Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Movies Playing In My Mind by Toi Thomas #OurAuthorGang

Hi there, Toi here. I’m new to this group and so excited to share a little bit of my creativity and knowledge with all of you. Aside from being an avid reader of books and comic books, I’m also a bit of a cinephile. To be honest, I appreciate a good story in any format, but that’s a topic for another day.

Since I was a kid, it always seemed like I had movies playing in my head. For a short time, what I saw on TV and the big screen was a filter for how I saw the world. Luckily it didn’t take too long for me to come to grips with reality and see the world for what it really is. Still, there were always movies and TV shows playing in my mind, until one day when a movie started to play in my mind that had no outside source material.

Pexels.com
I remember clearly seeing myself as a Lost Boy in Neverland (yes, I know I’m a girl 😉), fighting pirates and playing games with Peter Pan. As I got older, other movies played out in my mind, and soon my head was filled with original characters I’d never met, but who all seemed so familiar. At that point, I wasn’t in these films at all, yet I felt so connected to them. It would be years before all of this made any sense to me, but when it did finally all come together, my life changed.

About ten years ago, I began to have a reoccurring dream. It was unlike any dream I’d had before. For one thing, I could actually remember parts of it. My sleeping dream, for once, played out like so many daydreams had in the past, like a movie. The story was vivid while I slept, but when I woke, I could only grasp bits and pieces. So, I decided to start writing down what I could remember.

After a few weeks, I had this amazing story, that once on paper, played out in my mind like a movie. The star was a gray-skinned solemn man living in isolation, waiting for the day when the light would come. The light of understanding is all this man wanted from life. He was different and knew he didn’t fit into this world and when the light finally came, he transformed into an angel and ascended into heaven as the sound of harps played in the background of a pink sky with yellow rays of light guiding his path.


It was a really great, but also really short film. Having caught the writing bug, I decided to use that story as inspiration for what ended up becoming my first novel, Eternal Curse: Giovanni’s Angel. During the development of my first book, I realized that all the strange, good, and even evil characters I encountered in these cerebral films were, in some way, a part of me. All the stories and movies that played out in my mind were always, in some small way, a reflection of what was going on in my life.

I don’t know if any of my work will ever make it to the big or small screen, but I’m happy for now, just having them play out so perfectly in my mind.

Find Eternal Curse: Giovanni’s Angel here: Amazon 

Want to dive more into the inspiration that brought about the Eternal Curse Series? Try 40 Days and Nights of Eternal Curse (the companion guide): Amazon 

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, #dreambig, #booklover, #film, #fan, 
COMMENTS

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Toi Thomas

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
So happy to be here today sharing, "Movies Playing In My Mind".
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Mary Anne Yarde

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Great meeting you, Toi ~ welcome to the gang!
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Hi there.

Derrick Ferguson

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
And if you want to know even more about Toi Thomas, here's an interview I did with her a few years back. Enjoy!
http://dlferguson-bloodandink.blogspot.com/2014/11/kickin-willy-bobo-withtoi-thomas.html
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Thank you so much for sharing that Derrick. You are the best!

T.C. Rypel

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
You're not alone, Toi---I tend to see stories as "interior movies" first, also! A lot of writers probably do. It helps keep those characters and scenes as living entities on the stages of our imagination, I think.

And that can be helpful to your style of expression. We live in a very visually oriented culture. It likely helps to cast our prose in a sensory flow that includes a sort of "streaming hyper-fantasy." We PROJECT that movie in our minds for the delectation of our reading audience. My fiction is often cited as being very "cinematic," and I've always counted that as a compliment.

Don't change a THING about your method, channeled through that mysterious conduit from those Muses---those GODS!---who inspire us as storytellers!
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Thank you for your words. I like how you explain the feeling of seeing my work in my head. Glad to know I'm not alone; glad to know others have this much fun with their writing.

Joe Bonadonna

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Welcome and congratulations on your first post, Toi! Great job! I get this big time: my ideas play out like little films in my head, and I also get inspired by old movies, like 1930s and 1940s movies. (I shared on Facebook and Pinterest, but had trouble with Google + so I copied and pasted over there.)
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I haven't even gotten around to how actual cinematic releases have inspired my work, yet. That may be a series of posts. I will say that I too have an appreciation for old movies.
 
+Toi Thomas -- Very cool! A number of my past posts about writing and my books, including my current 5-part blog talk about what movies inspired me, and how Alfred Hitchcock was the key to everything. I hope you do a series of posts. I will look forward to hearing about what films inspired you. 

Stephanie Scott

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
I always wished I could take a dream and turn it into a story! Very cool.
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It really is. After about 8 years, it happened to me again, but that's WIP. Perhaps I'll write about that experience one day.

Erika M Szabo

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Great post Toi! That's how I rite my stories too, seeing it in my mind as a movie before I start writing :)
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Pretty cool huh?

Grace Au

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Welcome, Toi, to a great bunch of authors. We are varied in genre, but we all have the characters who won't keep quiet until we write their stories. It is so nice knowing your writing background. Looking forward to more!
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Thank you. I love the variety of this group and am so happy to be here.

Rich Feitelberg

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
I do this; visualize the story or scene in my mind before I write it. It usually needs revision after that, but it's a start. You need clay on the wheel before you can shape it.

Welcome!
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I like that, "clay on the wheel". :D

Rick Haynes

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
A warm welcome to the club, Toi. A good imagination is a wonderful thing to have, and if you don't dream, how can any dream come true.
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Ruth de Jauregui via Google+

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Oh my goodness, this is great. I have a movie running in my head too -- especially when I read.
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Ruth de Jauregui

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Wow, that's great. I also have snippets of my story running in my head. And when I read, the story runs in my mind like a movie. Yeah, I'm also a very visual person.

Great post!!
 
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Joe Bonadonna via Google+

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Today on A Small Gang of Authors, Toinette Thomas​ makes her debut with a nice blog about "the movies that play inside her head," and how they inspire her writing. Please take a look and leave a Comment and/or a Like. We support indie authors and we appreciate your support.
https://asmallgangofauthors.blogspot.com/2017/10/movies-playing-in-my-mind-by-toi-thomas.html
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Rich Feitelberg shared this via Google+

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
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Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Do You Believe in... #OurAuthorGang

Thoughts on metaphysical beliefs in today's society  by Grace Augustine 


According to Dictionary.com, here is the definition for metaphysics:
      "The branch of philosophy that deals with the first principals of things, including abstract concepts, such as being, knowing, substance, cause, identity, time, and space."

In today's blog post, I want to touch on the subject of "knowing"...which will include having sixth sense, experiencing deja'vu, and dream synchronicity.

We've all had times when we are speaking with someone or we visit a particular place and think, "Hmmm, I've been here or heard this or experienced this before." My thoughts are that we probably have experienced it before. Our brains and our bodies are such unique creations. We are just beginning to scratch the surface of what our minds are capable of.


Some dreams we have are so real that we want to live them over and over. Some dreams we have come to fruition. Our subconscience is a funny thing. It allows us to be aware, yet it's almost as if our imagination takes over, influencing our actions. I'm a believer in dream synchronicity because I've experienced it many times in my life.  I will dream one night and a few days later it will happen, or I have the feeling of deja'vu.

This very thing happens to Darla in A Soul's Kiss, the first book of my Diva to the Guides series. A Soul's Kiss is filled with dreams, energetic transfers and feelings, and synchronicity that makes you smile.

Here's an excerpt:
     Moonlight streamed through the open slits in the curtains, dimly illuminating the room. He was there...his gentle hand caressed her shoulder. She couldn't see him, but the essence of his energy filled her senses. He slowly lay down beside her. The warmth of his outstretched body set every fiber of her on fire.
    Soft lips gently, sweetly covered hers in a light as a feather kiss, leaving her heart pounding with passion. She wanted more...and just at that moment, as if he read her thoughts, the strength of his kiss deepened. She melted into him. She felt his very soul...
    "Darla! Darla! Darla, wake up!"
    Karan shook Darla until she sat upright on the bed.
    Darla ran her tongue over her teeth trying to rid the morning mouth she felt. She moaned, laid back down, and pulled the covers over her head.
    "Darla!"
    "Alright! Alright! Good grief, Karan, where's the fire?"
   

Monday, October 2, 2017

Book in the Spotlight from Joe Bonadonna #OurAuthorGang

Mad Shadows: The Weird Tales of Dorgo the Dowser  

Joe Bonadonna



    Valdar is a city of swordslingers and necromancers, witch cults and half-human races. It's a city in a world of darkness, black magic and creatures of the night . . . a city where demonic entities serve the needs of any witch or magicman who can open a doorway into their domain.  This is my city. This is my world . . . a world of magic, mystery, murder, mayhem and monsters. I hunt anyone and anything that poses a threat to the people of my city.
    My name’s Dorgo. Folks call me the Dowser.

Mad Shadows: The Weird Tales of Dorgo the Dowser, by Joe Bonadonna. Winner of the 2017 Golden Book Readers’ Choice Award for Fantasy.

A SHORT EXCERPT:

    The mumbling man wasn’t much more than fifty or so years old, though he looked much older. He was bald, with a ring of white hair like a laurel wreath wrapped around three sides of his head. Tall and broad-shouldered, he had a pot belly and a double chin to match. His face was pale, which was only natural considering what he’d recently been through. But his eyes looked clear as he nodded hello to Praxus and me. 
    I smiled and tried to be very polite. “Feeling better, Mister Zakova?”
    “Call me Kribble,” he said. “After all, we’ve been through quite a patch together, haven’t we? You, me, and your friend there with the broken horn.”
    “As I recall,” Praxus said, “you tried to kill us.”
    “But we saved your life,” I told Kribble. “And we want to help you.”
    “So I did. So you do.” He eyed us with an odd mixture of shrewdness, innocence, and hope. “Things like that do happen, I suppose.”
    “Are you willing to talk to us now?” I asked him.
    “And what would you like me to say?”
    I pointed to the body of the man lying in the bed next to him. It was neatly wrapped in bed linen. The man was already dead when Praxus and I brought him to the club’s infirmary.
    “We know his story,” I said. “But before he died, he told us that he saw you take something from the witch. He thought it was some kind of key. What did he mean by that?”
    Kribble gave me a sly grin. “It’s a secret.”
    I was a knife’s edge away from losing my patience, but I knew that wouldn’t do us any good. “Look, Kribble. Children’s lives are at stake here. We’ll keep your secret safe. We promise. But we don’t have much time, do you understand that? Please, help us — tell us about this key.”
    He stared at me, then he stared at Praxus, then he stared at his lap. “My hands,” he moaned.
    “What about your hands, Kribble?”
    “If I tell you what I know, will you promise to help me?” he asked.
    “Help you? How can I help you?”
    Kribble held up the stumps of his bandaged wrists. “Find my hands, please.”
    I gave him the best smile I could muster. “I’ll do whatever I can.”
    “Promise?”
    “I promise. And so does Praxus. Right, Praxus?”
    My satyr friend gave Kribble a friendly wink. “Aye, that I’ll be doing.”
    So Kribble Zakova, a lost soul staring into the abyss of madness, told us how he lost his hands — not once, but twice.

— Mad Shadows: The Weird Tales of Dorgo the Dowser is available worldwide in hardcover, paperback, Kindle, and Nook editions.  


#heroicfantasy  #swordandsorcery  #occult  #paranormal  #mystery  #supernatural



Sunday, October 1, 2017

Our Guest Today is Author Monika Summerville #OurAuthorGang

Welcome, Monika Summerville. So glad you could be on our blog today.


Monika Summerville is an avid reader, loves good, intense movies, and works hard on her writing career. She lives in Western Washington state with her four cats: Agamemnon, Tazmania, Jasper, and Jericho. Her preferred genre is erotica/romance and has written The Risky Dance Series as well as two books for Siren BookStrand--Midnight Weary and  her newest release, Her Lie, His Truth, that released September 27th.


Seven years ago as a parishioner at The Sanctuary of the Prophet,  twenty year old Kara King was asked by the administrators to help set up a journalist, Jim Hollis, who'd been writing slanderous articles about their organization. She was told that the journalist had drug problems and abused women. Kara agreed to assist in their plan.

Seven years later she sees Jim Hollis, again. He'd just been released from prison for a rape and a beating he didn't commit. All he wants is the truth, and he is prepared to pull out all the stops to achieve just that...even lie to Kara. With the help of his brother, Jim kidnaps Kara and begins convincing her that the Sanctuary has been lying to her... their Prophet is dead and they've used her as a puppet from the beginning.

Will Jim convince Kara to tell the truth and expose the corruption within the Sanctuary, or will the continued lies destroy any chance of a life for them?


If you're interested in following Monika, you may do so at the links below:
Amazon:  https://amazon.com/monika-summerville/e/B01E1XS8AK
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/monikasummervillebooks

Saturday, September 30, 2017

A Small Gang of Authors: Book in the Spotlight from Erika M Szabo #OurAutho...

A Small Gang of Authors: Book in the Spotlight from Erika M Szabo #OurAutho...: C hildren's book for ages 4-12 about friendship, helping animals and dealing with bullies by Erika M Szabo http://www.authorerikams...

Book in the Spotlight from Erika M Szabo #OurAuthorGang

Children's book for ages 4-12 about friendship, helping animals and dealing with bullies
by Erika M Szabo


Online stores eBook: https://books2read.com/u/bxg0Qq  

Bianca and her best friend, Daniel, grew up together under the watchful eyes of Peanut, Bianca's St. Bernard. The huge dog was their babysitter, playmate, and bodyguard. They were inseparable, so people started calling them the BFF Gang. When summer vacation came, Bianca and Daniel decided to go swimming in the river when they were confronted by Mark and his cronies of the Wolf Pack Gang. Find out how Peanut told Mark, in his own doggy language, how much he dislikes brute bullies. When Bianca and Daniel finally got to the river and were happily splashing in the cool water, they heard Peanut's angry bark, and they saw an old woman approaching the riverbank with a basket in her hand. When the woman reached the edge of the river, she took a tiny, meowing kitten out of her basket and threw it into the river as far from shore as she could. The kitten flailed in the air, desperately crying, and then splashed into the water. Find out what happened to the kitten and how the BFFs dealt with Mark's gang, in this fun adventure story.

A short excerpt:

“Oh, look! The BFFs are going for a swim with their stupid mutt!” Mark yelled.

Bianca looked back and saw Mark standing by the fence, surrounded by three smaller boys.

“The loooovebirds,” chuckled Scott, one of Mark’s skinny friends, wearing a purple shirt. He looked at the husky boy with admiration.

“They think they’re better than us just because Danny boy won the spelling bee and her girlfriend came up with that stupid science project,” Mark growled.

“Yeah,” Aiden, the boy in green shirt, agreed. “They’re not better than us.”

“Stupid geeks,” Scott said as he looked at Mark for approval.

Mark sneered and raised his arm. Two of his cronies happily gave him a high five one by one, except one. Peter pushed his glasses up on his nose nervously and shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

“Oh, no!” Daniel whispered. He kept walking as he angrily yanked the towel off his shoulder and swung it over his other shoulder. “I guess Mark is staying home for the summer. Just great!”

“He won’t try to hurt you,” Bianca whispered back. “He’s afraid of Peanut.”

“I know,” Daniel replied angrily. “Mark is a coward. He picks on kids who are smaller than he is and can’t defend themselves. He picks on me only when Peanut is not around.”

“Hey!” Hearing Mark’s angry shout, Bianca and Daniel turned back and looked at the group of boys.

“Hey,” Mark yelled again. “What are you two whispering about?”

“It’s none of your business!” Bianca said angrily.

“Yeah?” Mark yelled. “I’m going to tell my dad that you’re walking your mutt without a leash. He’s a policeman, you know.”

Bianca’s blood boiled with anger, and she lashed out at Mark. “Yes, we know that, Mark. You told us many times, but your dad knows that Peanut wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

“He’s just a big, dumb dog that should be locked up. Who gave him that stupid name, anyway?” Mark cackled.

“Leave us alone, Mark,” Daniel shouted angrily.

“Or what?” Mark pointed his round chin forward but cowered back when he heard Peanut’s bark that sounded like thunder.

The huge dog took a step toward him.


“Peanut! No!” Bianca yelled.

The giant dog stopped and looked back at Bianca with a twinkle in his eyes, and then he looked at Mark again. A low, threatening rumble escaped the dog’s throat as he opened his mouth showing his sharp teeth.

Mark’s usual arrogant expression changed. He looked frightened and flattened his body against the fence. The three boys slowly inched their way farther away from Mark who held onto the fence and didn’t move.

When Peanut saw how scared the boy was, he held his head high with a satisfied look on his face and turned his back on Mark. He kicked a few times with his hind legs toward Mark, showering him with dust and small gravel.

Bianca giggled and whispered to Daniel, “I swear Peanut can tell how he feels without words a lot better than most people with words.”

Daniel looked at her questioningly when he heard Mark’s shaky voice.

“Why…?” Mark cleared his throat. “Why did your mutt do that?”

“That’s his way of telling you that he doesn’t like you,” Bianca laughed, “That’s what he does with poop. He turns his back on it, kicks dirt over it and then walks away.”

Read preview: http://tinyurl.com/y93gotp5 
Amazon print: http://tinyurl.com/y9pmse58 
Online stores eBook: https://books2read.com/u/bxg0Qq  
Signed print: http://tinyurl.com/ycd4j55l 

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