghoulina who was already able and helped out when healing was required.

Using magic, as well as intellect in working to take back all that Hobgoblin had stolen in their land. Nikki and Jack were also to be involved, empowered by the Wishmothers with strength and uniforms, as well as three wishes to be used as needed.

And the adventure of their life began for Nikki and Jack...helping all good magical people fight against the injustice that Hobgoblin had done to Celestria.

After reading what happened, and how Hobgoblin came to his doom, I wanted more! So I went out and purchased the second book and completed it last night! Wow! Start with this first one, but don't stop until you read all the exciting events that occurs! If you wish you can get both stories in one book! Wish I knew that earlier, 😖! LOL!

My review of The Power of the Sapphire Wand will be posted tomorrow. This adult loved the two books and added them to the 2018 personal favorites list! You just have to check them both out! Highly recommended!



GABixlerReviews

In Love By Christmas From Fantasy.Visionary Author, Sandy Nathan

...I've always wanted to write a Christmas book. One of those warm glowing things that make you feel good and have a sweet cover.

Aha! Why not combine Leroy and a Christmas book? This is that combo. In Love by Christmas, starring Leroy Watches Jr. and the love of his life. Unfortunately, I am constitutionally unable to write anything soft and fuzzy: In Love by Christmas is the most badass Christmas story ever written...

You've been warned...

The farewell dinner party was that night. So many things had happened at the retreat that Will found himself feeling exalted and pole-axed at the same time. Tomorrow. they'd pack up and go back to Palo Alto and the corporate headquarters. He would never be the same, and neither would Numenon, Inc.

As dusk deepened to night, he strolled around the camp watching Jon Walker, his chef; the three surviving drivers, and a few Indians prettying up the place. Will smiled at the transformation of their vehicles and encampment.

When they got there, the Numenon caravan had consisted of four matched motor homes and his rolling masterpiece, the Cass. They sported the corporate colors: pristine ivory, burgundy and gold. Their impact was tasteful and elegant. Jon had parked them in a circle like a wagon train, turning the central court into an outdoor living room.

Everything was different now. Two nights ago, demons had come streaming out of the earth and roared over the retreat site. They tore up everything, killing everyone they could. They painted pornographic graffiti on the Numeron RVs. The images were disgusting and insulting to his staff and him. And they couldn't get them off...

The spectacular Leroy Watches was on the stage, straddling some kind of enormous wooden drum. Even seated, he looked tall. Broad back and shoulders, massive neck. Slim hips. Feathers bristled from the back of his neck. He looked like a throwback to a primitive age. When his huge hands hit the rawhide drumhead, the whole place seemed to shake It wasn't that loud, it was just Leroy's playing. He played and all the other instruments seemed to fill in the cracks. Get vibrant. Come alive. Hold a beat.

He turned his head to his friends, smiling, and laughing. Will could see his white teeth flash. Energy surged around him. The man was vividly alive. He was Grandfather's blood grandson and it showed,

Will began to feel that the answer Grandfather had suggested would work. His worry--the biggest worry--let up. Maybe he was just dreaming. Maybe the crazy vibe of this place had him fantasizing that  things could turn out right...

~~~

In Love By Christmas

By Sandy Nathan

When Sandy Nathan mentioned to me that she had a Christmas novel, I immediately thought I'd want to read it this month. I admit it never occurred to me at that time that I'd just read a trilogy by Nathan that was, to the say the least, not the average set of books... Even when, in the Introduction, she gave her readers a warning, I went on reading... So, as part of my review, I must say upfront that the violence and sexual abuse is graphic... At the same time, however, this is a story that pits good versus evil in the best possible way... Nathan has unbelievably presented an unforgettable, intriguing story that I highly recommend...if you are willing to confront the reality of good and evil...and see who wins...

Will Duane is the richest man on earth at this time. His company Numenon holds most of the rights on any type of electronic equipment that is being produced. However, he has always been an effective and honest owner of his companies... On the personal side, however, he was not only not faithful, he was involved with so many women nobody could keep track. His wife and daughter were both aware and hated what he was doing to his family...

A perfect time for evil to attack Duane's empire. Now, many of us know that criminals are evil in all that they do...but, Nathan takes it right down to reality. These criminals are actual demons who can transform back and forth to human people. It is this group of demons, led by Enzo Donatore, that have started working to destroy Will Duane and all that surrounds him. Enzo starts by seducing Will's wife and immediately welcomes her daughter, Cass, into his life as well...

At the same time there are those on the Board of Numenon who have started trying to move Duane toward making short cuts aimed to make the company even more profitable... At that point, Duane sets up a retreat with Native American Shaman leadership... Even there, the demons found him, but, amazingly Duane stood up to them and with Grandfather's help, the people at the retreat was not completely destroyed...

During that time together, we meet Leroy, who was also born to be a Shaman and had been training under his Grandfather all of his life. He was a healer who had began using this gift at the age of four... It was when Duane brought out pictures of his missing family that Leroy first saw a picture of Cass, touched it, and knew she was his soulmate--the knowledge between his soulmate and a shaman is like no other earthly connection... Grandfather also looked at the picture and confirmed Leroy's announcement. Leroy had fallen in love with her picture.

Leroy is racially African-American and Native American and stood tall and strong. It was not long before he had agreed to find Cass on behalf of his father... which he did...

Without details, Cass was immediately placed in a hospital under constant care, and on total life support...

In the meantime, as happens to some who have religious experiences, Cass' father began to question the potential relationship between Cass and Leroy and, telling Leroy that he was not allowed to visit Cass, he sent him off to a grand tour during which he would be trained to live "in society..." You know, using the right silverware, how to address royalty...

What Will had not realized was that Leroy and Cass had already formed a bond while Leroy had rescued her and was with her shortly in the emergency room... Leroy was making contact with Cass no matter where he traveled...

I loved the blend, the merge of supernatural, paranormal and fantasy, especially the inclusion of various religions each being used to fight the fight against evil... The surprises happening seem to be considered impossible, but were easily being done by those with the inner power coming to them from The Great One. In fact, the vision of the author moves forward and faster as we read, with no doubt or hesitation in what was being performed in His name... The book is a potpourri of horror, action adventure, spirituality, climaxing in a great wonderful, supernatural mystery!

Although some parts are hard to read, as we see evil at work on earth...the miraculous overcomes and love did come at Christmas...


Highly recommended


GABixlerReviews

I used to be a princess. My parents were born in the hungry days of the Great Depression. They overcame the poverty of their youth by becoming extremely successful. I spent my time showing horses and water-skiing behind my dad’s obscenely overpowered boat. That life vanished when a drunk driver hit my father head-on in 1964, killing him. 

Not instantly, though. My dad's death was the stuff of horror movies and plunged my family into years of darkness. 

My old life disappeared. I lived at close to poverty level for a while. What happened in the following decades opened my eyes. I've seen and lived the over-privileged existence I describe in the Bloodsong Series. I've seen how it can warp those who are lost in it. I've seen how the power of money can mask mental illness and allow evil to ruin lives.

I know the mental and emotional landscape of the San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley, as it has come to be known. I know the physical geography just as well; I lived on the San Francisco Peninsula for fifty years. I made my home in the iconic cities and towns of Atherton, Woodside, Cupertino, and Palo Alto during that time. 

How did such a hothouse flower end up writing the rough and visceral fiction I do? It’s because of what happened in those dark years. 

My writing has a bite. My life has had a bite. Recovering from what happened to me has taken many years. And I have recovered. What was legitimately mine came back to me, along with the fruit of my own labor. If your life echoes mine, you might like to see how I healed; it’s in my books. 

My writing isn’t for everyone. I write about people getting better and the world working out, but it’s not always gentle and nice. A reviewer described one of my books as “equal parts horror, spiritual, romance, and action.” If that’s for you, you’re my reader. 

I consider what I write as falling primarily into the visionary fiction genre, which is about psychological maturation and making the world a better place. I have had huge spiritual experiences all my life, as well as gentler, ongoing inner guidance. Whatever is behind these experiences and this earthly life wants me to tell you my visions through my tales: my darkness and light.

Now for my “regular bio”: I’ve been in school a very long time and have two advanced degrees. I’ve had prestigious careers. My writing has won thirty national awards. I’m very happily married; my husband and I have been together forty years. I have three grown children and two grandchildren. My husband and I live on our California horse ranch and love it. We still ride the trails together, metaphorically and on our horses.

The Quandary of Quoting Lovecraft - Erec Stebbins Shares...

The Quandary of Quoting Lovecraft

http://www.counter-currents.com

Madness rides the star-wind... claws and teeth sharpened on centuries of corpses... dripping death astride a bacchanale of bats from nigh-black ruins of buried temples of Belial.–H.P. Lovecraft

What glorious text!

I am a strangely haphazard reader, and as crazy as it sounds, had never encountered the work of the 19^th, early 20^th century writer H.P. Lovecraft until I began searching for chapter opening quotes for my second Daughter of Time novel, Writer.

Like Reader, its predecessor, Writer is a metaphysical-philosophical-speculative-fiction roller-coaster ride (or so say reviews and Amazon’s algorithms placing the novel in the “science fiction” and “metaphysical” categories). Like with Reader, I like to find samples in the writings of others that reflect some of the ideas and images in the novel in a slightly different light and angle.

Google searching with appropriate key words, I suddenly found myself in the hundred year-old dark, horror, speculative writings of Lovecraft. The quote above sucked me in, and I felt I had a kindred visionary soul I was just discovering. Then I read this one:

What do we know of the world and the universe about us? Our means of receiving impressions are absurdly few, and our notions of surrounding objects infinitely narrow. We see things only as we are constructed to see them, and can gain no idea of their absolute nature. With five feeble senses we pretend to comprehend the boundlessly complex cosmos, yet other beings with wider, stronger, or different range of senses might not only see very differently the things we see, but might see and study whole worlds of matter, energy, and life which lie close at hand yet can never be detected with the senses we have.– "From Beyond", H.P. Lovecraft

How many times had I had such thoughts? Spoken such thoughts? The very novel I was working on had that theme running through it frequently. A true kindred soul!

And yet such thoughts are so rare to hear. In a world of certain religious believers and certain atheists, the radical doubt of the true agnostic lacks respect, is mocked, ignored, and silenced. I suspect that the reason for this is due to fear. People want surety, damn the truth. People abhor uncertainty, especially in the nature of reality, themselves, and their fates. The old quote is wrong: there are atheists in foxholes, just no agnostics.

But here was a voice from the past that truly understood the limitations of our nature. A voice that also could speak with such terrible ferocity and poetry.It was the birth of a serious intellectual crush.

“NOT SO FAST,” smirked the wily internet.

In this age, it only took me a few minutes of online searching to find my joy smashed and my sense of self undermined. This man who spoke so clearly to my mind and heart, who I was so excited to meet as a true brother in spirit despite our separation by nearly 100 years, who I was now planning to quote in my new novel in several key chapters was

a die-hard, despicable, racist son-of-a-bitch.

[Cue melodramatic “Nooooooooo!” from favorite cinema example]

I couldn’t believe it. How was it possible that someone that resonated so deeply with me on things I thought were absolutely fundamental could differ so diametrically on other things I considered equally fundamental?

Beyond the confusion, I felt tainted. What did it imply about me that I felt such affinity to a man that dehumanized so many human beings? Of course, I can play intellectual games of “man of his time” (which he wasn’t in other things) etc, but like most intellectual games, they are superficial. I will never completely come to terms with that contradiction within him and the concern about what it means for myself.

And yet I will use his quotes in my novel.

“Whoa! Say what?”

Yes, I feel that way too, but my response is two-fold: (1) the things I respond to in his work are just too powerful, too synergistic with my own writings to discard because of (seemingly) unrelated aspects of his personality (the close your eyes to the “bad” of the artist approach), but, more significantly for me (2) the evil in the soul of Lovecraft all the more injects the horror of his writings with a certain legitimacy.

Let me explain. Lovecraft wrote monstrous things about monsters in a way really no one had before. Even today there are groups focused on his strange mythologies. His work is a powerful statement on the dark and monstrous in the universe.

What better man to faithfully represent that than one who had so much of that darkness within him? When I read Lovecraft, when I quote him in my novels, I am doing so in the context of horror, of terrible things. My novel journeys through significant darkness, and in the times of the least light, Lovecraft’s insight into horror helps frame the nightmare in the chapter to come.

That’s my excuse, anyway. I’m sure it can be deconstructed and reconstructed (and ignored) in one hundred ways. Yet even with that justification, I feel uneasy about it. But I feel uneasy about a lot of monstrous things, or even less monstrous things (oh, say sex) when I write them.Even if my stories deal with horror and darkness in the context of seeking light, it is hard to write terrible things, to think of others reading them. As for the sexual hang-ups, I fully blame American culture.

In the end, unlike his nightmarish creations, Lovecraft is human: good, evil, flawed, and talented. That sums up the situation for all of us, and in that light, especially when the going gets dark, he is a worthy representative of our decidedly complicated species.

~~~

--Erec

Review: The Object of Evil by Chris Duryea

The Object of Evil

By Chris Duryea



New Moon Publishing
ISBN: 1450585531
695 Pages

 
 
 
 
Working at any company where the boss is constantly abusive sometimes results in job burnout--sometimes even a desire for payback. What happens if that good employee opens his mind and heart to retribution? Do those thoughts allow something else to enter? Can evil itself take advantage of a situation where an individual just can't take it anymore?

Chris Duryea presents readers with an in-depth look into these questions in her novel The Object of Evil. Will you, the reader, be able to answer the question of whether evil exists as an entity or whether it is merely the will of each individual as they choose each action?

Daryl Tempest is a vice-president and manager of operations at a lumber yard located close to the Mexican border to serve both customers in the U.S. as well as Mexico. While physically located far away from the home office, Simon Snath, the company's owner and president, is constantly checking in with Daryl by phone, even waking him at night, without any concern for Daryl's personal life. He wants to know where Daryl is, why he didn't immediately return his calls, if he was out, and wants immediate, complete action as he directs, even if what he demands is not part of his operation...
Especially when he asks Daryl to cover for him and lie to his wife when Simon is out somewhere with one of his women...

Daryl has a great crew working for him--they enjoy each other, but work hard to keep things going, except for one man, Freddie, who really should have been fired long ago. There's always at least one of those in every office, right? Somehow they find a way to get the ear of the boss's boss and begin to use it...

Because of the economy, sales of lumber have been greatly reduced. But Snath doesn't accept that as an issue and continues to demand sales. He also forces bad equipment and older lumber from his own mill into Daryl's operation, taking no excuses for not dealing with whatever he decides! Daryl had once liked Simon; however, when he moved into this job and reported directly to Simon, things started changing and Daryl was becoming more and more frustrated, Somebody who wants to do a good job will always become irritated and angry when they are doomed to fail by something or someone over which the individual has no control or power...

It was after a weekend trip that Daryl and Sharon, his lover, took to Mexico that it really started. There in Mexico, Daryl was drawn into a tiny shop where there were beautifully crafted masks and he chose one and brought it into his home. Little things started to happen, like his dog hiding, scared in his bedroom when he came home. And that mask seemed to glow at certain times. It also seemed that somebody was in his home or someone running away could be heard. And then Daryl started to get phone calls, Sometimes his name was Leo, sometimes Vincent. He always sounded like Simon if somebody else answered the phone, so everytime he called, anybody else assumed he was talking to his boss...

Daryl was told that he was going to be helped to handle things... Freddie was the first to die, then his wife...

Chris Duryea goes into the nitty-gritty in telling her story, The Object of Evil. Watch as Daryl becomes more and more angry as he finds he's being set up and then acts, even if it means losing his job. But the question to be answered, does he have help?

Book Received
From the Author

G. A. Bixler

Review: Mythology, Bible History, Fantasy Merge in Great Series!

Guardians of The Immortal Realms
By Ruby Moon-Houldson
E-Book Time, LLC
ISBN: 1598240145
184 Pages

I hope that you have already read Book 1 in the Guardian series by the time you read Guardians of The Immortal Realms by Ruby Moon-Houldson, although each book does easily stand on its own.

However, Book 2 explodes with action based upon what has already happened, so be prepared! As I read Book 2, I got more of the sense of the overall scope of this series. The books definitely have a feeling of Greek Mythology, using fantasy and Biblical historical tales liberally. The combination is impressive and very well done and each book follows and builds excitingly on what has already occurred!

By now you know that Christopher and Jadyn Varatoo had a child. He was conceived when Christopher was still a vampire, albeit a good one. You also know that Jadyn and Christopher have both been forgiven because they have proven the purity of their love and their faithfulness. One of the ways they proved their faithfulness was by being willing to surrender their child after only a few months!

In Guardians of The Immortal Realms, their child who has lived in the timeless upper realms has grown to be a man, looking very much like his father. At first Jadyn was afraid, Reuhial seemed distant but Christopher assured her that he had a job to do and that she should give him some time. As Reuhial watched the love flow continuously between Christopher and Jadyn, he recognized that love and was drawn toward them, even as he was drawn toward the Great One.

And that was not surprising because during the time Reuhial was with them, Christopher and Jadyn became even closer in their love—Christopher discovering that Jadyn had a small part of The Great One deep inside of her and Jadyn learning that Christopher was closer to being the pure one he once was. One of the gifts given them was the ability to talk to each other telepathically.

Reuhial had a specific assignment. As part vampire, he was destined to be the liaison between The Benevolent Ones and The Great One, who could not interact directly with them. These were vampires who had been exiled to the middle realm, who had initially followed The Evil One, but who had realized they had done wrong and indeed still loved The Great One. They were able to “feed” on the essence of humanity without feeding on their blood and over the thousands of years had done as much as they could to atone for their actions by helping humanity and fighting the evil vampires in the middle realm.

And in the middle realm, there was murders taking place all over the world. The Council of good vampires have been following these actions and trying to determine what is happening. Finally, Jadyn who has been dreaming of a great war enters the investigation and discovers that an ancient artifact, the stone of Light and Life, which was once used by The Purest One to bring Lazarus back to life is being sought by The Evil One and his followers! For he wants to move back...into the upper realm!

The book culminates in one of the greatest battle scenes of all time! And you can be there through Guardians Of The Immortal Realms by Ruby Moon-Houldson! Well, readers, I’m on to Guardians of Immortal Humanity, Book 3 in this series. Are you hooked like I am? Will the next book be as great as this one? I believe this is a must-read series for fantasy and science fiction fans! And don’t forget the romantic tension in there! Hot!

I think you'll enjoy Guardians Of the Immortal Realms by Ruby Moon-Houldson. I know I did!

G. A. Bixler

Review: The Quest for the Prize - A Fun Read!

The Quest for the Prize
By Keith Dyne
Raider Publishing
ISBN: 1935383043
316 Pages

Do you love puzzles? Are you a code breaker? Then you might want to consider check out the “advert” for the quest! Keith Dyne, in his first book, The Quest for the Prize, provides readers the opportunity to work along with the characters—the way to get to the prize is through five difficult activities—reading and interpreting verses, finding words, breaking the codes!

The young man that has been recently selected to undertake this quest is Jerry Dumbarton. He is just like you or me! His primary skill is in any physical activities; while he has two friends who are helping him with the quest—Julia (Jules) Evans and Pete Potts. Jerry’s quest is to discover the whereabouts of the prize that will lead to his being able to assume the role of the “Good Lord” for a thousand years. The present Lord is “The White Horse” and, yes, that is literally—he’s a white horse that talks!

Of course, this all takes place in the magical realm, to which Jerry would move if he becomes the Good Lord. Interestingly, the liaison character between Jerry and his friends and the Good Lord (and his Guardians) is Mystic, a raven who can see into the future. When Jerry first meets Mystic, he and Jules can both hear her talk, while Pete cannot, although later he is able to. Yes, there is another book coming, The Replenishment” so there will be many questions still remaining to be answered—like why Pete was not immediately able to hear Mystic!

The replenishment, by the way, is the term used when the White Horse has completed his reign, can go back to his former life (and love, which in this case is Mystic!) and the new Good Lord takes over.

Yes, of course—you knew there was also an Evil Lord! Well, so far, he has found and eliminated two of the guardians and has been able to determine who the new Chosen One is who is already on the quest!

What I found most interesting was that Stonehenge is purported to be the altar upon which people could worship the first Good Lord, Gred, who was only 12 when he first found “the prize” and began to eliminate the hate and evil in the world. It is all explained for us to understand in the “Book of Gred” that is shared with readers!

Keith Dyne has created a fun quest for his readers and will certainly be of interest to teenagers and adults alike. I admit I wasn’t good at solving the clues, but, hey, it’s good practice for some future quest for me! How about you? Do you need the practice to follow clues? The Quest for the Prize by Keith Dyne brings you mind-boggling exercises, even using the computer to help.

First in a trilogy, start now to follow the tense, electrifying battles as the Evil Lord takes on... even you, the reader!

G. A. Bixler
Note: Check out Keith at Author's Den by Clicking Title of This Article!