A Final Kiss & The Shadow of Mortality

Well I’m back to my blogging after an unscheduled break. Life has been crazy of late. A word of advice: don’t for one minute ever think you have everything undercontrol because just about the time things are running smoothly…something invariably  changes. It’s been months since I’ve written on here. Writing related: I have had interest in my young adult novel, Russian Roulette and am hopeful that it will be picked up by a publisher. It is the best novel I’ve written to date and I always strive to improve with each subsequent story. I also have started working on my Fire and Ice series again and hope to get at least one more published by the end of the year. I have learned when its related to writing that patience is of the utmost importance. 
I’ve decided to include a couple of poems in this blog. The first is a sad poem about the loss of love  and is titled A Final Kiss. The second is titled The Shadow of Mortality. Both are taken from my young adult novel and were already almost in natural verse form and needed little reformatting. As always feel free to comment.

A Final Kiss

The last kiss of two souls, their lives intertwined at the heart,

Who were to endure the anguish of being torn apart.

Leaving a gaping hole in both our lives,

Only time would reveal if we would survive.

The knowledge that without my true love nothing would ever be the same,

Never would I be truly happy again.

I drew back and gazed into my beloveds face,

His eyes smoldered from our passionate kiss and final embrace.

The silence echoed my feelings of complete and utter sorrow,

The totality of emptiness from endless tomorrows.

The Shadow of Mortality

I moved swiftly down to the end of a pier and surveyed my surroundings.

Death hung in the air beckoning me closer.

I stole noiselessly the length of the long dock, where an old fisherman sat against a barnacled pillar.

His weathered face was lined with deep creases from years of the onslaught of sun and salt.

I walked silently up to him and he slowly raised his eyes to meet mine.

A knowing look came into his countenance, he knew what I was, and why I was here.

Fishermen were a different breed in a lot of ways, still believing in superstitions.

Whereas the modern world had moved forward and left the old tales and legends behind,

 fisherman understood that there were unexplainable forces at work in the universe.

They had on many occasions been out to sea with nothing around but the tempest storms that had

a life of their own.

And realized it was up to the secrets within the depths of the ocean whether they lived, died,

prospered, or went home without any catch at all.

Life was not really a game of chance, it was of circumstances and fate.

The old man had fear in his eyes as I approached, but there was also a sense of peace and

resignation.

His life was complete and he had no regrets, he’d lived how he wanted with the salty air

always in his face.

The caress of the ocean under him, as the fishing boat would rock and sway to its nautical music.

The thrill of winning against all the insurmountable odds of unknown waters, winds, and storms,

to bring in his livelihood so that he could go out and replicate the process another time.

But the final day and hour had come of this maritime existence he had chosen for his life.

He gazed out upon the gentle rolling tide as the shadow of my essence enveloped him,

and the closing breath of his mortality escaped his lips.

The Wolf Moon- Tonight!!

Biggest and Brightest Full Moon of 2010 Tonight

 I thought that the articles below were full of interesting facts about the moon, which has always held a fascination for me. Feel free to comment if you like. Niether article was written by me, but I found them so informative that I wanted to  include them both intact.

Reuters – A full moon is seen over the Houses of Parliament in London January 1, 2010. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez  …

Robert Roy Britt
Editorial Director
SPACE.com Robert Roy Britt
editorial Director
space.com – Fri Jan 29, 7:45 am ET

Tonight’s full moon will be the biggest and brightest full moon of the year. It offers anyone with clear skies an opportunity to identify easy-to-see features on the moon.

This being the first full moon of 2010, it is also known as the wolf moon, a moniker dating back to Native American culture and the notion that hungry wolves howled at the full moon on cold winter nights. Each month brings another full moon name. (look below after this article for information on monthly moon names) 

But why will this moon be bigger than others?

The moon is, on average, 238,855 miles (384,400 km) from Earth. The moon’s orbit around Earth – which causes it to go through all its phases once every 29.5 days – is not a perfect circle, but rather an ellipse. One side of the orbit is 31,070 miles (50,000 km) closer than the other.  So in each orbit, the moon reaches this closest point to us, called perigee. Once or twice a year, perigee coincides with a full moon, as it will tonight, making the moon bigger and brighter than any other full moons during the year. Tonight it will be about 14 percent wider and 30 percent brighter than lesser full Moons of the year, according to Spaceweather.com.

 As a bonus, Mars will be just to the left of the moon tonight. Look for the reddish, star-like object.

 Full moon craziness:

 Many people think full moonscause strange behavior among animals and even humans. In fact several studies over the years have tried to tie lunar phases to births, heart attacks, deaths, suicides, violence, psychiatric hospital admissions and epileptic seizures, and more. The moon does have some odd effects on our planet, and there are oodles of other amazing moon facts:

• A full moon at perigee also brings higher ocean tides. This tug of the moon on Earth also creates tides in the planet’s crust, not just in the oceans.
• Beaches are more polluted during full moon, owing to the higher tides.
• In reality, there’s no such thing as a full moon. The full moon occurs when the sun, Earth and the moon are all lined up, almost. If they’re perfectly aligned, Earth casts a shadow on the moon and there’s a total lunar eclipse. So during what we call a full moon, the moon’s face is actually slightly less than 100 percent illuminated.
• The moon is moving away as you read this, by about 1.6 inches (4 cm) a year.

 The moon illusion:

 Finally, be sure to get out and see the full moon as it rises, right around sunset. Along the horizon, the moon tends to seem even bigger. This is just an illusion. You can prove to yourself that this is an illusion. Taking a small object such as a pencil eraser, hold it at arm’s length, and compare its size to that of the moon just as it rises. Then repeat the experiment later in the night and you’ll see that the moon compares the same in both cases. Alternately, snap two photos of the moon, with a digital camera or your cell phone, when the moon is near the horizon and later when it’s higher in the sky. Pull both photos up on your computer screen and make a side-by-side comparison.

 Astronomers and psychologists agree the moon illusion is just that, but they don’t agree on how to explain it.

Full Moon Names for 2010
By Joe Rao

Full Moon names date back to Native Americans, of what is now the northern and eastern United States. Those tribes of a few hundred years ago kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred.

There were some variations in the moon names, but in general the same ones were current throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England on west to Lake Superior. European settlers followed their own customs and created some of their own names. Since the lunar (“synodic”) month is roughly 29.5 days in length on average, the dates of the full moon shift from year to year.

Here is a listing of all of the full moon names, as well as the dates and times for 2010. Unless otherwise noted, all times are for the Eastern Time Zone.

Jan. 30, 1:18 a.m. EST – Full Wolf Moon.  Amid the zero cold and deep snows of midwinter, the wolf packs howled hungrily outside Indian villages.  It was also known as the Old Moon or the Moon after Yule.  In some tribes this was the Full Snow Moon; most applied that name to the next moon.  The Moon will also arrive at perigee (it’s closest point to Earth on its non-circular orbit) less than three hours later, at 4:04 a.m. EST at a distance of 221,577 mi. (356,593 km.) from Earth.  So this is the biggest full moon of 2010.  Very high ocean tides can be expected during the next two or three days, thanks to the coincidence of perigee with full moon. 

Feb. 28, 11:38 a.m. EST – Full Snow Moon.  Usually the heaviest snows fall in this month.  Hunting becomes very difficult, and hence to some tribes this was the Full Hunger Moon.  .

Mar. 29, 10:25 p.m. EDT – Full Worm Moon.  In this month the ground softens and the earthworm casts reappear, inviting the return of the robins.  The more northern tribes knew this as the Full Crow Moon, when the cawing of crows signals the end of winter, or the Full Crust Moon because the snow cover becomes crusted from thawing by day and freezing at night.  The Full Sap Moon, marking the time of tapping maple trees, is another variation. In 2010 this is also the Paschal Full Moon; the first full Moon of the spring season.  The first Sunday following the Paschal Moon is Easter Sunday, which indeed will be observed six days later on Sunday, April 4.

Apr. 28, 8:18 a.m. EDT – Full Pink Moon.  The grass pink or wild ground phlox is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring.  Other names were the Full Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and — among coastal tribes — the Full Fish Moon, when the shad come upstream to spawn.

May 27, 7:07 p.m. EDT – Full Flower Moon.  Flowers are now abundant everywhere.  It was also known as the Full Corn Planting Moon or the Milk Moon.

Jun. 26, 7:30 a.m. EDT – Full Strawberry Moon.  Strawberry picking season peaks during this month.  Europeans called this the Rose Moon. There will be also be a Partial Lunar Eclipse that coincides with moonset from the western and central sections of the US and Canada and coincides with moonrise for parts of eastern Asia. At its maximum the Moon will be overhead for observers in the South Pacific;nearly 54-percent of the Moon’s diameter will become immersed in the Earth’s dark umbral shadow.   

Jul. 25, 9:37 p.m. EDT – Full Buck Moon, when the new antlers of buck deer push out from their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur.  It was also often called the Full Thunder Moon, thunderstorms being now most frequent.  Sometimes it’s also called the Full Hay Moon. 

Aug. 24, 1:05 p.m. EDT – Full Sturgeon Moon, when this large fish of the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water like Lake Champlain is most readily caught.  A few tribes knew it as the Full Red Moon because when the moon rises it looks reddish through sultry haze, or the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon. Since the Moon arrives at apogee about 12 hours later, this will also be the smallest full moon of 2010.  In terms of apparent size, it will appear 12.3-percent smaller than the full Moon of Jan. 30.

Sep. 23, 5:17 a.m. EDT – Full Harvest Moon. Traditionally, this designation goes to the full moon that occurs closest to the Autumnal (fall) Equinox.  The Harvest Moon usually comes in September, but (on average) once or twice a decade it will fall in early October.  At the peak of the harvest, farmers can work into the night by the light of this moon.  Usually the moon rises an average of 50 minutes later each night, but for the few nights around the Harvest Moon, the moon seems to rise at nearly the same time each night: just 25 to 30 minutes later across the U.S., and only 10 to 20 minutes later for much of Canada and Europe.  Corn, pumpkins, squash, beans, and wild rice — the chief Indian staples — are now ready for gathering.

Oct. 22, 9:36 p.m. EDT – Full Hunters’ Moon.  With the leaves falling and the deer fattened, it’s now time to hunt.  Since the fields have been reaped, hunters can ride over the stubble, and can more easily see the fox, as well as other animals, which can be caught for a thanksgiving banquet after the harvest. 

Nov. 21, 12:27 p.m. EST – Full Beaver Moon.  At this point of the year, it’s time to set beaver traps before the swamps freeze to ensure a supply of warm winter furs.  Another interpretation suggests that the name Beaver Full Moon come from the fact that the beavers are now active in their preparation for winter.  It’s also called the Frosty Moon.

Dec. 21, 3:13 a.m. EST – Full Cold Moon. On occasion, this moon was also called the Moon before Yule. December is also the month the winter cold fastens its grip.  Sometimes this moon is referred to as the Full Long Nights Moon and the term “Long Night” Moon is a very appropriate name because the nights are now indeed long and the Moon is above the horizon a long time.  This particular full moon makes its highest arc across the sky because it’s diametrically opposite to the low Sun.  In fact, the moment of the Winter Solstice comes just over 15 hours after this full moon, at 6:38 p.m. EST.

Last, but certainly not least, this will also be the night of a Total Lunar Eclipse. North Americans will have a ringside seat for this event (totality will last 73-minutes) and, depending on your location, will take place either during the middle of the night or during the predawn hours. Observers in Western Europe and western Africa will see the opening stages of the eclipse before the Moon sets; South Americans will see the Moon set either during the total phase or as the Moon emerges from the shadow.  At mid-eclipse, the Moon will appear almost directly overhead for observers in southern California and Baja Mexico.

It’s a New Year! 2010 – The Best Year Ever?

It has been a busy month for me and suddenly 2010 is in full swing. I always make goals for myself. Some I keep or surpass, others never transpire. Life is a continually evolving, changing process and even the best laid plans go astray because of circumstances. I had the goal to get my first book published in 2009 and that was accomplished, along with the second in the series at the end of the year. My goal for those would have to be increasing sales, and interest in the series. (I have more rough drafts and ideas to continue the story of Carmen and Adrian.)
Another goal is to get my young adult book published this year and I have already started sending out queries.
           On a personal level, my life is in upheaval at the moment, which has a tendency to consume my thoughts of what is in store for me in the future. It’s more difficult to concentrate on work when you are having relationship issues. Whether they are friends, or family. Life seems to hit me from every angle at the same time. I know that as I stay focused it’s just another phase in the grand scheme of things that will pass. The processes are always the most painful though.
           One of my best friends has been suffering from a life threatening illness for the last couple of years. She is one of the nicest people I have had the privilege to know, always putting others before herself. Only a miracle will keep her here much longer. But I do believe in miracles. I’m a writer and an artist. Life would be dull without belief in fairies and muses, or fantasy and phenomenon. And I do believe in God and second chances in life.
           Another of my very close friends is going through relationship problems with his wife. I feel strongly that they have never had the best marriage available, but at the same time you hate to see someone suffer through the turmoil of separation and divorce. Years spent with an individual seem to become suddenly null and void. They are trying to be amiable toward each other and not make a rash decision. But if things have never been best from the beginning, is it possible to capture a thing that hasn’t ever been there? I am split in two with this. The half that says, go out and make a new life for yourselves while you still can and the half that says to stay together and nurture what you have built over the years. It may not be the ultimate that is available, but is it so bad that throwing it away is the only option?
           This in not shaping up to be the start of a good year. But the year is brand new and the unknowns are plenty still. Maybe the end will be so much better than the start that we will be looking back with a sense of satisfaction that we stuck through all the hard decisions to see happiness on the other side. Maybe there is a better treatment or cure on the horizon and my friend will get healed. Maybe this couple will kindle something in their lives together that has never been there, a fire that has been dormant all these years, just waiting for an opportunity to arise. Or maybe they will start over and discover that they can still remain friends through the whole process and find contentment on the other side of it.
            Only time and the new year will tell.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS ETC…

          CUTE- HUH?    

         It’s just a little over a week till Christmas, the time of year when you remember your loved ones with gifts and goodies. I told myself that I wasn’t going to get caught up in all the hoopla this year, but it’s contagious. Since I spend so much of my time writing, I feel like I’m behind the curve a little. I came out of my “writing cave” and the season is in full swing. At least my decorations are up. Last year I’m embarrassed to say that I was so into writing my first novel in my series Fire and Ice, The Secret Vampire Society, that when I came up for air, it was a week till Christmas, and I’d done no shopping or decorating. I rushed down to the mall to find gifts, and hoped the stores weren’t completely wiped out. While driving I had the thought, “I wonder what Adrian would think if Carmen wanted to get a Christmas tree for the holidays?” Those are the two main characters in my novels. So I sat in the mall parking lot and wrote about four pages in my notebook before I went in to shop. And that was the start of novel # 2. Here it is a year later and I have two rough drafts for more in the series and trying to wrap up my young adult novel. (I think I’ve found what I want to be when I grow up.)
            Fire and Ice The Secret Vampire Society vol. 1, and Vampire Slayers vol. 2 continue to get good reviews and more sales. I sold some in Australia the other day. It is amazing the audience you can reach with the internet. I’m thrilled with the positive response I’ve had and hope to complete at least one more in the series this year. I also will pursue getting my young adult novel published, once it’s completed, and have plans for a nonfiction book as well. Plenty to keep me busy.
            Being an artist, I’ve made my living painting murals and selling paintings for years, so am used to the self motivated, if you don’t work, you don’t eat lifestyle. Writing is just another extension of that for me. My first novels are about vampires and the secret society they belong to. I don’t plan to only write about vampires, once I’m finished with these characters, (or they are finished with me), I will move on to other ideas that I’ve been mulling over. I always wanted to write novels about vampires and with them being such a popular subject, I thought that now would be a good time.
            Well I do have packages to mail out today, goodies to bake and a lot more writing to do. This will probably be my last post before Christmas and I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays. Be back again before 2010.

The Holidays Are Upon Us !!

Wow! Where has this year gone? Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is rapidly approaching. The time of year when consumers seem to throw their budgets to the wind and spend, spend, spend. Why is it that we try hard to live within our means most of the year, but it is acceptable to buy outlandishly expensive gifts for ourselves and others over the holidays? Then it takes months to dig out of the hole again. I believe the statistic is that it takes the average consumer three months to come back to even after all of the gift giving of the holidays.
Our family has decided to curb this trend in our own households to giving mostly to the children, who Christmas is for anyways. I’m not talking about the religious side of the “reason for the season”, which is fine to focus on if that is your preference. I’m referring to the general public who has taken the simple giving and exchanging of gifts and turned it into a virtual bonanza for the retail outlets.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for stimulating the economy, but is it really stimulated if most have to cut back and do without for the following three to four months after the gift giving season? I don’t think so.
I don’t know about everyone else, but for us gifts started at a reasonable price so you could remember everyone that you loved, or wanted to show appreciation for at the end of the year. Then someone would want to outdo the others and get a more expensive item, consequently you felt obligated to raise the standard of your gift the next year, and so on. You can see where this quickly headed. Yes, you guessed it, hock up to your eyebrows to not look like the cheapskate of the bunch.
I have no idea why, but it occurred to us all, almost simultaneously that this was not a healthy cycle and we have in the last few years scaled everything back to a more reasonable level. Now we give with the idea that it is mostly for the kids, not the adults. But at the same time if you feel compelled to buy a special something for a person that you want to, it is with the idea that the recipient is not obligated to have to get you something back. Now isn’t that much simpler and less complicated? It takes the stress out of having to “keep up with the Jones’s”.
I am actually looking forward to this time of year for the first time in a few years because I can make fudge, and cookies for some and buy gifts for the kids without the stresses of “having” to get a present for everyone I have ever known, worked for, or liked in the past five years.
 

A Gift that is Never Out Of Style

One item that is still reasonably affordable and that virtually everyone enjoys is a good book. If you are undecided about a few on your list, I have included links for you to browse. Since I am an author and have a couple books out, with more to be released next year, let me tell you about my series.
Fire and Ice, the Secret Vampire Society volume 1, and Vampire Slayers volume 2, are both getting excellent reviews by book review companies and the book reading public. Vampires are very popular in fiction right now, and the media. I realize that there are a lot of vampire books available for sale right now. How do you distinguish the good from the not so good? Reviews are an excellent way. Realistically you will never get everyone to like your book, it’s a percentages game. The more people who read it and give their opinion, the easier it is for someone to decide whether they would like to purchase a certain novel. Mine are running at about 80% like, to 20% not so much, which is great. Even Stephanie Meyers, who has been an absolute phenomenon in the book buying public the last few years with her book sales has had her share of “haters”.
If you enjoy a good vampire romance series with suspense and some horror, I think you will enjoy my books. They are written in a PG 13 format to make them available to a wider audience, (I have a lot of teens that enjoy my books), even though they are written about adults with adult suspense and action. I have good reviews from people in the teen category, to adult moms, and grandmas, to men who have read my books and loved them.
Check out the links included here, I don’t think you will be disappointed. And rest assured that I am not done with this series yet. The characters aren’t finished telling their stories.

www.FireandIceBook.com

new review for VAmpire Slayers, volume 2
http://www.silverthornpress.com/id76.html

facebook fanpage
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Fire-and-Ice-Secret-Society-Vampire-Books/93157146546?ref=ts

Happy Thanksgiving!! First Thanksgiving Proclamation

I came across this the other day and found it very interesting. If you take the time to read it, I think you will too. It was written by George Washington on October 3, 1789. Feel free to comment.

            Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly implore His protection and favor- and whereas of Congress have by their joint committee requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

            Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26^th day of November next to be devoted by the people of these states to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be…And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions…To protect and guide all sovereigns and nations – to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us- and generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

New Moon, Edward or Jacob? Vampire or Werewolf?

Vampire or Werewolf?  No surprise here that I vote for Edward over Jacob. Rob Pattinson makes a cute vampire and Taylor Lautner a great werewolf whatever your preference. Which do you like more? Feel free to comment at bottom of page after my blog post. If you are like me, and are a vampire fan, read the small excerpt from my young adult novel below.

 It was dark, damp and cold with a musty dirt smell. Kayden slowly opened his eyes. It was pitch black and his arms and legs were immobilized. Where was he? He tried to move his head and he couldn’t, something was wrong. Then he vaguely remembered Rurik attacking him. His glowing red eyes and horrible long teeth. Rurik bringing his fangs to his neck and drinking his blood, the pain was excruciating and the terror had been unimaginable. Rurik! He sat up with a start and dirt flew everywhere. What the hell was going on? He was sitting half buried in the ground in the middle of a field. There was nothing any direction except field, weeds and a few trees. He pulled himself up out of the hole he was in and stood up, brushing the dirt off his clothes.

            He felt great, all of his senses were alert. The smells were incredible and even though he knew that it was the middle of the night, he could see clearly for long distances in every direction. He realized that he was close to Chase house and set off in that direction. He had no idea how he ended up in this field in the middle of nowhere, but all he could think about was exacting revenge on Rurik for what he had tried to do to him, and then they would take care of Mindy too. The thought was relishing. He moved amazingly fast through the field toward the subdivision on the other side. Chases house was just down at the end of the first street.

            Kayden walked up and pounded loudly on the door. It opened abruptly and Chase stood there staring back with complete shock on his face.

            “Well, are you going to invite me it? Don’t just stand there like you’ve seen a ghost, I’ve had a hell of a day already.”

            Chase dumbly nodded his head and uttered a few unintelligible sounds and then moved to the side so Kayden could step inside.

            “Wha… you..” Chase tried to say.

            “I just woke up half buried in a field, when I find out who the moron is that did that to me, I’m gonna kill him.”

            Chase found his voice. “You were dead… We buried you because you were dead.”

            “What?! You stupid idiot, do I look dead to you?”

            “I swear, Kayden. You didn’t have a pulse, your eyes were staring blankly ahead. You had to be dead.”

            “Well obviously I wasn’t. Maybe I was in a coma or something. Didn’t you idiots think of that?”

            “I’m sorry. We could have swore you were dead.”

            “I ought to punch you right in the mouth! How dim-witted can you be!” Kayden sat down at the table in the kitchen and looked around. “You’re parents still out of town till the end of the week?”

Chase nodded. “Yeah, they won’t be home till late on Friday.”

“Good,” Kayden grinned. “That should give us time to take care of a few lowlifes first. I’m starving. You got anything to eat in this house?”

            “I’m sure we have something.” Chase answered. He walked over to the refrigerator and shuffled through the shelves. Then he grabbed a box and pulled it out. “We got some leftover pizza, does that sound good?”  Chase turned to look at Kayden who was suddenly standing on the other side of the door of the refrigerator. “Boy you got over here quick. I didn’t even hear you.”

            Kayden stood staring back, and his eyes had a dark menacing quality to them.

“What are you looking at me like that for? I told you I was sorry. We really thought you were dead.” Chase reiterated nervously.

Kayden didn’t say a word and slowly stepped closer to Chase.

“What the hell is wrong with you Kayden?!”

Kayden didn’t answer and menacingly took another step. Chase was backed into a corner now and was starting to feel trapped.

“Hey, get a grip. Eat some pizza and relax, man!”

Chase watched with horror as Kayden’s eyes started to glow and he growled evilly. Chase screamed bloody murder and tried desperately to get around Kayden, who grabbed him in one swift move and slammed him against the wall. The box fell to the floor and pizza was scattered everywhere. Then Kayden opened his mouth wide and brought his fangs down to Chase’s throat. Chase screamed as Kayden cruelly sank his teeth into his neck and drank hungrily. Then He let go of Chase’s body and let it drop to the floor. Chase stared blankly up at him with a horrified expression on his face.

Kayden felt so alive and energized. He lifted his head toward the ceiling and howled, satisfied completely. He had never in his life felt this great before, he was going to have to thank Rurik for turning him into a vampire before he killed him.

Start of week three in National Writing Month. I have already written the 50,000 words, which is the goal for this month. But it isn’t even halfway through my novel, it’ll be approximately 120,000 words when completed. It is still a first draft and will require a lot of proofing and editing to get it to submission, or publishing quality. With deletions and changes along the way. I am still trying hard to keep it in the young adult category. My other two novels, Fire and Ice The Secret Vampire Society, and Vampire Slayers, although kept in the PG13 category for romance and horror are written to an adult audience. (There are many Twilight moms out there that can appreciate Edward but would love a more adult vampire.)
If you want to check out an interview I did recently with Silverthorn Press, I included the link on this page. It tells a little bit more about me, what and why I write, and my books and artwork.     http://www.silverthornpress.com/id74.html

Two Weeks into NaWriMo

     Amy immediately zeroed over to the stereo with the CD collection and started thumbing through the lists of albums. I watched with a sense of satisfaction as she went through the entire list twice. I knew she was looking for Britney Spears, and I’d made sure that it was out with the trash this morning. It was bad enough I had to spend the entire weekend with her, but Britney Spears would have just added insult to injury. She finally picked a different one out of the stack and put it in the player. Then she came over and sat beside me on the sofa.

            “Are you tired of playing high school yet?” she asked, with a mischievous smile.

            I shrugged. “I’m still liking it at the moment. It’s entertaining.”

            She wrinkled up her adorable perfect nose. “What could possibly be entertaining about hanging out with food all day?”

            I tried not to stiffened at her insult to the humans at the school. I’d had that attitude not too long ago. “You’re half human too.”

            She looked at me with disgust. “Excuse me? Half slayer, there is a difference.”

            “Maybe.”

            She smiled suddenly. “I’ve been thinking about joining you at your school. It’s been boring here without you.”

            That was the last thing I needed right now, was a spy for mom and dad as to whom I hung out with and everything I did at school. “You wouldn’t like it.”

            “Why not? You seem to.”

            “Believe me, I know you, and it would be way boring for you.”

            She sighed, “You’re probably right.”

            I tried not to breathe a sigh of relief. I smiled. “There is however a mall crawl for Halloween next weekend that we were thinking about going to, it could be fun.” I knew my parents would never let me go with the kids at school, but if Amy were going to come, that would be a whole different story.

            “Who’s we?” she asked.

            “The kids I hang out with at school.”

            “Oh yeah? That might be cool.”

            “It’s a costume thing, so you’ll have to dress up.”

            “As what?”

            I shrugged, “A zombie, or you could go as a vampire.”

            She laughed. “Should I wear my fangs?” then she smiled widely and showed me her extra long teeth. They were impressive, if she opened her mouth wide, but were set back far enough to not be noticeable during normal conversation. Humans always assumed vampires had long pointed fangs on the canines, but in actuality they were set back farther, on the bicuspids and weren’t discernible unless necessary.  If we all ran around with pointy teeth in the front of our mouths, it would be difficult to fit in with society.

            I grinned back. “I’m planning to sport mine. Maybe I’ll were a cape too.”

            She shuddered. “That is so Goth.”

            “I know, but it’s what humans expect us to look like.”

            “What are your friends going as?”

            “Some said they were going to be vampires, some zombies, or ghosts.”

            “If someone shows up with plastic fangs and white sparkly make up, I’m gonna puke.”

            I couldn’t help laughing. I was actually enjoying hanging with Amy, I didn’t have to hide the real me when I was around her. She liked me the way I was, because her and I were the same.

 Week two is coming to an end in National Writng Month. My first time at participating and I have managed to write over 30,000 words so far. It’s a novel I have been thinking about for  a while, so have had a lot in my head. It’ll still need some serious editing and proofing after I’m finished. This is my first attempt at writing a young adult novel and I’m not sure that it falls into that category as I continue. We’ll see how it all plays out when said and done. Or writes out.
Writing is an adventure. Eventhough the main idea and plot is in my mind, the actual day to day story and character delelopements comes out as I write. I am about a third of the way through the story now. It’s a love story. I like romance, and this is about the first love of teenagers with vampires, horror and suspense thrown into the mix. It will have betrayal, and death as a main theme too so I am gearing myself up for some sad scenes. Will need to have the box of tissues handy. (I get attached to my characters) 
I like adding a few excerpts or blurbs from what I’m writing. Not to say that these scenes will make the final cut because this is a first draft, but above was a blurb from the last few days.

That is it for now. I will be adding some pictures and videos as I figure out how this blog thing works. 

NaWriMo – My Young Adult Novel

I had to stop writing my new young adult novel long enough to update my blog here. I have written over 20,000 words so far this month. I have no problem writing 3000 to 5000 words a day when I’m on a roll. And I have been on a roll for months. I have finished two novels this year and have drafts for two more and I’ve been thinking about this young adult novel for a while. Since it is National Writing Month I thought now would be a good time to start it.
This is the first year I have done NaWriMo and the goal is to try and write a 50,000 word or more novel in a month. It is a no brainer for me at the moment. I am not lacking for ideas, and I have no writer’s block at the moment.  I wrote my first novel in a month and the only reason it took till July to get it out is all the editing and proofing involved in getting one ready for publication. Even now I can look back at it and see some things I would change, I have always been a bit of a perfectionist. (I may put out a second edition with a few minor changes.) Note= For fans of Fire and Ice, don’t worry there are no major changes to Adrian, Carmen, or the story. Maybe just a few more tidbits.
Anyway, back to my young adult novel. It is about a vampire, of course, that is a teenager. I took a different approach with this one and am writing it in a first person perspective from the sixteen year old vampire/slayer boy, Rurik. I had no idea how hard it would be to keep my novel PG when dealing with the thoughts and ideas from his perspective.  Come on- he’s a sixteen year old teenager. With that said, I have a teenage daughter and she tells me what kids say and the way they think in school theses days. And I am wondering- How PG does a young adult novel need to be these days?
The storyline is already awesome with love at the center, and lots of suspense and action with horror mixed in. At this point in time I am almost thinking of making it a tragic love story, we will see. I have a tendency to get so attached to my characters that it is hard to kill them.
I dont want to give the ending away yet, so am still debating about that.

Here’s  an excerpt from what I wrote yesterday, the end of chapter 3:

When I got to Mindy’s she opened the door up and leapt into my arms. I grinned widely and then pushed her against the wall and kissed her for several minutes. We closed the door and went in and sat on her bed in her room. I lay on the bed and looked up at the ceiling while she propped herself up on her elbow and softly ran her fingers up and down my arm. The feeling was incredible.
     “What are you thinking about, Rurik?” she asked after a while.
      I glanced over to her. “How happy I am here with you, Mindy. How much I like being around you.”
     She smiled shyly at my words and glanced down at the bedspread. I reached my hand out and turned her face to mine.
     “I don’t ever want to be anywhere else, but here with you.” I said and gazed into her eyes.
     “I feel the same way.” Her eyes were so soft and loving I couldn’t help sighing. “You are so sweet Mindy. I don’t know if bringing you into my world is fair to you.”
      “I don’t care about any of that Rurik, as long as I can be with you.”
      I tried not to grimace. She had no idea what I even was. What my parents and the society consisted of. That we were all vampires and consumed human blood. People died regularly who came across our path. If she knew all of that about me, she would run away as fast as she could. I reached over and stroked the soft skin on her cheek.
       “You are so soft and beautiful,” I said sadly.
       “What’s wrong?” She asked, picking up on my sudden mood change.
        I sighed. “I just can’t bear the thought of losing you.”
      “I’m not leaving.”
      “You will when you find out the truth about me.”
      “I don’t believe you,” she said almost angrily. “You should have more faith in me than that. There’s nothing that you could ever tell me that would change the way I feel.”
      “Even if I’m your worst nightmare?”
      “Very funny,” she said crossly, and slapped my arm. “Like you could ever be my worst nightmare. You are my best dream.”
      I had to grin at her analogy and reached up and pulled her down on top of me. I stroked her face and she leaned in and kissed me. I pulled her to me and quickly flipped her over until I was on top of her. She giggled and I bent down and kissed her and then looked into her eyes. She was completely powerless under me, I could have my way and there would be no way she could stop me. I had an almost uncontrollable desire to take her, and then to drink her blood. The thought scared me as I realized how exciting it would be. To consume her, to make wild passionate love to her and then drink her blood.
       “Rurik, what’s wrong?” Mindy suddenly asked. She was staring into my face with concern.
       That brought me out of my thoughts and I swiftly got up and walked to the other side of the room. I stood and stared out the window trying to regain control of the beast in me that wanted to kill the girl that I loved.
      “Are you OK?” she asked.
       I glanced over to her and nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine.” I smiled and sat down over at the chair in front of her desk. “I should go… you need to get some sleep.”
       She looked disappointed, but I could tell that she was so tired she was having a hard time staying awake. I walked slowly over and bent down and kissed her quickly. “I’ll let myself out.” Then I turned and left. I knew I needed to get out of there before I did something that I would regret.
      I walked out into the quiet dark street and slid stealthily into the trees, moving silently, but slowly. I was looking for someone. I listened intently with my vampire senses, and tested the gentle breeze that wafted by for any scents. A faint almost indiscernible smell tickled my nostrils and I headed quietly in the direction it was emanating from.  I occasionally tested the air to make sure I was advancing toward my mark. The scent grew stronger with every step.
 My mouth was starting to water at the thought and my breath quickened with anticipation. There was a park up ahead and I moved silently between the trees until I saw what I was looking for, stopping to survey my surroundings. I was in the center of the park and there were swing sets at one end that moved almost eerily in the gentle breeze, as if pushed by a small child that was invisible to all. On the other side was a fountain that was spraying up into the air and then fell like soft rain back down into the clam shaped bowls beneath it, where it was circulated up and out the small spout again. I listened for a moment. All was quiet, the only sounds were the creaking of the rusty swing set and the spattering of water from the fountain. No one was in sight. No one except for me and the man lying asleep on the bench by the fountain.
 I stepped over to him and looked down. He was in a deep sleep and there was an empty bottle on the ground under the bench. I could smell the alcohol, but it was unimportant. The alcohol in his bloodstream would have no effect on me. It would however act as a sedative to him to make him easier to take without much, if any struggle. He was surprisingly well dressed for sleeping on a bench in a park. He didn’t look homeless. I noticed a cell phone lying beside him and realized that he had gone out and drunk himself into a stupor for some reason. It didn’t really matter, but it was his misfortune to have picked this night and this bench.
 I leaned down to him, my eyes starting to glow as the vampire side in me took control. At that very moment he opened his eyes. He stared at me as if not comprehending what he was seeing at first, then the horrible reality sank in and he opened his mouth to scream. He never even got the chance.

Well,  I need to get back to writing again. I will update this regularly to let you know how my month is going with this young adult novel. Writing is definately an adventure.

My Novel for NaWriMo

Hi everyone,

I’ve started my novel for National Writing Month. It is a young adult novel and is a flash forward on my series of books, Fire and Ice. It’s about the kids once they are teenagers. Today I wrote over three thousand words. I usually write three to five thousand words a day when I get on a roll. Then of course comes all the editing, and proofing and rewriting, which takes most of the time. I will include some here as I go along throughout the month. I don’t plan to put out the entire novel, but here is the beginning, as a first draft. Enjoy!

Rurik and Amy

      I sat on the edge of the counter in the kitchen with my roast beef sandwich and watched the scene develop with some amusement.  My Dad, Adrian, was livid and was trying to control his temper. If I hadn’t seen this side of him many times over the years growing up I would have been terrified. He was very affective at being intimidating. I supposed it was important since he was running the country for the secret vampire society. He was without a doubt a force to be reckoned with. He was over six foot and very handsome. Women were always swooning over him. I had to admit that was one aspect of my father that I did appreciate. I had inherited his incredibly good looks and knew how to work it to my advantage when it came to the opposite sex.
      Right now it was hard to enjoy his amazing looks as he stood there with boiling pools of lava churning under the surface of his black eyes. His expression was furious. I felt sorry for my mom, Carmen. She always stood her ground with him, but she was only about five feet four inches tops, and in my opinion didn’t stand a chance. Don’t get me wrong, she was a vampire too, and a slayer and I’d never seen a more lethal machine when she was fired up about something. But I also knew that when it came to my dad, she was putty in his hands.        But, she was the only one I knew who would stand up to dad when she felt she was in the right, no matter how frightening he was.
      “Adrian,” mom continued. “You have to let him do this. He is almost fifteen and is half human too.” Her blue green eyes were flashing angrily as she glared back at my dad. She was subconsciously standing on her tiptoes to make herself appear larger as she squared off against him.
     “Carmen,” dad paused for affect and sighed. “There is absolutely no way that Rurik is EVER going to a public high school. It would be a security nightmare. That is final!”
      I repositioned myself on my perch and took another bite of my sandwich. This was just starting to get interesting. I wasn’t worried, I knew that eventually I would get my way. If my mom lost this round she would subtly work on my dad until he agreed with us. Dad was always the hot headed stormy one in their relationship, but he would calm down at some point and see the reasoning behind me going to a public school. I was tired of living in this prison. I had graduated with top grades in every category and was bored to tears. I needed a little interaction with others my own age. Even if they were only humans.
     “Please just think about it,” mom said calmly and soothingly, trying a different approach. She could calm the savage beast in my dad unlike anyone else I had ever seen. His eyes were already softening slightly in response to her quiet tone. I stayed out of the conversation, because I was way past the thinking my dad was cool stage. He and I disagreed constantly on every subject. I knew mom was my best ally.
     “He’ll be running things at some point. He needs to know how to interact with humans,” she went on. “You can’t continue to keep him isolated from the world. How is Rurik ever supposed to rise up to become a great leader when you are afraid to let him interact with others?”
      I stopped with the sandwich to my lips at her regrettable use of words. Big oops, mom should never have accused dad of being afraid of anything. I could tell she realized her error and braced herself as dad’s eyes sparked angrily. I couldn’t help involuntarily stiffening a little as I prepared myself for the onslaught I knew was now going to be unleashed.
      “This has nothing to do with fear!” he shouted. “I am in charge of this country. Don’t you realize how detrimental it would be to the entire society for Rurik to ever show any signs of his abilities at a public school! It is ludicrous to even be standing here and having this conversation with you. There is no way I am ever going to agree to this!”
     Mom stood there and took it like a soldier as Adrian Tallinn’s wrath was spewed upon her. She had guts, anyone else would have been cowering about now. She stood toe to toe with dad and glared back up into his face. Dad glowered back for several moments before he turned his attention to me as if suddenly realizing that I was still there. I couldn’t help bracing a little as his full anger was now aimed my direction.
      “As for you, Rurik. Don’t think just because you have mom on your side in this that makes any difference! Do you understand me?!” his eyes narrowed as he waited for my response.
      I was smart enough to know when dealing with my dad that increasing his rage was a really dumb thing to do at this point, so I only nodded my head in agreement.
     “I make the final decisions around here when it comes to what is best for this family and the society. I am still in charge. Don’t ever forget that!” His black eyes bore angrily into mine for a few moments and then he turned back to mom and gave her a look that would have wilted an entire garden before he turned around and stormed out of the room.
      My mom took a deep breath and sighed. It was obvious she had been holding her breath. Then she looked to me and tried to smile. “I’m sorry, Rurik. I think I only made it worse.”
      She walked over to me and put her hand up and brushed my hair out of my eyes. She was constantly doing that. I liked my hair longer in front and it irritated her that it covered my “gorgeous brown eyes” as she referred to them.
      “I’ll work on him later, after he has calmed down a bit. He will eventually see that he can’t keep you hidden here forever.”
     I smiled at her. “It’s OK, mom. Don’t worry about it. Dad will figure it out.”
      She sighed. “I hope so. Him and I have never seen eye to eye on the subject of you interacting with humans. You’re half human too.”
     Mom had been human for the first several years they were married. I didn’t know how she survived being married to dad that long as a human. Our vampire world was very dangerous, not to mention the fact that as a human dad was way more powerful than her. Even though she was a slayer, I didn’t really consider it a fair match for a vampire and a human to be married. The humans I had been around were way inferior. I was around six years old when mom was changed and didn’t really remember much about that side of her. Only that even at that age I was concerned for her frailness.
     Mom had never wanted to be a vampire and only reluctantly became one when there was no other choice. I knew that sometimes she still, even now missed not being human anymore. But she loved my dad unconditionally and it was an inevitable consequence of choosing to be with him.
      I grinned at her. “I’m not worried mom. You are the only one who can manipulate dad.”
      She smiled suddenly. “Don’t ever let him hear you say that, or we will never get our way again.”
     I raised my hand to my mouth and ran my finger across to indicate that my lips were sealed. “Our secret.”
      Mom patted my arm and then turned around and left the kitchen. I finished my sandwich in a couple more bites and then pulled my phone out to call Amy.
     Amy, now there was a totally irritating girl if ever there was one. But at this point in time she was the only one my age I was allowed to associate with. And it was because she was the same as me, half vampire, half slayer. I shuddered when I remembered being told that her and I were supposedly going to marry someday and start a super race of vampires that were unbeatable. I wouldn’t marry Amy if she was the last person left on earth. She was the biggest, spoiled, brat that ever lived.
      “Hey,” Amy answered the phone. “What you up to?”
      “Just watching the fireworks as my dad and mom argued again.” I said with a grin. “What’re you doing? You want to hang out this afternoon?”
      “When are they not arguing?” Amy asked sarcastically. “Sure, I would love to do a movie, or something.”
      “Great, see you later.”
      I closed my phone and slid off the counter. I couldn’t help grinning a little. Even though I despised Amy’s spoiled, I’m so superior attitude she was absolutely gorgeous with her perfect features and I knew she liked me. She had even let me hold her hand and kiss her. I could appreciate that about her. Women were naturally attracted to me. I was very handsome, like my dad with my thick, black wavy hair and dark brown eyes. When we would go out in public to a movie, or a restaurant on occasion, I got constant stares.
     I sighed, one of the reasons I couldn’t wait to go to a public school. The girls wouldn’t stand a chance against me. I could never tell mom that though, or she would be on dad’s side and I would be stuck in this prison forever.
**
     “My mom and dad are so lame. At least you have this big house to live in,” Amy said as she ran her hand over the list of CD’s I had on the shelf beside my stereo system. Then she pulled one out and smiled. “Let’s listen to this!” 
      I sighed. “Not Britney Spears again,” I moaned. I was going to have to remember toss that one out. It had been given to me as a gift and I hated it. “You have a nice house now that Tony and Amanda bought that piece of property and built one.”
      “Not nearly as nice as yours,” Amy complained. She popped the CD in, cranked up the volume and plopped down beside me on the futon. Then she took my hand and smiled up at me. She had the most amazingly beautiful blue eyes that were framed by her long golden curls. Boys were helpless when she looked at them. I’m glad that it didn’t have the same effect on me. I had known her since we were born, our birthdays were only about a week a part. She was a little demon and always got her way about everything. It irritated me immensely. I was always accused of picking on her or mistreating her when she would run to Tony, Amanda or even my dad. They all seemed to be completely unaware of how manipulating she was. It infuriated me.
      But I smiled back.  I knew she liked me and could use that to my advantage.
      “So what were your parents arguing about this time?” she asked.
      I shrugged. “About me going to public high school.”
      Her eyes flew open wide. “Public school? Are you serious?”
     I nodded.
     “But why? You’re half way through your college courses. Why would you want to go to public school?”
      I looked at her with irritation. If anyone should understand, you think it would be her. “Aren’t you tired of being cooped up here like some freak lab experiment? I want to go out and experience a few things.”
      Her eyes narrowed. “Like what? There’re only humans at a public school.”
      “I know,” I emphasized with a grin. “We would be at the top of whatever we wanted to be.”
      She grinned slightly as she thought about my words. I knew if I could get Amy and her parents, Tony and Amanda on me and my mom’s side, my dad would soon crumble.
      I ran my hand up her arm caressingly. “It would be fun to rule the school… wouldn’t it?”
      She smiled and snuggled into my side. “I see your point. That could be a blast.”
**
       Mom eventually came through for me. I don’t know how she managed, dad had been so dead set against the entire idea but never underestimate the power of love and the beguiling abilities of a female. Mom may have been putty in dad’s hands, but in a lot of ways, dad was the same powerless mass when it came to my mom’s charms. I sat on the sofa and tried very hard to not get “a look” as it was called while I was read the entire riot act on how I was suppose to act in public and heard all of the secret vampire society rules for the umpteenth time.  I didn’t want to blow it by coming across now as the smart ass teenager and found myself trying to concentrate on anything dull and mundane to keep my features neutral.
      “Are you even paying attention?” dad suddenly asked, sounding a bit perturbed.
       I looked up at him and tried to smile nicely. “Um…Of course, dad.”
       His eyes narrowed slightly, like he didn’t quite believe me. “You know all of our rules by heart but I want to emphasize the importance of not displaying any extra abilities while at school. Believe me, I know how tempting it will be to control the humans around you, but you are only getting one chance at this. Do you hear?”
       I tried my best to nod sincerely and keep a straight face.
       He looked at me doubtfully for a few moments before he continued. “I mean it Rurik. You cannot ever screw up in public. Ever.”
      “I completely understand dad. Really.”
      “Don’t patronize me. It may have been a few hundred years since I was a teenager, but that doesn’t mean I don’t remember how they think. For the life of me I can’t figure out why you would want to go to high school in the first place. You’re almost done with your college courses. It’s not as if you are going to learn anything there.”
      “He just needs to get out of the house and interact with kids his own age,” mom interjected into the conversation.
       Dad sighed. “Somehow that doesn’t make me feel any better about this. I think this is a huge mistake that I’m getting talked into.”
      “I won’t disappoint you dad.” I said as sincerely as possible. “I mean it.” And I did really mean it. I just wanted to have a little fun. It was impossible to do that here with everyone watching everything I did constantly.
      “He’ll be fine Adrian.” Mom said.
       “All right. We will try this for the first semester.”
       I grinned widely and couldn’t help a little exclamation. “Yes!”
       Dad stared at me narrowly. “Only for a semester and if there is any problem… at all. That is it. Do you hear?”
       I nodded again and tried hard to control my enthusiasm. I was actually going to be allowed outside this house, into a public setting without constant supervision. It was unbelievable.
      “The only reason I am even going for this in any way is because we have had no problems with our enemies in years now. Otherwise there would be no way I could let you go without a bodyguard.”
       My mom snickered slightly. “He can run circles around a bodyguard, Adrian. His abilities have way surpassed any other vampire years ago.”
       I cringed slightly, this wasn’t the time to belittle dads remarks. I didn’t want him to get mad and change his mind.
       Dad looked condescendingly at mom. “I’m very aware of that Carmen.”
      I held my breath while he looked at her with irritation for a moment and then he turned around without another word and walked out of the living area. Mom grinned widely at me and came over and put herarm around my shoulder. Then she said seriously, “I went out on a limb and promised your father that you would never even consider causing any kind of stir at school. That you were just interested in getting to know the human side of you a little better, so make sure that I’m not eating my words.”
       “Thanks mom,” I said. “Don’t worry, I promise to be good.”
        I couldn’t wait until the following Monday to go to school. I was ecstatic about the whole idea and was actually glad that Amy had decided that she didn’t want to go. She had told me that “she was so far beyond any of those immature teenagers it would take all of her tolerance to not want to just squash them.”
**
     When Monday came, my dad dropped me off in front of the school in the limo. I cringed as every student standing around the front entrance stared at me when I got out. What a way to make an entrance, I thought with dismay. I would already be pegged as different just for pulling up to the school in a limousine.
      There was a group of girls standing to one side that stared at me as I walked past, so I smiled at them and flashed my brilliant smile. They actually looked thunderstruck. I had better calm it down a little before I blew them out of the water, so I glanced quickly away and continued to the entrance. And that was when I noticed some guys staring at me with narrow eyes. They didn’t appear to be the friendly sort and I could feel myself ruffling already. They were large and muscular, for human jock types. The largest one seemed to be the leader and he eyed me hatefully and stepped directly in front of my path and stood there, as if daring me to make him move.
      I stopped and stood facing him for a moment. This was when I would instinctively reach my hand out and shove his inferior self so hard that he flew halfway to the basketball court on the other side of the parking lot. But my brain told me that this is exactly the thing dad would take me out of school for. My freedom would be short-lived if I were to put this punk in his place like I wanted to. So instead, I took a deep breath and made myself smile.
      “Excuse me,” I said quietly.
      The guy seemed surprised at my politeness and stared at me for a few moments before he smiled slightly and then to my surprise stepped to the side and let me pass. I grinned back and headed into the building. I heard them snicker behind me and one said. “He thinks he’s something doesn’t he?”
      “Yeah, we’ll see about that. He looks like a geek to me.”
      The lady at the reception desk immediately perked up and said suspiciously. “Can I help you? Students aren’t allowed inside till the buzzer rings.” She was older and matronly looking with her long hair in a ponytail and the dark rimmed glasses she wore. I smiled charmingly and she was at once drawn into my eyes. Her entire demeanor changed and she smiled warmly at me.
      “I’m Rurik Tallinn. This is my first day and I was told to come in and get my class schedule.”
      “Oh…that’s right. I remember talking to your dad on the phone. Hold on, I think I have it here.” She turned to a desk and picked up a couple pieces of paper and then handed them over. “This is the classes you have and here’s a map to get around the buildings.”
      I smiled and took them from her. “Thanks.”
      “If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to ask me,” she said with a smile.
      I nodded my head and turned around to head back toward the front doors as I glanced over the sheet of classes.
      “Wow, that’s the friendliest I’ve seen that old lady act to anyone. Ever.”
      I glanced up and a girl was standing just inside the door smiling at me. She had long brown hair and a large green eyes with a cute turned up nose.
      “She didn’t seem that bad,” I tried to say casually.
      “Are you kidding? Everyone here dreads having to talk to Ms.Schwartz. What did you do to her?”
      I was slightly taken back at her question. Had this girl seen me mesmerize the lady? I had better be a little more discreet next time. “What do you mean?” I asked suspiciously.
      She laughed. “Don’t get all uptight, I didn’t mean you really did anything to her.”
      “Oh,” I tried to say casually.
      “I’m Mindy.” She smiled at me and I could tell that she was attracted to my good looks. The prey was always unwittingly drawn to the alluring qualities of the hunter. This was going to be a piece of cake.
      “I’m Rurik,” I smiled back.
      Just then the buzzer rang and a hoard of students came rushing into the building, talking and laughing.
      “Where’s your first class?” Mindy shouted over the throng of kids.
      “Um… I have science at the end of the hallway upstairs. Room 215, and then it’s Physical Ed, and Geometry after that, on the other side of campus in building C.”
      She looked at me with surprise. “How could you have memorized all of that already? You just got your schedule and walked over here.”
      She was observant, I was going to have to be more careful around this one. “I… have something of a photographic memory.”
      “Wow!” she exclaimed again. “Well, maybe I’ll see you at lunch, I have to go the opposite direction. Nice to meet you Rurik.”
      I grinned at her and then took off up the stairs to my first class.