D: And you decided that it was worthy of a blog post.
A: Well, I could regale the good people with the details of my horrifically cold rummage sale over the weekend.
D: Please don’t.
A: Exactly my point. Lacking anything better, I thought I’d share some very funny DeviantArt cartoons I found, courtesy the OneRing.Net.
D: I’m sensing a theme with you.
A: Whatever do you mean?
D: You know what I mean. You have this sheepish grin on your face and you keep giggling. How old are you, woman?
A: Apparently not old enough for you, which in my book, is an okay thing.
D: In your book? What book? Have you written a book?
A: Bite me.
D: Ah, the eloquence.
A: (Eye roll) Look, I am continually charmed and wowed by The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, never mind the white-fleshed orc, unexpected hugging and made-up elven lasses. So is the creator of The Oakentoons. Did I mention that they’re funny? Because they are. Ridiculously so. Go. Read now.
D: Wow, is she bossy today or what? Been eating your Wheaties, A?
A: Um, gluten intolerant, so no. Do eggs, sausage and a protein shake count towards bossiness?
D: Probably better than Wheaties . . . anyway, in case you didn’t decide to run off and look at all 66 Oakentoons, you might want to stop by the Community Storyboard for the Prompt of the Week, Autumn.
A: I love autumn and all (no, really I do – love love love, and I can’t wait to write for the prompt), but I think you should run off and look at all 66 Oakentoons. Autumn can wait. Then again, you may be waiting for something more witty, in which case, wander on down to Andra’s series on taking the plunge and embracing change. It’s well worth the read.
D: Also well worth a read: book blogger extraordinaire, Ionia Martin – she who showcases all others – has been showcased herself, by author Bianca Sloane.
So my fine friends, even if you didn’t read all 66 Oakentoons (but really, you should), what give you a real giggle and smile – not necessarily a belly laugh, but a charmed, can’t-help-but-grin giggle?
Squirrels, This Time It’s Personal is complete! Many thanks to Green Embers for completing the multi-part Community Storyboard chain-story extravaganza! And, even better, it’s now an ebook!! Wonderful job everyone!
From Part 1: I opened my door. Regretfully, I was not paying attention to my nearest blind spot, so worried was I about watching the road behind me. A – she was dangerous and she was pissed.
I smashed the unknown woman in the leg. I heard the crack. I heard her scream and my heart sank. Oh no, not again. . .
I turned, expecting the worst.
What I got was a slap to the face and the bellicose roar of a husky grandmother.
Well, I guessed she was a grandmother. She was as hunched, wrinkled and grey as one, but I’m not entirely certain that any man had been able to get past the mustache and deep voice to make an honest woman of her – or a woman at all, for that matter.
I rubbed my cheek where her gloved hand had left its mark and attempted to offer my apologies. I can be suave when I want to be, but Grandma was having none of it.
“Don’t try to sweet-talk me, you worthless, good-for-nothing drifter. Yes, drifter. I know your kind – look what you did to my cane! How do you expect me to walk to church – to the market – to my bridge club – with my cane looking like this!
She held the mangled thing up for me to see. I winced. Old Johnson’s car was a trash heap but it was a solidly-built trash heap. I think that cane – looking as calcified as its owner – would have dented the door to any modern car. Unfortunately, the boat of a Buick had trashed it.
As she shook it in my face, a bit of metal clattered to the pavement. I bent to pick it up and spied a glittering within the splintered once-handsome cane. In fact, quite a bit about Grandma glittered.
There was gold in them there hills, as A would say.
I held the cane’s brass tip and quickly re-evaluated the woman before me. She’d stopped yelling at me. For the moment, she was content with merely giving me a glare fierce enough to scare most puppies and small children.
I am not a puppy, nor am I small.
The mustache wasn’t so bad – all woman of a certain age get them, I hear. And she wasn’t so much wrinkled as slightly rumpled, like a loved-in bed. And have I mentioned that grey is one of my favorite colors? No? Well, it is.
Yes, yes I think I could make this work.
I gave Grandma a smile.
“Please accept my deepest apologies my good woman. This is not my car, merely a loan. I was stranded on the road and a good man, named Ronald Johnson, gave me . . . .this so that I could make my way to the nearest mote of civilization to file a complaint against the brigands who accosted me.”
Grandma stared at me. There was a slight flush to that ancient cheek. I clasped her hand in mine, and placed the cane’s tip at the heart of her gloved palm.
“My name is Declan McAlister,” I said, staring into the eyes that were neither clouded nor bemused. “And you must allow me to assist you.”
***
A: D, you . . . you . . . how could you?
D: How could I what? He broke the dear woman’s cane. He needed to make reparations. He was simply being honorable.
A: Honorable, my Aunt Fanny. D took one look at that old woman’s fancy cane and saw the words “sugar momma” all over her.
D: D is driving a hunk of junk that rattles and belches unmentionable smells. He needs help.
A: Oh boy, does he ever! Oh, and D. . . I notice he’s using a fake name.
Well ladies and gents, this is as close as the D/A Dialogues get to erotica! It’s just not our thing. But if it is yours, head over to the Community Storyboard for this week’s promptssubmissions.
A: Wednesday is Druid’s day, but it’s also Pamela’s Birthday. D and I wanted to do this especially for you, Pamela! Take it away, D!
D: Can you find one thing to be grateful for, every single day? Would you make it a point to say that one thing (or two things, or ten, or twenty) and say it loud and clear for the world – at least the blogosphere – to see?
Pamela does.
A: Pamela is a bright spot in my day, and the day of many other bloggers. She reminds me to approach my world mindfully, looking for things to be happy about. I can think of no greater gift.
D: She supports authors like A, and all sorts of blogging characters. She cheers us with her stories—
A: That grandson with his smile.
D: Her daughter with her artistic flair.
A: She’s a poet in her own right,
D: And A, please stop, before we start to fight.
A: Over my really bad rhyme, am I right?
D: (Groan) Move on, woman.
A: (Tee hee) Well Pam, on this D and I can actually agree: You are spot on – you’re the ‘nth degree! Happy Birthday!
Gather ’round ye lords and ladies, and give approbation to the builder of worlds, the scribe of Windemere and many other worlds yet-unknown, Charles E. Yallowitz.
D: Give those who may not know Legends of Windemere: Prodigy of Rainbow Tower a quick snapshot:
Cover Art: Jason Pedersen
C: Legends of Windemere: Prodigy of Rainbow Tower is the sequel to Legends of Windemere: Beginning of a Hero. While the first book took place in Hamilton Military Academy, Prodigy of Rainbow Tower is a journey down the L’dandrin River. Luke Callindor and his friends are escorting the heir of Serab back home, but their enemies know their route. So, they have to survive a gauntlet of traps, demons, and there’s this whole betrayal thing that seems to have earned me a few ‘Damn you!’ emails. Joining the established characters is Nyx, who is a short-tempered battle magic caster and one of my favorite characters to write. She brings a new level of magic, drama, and action to the story because of her power and lack of restraint.
D: Angry letter-inducing betrayal and a powerful woman with a lack of restraint. . . sounds like my kind of world.
D: Writers meet their characters in a variety of ways – and you have a variety of characters. Tell me about the strangest character introduction you have experienced.
C: Most of my main characters were part of a Dungeons & Dragons game, so I was introduced to many of them by their players. The strangest character introduction would have to be Kira Grasdon. She had a single scene in the first draft with no depth. After that, she started slipping into other scenes when I was editing. One day I finally noticed she was popping up and gave her a big scene that was kind of related to the plot. I guess Kira got hungry for more because she earned more scenes and rose from her ‘barely there’ beginnings to a major factor of Luke Callindor’s story.
D: Without giving too much of the series away, do you have a least favorite character in your world of Windemere – or another world of your creation? Whose suffering do you enjoy the most?
C: I put my characters through the wringer a lot after the first book. For some reason, I love traumatizing them and making them cry. They grow stronger from it and it makes their victories a lot sweeter.
As for least favorite character, I recently introduced one of the new villains in my 5th book and he’s kind of blown all other hated characters out of the water. I knew this guy was going to be evil and sadistic, but I expected a buildup. Right out of the gate, he’s torturing the happiest of the heroes, turning on his own allies, and his has this interest in doing horrible things to Nyx. By the end of the book, I really wanted to kill him off, but I need him for certain plot points and character development.
D: Where do you think you get sadistic characters like that? Is his inhumanity dredged up from your mind, or is it something else – something separate?
C: I’ve thought and worried about where the sadistic characters come from. The best answer I could come up with is that I’m using the parts of human nature that I despise. The character in question is disloyal, sadistic, and turning out to be a sexual predator, which is the aspect that scares me. All of these are things I hate in other human beings, so this character came stepped out of that area of my morality. Not the darkness, but what I attribute to the worst of the darkness. I had to go philosophical on this in order to put my mind at ease.
D: Which character do you wish you were more like?
C: There are a few characters that I wish I had some traits of, but each one is flawed. I’d love to have Luke’s confidence and courage, but he comes with a bloated sense of responsibility. I already have that. Nyx’s defiance is appealing too, but she has the temper that would get me in trouble. Maybe Aedyn Karwyn since he seems to be the more balanced if not a little on the bland side of the personality spectrum. Wait! I’d be Fritz the womanizing gnomish inventor.
D:Nice choice, Charles. I knew a fellow like that once – he had all the fun.
Now, you and A know the gaming lingo (what the heck is a cantrip anyway?), so to call you a gamer would not be too far afield. What is it about gaming that you love, and has that element made it into your books at all?
C: I’m leery of calling myself a gamer these days because I’ve been out of the games for so long. (A cantrip is a minor spell that takes very little energy and does something mundane like change the color of something.)
D: (Cheers – no more lording it over me, A.)
A: (Can it, D.)
C: The gaming element definitely makes it into the books with the help of my use of present tense. A lot of the games I played in revolved around humor, action, interactions between the players, and humor.
Trust me that humor has to be in there twice. I put this into my books in the hopes of creating the same relaxed atmosphere for the reader that I felt during the games.
The downside to this tactic is that you have to deal with people getting annoyed that your book reads like a D&D game. Can’t please everyone and that seems to be especially true in the fantasy genre.
D: Conversely, do you have a favorite part of gaming that has not made it into your books?
C: Not really. I was always more interested in the story and characters than the stats when I played the games. So, I’ve brought that over to my books. If anything, I had to cut out some fun scenes from the game because they didn’t translate very well. There’s a big ‘you had to be there’ factor that an author has to remember if they write books off a D&D game. For example, I couldn’t really add in the fact that Nyx in the game had a habit of charging face first into battle and getting knocked out. It was hilarious and became a running gag, but the book version of Nyx wouldn’t do that. She’s too powerful and cunning. So, comedy caused by the player had to be dropped.
D: Of the Windemere books that we have yet to see, which one do you look forward to debuting the most? Why?
C: Out of the Legends of Windemere series, I’m really looking forward to the 6th book debuting because it’s a big change for Luke. Though, I could just be interested in writing it since it’s my next book after I edit 4 and 5. It’s really hard to pick a favorite out of the series.
Out of my non-Legends of Windemere books, I would have to say it’s a tie between ‘Tales of the Slumberlord’ and ‘Sin’. ‘Tales of the Slumberlord’ will be interesting for me because the hero is a foolish halfling caster named Darwin Slepsnor. I’m going to be trying to work a series with a main character who is also comic relief and kind of a sidekick at times. It will be a challenge after the grand heroes of Legends and the anti-hero of my following vampire series. As for ‘Sin’, I’m going to be using a 4 Act structure with multi-tiered villains and world spanning adventures in each book. Through the series, I get to take the readers on a major tour of Windemere.
Cover Art: Jason Pedersen
C: I do believe in it, but I also think we have free will. It’s a balance where we are destined to do something and given the tools to do it. Yet, we have the free will to attempt another path or miss our destiny entirely. I do feel destined to be an author because of my imagination and always thinking up new stories. I also know that I have to work hard for it and there’s always a chance that something could go wrong. Destiny can only take one so far, which is something I point out in the books. It’s stated at one point that while the heroes are destined to make it to the final battle in some shape or form, they aren’t destined to win or survive. That has to be earned, which is how my personal philosophy works.
D: As one who has created his own prophesied destiny out of myth, I understand you completely.
D: So, you’re hard at work on the third book in the Windemere series – care to share a spoiler-free sneak peek?
Sure. This is the initial meeting between the reader and Sari the gypsy:
The ground rushes to meet her beautiful face after Sari trips over a tree root that she could not see through her tears. Dirt joins the twigs and leaves that are caught in the dark blue waterfall of hair that cascades down to her thighs. She scrambles to her feet before wiping the dirt and tears from her puffy eyes. Their emerald glow, that her partner had written songs about, is barely a glimmer amid a cloud of terror. A tear down the arm of her dirty, white blouse makes her grumble incoherently as she rips the sleeve off. She whimpers at the sight of her bright red skirt, shredded up to her knees by the forest’s underbrush.
Sari takes a moment to rub her bleeding feet before sprinting forward like a hunted rabbit, ragged breaths escaping her smooth lips. Her direction is a mystery even to her. Her only hope is that her path takes her away from the slaughter. Sari can still hear the final scream that ripped through the air and announced the demise of her kin. It took all of her strength to leave her hiding place and run for her life.
D: All right, scribe: me and a character of your choosing. Who would you pick to attempt to take down this time-traveling, god-impersonating Druid?
C: Very good question, D. Unless you’re fireproof, I think Nyx would have the best chance. Even then, she’s definitely the most powerful of the Legends of Windemere heroes. After all she is a CENSORED SPOILER, which is really hard to fight against. Then again, the villain I truly despise has time-based powers, but I’d end up rooting for you in the fight. So, Nyx and her powers of destruction will be my champion.
D: I do love those flaming hands of hers on the cover of Prodigy. She is a worthy champion, Charles. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your words with us. It has been a great pleasure.
A: Yes, thank you Charles. Now, everyone, go read! Go buy! Charles, the World Builder has created something fantastic!
A: I am not wasting time, D – the book is research. I needed to know just how much of Ireland in the 1950s spoke Irish and if Mayo was in the Gaeltacht or not.
D: And for those of us who have no idea what that meant?
A: I’m trying to determine if it would have been accurate for Sean and Maureen to have some conversational skill with the Irish language. Because believe you me, Grace O’Malley did not have conversational skill in English.
D: Fine, woman – this is all a diversion anyway. Editing is not writing.
A: And what would you have me write?
D: Book 2! Book 3! Both, at the same time!
A: Just because it would be fun to make me crazy?
D Crazier, A. Crazier.
A: Cheers, D.
D: Fine – you can take a rest from the series. But you should keep writing.
A: There are no thoughts in this head beyond “Gaeltacht” and “Rummage Sale” (this weekend, anyone in WI who needs Thomas the Tank Engine Toys and cookbooks, this sale’s for you!), so I’m going to have to ask you again, what would you have me write?
D: Well, there’s that prompt over at the Community Storyboard. . .
A: No.
D: Why not?!
A: Seriously? They’re all fantastic reads, certainly, but I’m rather at a loss for inspiration.
D: What am I if not your muse?
A: Oh my god, no.
By Green Embers
D: Why not? I’m damned good looking – just look at the drawing Green Embers drew of me.
A: And therein lays the problem D. It’s bad enough having a decently—
D: Damned good looking. Say it with me.
A: Handsome (happy now?)
D: (Ecstatic. Please, continue.)
A: It’s bad enough having a handsome, epic, warrior-prince and druid in your head prattling on about his glory days as a god-impersonating time-traveler. Sensual is on your list, but please, for the love of god, don’t make me illustrate it with words right now. I still have to sleep at night.
D: I’m afraid I have no recollection of this pole and dancing of which you speak.
A: So there was no blue ribbon under your kilt?
D: Didn’t say that.
A: I don’t want to know.
D: On second thought, I think it’s better all around if we leave this week’s prompt to the others. There are some things I’d rather you not illustrate with words . . . or imagine with that overly fertile mind of yours.
A: And common sense has prevailed.
D: You still don’t take me anywhere.
A: Spoke too soon.
Enjoy – and submit to – Erotica Week at the Community Storyboard ! There are some luscious stories to be had!
Are there genres that you might enjoy but just don’t know how craft the words to explore yourself? What about reading – what genre can you just not read?
D: You know what I said, A, nothing can be as awesome as “My Name is D.”
A: Yeah, I know what you said, Druid. I accepted your challenge.
D: Indeed.
A: You and smug need to break up, D. Prepare yourself. Because . . .
You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Like A
I was watchin’ the road, hard like. I was watchin’ Old Johnson’s car get smaller and smaller ‘til it was nothin’ but a speck. Then that speck – that insignificant speck – bled into the horizon.
Let him go, my brain was whisperin’. Let him think he got away.
That there “D,” as he likes to be called – that’s not what the Boss calls him, but I’ll let it stand – has been a pain in my ass since the day I got the call to bring him in.
It started just over 9 months ago. “Find him, A,” was all the Boss would say. He never did like to use my full name. The Boss handed me a picture, a stack of hundreds and an itinerary. We were on a schedule.
The Boss is like that. Everything is regimented, like. And don’t get me started on his favorite word, “prompt.” You could set your watch by this man. At least he’s a sharp dresser, and a looker too. I’d hate to have to dance to the tune of an ugly sumbitch.
Now, Mr. D had a rap sheet nearly as long as my leg, and was wanted in three different states for a string of bank robberies. Not the big banks, mind. Not the ones owned by big ol’ conglomerates back east, but real mom-and-pop shows. Nasty.
Don’t look at me like that. I might not talk as smooth as some, but I got learning. I got my hands on these audio tapes. Let me tell you, that Homer, he’s a pistol!
Anyway, Mr. D and his rap sheet could have come to me through my day job, but it didn’t. I do some bounties for the Feds, but they don’ t like to pay if prisoners are missing bits. Not my fault that Bobbitt fella tried to get fresh. The Boss now, he don’t mind so much. Though, come to think of it, he did take exception to the state Ol’ Johnny was in. I think that’s why he saddled me with Mr. D.
Saddled me with Mr. D and then left me high and dry.
Apparently, Mr. D has bigger friends than the Boss. He says to me that Mr. D isn’t ours to keep. That he’s meant for someone else. Someone else! The Boss runs with some pretty heavy fellas – I’m not too sure I want to know who ranks above him.
Of course, I wasn’t thinkin’ that at the time – I was thinkin’ that I was feeling mighty used. I mean God Almighty, I wrestle this fella to the ground, bring him in, all prompt like, and the Boss tells me to let him go. Let him go! You gotta be kidding me. You should’a seen the shiner I was sportin’ – not to mention the split lip and the missing fingernail on my left hand. That Mr. D sure do look nice, but he fights dirty.
So I took him. He was still conked out in the bed of my pickup, trussed up like a pig, so getting’ outta there wasn’t too bad. They weren’t expectin’ that I would take off like that. Hell, I wasn’t expectin’ I’d take off like that.
I’m still not sure if I thought I was rescuin’ Mr. D or if I thought I was going to find this “someone else,” and tell that man what I thought of him. It might have been the last bit. He had some explainin’ to do after all. It’s not every day you see a pretty man like the Boss sit there like he’d wet his pants. A pretty man like that has no business being as scared as he was. Ain’t no $500 suit in the world going to wipe that image from my mind.
And now, nine months later, I ain’t no closer to finding this Someone Else, though I think he has a lot to answer for. And not just for the goons he sends after us. Lucky I know my work and those fellas have just been little itty-bitty flies on my windshield insofar as givin’ me problems. But that Mr. D – boy oh boy, have we had a time.
I’ll be honest: I’m glad he took Ol’ Johnson’s trash heap of a car for a spin. Mr. D is a complex fella. I can’t quite explain it. Now, he’s not happy I kidnapped him, for his own good, mind, but usually he understands his extreme circumstances.
Other times, I think he confuses me with that Someone Else. Just last week he was convinced I’d been torturing him for ten years! Ten years! I was just a slip of a thing 10 years ago, breakin’ all the boy’s hearts.
I know I’ll have to go after Mr. D, just to make sure he don’t get himself into any more trouble. That boy and trouble is like bread and butter. And if that Someone Else is as bad as I reckon he is, then trouble is just around the corner. But I don’t mind. I say bring it on.
Because let me tell you, Sweet Cheeks, you ain’t seen nothin’ like A.
D: And so it was, on a lovely day in the month of August – named as such for that rat, Augustus Caesar – did Michael S. Fedison, author of The Eye-Dancers, bequeath to A the winning gift card. Stunned and overcome by this beneficence, A requested the honor of allowing yours truly to interview him.
A: First of all, wordy. Second, what’s your beef with Augustus?
D: Who is asking the questions, here, woman?
A: . . . oh, you are off to a roaring start.
D: And without further ado, The Druid Asks the Questions
An interview with Michael S. Fedison.
D: Give those who may not know your book a quick snapshot:
M: Have you ever had a recurring nightmare? The kind of dream that repeats itself, night after night, after night? That’s what seventh-grader Mitchell Brant experiences at the beginning of The Eye-Dancers. A mysterious little girl with blue, spinning, hypnotic eyes comes to him in his dreams, three nights in a row. He is convinced she is trying to snare him and transport him to whatever world she calls home.
When Mitchell learns that two of his friends are having the same dream, things really start to get weird. The boys then go to the class genius, Marc Kuslanski, for advice. But the very next night, as Mitchell feared, the boys are indeed whisked away to a strange, new world. What follows is a dimension-busting adventure that will severely test each of the boys, forcing them not only to confront the dangers of the new world they find themselves in, but also to face down and overcome their own inner struggles and insecurities.
D: How did you meet your characters? Were you introduced, did they demand your attention in some innocuous place, or have you known them so long that you can no longer remember life without them?
M: Definitely the latter! The characters in The Eye-Dancers are inspired by childhood friends I grew up with. So, yes, absolutely. I have known them all my life! And it was a lot of fun “fictionalizing” them and writing about them.
D: And I reckon you honor your friends in that – it was many a man who vied to have the chance to be immortalized in my words.
D: Which of your characters can you identify with the most?
M: Without question, Mitchell Brant. He and I share many similarities. For example, when I was in middle school, I, like Mitchell, had an overactive imagination, loved collectible old comic books, and was very shy around girls. There is no doubt that Mitchell and I are, in many ways, as Anne Shirley might say, “kindred spirits.”
D: Do you have a least favorite character – one that you almost enjoy watching cope with any disasters you as author send his or her way?
M: Honestly, no. I liked all the main characters, and there weren’t any of the supporting characters I hated either. “Grronk,” who we meet in chapter four, is incredibly obnoxious, but he was very fun to write for.
D: Mmm, you could teach A some pointers. If only she had the same outlook. . .
D: If you were in the same situation as your characters, what would you do differently (without giving too much away)?
M: Hmm, that’s an interesting question, and I’m not sure if I would do anything all that differently, especially if I were twelve years old, as they are. Even though I relate more to Mitchell than the others, I would probably have chosen the Marc Kuslanski method—trying to gather as much data as possible about their new surroundings. But really, I can see myself incorporating each of the boys’ strategies. That’s what’s fun about being a writer. You can write about multiple characters, and, in one way or another, each character has a piece of yourself in them. Kind of like make-believe multiple-personality disorder, I suppose . . .
D: Oh yes – A can commiserate. Although in her case, I’m almost certain she’d lean less towards make-believe—
A: D, behave yourself.
D: What makes you uniquely qualified to write The Eye Dancers?
M: Well, the first thing is the characters—the fact that they are based on friends I knew personally, and grew up with. Apart from that, the themes and concepts of the story have always interested me and resonated with me. Some of the novel’s themes are: the magic of childhood, and the enduring, transformative quality of friendships formed early in life; quantum physics and the idea of parallel worlds; a fascination with nostalgia, especially the 1950s; and the interconnectedness of all things—the fact that a stranger, so far away you can’t even imagine, can, in some mysterious, unexplainable way, be connected to you in a very real and powerful way.
D: You love The Twilight Zone – tell us why.
M: The Twilight Zone is really a unique TV show—the quality of the writing is unsurpassed, I think, in television history. I love the way so many of the stories probe beneath the surface. The stories, in and of themselves, are entertaining, sometimes scary, but, even more important, The Twilight Zone at its best forces us to look at our world, and at ourselves, and examine what we see.
D: Your story tackles how we perceive reality: if you could perceive it in any way and have it be true for you, what would you choose to perceive?
M: I think the number-one thing I would like to see is a world where people are not so quick to judge and impose their opinions on things they don’t understand. One of the themes of The Eye-Dancers I failed to mention above is the idea that “there is more in heaven and earth than is dreamt of in [our] philosophy.” This is a lesson Marc Kuslanski needs to learn over the course of the story. And it’s a lesson we all need to learn, at one time or another, I think.
By Green Embers
D: Any more trips amid the fantastic planned (i.e. books in the works)?
M: I actually have begun a sequel to The Eye-Dancers! It is in the very early stages (not even titled yet), but I am optimistic about it. Five years have passed, and the sequel shows the main characters now at age seventeen—which certainly gives the book a different feel from The Eye-Dancers.
D: Finally, if a time-travelling Druid made his home in your imagination, would you flog him publicly, or make him welcome and treat him with the respect he deserves?
M: I would praise him, share his genius with the world, climb up old fire escapes to city rooftops and shout his name so everyone on the street below could hear! I would ask his opinion on all things. D, somehow, I think you were fishing for a compliment with this question! Well, it worked! You are marvelous, D!
D: A? A, are you taking notes?
A: Seriously?! I’m sorry, Mike. That was unnecessary, and you’re a dear for answering him.
M: And thanks so much, D and Katie, for taking the time to interview me and for asking such great questions! I really appreciate it!
D: And so concludes my first entirely self-directed interview. My sincere thank you to Mike for not only agreeing to be interviewed, but for writing such a captivating book.
Read more about The Eye-Dancers, including purchasing information. You won’t regret it.
A: As it is, I read all 421 pages of the first draft. Personally, D, I think you should take notes for me all the time.
D: I took notes for you?
A: It must have been you.
D: . . .
A: This. This could not have come from me:
“We’ve mentioned that it’s damp, cold and dark several times now. We get it. It’s Ireland.”
D: Oh. That. No, that was all you. You had a snark fest with yourself. The “we” has no relation to me. Don’t you remember?
A: Um, no. Really – all me?
D: Well, I’m not taking credit for it. I’m your muse, not your editor.
A: You’re my muse? God help me.
D: They already did. Remember? They gave you me. Boy, this editing thing really has blasted your brain. Now, about putting me in charge of the blog . . .
A: I am going to regret this . . . so you know how you have jack-all to do with Book 2?
D: What do you mean, “jack-all?” I thought we discussed a cameo, A!
A: Be nice and we’ll discuss it some more. And you aren’t in charge of the blog – I still hold the keys. You are a wonderful troubadour for our community, but I was wondering if you wanted to interact a bit more?
D: Interact? You mean, you’ll let me talk to people??
A: Reluctantly.
D: Well, of course I would love to! This is just what I need. Obviously, I know I’m fantastic, but it isn’t all about me, or even you, A—wait. Wait wait wait. Why?
A: . . . Um, variety?
D: No. No, there is something more sinister, more nefarious at work here.
A: I need a bit more structure?
D: Who are you and what have you done to A?
A: D, summer is over. Fall and winter are my busy seasons, and TC did indicate that I ought to be spending more time with him. Unless you’d like me to sideline the books—
D: Let’s not get carried away, A. I appreciate structure and your attempt to include me in it.
A: That’s better. You interviewed Mike, from The Eye Dancers the other day (post is live here) and it was fun. Perhaps we could develop a weekly segment, The Druid Asks the Questions, which would go live on Wednesdays. And it wouldn’t just be for writers – there are poets, photographers, people, dogs, and even a few mythical figures who I’m sure would enjoy a bit of banter with a centuries-old Druid.
D: Dogs?
A: You’re the one who likes to highlight the dogs on your tale-telling. Perhaps you could interview one.
D: I’m not sure if you’re setting the bar incredibly low, or you have a misguided idea of my ability to interact with living creatures.
A: You’re the Druid, D. I’m just the writer.
D wants to get inside your head
By Green Embers
Say, you – yes, you – don’t you want a centuries old druid rummaging around in your head? Once he’s there he’ll trumpet his troubadour horn at your accomplishments and perhaps snark at your failures (It’s not my fault if you tell him and he has his way with it!).
That’s right, D and I want to interview you! We have questions – the whole WordPress community has questions – and you alone can answer them.
I will be reaching out in the coming weeks to people I know who have things to say. That said, if I’ve missed you, or I don’t know you at all, but you think D is pretty hilarious and would like the chance to let him fire 10 questions your way in an effort to shed light on whatever it is your dear heart desires, let me know: ksully1111@gmail.com.
It’s all part of my grand restructuring to help balance mom/work/writing/life/blogging. Because TC really did say that we need more quality time. When your pre-teen says that, you know it’s time to turn off the computer! Regular posting at the D/A Dialogues will be as follows: Tuesdays for updates, Wednesday is the Druid’s day and Thursdays are the day for all sorts of creative license.
D: What does that mean, creative license?
A: It means whatever I want it to mean.
D: . . .
A: Like what I did there?
D: Since we’re still negotiating my cameo, yes A. I think it’s splendid.
A: Whoever said you can’t teach an old Druid new tricks?
D: Since A is verging on 1000 words with this wordiest of wordy posts, my tale-telling is going to be regrettably terse.
A: Actually this is good for those looking to be traditionally published and those who went independent because frankly, I read that and thought, what the hell have I done – maybe I can do a Kickstarter campaign to get the cash to self-publish, after all!!
A: Wednesday is Druid’s day, but it’s also 
D: what are you doing, A?
M: Have you ever had a recurring nightmare? The kind of dream that repeats itself, night after night, after night? That’s what seventh-grader Mitchell Brant experiences at the beginning of The Eye-Dancers. A mysterious little girl with blue, spinning, hypnotic eyes comes to him in his dreams, three nights in a row. He is convinced she is trying to snare him and transport him to whatever world she calls home.
A: This. This could not have come from me:
The D/A Dialogues 
You must be logged in to post a comment.