Angel Lore: part 4 by Toi Thomas #OurAuthorGang

From Pinterst via
I'm actually a bird.

Today, in part 4 of my Angel Lore series, I’ll be sharing more angel knowledge with you from P – T, as I work my way through the alphabet (see part ONE, part TWO, and part THREE). But first…

In a series like this, questions of faith, belief, and religious preference are always lingering in the background. While I make no attempts to hide my faith, my interest in angels goes beyond that. I have too many questions and inquiries about the world to not reach out. My study of angel lore is just one way for me to cope with and understand the world and all its peoples. I appreciate other faiths and their ideas, or lack thereof, concerning angels because it’s all part of the process to gain knowledge, and possibly enlightenment.

On to the list…

Powers are said to have been the first angels God created, though not the highest in the angelic hierarchy. They are said to be the protectors against demonic forces.

I got nothing for ‘Q’. Perhaps, think about how angels move around so quietly; no one sees or hears them. 😉

How many angels have a name that begins with the letter ‘R’? A lot. So, I give you one random angel, Raguel. While briefly shunned by the Roman church in 745AD, this “friend of God” is said to watch over the good behavior of other angels.

Shaitans are kind of like demons, derived from ancient Hebrew and Arabic mythologies. It is said that when Muhammad encountered a shaitan, he read to it from the Koran in hopes that it would reconcile with God.

Thrones are probably the most fascinating angels I’ve learned about. Said to be the ones who carry out God’s decisions or justice, these creatures are described as fiery wheels, constantly in motion.

Well, that's all I have for today. Stick around this blog so you don't miss part 5 down the road.

Be sure to check out my Eternal Curse Series.

Book 1:
Giovanni is a creature out of time. Mira is a doctor trying to classify him. Beauty and the Beast meet Jekyll and Hyde in this paranormal tale with romantic and biblical influences.

Book 2:

A tale for fathers, sons, and daughters, this epic saga touches the past and future. The story of Giovanni will bring you to tears as loss and duty blur the lines of hope for what is to come.

The Eternal Curse series was my first book and series I ever wrote and to know that someone liked it meant the world to me. It's currently unavailable pending a rewrite in order to align it with new developments in the 3rd installment. If you'd like to read the first two books and offer me your feedback, please consider joining my email list to receive a free digital copy. 

Find out more about me, my work, and my inspiration at the following links:

Amazon | Goodreads | The ToiBox of Words | YouTube | See a list of my other posts here.

#cursescanbebroken, #angels, #wings, #Pinterest

COMMENTS

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Alex J. Cavanaugh

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

I didn't realize there were so many types of angels. I need to pay closer attention to that when reading my Bible.

 

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Nikki McDonagh via Google+

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

 

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Nikki McDonagh

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Great post. Really interesting.

 

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Ruth de Jauregui via Google+

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Toi shares more information about angels on A Small Gang of Authors. Fascinating!

 

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Ruth de Jauregui

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Oooh more angels! Thank you Toi, this is great!

 

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Joe Bonadonna

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Excellent stuff, Toi! Keep it coming. You publish these -- are print it all out for those of us who'd like a physical copy. :)

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Joe Bonadonna via Google+

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Today on A Small Gang of Authors, Toinette Thomas gives us part 4 of her excellent series about Angel Lore.

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Mary Anne Yarde

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

I do love your post, Toi!

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Erika M Szabo via Google+

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Erika M Szabo

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

I'm learning a lot about angels from your posts Toi, a really enjoyable series :)

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Grace Au

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Another great post, Toi! My favorite is Archangel Raphael...I guess because he is the angel of healing and medicine.

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Rich Feitelberg via Google+

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Rich Feitelberg

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Did you forget that Samuel (an angel) was fallen and becomes Satan? Do are fallen angels beyond the scope here?

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Toi Thomas

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Aside from angels, I think music is another subject that crosses racial, religious, and cultural lines. Do you agree? What other subjects do this as well? Are you enjoying this series? It's almost over.

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Erika M Szabo

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I'm really enjoying your posts about Angels, and I'm looking forward to your posts about music :)

Toi Thomas

1 year ago

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Edit

 

I hope the music topic goes over well.

Toi Thomas via Google+

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Today, I share part 4 of my angel lore series. Please, check it out.

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The Cloak of Invisibility #OurAuthorGang

I love to write science fiction. It is a genre where you can really let your imagination fly. From creating futuristic or other worlds where anything can happen, to inventing all kinds of amazing gadgets that can do incredible things. Like flying cars, characters with super human powers, clothes that make you invincible, and or, invisible, to name but a few. None of this exists but wouldn't it be fabulous if it did?

Well, technology is quickly catching up with the wacky notions that spring from authors of sci-fi and fantasy. One such incredible idea is the cloak of invisibility. A thing of myth and legend, it has fascinated writers for centuries. Rightly so, for it allows the wearer the freedom to come and go undetected. A powerful tool indeed. Armies who possessed this robe could easily defeat their enemy by stealth and surprise attacks. For us ordinary folk the idea of not being seen is tempting. Imagine being able to listen in on conversations that you would normally not be privy to, or walk anywhere you wanted? You'd never have to pay to go to the cinema, or your favourite concert, sports event, ah, the list is endless.

The idea of an invisibility cloak has been around for thousands of years, sorry J.K. Rowling, but you weren't the first author to come up the notion. Folklore and fairy tales such as Culhwch and Olwen, a Welsh prose tale from 12th Century about a hero who is connected to the legenary King Aurthur, has a 'Mantle of Invisibility'. The Brothers Grimm have one in The Twelve Dancing Princessess, and in Wagner's opera DAs Rheingold, Alberich dons, Tarnkappe, and disappears.

Today, scientist have created a material that can render the wearer invisible. Inspired by nature from animals such as cuttlefish, octopus, and squid, this cloth can change colour so that it appears invisible when it matches the hue of its surroundings, "...by using dielectric elastomers, stretchy polymers that expand when hit with an electrical current. To mimic the squid's colour-changing muscles.' 

Known as biomimicry, it has potential for military and everyday usage. As suggested in a 2012 article by the BBC: "This could help us create a whole host of new technologies, ranging from active camouflage and clothes that change colour and pattern, to a smart second-skin that can cool you when you are hot and keep you warm when you are cold." 

You can read the full article here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17925309

A Canadian company, Hyperstealth, has produced a camouflage material that can hide people as well as objects. It already issues uniforms and coverings for military vehicles.

"Quantum Stealth is a material that renders the target completely invisible by bending light waves around the target. The material removes not only your visual, infrared (night vision) and thermal signatures but also the targets shadow."

You can see the material in action via CNN YouTube video:

https://youtu.be/Rqi3jpBSyCc

Needless to say, I have used this idea in my work. Here is a snippet from A Silence Heard,  book 3 in the Song of Forgetfulness series:

The moon shone bright. A shock-faced ball in the black sky that looked down on the three of us as if to shout, "Prevail. Stand steady." The wind whipped around our feet and legs and a swirl of ash and dry earth spiralled up before us. I coughed and spat out the filthy soil that bore the taste of Agro boot.

And through the cloud of churned up dirt came the sound of Agro army.

"Where are they? Where?" Brennu said and blinked.

"In front of us."

"Wa? But, Adara, I see nowt. Is it magic they use?"

There was a ripple in the landscape before us.

Four figures appeared and walked steadily up the gravel path that led straight to where we stood. They halted. Behind them, the scenery shivered.

I stared all in wonder as shimmering into view came row after row of Agro soldiers dressed in the same black shirt and troos. They wore black peaked hats and below the brim identical round black-eyed faces looked out. In each cloned hand was a black stick-like weapon.

They stood still as a forest.

A blast of dusty wind hit my face and I shuddered.

For more information about the series please go to: http://www.thesongofforgetfulness.com/

Hyperstealth are hesitant to reveal exactly how their wonder fabric works, but perhaps one day we will be able to purchase it and make our very own invisible cloak.

All images are copyright free.

Plotter or pantser – What's your writing style?

By Ruth de Jauregui

Writers have their own methods of working their way through the story and getting the words on the page. Some authors plot every element before they begin and build character studies that detail the main and secondary characters. Others, like me, start writing and the words evolve into a tale.

After I get started, I do engage in a little plotting and somewhere in the first 10,000 words, the end comes to me and I write it out. Then I fill in the rest of the story, twisting and turning and returning to the various threads as the story leads me. I do have a mental list of things to return to and resolve before the tale ends.

I can't speak for every writer, but I do have a vision of my main character when I begin. Despite my plans, all too often she seizes the keyboard and the next thing I know, she's described herself or a scene that was merely a passing thought an hour or three ago. I admit it, I don't always know exactly where the story is going until I'm driving, washing dishes or doing some other mundane chore and boom, the next scene hits me.

One thing that I do that's often discouraged by more experienced fiction writers (my currently published books are all nonfiction) is when I change some detail in the story, I search back through the already written chapters and change the earlier details to ensure consistency. It is a pet peeve to have some detail pop up as I'm reading a book and I say, "Wait a minute." I have literally went back and searched through the pages to find that earlier inconsistency. Obsessive? Yes, yes, I am.

While I'm forcing myself to write "Bitter Nights" in chronological order, my other work-in-progress "Hunters Moon" has scenes that haven't been worked into the story yet. I sat down and wrote chapters as they came to me, and I haven't finished weaving the story together yet. I was working away on "Hunters Moon" and then Bitter stepped into my head and demanded that her story be written first.

There really isn't a right or wrong way to write your story. More important is to sit down and get the words on paper. You can always edit it later to clean up those rough edges, and then turn it over to a professional editor and proofreader to fix up your small grammatical and punctuation errors.

Just keep writing!

#RuthDJ  #writing #Bitter  #ASmallGangOfAuthors

Book Spotlight #OurAuthorGang

Author Grace Augustine

Things are buzzing in Acorn Hills as the community prepares for the annual holiday celebration. A huge parade in the New District, the ceremonial tree lighting in the park, the caroling along the river walk, and a feast for friends and family that you won't want to miss.  Join your favorite characters as they play a game of hide and seek and find what was in front of them all along.

https://www.books2read.com/u/brJlAb

An excerpt from Holiday Hide & Seek, Book 4 of The Acorn Hills Series (this series is for mature readers 18 years of age and older)

"AND SO, IT BEGINS

     “That should just about do it, unless there are any questions.”

      Jordan looked around the room at The Art Galleria Administrative Board. No one said a thing.

      “Good. You know if you have problems, need anything, or have questions, I’m always available. Thank you for giving up your Saturday afternoon to get the ball rolling. This holiday season will be upon us sooner than we think. I want to make sure it’ll be unlike any other in the New District of Acorn Hills.”

       The meeting disbursed into the reception room of the Galleria. Jack Everling, pushed his walker, ambled slowly toward his son, and extended his hand, which Jordan grasped firmly.

       “Son, you’ve done a great job with this place.  I’m glad it all worked out. I’m proud of you,” Jack smiled and looked around the grand room.

       “Well, Dad, all thanks to you and Louis. I’d almost given up finding a job.”

    “Sounds like you have a lot of great plans for the holidays, a lot of great things happening here,” Jack smiled.

     “Yes, I want this to be the best, most different, most elegant, most holiday season Acorn Hills has ever seen.”         

       Jordan’s excitement extended through his arms as he kept opening them up each time the word most came from his mouth. He sported a huge grin which made his eyes twinkle.

        “Is Ginger on board with your plans?”

        Jordan chuckled. Knowing his lovely wife, she would have things well in hand long before the nights they were needed.

        “Dad, Ginger’s a micro-manager when it comes to events.  She’s been doing this for years. What I’m worried about is not having enough jobs for everyone to do. The interest in this by the businesses, owners and employees has been phenomenal.”

          Jack reached for his coat and Jordan held it as his father put his arms in the sleeves.

         “You know your mom and I will do whatever we can to help. All you have to do is ask.”

  Jack gave a brief hug to his son as he headed for the door.

      “I’m counting on you to be Mr. and Mrs. Santa.  That’s your official duty, Dad. Always has been!”

          Jordan looked at the lines around the eyes of his aging father made more prominent by the delightful smile from his son’s words. Realizing there weren’t going to be too many more holidays together saddened Jordan." 

Our Guest Author Today is Maggie Adams #OurAuthorGang

Today, we warmly welcome Author Maggie Adams.

Maggie Adams is an Amazon Best-selling contemporary romance author. She's the recipient of the Dayreader Review's Best New Series award in 2015 for her Tempered Steel series. Her series has launched the tiny town of Grafton, Illinois into international recognition. When Maggie isn't writing, she enjoys traveling (usually to the grocery store) dancing (around the kitchen to avoid cooking) and relaxing with her family (aka taking a nap while watching a movie.) She loves to chat, so make sure to look her up.

http://www.maggieadamsbooks.com
https://www.facebook.com/maggieadamsbooks
https://www.amazon.com/author/maggieadams

(The Tempered Steele series is for mature readers 18 and older)

Meet the Coalsons...
   A few years ago, the tiny village of Grafton, Illinois, nestled along the banks of the mighty Mississippi River, was almost completely destroyed by a flood.  Rather than pull up stakes and move elsewhere, many residents vowed to rebuild their hometown, making it bigger and better than ever.
   One resident was Mac Coalson, eldest son of Hank and Ginny Coalson. Mac, together with his parents and six brothers, set about the arduous task of clearing, cleaning, and repairing what could be saved.
  Not everyone was happy to be rebuilding the town. When vandals strike the new construction sites, it's up to Mac and his brothers to catch the culprit before anyone is hurt.
   The brothers: Mac, Sam-an ex-Navy SEAL, Chance-the Cassanova, Lawrence "Lucky", Brandon, Nick, and Tanner...are in for some wild shenanigans as they protect Grafton and those they love.
   As you read through this series, you will fall in love with strong male characters who long to protect their family, romance that blossoms for each Coalson brother, and a family bond stronger than the gold rings on Hank's and Ginny's hands

http://a.co/j9ETVfr

In Book 1 of The Tempered Steel series, we find Mackenzie Coalson determined to rebuild his hometown after a flood all but destroys Grafton, Illinois. He has no time for a relationship...or all the romantic junk that goes with it. He has a vandal to catch and no sweet-smelling bundle of femininity is going to sway him.

Dixie Harris charged into the County Sheriff's office with a sassy sway and a smart mouth, eager to give the sheriff--and anyone else--a piece of her mind. When she locks horns with the devil himself, in the form of Mac Coalson, she quickly learns he has a temper that rivals hers (even if he is the living epitome of her sexual fantasies.)

When the two unite to catch a potential murderer, it's in everyone's best interest to keep it "business only." But, that's hard to do when their combined attraction is volatile enough to burn down the town.