Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Christopher Tolkien and Warren Lewis


Christopher Tolkien

and

Warren Lewis


Christina Weigand


Before I leave our stopover with the Inklings, I thought I would visit with two Inklings that were an integral part of what made C. S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien who they were.

These two men were Christopher Tolkien, Tolkien’s son and Warren Lewis, Lewis’s brother.

Christopher Tolkien was born November 21, 1924, the third son of J. R. R. Tolkien. He spent his childhood listening to and being a critical audience for his father’s fiction, first as a child listening to Bilbo Baggins and then as a teen and young adult offering feedback on Lord of the Rings. He also interpreted his father’s maps of Middle-earth to produce the maps used in the books.

His father invited him to join the Inklings when he was twenty one years old, making him the youngest member of the group. He translated and published the Icelandic story The Saga of King Heidrek. Following in his father’s footsteps he became a lecturer and tutor in English language and New College, Oxford.

During his lifetime J. R. R. Tolkien wrote a great deal of material that was never published. Christopher was named the literary executor in Tolkien’s will. By going through many of his father’s unfinished manuscripts and scattered notes Christopher was able to collate and publish some of the unfinished works including;
The Silmarillon, 


Unfinished Tales, The History of Middle Earth, Beren and Luthien


and The Children of Hurin. 


Following these he also published The Fall of Gondolin.



Several works not associated with the Lord of the Rings mythos were also published including The Fall of Arthur and The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun. 


He and his second wife, Baillie edited and published The Father Christmas Letters, which his father had written and read to the children when they were young.




Christopher now lives with Baillie in the French countryside, where he continues to further his father’s legacy.





Warren Lewis, C. S. Lewis’s older brother was born June 16, 1895. He was an Irish historian and officer in the British Army. After WWII he went to live with his brother in Oxford and was one of the founding members of the Inklings. 






A lifelong friendship developed between the brothers when they were children and spent many hours writing and illustrating Boxen, a book about their created world called Animal-Land.


During his first retirement he edited the Lewis family papers. During his final retirement he researched and wrote a series of books on the history of 17th century France. The books included The Splendid Century: Some Aspects of French Life in the Reign of Louis XIV


and Levantine Adventurer: The Travels and Missions of the Chevalier d’Arvieux.


 After his brother’s death Warren edited the first published edition of his C. S. Lewis’ letters and added a memoir as a preface to the letters.
While writing his French history and living with his brother, Warren also served as C. S. Lewis’ secretary during Jack’s (C. S. Lewis) later years.

Before his own death he deposited many of the Lewis family papers in Wheaton College, which included surviving papers of Warren and his brother. In 1982 selections of Warren Lewis’s diary was published; Brothers and Friends.


Warren passed away in 1973 and was buried with C. S. Lewis.

Without these two men, some of the information we have about J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis would not have been published and we would not have come to know these two beloved writers. These two are also writers in their own right and helped to continue the legacy.



To see more of my posts on dragons, characters and authors go here.

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Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Voices In My Head by Cindy J. Smith

Poetry from the Heart


Voices In My Head is the first collection in my "Jasmine's Wish" series. My daughter, Jasmine, organized poems I had written over the years in an attempt to get me to publish.  After her death, and because of the encouragement of friends on Facebook, I added all the new poems I'd penned to her categories. The poems cover all aspects of life. Nature, time, feelings, politics are all fodder for my rhymes. I recommend this book to anyone seeking understanding as many viewpoints are examined.

A poem from the book

AURORA BOREALIS

In the land of the midnight sun
Before months of forever night
The fairies gather up their dust
To perform their astral delights
They fill the sky with light
Weaving their slender silken threads
Using only the palest hues
Of lavenders, yellows, and reds
Fairies fly on gossamer wings
Trailing their glowing webs behind
They dance together in a show
Making ever-changing designs
The Aurora Borealis
Fills Alaska’s sky at twilight
Fairies bringing sweet hope to all
With their gift of Northern Lights

Find Cindy on her:
Website:
http://carternovels.com/author-cindy-j-smith.html
Twitter:  @cindysvoices
FB:  https://www.facebook.com/CindysVoices/
GOODREADS:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6505989.Cindy_J_Smith
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/cindyjsmith1/

AUTHORS  

Monday, March 18, 2019

A Search Down Inspiration Lane by L. L. Thomsen

Where has my muse gone? And how do I get her back?

I know I am not the first (nor the last) author in history to stare at that blank screen/paper, feeling hollow and somewhat bewildered that the next line just won’t come to me.  Nonetheless, right in that moment, it feels as though I am the first, the only, the most useless, that’s for sure. 


How did this happen? I mean, it should write itself, right? I was on a roll! I even know what I am supposed to write – goodness, my outline is clear and everyday I’ve been working towards hitting a few thousand extra words, vigorously tugging them under my belt so that I’ll be in a position to write ‘The End’ on the final page of my WIP sooner rather than later…  

Well, the idea that I will one day harvest the benefit of all this effort and plotting seems like a pipe dream right about then. And as I fail to type a single word, I can feel that coveted goalpost of personal achievement shift beyond my reach. 

I am impatient and frustrated; it’s irrational – I know - and then comes the mini black hole and it sucks me right in.  Again.  

See, it’s not the first time my goal post has moved – I mean, such is life, but now it seems further away than ever; impossible to achieve even, and then comes the first-class, full-flight of self-doubt.  I am probably never going to finish this. I am silly for even thinking I could do this, but not to worry - it probably isn’t very good anyway.  My story sucks. I suck.  In fact, if I cannot find inspiration to write this next chapter, why even be a writer? Others wheel them out, but clearly that kind of productivity is beyond me!

(Are you nodding now? I think you might be, because you know what I’m talking about, don’t you? Well, bear with me…)

It’s when that feeling of hopelessness tags you that it really hits you just how lonely a writer’s life can be. It doesn’t matter that you cannot live without it or that you chose it; wanted it. The fact remains that it’s pretty darn similar to sitting cross-legged in a cave on a desert island with only your imaginary friends (AKA the characters from you story) for company. They chat to you… but only sometimes – and of course never when you need them to, lol.

So what do you do? Throw in the towel for good? Watch some telly? Read a book? Go shopping? Browse Social media for commiserations and solutions? Walk the dog? Peel potatoes? Chat to your friends about anything but writing? Chat to your friends about nothing but writing? Go to the gym? Eat cake (yum)? Escape to your kitchen - or if you’re lucky: the local coffee house – where you can promptly proceed to consume copious amounts of hot drinks that you swear will help you see the light?
Well, I am going to tell you that I do all of the above – and more.
Yup. I really do.  Cross my heart…

And I even ‘throw in the towel’ occasionally, as well – at least, for a little while. See I know we are all different and everyone works in different ways.  And so, what works for me, may not work for Peter and John, and what works for them may just seem plain stupid to Sarah and Jean, but that is not really the point here.  The point is that when you hit the slump – oh the darn dreaded slump! – it might be for various reasons and these are usually tied to other things that go on in your world. Loneliness, worries, depression, too much work, not enough work, kids, animals, bills, etc… and the point is that these can all get to you sometimes, but this does not mean you don’t have it in you to finish your WIP and produce a book, nor that you are not good enough, or that your story is pants!
What you need is a break. Or if you have just had a break and cannot seem to get back into it, you need a shift in focus.  And that means you need something that will help you rekindle your joy for the WIP and something that will stop you from growing rusty, too. 

Now at this point, if you enter the 1000 yard stare contest with your WIP, neither the screen, nor the blank paper will inspire you. It’s simple. It will continue to suck you dry if you let it - and so you need to escape its clutches and re-direct your attention.  And so, here we go back to the points above…

Whether burned out, just back from a break, or simply uninspired, the thing that always works for me is to walk away from the WIP itself.  For the lunch hour – or for weeks – it really doesn’t matter, but very importantly, this is not the time to wallow in a hole (though you might want to) – and weirdly it is also not the time to stop writing either – at least not altogether. 

But what? How?
I’m sure you’ll have heard many of your fellow writers say, ‘Never stop writing’ - and for good reason! Because you may not be able to work on your WIP but there are other ways to stay sharp and put your skills to good use so that when you get your mojo back, you will still feel ‘in touch’ and centered around the routine of writing.  After all, one step forwards and two to the side is often to be preferred over two steps forward and halt. 

So you cannot work on the WIP?
Well if so, just write regardless. Write something that keeps you in the game; something that keeps you focused – work on a different story you been thinking of exploring, or write a short story, fanfiction, maybe write a blog about your WIP, or about your experiences, or hopes, or dreams, or fears. Write something serious, write something banal, write a letter to the President - you name it – you can write about a book you recently read; review it… do what feels unforced and easy, but keep writing because this will help you develop your skills and that is super handy for when that muse glides back into your life with a goofy smile of apology. 
But of course this will not fill your day the way working on your WIP does.  It might even also be that your heart is not in it, because this is after all not what you want to write about, so I suggest that you mix it up a little bit.  Browse Pinterest or Deviant Art for inspiration, chat to your author mates on social media, share snippets of you WIP, ask for feedback on ideas; on characters, go back and read your notes, get reacquainted with what got you burning to tell your story in the first place, stay in contact with like-minded people who share your path and know the troubles you might face (be they friends, family or FB mates).  Allow yourself this time ‘off’: read a new book, watch some telly – anything - and you might find that you once more begin to spot glimpses of your muse.

Now when she/he/it does return to your side or shoulder or wherever she sits, you will soon know, and that’s when you pick up the reigns, go back to your WIP or you grab a notebook to instantly write down all those new ideas that suddenly pop into your head!

As for the time scale on this ‘come back’ – ah well who can say? I have stepped away from my WIP for months before; I have procrastinated, drunk too much coffee, watched too much telly, but eventually something sparks an idea that pulls me back in. It is meant to be. Be patient. The muse will not let you off the hook indefinitely: sooner or later the WIP will call you back, and you will answer because you feel compelled, and it’s right.

Ah, but gah! The muse almost got back but now she’s on holiday again – or somewhere: delayed on an overnight flight, or sightseeing in Manhattan, or something like that. So then what? Dang it!
Okay, you were almost ready. You caught the whiff of former glory but now the muse keeps flirting and disappearing, and you still cannot work on the WIP.  So now what?

Well, if I get truly and badly ‘stuck’, I simply: rinse, sleep, eat, and repeat.  Never stop looking for inspiration, but not to the point of exhaustion. It’s not easy – not always – but then again, few things are. You are in this for long haul, right? So just think of it as a work hazard and learn to roll with the waves. You will feel less hassled and calmer – and guess what? When you don’t force it too much, it seems to glide all the better and you will be all the stronger as a writer and person. Indeed, often you will find that the hated break has given you new perspective.  In fact, it may perhaps even have helped you figure out a cooler, more exciting plot for your story, or a subplot, or you might have ended up thinking up a new exciting character, and (Yay!) that is never a bad thing.

So there.
Now stop panicking and take a breather. You got this. Do not punish yourself.
You are not the first writer in the world to feel like this. You will not be the last either. But you will get your muse back. And you will write your book and finish it. 
There indeed! 
(By L. L. Thomsen)
http://llthomsen.com/




Sunday, March 17, 2019

Our Author Gang Online Magazine: April Issue

Our April issue is published
Click and enjoy!

In this issue:
Page 2:
About OAG
Page 3:
TOC
Page 4-8:
Author Appreciation Day
Page 9-21:
We asked the authors
Page 22-31:
Our most popular blog posts
Page 32:
New release
Page 33:
Join our group
Page 34-35:
Promo options at OAG
Page 36:
Badly formatted books
Page 37-38:
Thank you for reading and sharing the OAG magazine

Friday, March 15, 2019

Best Friends Rescuing Kittens

And Dealing With Bullies

By Erika M Szabo
Illustrated storybook for children 4-12


Daniel looked up, wiping the water from his eyes. He saw a woman walking toward the water with a basket in her hand. As she got closer, the children saw an orange-colored cat with white paws and chest that was following the woman, crying and hissing. The cat was clearly in distress. She tried to claw and bite the woman’s legs, and even when the woman kicked her, she didn’t give up.
The cat’s loud cries made the hairs stand up on the children’s arms. They didn’t understand what was happening, but they felt something was very wrong.
The woman ignored the cat, and when she 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.

Bianca and Daniel watched in horror. The woman grabbed another kitten and threw it into the river.
The woman laughed cruelly as she threw the third and fourth kitten into the water. The scene sent chills down the children’s spines.
The adult cat gave out a painful cry, darted down the riverbank and jumped into the water. She reached one of her kittens, took it into her mouth, and started swimming ashore.
The group of kids stood in the shallow water looking just as guilty as Peter. Daniel punched Peter’s shoulder playfully and said, “No name calling. Okay? Mark is who he is, and he will be a bully until he wants to change.”
“Sure thing,” Peter promised. “I’m not going to hang out with that bully anymore, no matter what he says or does. I’m scared of him, but I can run away if he tries to hurt me.”
“Yes, you can run a lot faster than Mark,” Daniel stated. “You’re the fastest runner in school. Let’s play,” Daniel picked up the ball and threw it at Peter spraying him with water.
Peter laughed and splashed Daniel and the other kids. They splashed him back and soon they were laughing and happily playing in the cool water.
Bianca watched Daniel from shore and smiled proudly. Her BFF always found the right way to smooth things out and make everyone feel comfortable around him.
Peanut rumbled softly, staring at the bushes near the water. Bianca saw Mark and his two cronies standing by the bush.
Mark looked angry as he was staring at the kids who were playing in the water.
Scott and Aiden stood next to him with gloomy expressions on their faces. Bianca thought, they want to play with us, I know it. I wish they would stand up to Mark. Those two boys don’t seem to be mean, they’re just too afraid of that big bully. Bianca sighed and patted Peanut’s head sadly.



Thursday, March 14, 2019

Best Bookish Video Contest

The submission is open: March 14 to March 31



Send your YouTube video link to ourauthorgang@aol.com

Enter your video about book.
It could be a book trailer, teaser from audio books, or the author is reading from their book.

The videos will be to this PAGE as they come in and the voting poll will be added April 1st.
The winners will be announced April 15.

Prizes:
The 3 winner videos will be added to our video page, and will be promoted on our Facebook page and group, and on Twitter. 


This is a great opportunity to share your books and receive feedback. Plus, you could win a prize.

Visit our pages:

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

5 Reasons Why Authors Should:

Write Blog Posts and Articles

1. Articles can provide authors with presence in the jungle of the net.
If you don't already have an established, well-visited website or blog, it may take years for Google to trust your site and rank in search results. The OAG blog, because we add interesting content daily, have a pretty strong presence in search.

2. Practice makes perfect.
The more you write, the better and more unique your writing style will become.  Writing articles is a great way to practice and perfect your craft. Your articles will also help you grow your audience and get them excited about your next book.

3. Articles establish your credibility.
Having good, interesting, and valuable content is going to establish your credibility which is especially critical for nonfiction authors. Readers and buyers have millions of books and authors to choose from, but something about you and your writing needs to stand out. Finding your articles online through Google searches, or seeing them posted on your social media channels and your book selling sites, will show buyers that you are serious about your writing.

4. Writing articles enables you to build your audience.
In addition to having a presence on social sites, writing articles also help you build connections. Articles and blogs are another way for people to get to know you and your work. It’s a way for people to hear your voice. A lot of authors write articles for other blogs or website or agree to share and promote another author’s blog with their community. This is a great way to reach new audiences.

5. You get valuable feedback.
Okay, there are a few jerks who criticize anything anonymously just because they're jerks. That's why the OAG blog is set up the way that only those can comment who signed into Google.

Would you like to write articles for the OAG blog?
The posts are shared with our hashtag #OurAuthorGang. When someone clicks on the hashtag on social sites, they can see the long line of posts and if they find your article interesting, they will click your article, read your content, and learn more about you. 

Erika M Szabo




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