Literary Lunes Magazine - November 2011 Issue

This months issue features: Behind the Scenes: Cambria Hebert The perks of Self-Publishing Book Reviews Poetr
Paloo!a Stor Time

"ack "riters
New Features: Si# Sentence $adness %lash %iction
Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue
Literary Lunes Magazine copyright 2011 Literary Lunes Press. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereo , in any or! "ithout "ritten per!ission e#cept or the use o brie $uotations e!bodied in critical articles and revie"s. %or in or!ation about reprinting, distributing, or other"ise sharing the contents o this book, please contact &eth Ann Masarik at in o'literarylunes.co! %irst edition, (ove!ber 2011 )riginally published in paperback and e*book by Literary Lunes Press +nterior edited by &eth Ann Masarik ,over design by &eth Ann Masarik +-&(. /01*1*102*2//31*2 Printed in the 4nited -tates o A!erica
Literary Lunes Magazine, a subsidiary o Literary Lunes Press """.literarylunes.co! Literary Lunes Press """.literarylunespress."ebs.co!
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5able o ,ontents
Letter ro! the 6ditor77777777777777777777777777777Pg. 1 +t8s (ational 9riting Month7777777777777777777777777...Pg. 2 5he %eatures and &ene its o -el Publishing77777777777777777Pg. 3 &ehind 5he -cenes7777777777777777777777777777777Pg. : Poetry Palooza777777777777777777777777777777777.Pg.1 ;eigarnik 6 ect77777777777777777777777777777777..Pg.10 -harbenau the -$uirrel7777777777777777777777777777777777777Pg.11 -ilvershort77777777777777777777777777777777777.Pg.21 9acky 9riters777777777777777777777777777777777.Pg.21 -i# -entence Madness77777777777777777777777777777.Pg.2/ %lash %iction7777777777777777777777777777777777Pg.30 5here <ou =ave +t. My )pinion777777777777777777777777Pg.31 Mind %og >evie"s7777777777777777777777777777777.Pg.3/ )ur Partners7777777777777777777777777777777777Pg.?0 5he -ta 777777777777777777777777777777777777.Pg.?1
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Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue Letter ro! the editor @ear >eaders, 9elco!e to the (ove!ber issue o Literary Lunes Magazine. +t8s hard to believe that it8s (ove!ber already, and that "e8ve been in business since AanuaryB 6leven "hole !onths have gone by, and + a! very grate ul and thank ul to all o you "onder ul peopleB 9ithout your support, this !agazine "ouldn8t be doing as "ell as it is. 9ith that said, + have so!e very e#citing announce!ents "ith i!portant and great upgrades that are co!ing. %irst, you can no" purchase the Literary Lunes Magazine collector8s edition book through A!azon and &arnes C (oble. + checked their "ebsites a e" days ago. Presently, you can only purchase it as a paperback book, though + a! "orking on or!atting it or e*readers. (e#t, going or"ard, you "ill be able to purchase paperback copies o the !agazine also through A!azon and &arnes C (oble. <es, there "ill be a ee, but don8t "orry7ALL ELECTRONIC COPIES WILL REMAIN FREE! ,all !e old ashioned, but +8! the type o person "ho loves to hold their o"n "ork their hands. )nce "e build up enough pro its, + "ill donate 00D o proceeds to the (orth -horeELong +sland Ae"ish health syste! at the end o each year. 5he re!aining pro its "ill go to"ard !aintaining the Literary Lunes "ebsite. And inally, + a! adding so!e ne" sections to the !agazine. + "ill continue "ith the 9acky 9riter8s section, and "ill be introducing the ollo"ing sections. -i# -entence Madness, and %lash %iction %un. + "ill e#plain "hat each o these ne" sections are urther on in the !agazine. )nce again, + thank you all or your support o Literary Lunes Magazine. -incerely, Beth Ann Masarik
Its National Writing Month! Lets Celebrate! &y &eth Ann Masarik %or those o you una"are, (ove!ber is called (ational 9riting Month, and there is a "ebsite called (ano9ri!o, in "hich the challenge is to "rite 20,000 "ords in a !onth. +n other "ords, a ull*length novel. + have been a participant in this challenge since 2001, and ind it to be very enriching, but di icult to say the very least. &ut, +8! a published author, ho" can "riting 20,000 "ords in a !onth be di icultF 5he ans"ers "ill vary ro! person to person, but !y ans"er is si!ple. lack o ti!e !anage!ent. =o"ever, "hat + love about (ano9ri!o, is that it is an e#cuse or !e to get a Gu!p*start on a ne" proGect idea that + !ight not have been able to start right a"ay other"ise. + you are one o the brave "riters out there "ho "ant to "in that challenge, the prize is a published bookB =o" "onder ul is thatF And the (ano9ri!o "ebsite H""".nano"ri!o.orgI, has sponsors that are "illing to help you get to your goal by o ering you the best "riting so t"are there is. (o" that you8ve decided to go or the (ano challenge, let8s revie" "hat "e8ve learned since %ebruary, shall "eF Materials Youll Need: pens, notebooks, inde# cards, and o course you8re co!puter to "rite your novel. Outlining and re aration: 9hile there are so!e people "ho pre er not to outline, + reco!!end that i this is your irst novel, to set so!e general plot guidelines or yoursel . 9hy outline a novelF As discussed in previous issues o Literary Lunes, outlining "ill help keep you on track "ith your novel. Resear!": + you are "riting a historical, antasy or even sci* i novel, you !ay need to do so!e research or your novel. 5hat8s okayB +t8s better to kno" "hat it is you are "riting, than to notB Joogle is a "onder ul tool to use "hen "riting. And there you have it olksB -o!e basic and easy steps to begin your irst novel. + kno" it can be inti!idating, but i you eel strongly enough about your proGect, the "ords "ill Gust lo" right out o youB >e!e!ber7starting a novel is the irst step to beco!ing an author, and that >o!e "asn8t built in a day. + you don8t inish the 20,000 "ords by the end o the !onth, that8s okay tooB +t took !e t"o years to inish !y irst novel, and look ho" ar The "orld &mong 's: Prince of (arkness has comeB H+t started out as a (ano9ri!o novel by the "ayBI )n your !ark7get set79>+56B
The Features and Benefits of Self ublishing B! "rin #an$er ,ongratulationsB <ou8ve "ritten a novelB (ot only have you "ritten it, you8ve revised and polished it to "ithin an inch o your li e. <our baby is ready or publication. <ou have t"o routes to go no". <ou can either $uery agents and publishers, atte!pting to go the traditionally published route. )r you can sel publish, "here you do all the "ork yoursel but reap !ore o the re"ards. 9hy "ould you "ant to sel publishF 5he three !ain reasons or going this route are. 1. <ou8ve received too !any reGections ro! publishersEagents and eel you still have a good story to share. 2. <ou8re a go*getter and like the idea o being your o"n boss. 3. <ou "rote a book "ithout a "idely perceived audience. (ot everyone "ill be interested in "hales o the Paci ic or "ant a copy o your !e!oir. (o" that you8ve !ade this the decision to sel publish, let8s talk eatures and bene its. The Benefits )ou will receive a larger ro alt * 9ithout having an agent or publisher you have to pay, all royalties go to you H"ith a s!aller portion going to"ards the services you use to publish, o courseI. >oyalties range ro! 32D to 10D o the pro it, depending on "here you go and the price you set. A!azon Kindle @irect publishing has royalties set or 32D or 00D, deter!ined by "hether your selling price is !ore or less than L2.//. Lulu.co! o ers 10D royalties and o ers a "ide range o paperback and hard cover options to print in. There is a faster turnaround time with self publishing* 9hile it takes 10*12 !onths Hso!eti!es longerI to publish a book traditionally, you can upload your novel and have it in people8s hands "ithin a e" days. Keep in !ind that print* on*de!and or!ats do take a bit longer Hup"ards o a "eek or t"oI because you have to order, receive and approve the proo copy o your book be ore it is available. There is no middle man* Like + said, all o the pro its go to you. <ou are your o"n boss and have no one else to pay or publishing your novel. The Features <es, you are your o"n boss. <ou decide "hen you "ill "rite, ho" you "ill "rite and "hen you "ill get it done. 5here are no deadlines e#cept the ones you set or yoursel . 5here8s also a lot o "ork that goes into getting your novel out into the
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Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue "orld. As a sel published author, you are responsible or editing, or!atting and !arketing your book as "ell as "riting the cover copy, the blurb and getting a cover together. Let8s talk about a e" options you have or each portion o the publishing process. "here to publish* 9ith the rise o ebooks, A!azon and &arnes and (obles have o ered their o"n ebook publishing services. A!azon Kindle @irect and &arnes and (oble8s PubitB 5here is also Lulu.co!, o ering ebooks as "ell as a "ide range o hard and so t cover options, ,reate-pace.co! Han a iliate o A!azon specializing in print !ediaI, -!ash"ords Hanother ebook siteI and )utskirts Press. All o these are very user riendly and have great oru!s to help guide you along the "ay. Keep in !ind these are Gust a e" o the !ore popular options used today. A search on Joogle o ers thousands o options. +diting* As a sel publishing author, you "ant your book to be as polished as it possibly can get. 5hat !eans you need a great editor. A couple options here are ,rystal ,lear Proo reading and Ashley8s %reelance 6diting. &oth can be ound on %acebook and are reputable sources. ,reatespace also o ers a pre!iu! editing service or an additional charge. %ormatting* A Mho" toN search on Joogle o ers up hundreds o possibilities, ro! do*it*yoursel to services "ho "ill or!at your book or you Hat a charge, o courseI. -!ash"ords has a great style guide that, "hen ollo"ed correctly, gives you a book ready to upload into any e* or!at. Aust don8t orget the table o contentsB HA Mho" toN search or that "orks as "ell, as + personally ound out.I Cover &rt* 6veryone "ants their covers to look as pro essional as possible, "hether you are doing the! yoursel or having so!eone do it or you. +8ve ound @rea!sti!e.co! and stockvault.co! to be great places to ind photos to use or cheap or even ree. Public @o!ain pictures are another option. A search or M ree stock photoN brings up hundreds o options. Also, the ree online picture editor, Picnik.co!, allo"s you to !odi y the picture and "ith the s!all ee upgrade, you can even change eye color and add highlights to hair. + also use Ji!p 2, ree so t"are si!ilar to Photoshop. And o course, i none o these appeal to you or you eel you have no artistic talent, a search or even reaching out in social !edia can turn up so!e e#cellent options Husually "ith a eeI. )ne "ord o caution. "hen creating a cover or book trailer, !ake sure you don8t use copyrighted !aterial, or buy the rights i it is the only thing that "ill "ork or you. 4sing copyrighted !aterial is illegal and could get your book pulled and possibly get you ined $arketing* 9ord o !outh is essential or any author, "hether they are traditionally published or sel published. As a sel published author, you have to put !ore "ork and ti!e into iguring out ho" to get your book into the hands o readers. -o!e "ays or you to do this include setting up a blog tour, beco!ing a Joodreads Author, contacting book bloggers and asking or revie"s. Making a book trailer, using 9indo"s Media Player or so!e such so t"are and i!ages like "hat you used or the cover O or having so!eone produce the trailer or you.
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Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue 5"eet about your book. 9rite on your %acebook "all about its upco!ing release. ) er snippets and teasers, even a ree scene or chapter or readers to peruse and decide i you are the author or the!. 5o help pro!ote, + "as directed to &ookish -nob Pro!otions. 5hey o er a one day release blitz as "ell as setting up a one* or t"o*"eek blog tour or your book. 5hey do charge or their services, but + eel this is very "ell "orth it. <ou can also go to ca epress.co! and create s"ag or your book, pro!otional ite!s to hand out and give a"ay in addition to copies o the book. Marketing "ill take up the !ost ti!e, but it "ill be the !ost re"arding. As you can see, sel publishing is a lot o "ork, but or !ore and !ore people, it is paying o . A!anda =ocking, A.A. Konrath and Aohn Locke, the irst sel published author to hit a !illion sales on A!azon, are Gust a e" o the big na!es. -el publishing is gro"ing ast and "ith the right a!ount o "ork and patience you, too, can beco!e the ne#t !illion*book seller.
Behind The S%enes With &uthor Cambria 'ebert &y &eth Ann Masarik What is !our name( My na!e is ,a!bria =ebert Tell us about !ourself) + a! a "riter and a blogger. + a! also the !other o t"o and the "i e o a 4.-. Marine. + have a little Hor !aybe not so littleI obsession "ith "ere"olves and + a! a raid o chickens Hoh, c8!on you kno" they8re creepyI. + "ould rather have co ee over ood and !y avorite place to get it is -tarbucks. My avorite place to go is &arnes and (oble "here + can "alk through the aisles and see the endless possibilities o "orlds that other authors have created. + a! an ani!al lover Hstray cats tend to ollo" !e ho!e O and no + don8t have thirty O Gust three.I + a! an avid reader and + a! addicted to the Pa!pire @iaries 5P sho". What do !ou write( + "rite <oung Adult Paranor!al Wh! do !ou write it( + "rite it because it8s !y passion and because + love to create a "orld that really isn8t possible but !ake it see! logical enough or so!eone to !aybe "onder i it could be. + "ant so!eone to read "hat + have "ritten and be transported out o their o"n head, their o"n "orld and escape into the one + have "ritten. 9hen so!eone puts do"n !y book + hope they think Mthat "as a great story.N #o !ou ha*e an! +ast or %urrent releases( + do not yet have anything published but + have t"o short stories being published in (ove!ber. &e ore is a pre$uel to !y =even and =ell series. 9hiteout is a paranor!al short story. My debut novel, Mas$uerade H=even and =ell Q1I is being released @ece!ber 1:, 2011. + also have t"o short stories being published in a short story anthology that !y group on Jood >eads is putting together and publishing. 5he book is titled ,hrist!as Lites and "e are planning to have it or sale beginning on &lack %riday. All proceeds ro! this book "ill go to (,A@P Ha "o!en8s and children8s shelterI and it "ill also be available to )peration 6book drop or troops deployed overseas. Tell us about them) Mas,uerade is about a teenage girl, =even, "ho has it all. 9ell, she did until one night there is an accident and she is le t horribly dis igured on the le t side o her ace. -he can8t re!e!ber "hat happened to her and no one else kno"s7 so she is branded a reak and ru!ors ly. -he spends her ti!e hiding and looking over her shoulder because she can8t shake the eeling so!eone is "atching her.
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Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue -a! sho"s up in to"n and at school and he see8s past =even8s scars7 but -a! has secrets o his o"n7 Before is the pre$uel to Mas$uerade. +t is about =even8s li e be ore she "as dis igured, be ore so!ething changed her li e. +t8s about the "orld as she kne" it be ore it changed orever. Whiteout is about a !an "ho is turned against, "ho is le t to die. +n the !idst o a blizzard Jrace inds hi! and saves his li e. 6#cept saving his li e !ay cost Jrace her o"n. 5hey have one per ect day, ,hrist!as day, and then they have to ight or their lives. Who is +ublishing them( )nly the best publishing house everBB )ther"orld Publications. Where is !our fa*orite +la%e to write( +t varies. Mostly + "rite at the dining roo! table. -o!eti!es + "rite on the couch H"here + currently a!I and so!eti!es + "rite in bed7 in !y under"ear. Aust kiddingB + never "rite at !y desk. What do !ou listen to when !ou write( + listen to the voices in !y head, o course. 'ow long ha*e !ou been writing( + have been "riting since + "as a teenager. + "rote !y irst book at about the age o 12. +t "asn8t great. L)L. +t8s buried in !y closet so!e"here. + started "riting !ore seriously about : years ago. If !ou %ould be an! m!thologi%al %reature- what would it be and wh!( 5his is a hard one because they all have $ualities that + "ould like. + think that + "ould !ost like to be a "itch. + could clean !y house "ith a snap o !y ingers and put a spell on anyone that !ade !e !ad Ha te!porary spell o courseR"hat "ere you thinkingFI. What is !our guilt! +leasure food( @onuts. + love the! but + try to not eat the!, + like to it in !y Geans. Where %an we bu! !our boo.s( + do not have the links yet, but they "ill be available "here ever books are sold. A!azon, &arnes and (oble, )ther"orld Publications7 #o !ou ha*e an! ad*i%e for as+iring writers( @on8t ever give up. And al"ays "rite "hat the voices in your head tell you to.
Poetry Palooza MPeachN &y =ollie &olster A peach, though delicious or sure, is a da!n !essy a air. Light uzz like the irst e" hairs to sprout in ones groin, !ust be rubbed and rubbed till the skin is slick, then the teeth break said skin, delve into the rich !oistness "ithin, and its Guices trickle do"n chins chins "idening in s!iles o delight, s!iles so light and si!ple they can !ake near anyone lickety split happy. 5hen the pit, a stone a!ongst Ge"elry, one has to be"are the pit or the a ore!entioned teeth can be chipped. +n the end though the e ort is "orth it, or a cold Guicy peach is a su!!er treat, not to be !issed. M5he JhostN &y 5erra Kelly + a! the ghost 5he ghost that haunts your drea!s + a! the coldness that you hide 5he hate that "aits inside + a! every lie you ever told 6very pro!ise you tried to hold + a! the ghost 5he ghost that haunts your drea!s + a! the lust that drives you 5he greed that turns you 5he sloth that kills you + a! the ghost + a! the ghost that haunts your drea!s &ecause + a! "hat you re use to see &ecause + a! you
M&ike ManN &y &randon Lee 9ebb &ike !an, =is strange, haunted*al!ost*drunk, glazed C red eyed look, Kids in to" * oblivious to all e#cept the proud ice crea! re"ard they devour. 5eapot cozy "ooly heads "ith deni! C oversized lensed ca!era over shoulder. 5hen nothing, Aust hiss, crash C S9ahhhB ,o!e on &etsyT in the distance, As the breeze dances "ith !y ree page. 5rio o people, lady "ith keys, 9indlessly Gangling, ,urious glances in !y direction. Kids on scooters collide, (o tears, &iggest kid leads the "ay, 5hen !ore hiss, crash and the breeze asks !y hair T-hall "eFT 5he horizon see!s so ar, A ship, A hulk o a ship in the distance, 4na"are o !y interest, As !y eyes all on its t"in, %urther back still. T9e gotta "alk back donSt orgetT A grandpa advises ne"ly !obile scooter*granddaughter. 5he years straining on his ruddy !ap o a ace. 5hen + stand, My day has to be given back to !y "ork, -o + Goin the leshy tide, All the "ay back to !y car.
;eigarnik 6 ect &y >ichard Lu tig + hate loose ends. Al"ays have. <ou !ight say +8! co!pulsive about closure. +8! sure !y "i e "ould agree "ith you. +n so!e "ays, disliking things le t undone can be good. +8! not a guy to leave the la"n hal !o"ed nor can + stand to have paper"ork pile up at the o ice. + ans"er !y e!ails the day + get the!. + pay !y bills the day they co!e. My inbo# is e!pty, and !y credit is pristine. &ut this need or closure !ight cost !e !y !arriage. +t "as bothering !e or "eeks, a sense o dread, o un inished business. + kne" "hat it "as but + didn8t dare tell -arah. 9e8ve been !arried i teen years. +8! turning thirty*nine in -epte!ber. -arah is t"o years younger than !e. 9e have t"o daughters, one in !iddle school, the other going into ourth grade. +8! a corporate la"yer, -arah is a school guidance counselor and "e live outside Atlanta. 9e8re happy, co! ortable, "ell* adGusted. 5hat is, "hen !y neurosis about loose ends doesn8t !ake her crazy. 9e !et at the 4niversity o Jeorgia "hen "e "ere undergraduates. + "as a Gunior and. -arah "as inishing up her resh!en year. Already, + looked like the la"yer + "as going to beco!eU tall, angular "ith eyeglasses ro! poor eyesight inherited ro! !y !other and e#acerbated by reading the s!all type o legal te#ts, and "ith the ull bro"n hair that, i !y ather "as any indication, + "ould begin to shed like tu ts in a "indstor! "ithin a decade. -arah "as beauti ul, perhaps not the ho!eco!ing $ueen type o beauty, but lovely to !e. -o t, tanned skin that she had to protect ro! reckling or burning in the hot southern sun, and long, brunette hair she "ore in a pony tail "hich stuck out the back o the 4 o J baseball cap that she "ore every"here. 9e didn8t really have all that !uch in co!!onU she "as a bit o a party girl and + liked to get !y "ork done on ti!e and have things in order. Maybe, "hat she ound desirable in !e "as that + !ade her pay attention to details, her syllabus, the due dates or papers, seeing her advisor to stay on track. + kno" that her !other gave her a hard ti!e about dating a guy going into his senior year "hen she "as barely a sopho!ore. &ut -arah stuck to her guns. 9e !arried ive years later, a "eek a ter + passed the bar e#a!. %lash or"ard i teen years and +8! about to risk everything si!ply because + can8t leave things "ell enough alone, can8t let sleeping dogs lie. Any clichV you have !ight "ork Gust as "ell.
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Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue =o" do + tell -arah that + have a daughter "ho turns eighteen in three daysU a child born out o "edlock ro! a girl + kne" in high schoolF A daughter + have never seen. + needed to talk to so!eone about this be ore + dropped the bo!b on !y "i e. +t had to be so!eone + could trust. + don8t have !any riends and, to tell you the truth, + "asn8t sure i + could co!pletely trust anyone "ith this !ost i!portant secret o !y li e. &ut + chose Paul any"ay. 9e had been suite!ates in college, close, but + "ouldn8t say ast riends. 9e hung out, especially on "eekends. 9e8ve kept in touch, !ostly by phone, !eeting every !onth or drinks or dinner. + never told hi! !y secret. =ell, +8ve never told anyone. + called hi! at his "ork. =e "as surprised. 4sually + call hi! at ho!e. &ut + didn8t "ant to get his "i e involved. M+ need to see you,N + said. M+t8s i!portant.N +8d never started a conversation "ith hi! like this. M)kay7,N he said. M-ounds serious. <ou kill so!eoneFN M(othing as easy as that.N 4sually, given our busy lives, "e scheduled our !eetings a e" "eeks in advance. (o", his calendar "as suddenly "ide open. + guess + pi$ued his interest. M9hat about %ridayFN he said. 5oday "as 5uesday. M9hat about to!orro"FN =e "histled. M Aesus, you must have killed so!eone. All right, to!orro". 9hereFN MArnold8s Pub on Long"orth. <ou kno" "here it isFN + "anted so!eplace "here "e "ouldn8t be recognized. M<eah,N he said. M+ can !eet you at si#. &ut "hy all the cloak and daggerFN M+8ll ill you in "hen + see you. Aust bring an open !ind.N 5he ne#t !orning + told -arah + "as !eeting Paul or drinks. -he see!ed surprised. M@idn8t you see hi! Gust last "eekF >eally, Michael, + need you ho!e. + have to get ready or Parent8s (ight at school and Lisa needs help "ith her science air proGect. <ou "ere going to bring pizza or dinner, re!e!berFN M<eah, + kno",N + said. M&ut Paul says he needs to see !e. -o!e proble! at "ork. + "ouldn8t go e#cept he8s been such a good riend over the years. ,an8t you !ake things "ork tonight or dinnerF +8ll be ho!e in ti!e to help Lisa.N -he gave !e a hard look then sighed. + kne" the guilt trip signs all too "ell. &ut this ti!e + "asn8t going to give in.
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+ !et Paul at Arnold8s Pub a ter "ork. + orgot it "as =appy =our. 5he bar "as tee!ing "ith people and overloaded "ith noise. + cursed !y choice. 6ven though Paul "as seated right ne#t to !e, + had to shout to !ake !ysel heard. 5his "asn8t going to "orkU + didn8t need everyone in the roo! hearing "hat talked about. 9e ordered drinks, he, one o those !icrobre"s that he al"ays raved about and !e, a scotch. =e popped salted nuts ro! the glass dish in ront o us as + co!plained in a general "ay that things never see!ed to co!e together in !y li e. Paul listened to ho" loose ends al"ays gave !e its. M<ou have a bad case o the ;eigarnik 6 ect,N he said. MJesundheint,N + said. =e laughed. M(o, seriously.N +t "as di icult to hear hi! a!id all the noise. M9hat the hell is the ;eigarnik 6 ectFN M+t8s a strong need or closure, or things to resolve.N MAnd + have itFN M6verybody does to one degree or another. &ut you8re its poster child.N + leaned closer so he could hear !e.N =o" does it "orkFN M+8ll give you an e#a!ple,N Paul said. M<ou kno" anyone "ho "atches soap operasFN + thought or a second. M-ure, !y !other "hen she "as alive. -he "as addicted to the!.N M9hyFN Paul asked. M9hat "as their pull on herFN M-he "atched the! every day to see "hat "ould happen ne#t.N M6#actly,T Paul said. MAt the end o the sho", they8d leave a character in so!e terrible predica!entRabout to co!e ace*to ace "ith her assailant or con ront her cheating husband. &ut they8d end the episode right be ore that con rontation took place. M5hat,N he continued, Mis the ;eigarnik 6 ect. <our !other ca!e back to the sho" each day because she had to ind out "hat happened.N MAnd that8s "hat + haveFN Paul studied his glass. M<ou tell !e.N + hated "hen he played analyst, ans"ering a $uestion "ith one o his o"n. -till, + "as the one "ho had called to tell hi! !y troubles, so !aybe he "as unctioning as !y therapist. M<eah, + guess + do,N + said M6#cept "ith you the ;eigarnik 6 ect doesn8t !ean "atching soap operas. +t involves your need to tie up every loose end in your li e.N M-o, "hat a! + supposed to do about itFN +t "as so loud in the place no" that + "as al!ost shouting. M5hat depends on ho" badly you need closure and ho" dangerous those loose ends are.N
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Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue + took a gulp o !y drink. +t tasted terrible. M+t could be a deal breaker or !y !arriage.N Paul "histled. MAesus. <ou "ant to tell !e about itFN + looked around the illed roo!. M(ot really,N + said. MAt least not here "ith a bar ull o people hanging on !y every "ord. &esides, + o"e it to -arah to tell her irst.N Paul e!ptied his glass. MMan, sounds like you have so!e heavy stu to deal "ithU the ;eiganrnik 6 ect versus staying !arried. 9hich itch do you need !ost scratchedFN M5he si#ty* our thousand dollar $uestion,N + said. M+ "ish + kne".N + stood up and reached or the check, but Paul beat !e to it. =e took a t"enty out o his "allet, put it on the bar and s!iled. M=old on to your !oney,N he said. M5he "ay you8re talking you !ight need it or ali!ony.N + "aited until %riday night to talk to -arah, three days a ter !eeting Paul. +t "as hell not talking about it. -he noticed a di erence in !eRasked !e !ore than once "hat "as bothering !e** but + put her o . %riday night, Aulie, our oldest, "as at a Jirl -cout ca!ping trip and Allison, her younger sister, "as sleeping over at a riend8s house. -arah suggested "e go out or dinner then take in a !ovie. &ut + argued or a $uiet evening at ho!e. -arah "as probably e#pecting a ro!antic evening ollo"ed by a night o love!aking. &ut + "anted to stay in so that i she !ade an e!otional scene it "ould be in the privacy o our o"n ho!e. + had hoped to "ait until a ter dinner but couldn8t. + needed to get this out in ront o us and ind out ho" -arah and + "ere going to deal "ith the rest o our lives. + took a gulp o !y "ine. M+ need to talk to you about so!ething.N MMy, that sounds serious.N -he s!iled, although perhaps a bit "orriedly. M + thought "e were talking. Are "e brokeF @id you lose all our !oney at the trackFN -he !ay have been surprised "hen + didn8t laugh. M(o, nothing like that. -o!ething !ore i!portant.N (o", she de initely looked "orried. MAll right, "e8ll talk. 9hat is itFN + had opened the door. 5here "as no turning back. M+ have a child.N M<es, you do,N she said. M5"o to be e#act. 9hat8s all this aboutFN M+ have a child ro! be ore "e got !arried.N =er !outh opened "ide. M-ay that againFN M+ have a kid. A daughter.N M=o"FN she sta!!ered. M9henFN M=o", "as the usual !ethod. 9hen + "as seventeen.N 5he color "as gone ro! -arah8s ace. M,hrist, Michael, that "as al!ost ive years be ore "e !et. 9hat happenedFN
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Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue + took a drink, trying to igure out the best "ay to relate the details. &ut there didn8t see! an easy "ay to tell the story. M+ "as a Gunior in high school, and there "as this girl. 9e "ent out e#actly t"ice and had se# once. -he told !e she "as on the pill but obviously so!ething "ent "rong. -hortly a ter that, she in or!ed !e she "as pregnant.N -arah "as studying the back o her hands, averting !y gaze. M9hat happened ne#tFN she asked so tly. M<ou can i!agine both o us "ere scared as hell. + asked her i she "anted an abortion, told her + "ould pay or it, be "ith her every step o the "ay. -he railed at !e, told !e + "as a baby killer, and she "asn8t going to be part o it. -he didn8t even let !e co!e up "ith so!e other plan. +nstead, she Gust "ent and told her parents. 5hat8s "hen the shit really hit the an.N M9ould you have !arried herFN -arah asked. MProbably not,N + said. M+ "asn8t that stupid. &ut + never got a chance to co!e up "ith a Plan &. 5he ne#t thing + kne", her parents "ere at !y house threatening !e and !y parents "ith legal proceedings. 5hey de!anded that + sign a"ay all !y custodial rights and pro!ise never to try to contact the baby once it "as born. +n e#change, they dropped all clai!s or child support.N MAnd you did it, Gust "alked a"ayFN + sensed !y "i e8s respect or !e evaporating. M9hat choice did + haveF + "as seventeen years old. + didn8t even have a part*ti!e Gob. + "anted to go to college, have a li e. 5hey "ere rich and could a ord la"yers. My parents couldn8t. + didn8t see any "ay out so + signed the papers.N -arah thre" her napkin on her plate. M9hat a heel. 5hen, and no". All these years "e8ve been !arried, you never had the guts to tell !e.N + "anted to get up, "alk to her, hold her, but + didn8t dare. M9ould you have !arried !e i you kne" the story, kne" ho" + actedF 9ould you have stayed "ith !e i + had told you a ter"ardF Look ho" you8re reacting no"FN M<ou !en are all idiots,N she said. M<ou don8t get it, do youFN MJet "hatFN + asked. M9hat you did all these years. Keeping this secret ro! !e is ten ti!es "orse than "hat you did to that poor girl. + could orgive you or "hat happened "ith her, you "ere seventeen, horny, and stupid. &ut ho" do you e#plain keeping this ro! !eF %or Jod8s sake, "e8re !arried. <ou8re supposed to tell !e these things.N + didn8t kno" "hat to say. MAnd "hy no"FN she continued. M9hy tell !e a ter all this ti!eF <ou8ve obviously had no proble! keeping your secret through the years.N M-he Gust turned eighteen.N M+8! sorry,N -arah said. MMaybe +8! dense. 9hat does that have to do "ith anythingFT M-he8s an adult. + can legally have contact "ith her no".N
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Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue -arah looked at !e like + had Gust dropped in ro! another planet. M9ait7 you8re actually thinking about contacting your daughter, so!eone you8ve never seen let alone co!!unicated "ithFN M9hy notFN -he shook her head in a!aze!ent. M<ou really don8t get it do youF &ecause you have a good chance o "recking a "hole bunch o lives. =ers, and ours. 9hat i she "ants to beco!e part o our livesF 9hat i she asks to live "ith her biological atherFN -he paused. M And "hy is this so i!portant to youF <ou8ve sat on this or over t"enty years. 9hy stir things up no"FN M&ecause + need to get closure on this, co!plete this loophole in !y li e.N -arah got up. M,hrist, Michael, that8s "hat all o this is aboutF <our need to tie up loose endsFN M+ need closure,N + said again. MAnd + need a husband "ho doesn8t have a "hole closet ull o skeletons.N -he began to "alk a"ay ro! the table. M+ thought + kne" you. 5urns out, + kno" nothing about you. M9ait a !inute,N she said. M=o" do you propose to ind this daughter o yours any"ayF <ou said yoursel you haven8t had any contact "ith her since her birth. =o" do you kno" "here she isFN + had been praying she "ouldn8t get around to that $uestion. + ne"s o !y daughter did not "reck our relationship, !y ans"er to her $uestion "ould do it or sure. M+ hired a private investigator.N -arah picked up a glass. + + "ere a betting !an, +8d have laid odds she "as going to thro" it at !y head. &ut she gently, al!ost gingerly, put it back on the table. M+8! so sorry Michael, !ore or !e and the kids than or you. <ou8re a psychological basket case, and you don8t even kno" it.N -he began to "alk out o the roo!. MJo ahead and ind your kid i it !eans that !uch to you. Aust don8t e#pect !e to be happy about it.N 9hich is ho" + ca!e to be in a suburb outside -t. Louis at three o8clock in the a ternoon. +t "as hot, A!azon hot, as only the Mid"est can be in Auly. + "as in the ront seat o a rental car, outside o the Pig C Poke Market "here Kathryn, !y daughter, "orked. =er !other !oved here a e" years a ter she "as born. =o" do + kno" all o thisF +t8s a!azing "hat a private detective can ind out "hen you pay the! enough. Kathryn8s picture "as ne#t to !e. + kno" +8! biased, but she "as beauti ul. A ull ace, not heavy but not gaunt either. A happy ace, or so + "anted to believe. %ro! the photo, + couldn8t tell the color o her eyes, but they "ere light, probably blue or hazel, like her !other8s. -he had long, bro"n hair, !y color, lo"ing straight
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Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue do"n her back. + should have been happy to be so close to her a ter all these years, but + elt !ore like so!e kind o stalker. 5hat and like a da!ned candidate or a t"elve*step progra! or ;eigarnik ools. + kne" + didn8t have to do it this "ay. -he "as an adult, and + "as ree to contact her any "ay + chose. + could send her an e!ail, call her on the phone, !arch up and ring her ront doorbell. &ut she still lived "ith her !otherU she "as going to college part*ti!e. =er !other couldn8t do a da!n thing about it, but + "as scared o the scene she !ight cause. -o, + sat in the car, across the street ro! the store, "aiting or Jod*kno"s*"hat. +t "ould have been nice to have a plan. + !ean, ho" do you go up to so!eone Gust getting o "ork, stop her on a public street and say. M6#cuse !e, + hate to bother you, but +8! your biological ather.N 9hat "ould she doF %aintF -crea!F ,all a copF =o" "ould -arah eel about lying ro! Atlanta all the "ay to -t. Louis to bail !e outF 9ould she even !ake the tripF -till, + "anted to talk to her, had to talk to her. + had to see her up close, hear her voice, look into her eyes. + needed to put a ace and a voice to !y past, get closure. + kne" it had to be done. + "aited. An hour, then t"o. + didn8t kno" "hen her shi t "ould end. + "orried that so!e resident on the street or a "orker in the store "ould report !e as a suspicious individual to the police. =o" "ould + e#plain !ysel F 9hat could + tell the authorities that "ould be even hal "ay believableF ,ertainly not the truth. At the three*hour !ark, !y back "as sti and the car, even "ith the "indo" cracked open, "as hot and hu!id. -till, + "aited. 5hen, she "alked out, dressed in the red and "hite store e!ployee uni or!. -he "ore a na!e badge, but + "as too ar a"ay to read it. -till, + kne" ro! the picture, that it "as her. + got out o the car and shut the door. -he "alked to"ard !e but "ithout really seeing !e, her gaze so!e"here over !y shoulder, do"n the street. Perhaps, she "as "aiting or a ride ho!e. Maybe, ro! her !other. My brain raced. M6#cuse !e, Miss.N =er gaze shi ted ro! ar o to !e. A beauti ul gaze. A gaze + "ished + could hold orever. -ince "e "ere standing in ront o the store, she probably thought + "as a custo!er. + guess she didn8t eel threatened by a stranger asking her $uestion on a busy street in the !iddle o the day. M<es,N she said. M,an + help youFN =er voice "as higher pitched than + e#pected. + don8t kno" "hy, + i!agined her to have a !ore throaty voice, like the one + re!e!bered ro! her !other. + "as "ithout a thought in !y head. + couldn8t see! to say anything.
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Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue M@o you "ork hereFN + blurted. M<es.N M+s the !anager inF + need to speak to hi! or her.N M<es, Mr. Aackson is on duty today. <ou can ind hi! at the -ervice @esk.N + "anted to keep talking to her !ore than anything else in the "orld. MKathryn,N + said. M5hat8s a pretty na!e.N M=o", ho" did you kno" !y7.F -he looked do"n at her na!e badge and s!iled. M)h.N M5hank you,N + said. M<ou8ve been a big help.N M(o proble!.N -he studied !e or a e" !o!ents. M@o + kno" youFN + "anted to e!brace her, hold onto her, but !y ar!s "ere paralyzed, pinned to !y side. -he "aited or !y ans"er. M(o,N + said. M9e8ve never !et.N Kathryn nodded. M 9ell, have a nice day.N -he "alked past !e, ive eet, ten, then t"enty. A"ay orever. MAnd a good li e,N + "hispered. + "atched her until she turned the corner. + "ondered i she thought + "as so!e sort o nut case, !aybe even a pervert. +t pained !e to think that she !ight have her cell phone out, ready to call /11 i she thought + "as ollo"ing her. + got back in !y car and put !y orehead against the steering "heel, sobbing. -he "as gone, orever. + kne" no" + "ould never able to have real contact "ith her. 5his "ould have to su ice a li eti!e. +t "ould have to be enough to tie up all those loose ends. + thought o -arah and the girls back in Atlanta. 9ould they be there "hen + got ho!eF + "anted to call the! but didn8t have the nerve. (o, + needed to talk to -arah one* on* one, try to !ake her understand "hy this trip "as necessary, so i!portant that + Geopardized !y !arriage or one !inute "ith a daughter + "ould never see again. + needed to ad!it that this part o !y li e "ould never be resolved, a loose string that + "ould never be able to pick up. + prayed that Gust this one ti!e the ;eigarnik 6 ect could ind its "ay to leave !e alone.
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Sharbenau the Squirrel By Miriam Pia -harbenau realized at so!e point that he "as not like the other s$uirrels in a e" "ays. +n !ost regards he "as a nor!al s$uirrel. =e gre" at the sa!e pace, he liked !ost o the sa!e oods, his tail "as bushy the sa!e as all the others. =is te!pera!ent "as also not that di erent ro! !any o the others o his tribe. -harbenau lived in a large colony o s$uirrels. 5hey had 3 tribes, 2 o these had 12 a!ilies and the other tribe had / a!ilies in it. 5he older ones taught the young ones ho" to live and do "ell in the orest that they lived in. Like it or not, it beca!e clear that so!e o the older s$uirrels see!ed to Wdo better8 than the others. 5here "ere ti!es that !ade -harbenau very sad. 9hen he "as young this happened the !ost "hen he sa" another get inGured or sick. =e hated to "itness their su ering but did not "ant to turn a"ay ro! the! * he kne" that "ould !ake hi! appear cold hearted "hen he "as not. 9ell, that proble! "on a lot o -harbenau8s attention or $uite a ti!e. )nce, "hen another s$uirrel "as hurt, he tried to help it. Partly, he Gust gave the other ani!al co! ort and so!eho" * he "asn8t even sure ho"U he tried to change things. =e tried to help the other heal. -harbenau "asn8t sure it did any good but then his grand!other !entioned it to hi! once. -he co!pli!ented hi!. -he told hi!, M(o" little one, that "as very creative and $uite kind. 5his is a very rare thing, but it is so!ething that you should eel good about, rather than bad about.N -harebenau thought that his grand!other !eant "ell but "as a little strange. 5he thing is, because she had been kind to hi! "hen he "as eeling a bit sad or lonely or so!ething * he re!e!bered the incident. 5he s$uirrel children ound that they o ten had enough ti!e to play and to have un as "ell as having ti!e to learn ho" to take care o the!selves and one another. Most o the ti!e, they "ere told to stay ho!e "hen it "as dark. 5he real reason or this "as to protect the! ro! danger. 5here "ere other ani!als. 5he "ay that they sa" things !ade it harder or the s$uirrels to identi y danger during the dark ti!e. +t !ade it easier or the! to !ake the young stay close during these ti!es. -harbenau elt this !ade sense and didn8t ight it. =e "as actually a very "ell behaved child s$uirrel. Most "ere, but a e" o the! see!ed di erent. )ver "hat elt like a very long ti!e, he noticed "hat happened to the di erent individuals depending on "hat they did. 5here see!ed to be 2 !ain e ects a!ongst the !ore adventurous s$uirrels. -o!e had sad ates. they "ere o ten inGured and !any died young in tragedies. )thers had happy ates. +t see!ed they "ere blessed "ith great energy and talents and adept at surviving. -o, -harbenau developed a ne" understanding o that type o s$uirrel. 6ven so, he did not stray ar ro! his elders. +t did not see! to be his nature. )ne day, "hen -harbenau "as out cli!bing a tree in an area "here he "as allo"ed he had a !ost unusual e#perience. A large cro", at least t"ice his o"n
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Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue size, ca!e near enough to hi! * they looked each other in the eye. 5he bird lo"ered its head and !oved it to"ards the s$uirrel slo"ly. -harbenau sa" this large, sharp, dangerous beak co!ing at hi! but or so!e reason he did not eel the usual ear and he did not skitter a"ay. -uddenly, he reached out one o his ront pa"s, and tapped the bird on the beak. 9ell, a ter that happened, both o the! panicked. 5he s$uirrel pulled back his hand very suddenly. 5he bird Gerked back its headU this had never happened be oreB 5he bird ca"ed. 5he s$uirrel "as terri ied by the giant dangerous open !outh and horrible sound. -harbenau began screa!ing and sca!pered along a e" branches and led to sa ety. 5here he panted, cal!ed do"n, resu!ed his daily li e. 5he e#perience stayed "ith hi!. &ecause he re!e!bered it so "ell, he elt it !ight have deep !eaning. A ter his e#perience "ith the cro", -harbenau tried helping others "hen one "as hurt or inGured. =e did not do this every ti!e no !atter "ho it "as, but he tried it. )ver ti!e, the others started to talking a!ongst the!selves about it. 5hey "ere starting to think that he !ight have so!e kind o po"er to help the!. 5hey "ondered i it "ould "ork i they tried the sa!e things * i it "orked the sa!e "ay that their elders could sho" the! ho" to ind ood and "hat to eat. 5hey also "ondered i !aybe it "as -harbenau. )ne day -harbenau "as out on an e#cursion. =e "as eeling !ore !ature and $uite proud because he "as o on his o"n again. +n truth, he had not gone ar ro! ho!e. =e ound a berry bush. =e "as Goy ul because he ound his o"n !eal "ithout help or the irst ti!e in a long ti!e. )n this special occasion -harbenau brought a s!all a!ount o the branch "ith hi!. -o!eti!e a ter that. it see!ed like a long ti!e, but it !ay have been t"o "eeks, -harbenau "as "ith a s$uirrel "ho "as not eeling "ell. -pontaneously, -harbenau tapped the other s$uirrel "ith the berry branch, shouted 3 ti!es, and danced around or hal a !inute. 5hen, Gust as suddenly, he Gust stopped. =e suddenly elt e!barrassed. =e looked at the other s$uirrel, and ound that the other "as s!iling at hi!. -harbenau elt the ur on his tail lu up. =e pulled his tail in and around. 5hen $uickly, -harbenau ound a "ay to Gust leave. Later, Gust 2 days later, there "as a ne" sight. -harbenau "as at the nearest strea! to get "ater. =e sa" the s$uirrel he had danced around and touched "ith the branch. 5he other8s health see!ed !uch i!proved. -harbenau the s$uirrel Gust "atched silently ro! the shade. =e "as beginning to "onder i he had so!e kind o po"er a ter all, and "asn8t Gust i!agining it. +n reality, the other s$uirrels in the tribe really noticed that one. +t see!ed to all o the! that -harbenau had helped the other s$uirrel heal. 6veryone began to "atch -harbenau a bit !ore, to observe "hether or not anything else Wsurprising8 or Wa!azing8 !ight happen. At irst this !ade -harbenau very unco! ortable. 5hen, he realized that he could use it as encourage!ent to try things so!eti!es. -o, a ter that he "as !ore likely to ollo" through on his ideas about healing, or iguring things out. (o" it see!ed that i he did anything peculiar the other s$uirrels "ould also say, M9ell, that8s -harbenau. 5hat8s "hy.N )ne day, -harbenau "as out * again, he "as Gust a little bit apart ro! the rest o his group. =e had not really le t the group, or anything like that. =e "as
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Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue on the side o a tree one day, head do"n on a large oak tree "hen another o these Wstrange events8 took place. -harbenau elt the presence o another li e or!. +t "as a large creature, very large. 5he s!ell o it "as noticeable but not unpleasant. =e did not kno" "hat type o creature it "as ro! the s!ell. 5here "as the sound o !ove!ent, but the entity !oved slo"ly. -harbenau decided to keep still. =e looked do"n. =e looked at his ront pa"s and elt the strong grip that he had on the thick oak bark. 5his "as a very stable situation ro! "hat he could tell. Again, the large creature !oved. 5his ti!e, -harbenau could look and see so!e part o it on the ground. +t "as like nothing he had ever seen be ore. =e litted his tail to and ro. =e sni ed the light breeze. 5here "as !ore !otion. -harbenau kne" that he "as taking $uite a risk by not running o . =e had a curious sensation in both his body and his !ind. 5his ti!e, another large portion o the creature ca!e into vie". +t turned out that it really "as gigantic co!pared to a s$uirrel but -harbenau still thought it "as !uch s!aller than the tree he "as on. -till, although his tail tre!bled slightly, -harbenau did not snicker and he did not run. 9hat happened "as that the creature began to !ake noisesU "hen -harbenau still did not run, there "as a !inor !iracle "hen the creature touched hi! "ithout causing any har!. -harbenau "as not sure ho" to react. =e "as $uite pleased but not sure "hy * probably si!ply because this type o event had never occurred be ore and !ight not ever happen again. 5he entire e#perience lasted Gust a e" !inutes. 5hen the large creature !ade a di erent set o sounds and started to !ove $uickly. 5he s$uirrel elt a ne" type o pressure on his back and then he suddenly scra!bled or"ard, do"n and then around and a"ay ro! the strange creature. =e "ent up !uch higher and a"ay. +n act, -harbenau never looked back. =e told the other s$uirrels o his tribe about it. 9ell, they talked it about so !uch that the old ones heard about it. 6ventually, grand!other s$uirrel told 2 o the! that she thought the creature he had seen and that had touched hi!, !ight have been a hu!an being. %ro! that !o!ent on, no one treated -harbenau the "ay they had be ore. +t "as strange because the change "as so!eho" subtle but in other respects obvious. -harbenau "asn8t e#actly sure "hat it "as. (either "ere the others, but it "as so!ething and they all kne" it. A ter a long ti!e, the s$uirrels developed a "ord or it, and they started to call -harbenau a sha!an. -lo"ly, they tried to share this in or!ation "ith the other tribes. -harbenau hi!sel elt a bit peculiar. A ter all, he "as only trying to be hi!sel U he "as Gust this s$uirrel. =e loved his a!ily, he liked a lot o his li e and he enGoyed the tribal li estyle. %or so!e reason he "as a bit di erent ro! the others. =e even "orried about "hether or not he "ould ever cure so!eone "ith the berry stick again * a ter it had "orked the one ti!e. 5he !ost a!azing thing, "as t"o old. %irst, "hen -harbenau returned to the tree "here he had !et the giant creature the one day, he so!eti!es ound o erings. 5he other astounding act is that or the irst ti!e in history, a hu!an being realized * but didn8t understand "hy this idea occurred, that ani!als !ight have their o"n !edicine people.
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-ilvershort &y 5erra Kelly 9here do + beginF + a! illed "ith darkness and light. + hunger not only or the pounding + hear every"here but also or the pleasure + kno" you can give !e. + hunger or the love that "as taken ro! !e. 9as that dra!atic enough or youF + suppose + al"ays have had a lair or the dra!atic. 5his is to be !y Gournal. 5hough + can8t bear to begin "ith @ear @iary as + a! pretty sure that + a! too old to do so, so please orgive !e i + begin "ith @ear >eader instead. + don8t kno" "here to begin really. + Gust eel the need to share "ith so!eone. A ter so !any years + tire o being alone, o keeping this secret alone. -o un ortunately !y dearest reader + "ill con ide in you. <ou "ill be the one + share all o !y dirty little secrets "ith. 5hough the beginning o this tale isn8t really dirty, nor as dark as it "ill eventually get. 5he beginning, the beginning o !y li e "as the happiest ti!e + have ever had. )h ho" + !iss those ar a"ay days. My na!e is -ilver &athory. @oes that sound vaguely a!iliar to youF +t should. My !other "as the in a!ous &lood ,ountess, 6lizabeth &athory. %or those "ho don8t kno" "ho she "as then let !e give you a brie background. ,ountess 6lizabeth &athory "as one o the !ost proli ic e!ale serial killers. -he "as o icially never tried or her cri!es though her servants "ere ound guilty. -he "as bricked into a set o roo!s though in 1:10. &ut ro! "hat + have been told she "as a char!ing "o!an. -he !anaged to seduce one o the !en "ho "ould bring her ood. =o" + "as !ade possible + a! unsure, but she "as a beauti ul and "ealthy "o!an obviously she ound so!e "ay. ) course + a! not in the history books. (or is it in the history books that one reason "hy !y !other !ay have taken so !any lives is that she had been introduced to a va!pire. =e had been taken by her beauty and started to trans or! her be ore he realized the !adness that lurked inside o her. =e le t her and that8s "hen the !urders began. =e heard that she had been con ined to roo!s and ca!e to visit her. 5hank ully he "as there in ti!e to save !e. 9hether !y !other "ould have ed on !e or not + "ill never kno". &ut + a! thank ul that + "as not raised bricked in to a series o roo!s. -o Methos saved !e. My !other8s e#*lover and !y savior. =e took !e to a orest to be raised by a group o !en. + don8t kno" "hat religion they "ere but + still think o the! as @ruids. 5hey "ere al"ays slightly unco! ortable "ith !e, especially as + got older and began to lo" and had girl $uestions. + s!ile no" as + re!e!ber their kind a"k"ardness. 5hey taught !e so !any things about the orest and history. About ho" to enGoy the e" blessings + had and ho" to survive "hen the "orld hates you. And at night =e "ould co!e to !e and "e "ould have dinner and talk o the "orld outside o the dark orest. =i!. =o" do + describe "hat he !eant to !e, because he "as everything + kne". At ten + kne" + "anted to spend the rest o !y li e "ith hi!, that + loved hi! and "ould al"ays love only
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Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue hi!. Methos "as the burning passion o !y youth "ith his pitch black hair, pale skin and "ide violet eyes. ) course he thought !e a child. 5o be air, + had no real idea "hat love "as until later but + al"ays kne" that he "as the sun to !y !oon. + gre" and gre" and at 1? + "as already 282N, very tall or a "o!an in the 1:008s. + had long black hair that reached al!ost to !y knees, !y skin "as pale, !y !outh "as ull and red, !y eyes "ere tilted slightly and a golden green. My days "ere illed "ith learningU history, geography, languages, religions. 5here "as also darning to do and se"ing and candles to !ake. 5he rare days that + "as ree to e#plore the beauti ul orests that surrounded our cottage "ere heaven to !e. 5he last such day + had "andered urther ro! the cottage then + nor!ally dared go. &ut + "as engrossed "ith the "ay the setting sun colored the leaves "ith red8s and gold8s "hich "arred and yet !irrored the purple and gold sky above !e. -o + lingered "ell !ust dusk and as + started to !ake !y "ay back + heard strange sounds. + have ever been a curious creature and nothing has changed in the our hundred plus years that + have lived. -o + crept closer to the noises. +t began to take on !ore de inition and + thought it "as !oaning and giggling. + "as so con usedU + thought so!eone !ight be hurt but the giggling through !e o . + ca!e into a s!all clearing and sa" t"o people rolling on the ground. + asked i everyone "as alright. + can still hear her !ocking laughter at !y naivetV. + "as stuck, + could only stare as the young "o!an laughed and !ocked !e or not kno"ing "hat had been going on. All + could do "as stare at the !an8s ace. %or it "as !y beloved Methos staring at !e, his lips plu!ped and stained "ith a darker li$uid. -o + ran. And + ran and + ran. + could hear ootsteps beating a path behind !e as + picked up !y skirts in an atte!pt to !ove aster. + could hear his silken voice calling to !e. + "as horri ied. =o" could the !an that + had antasied about or years be "ith another "o!an. =o" could he not eel "hat + eltF + kne" he loved !e, + elt it. 5hat8s "hen + ran into a tree and knocked !ysel out or a !o!ent or t"o. 5hat8s right, "e can8t al"ays be gla!orous and even a good ro!ance story doesn8t al"ays "ork out the "ay "e "ant. Jods, + "as !orti ied to "ake up and have Methos sitting there staring at !e. =e asked !e "hat + "as doing out so late and + tried to e#plain but he started yelling about "olves and other ani!als "hile + stared at hi! like he "as stupid. M9hat "ere you doing "ith herFN + asked. 5his led to a very a"k"ard 20 !inutes o conversation "hile he tried to e#plain about se# and inti!acy. M&ut + love youBN + e#clai!ed at hi!. M<ou are a child, you do not kno" love. + a! the only !an you have ever spent any real ti!e "ith. ) course you think you love !e. All you have kno"n is this corner o the "orld. )ne day you "ill "alk in the cities and streets o the busiest to"ns and you "ill !eet !any beauti ul !en "ho "ant you and "ill court you. 5hen you "ill not give !e a second look.N )h ho" those "ords "ounded !e.
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Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue M(everB 5hen take !e "ith you to see the "orld, + s"ear it "ill al"ays be youB + don8t care i a King courts !e or the "ealthiest !an in the "orld !y eyes "ill only ever see youBN + practically yelled at hi!. =e sat and stared at !e or so long a ter that sentence that + "asn8t sure i he "ould talk again. + al!ost got up and le t, !y eyes illed "ith tears. M<ou do not understand love yet -ilver, your love or !e is like a tree co!pared to the depths o !y eelings or you. My love is like a great ocean constantly !oving to"ards you, controlled by you. <ou are the light in !y darkness, the !oon in !y sky. + "ill sho" you the "orld and "e shall see "hat prince "ill "oo you ro! !y side. M + could barely breath + "as illed "ith so !uch Goy at those "ords. =e "as !y sun and + "as his !oon. 5hat night he led !e ho!e and + slept in the little hay bed + had slept in or ourteen years. 5he ne#t day + said goodbye to the !en "ho had been like athers to !e. + never sa" the! again but + still see their aces in !y drea!s at ti!es. 5he ne#t night "e le t, and !y si!ple li e "as never $uite the sa!e again. + learned so !any things about !ysel in the ne#t t"o years. 5hose things + "ill get into later, this irst entry is about Methos. + had never seen so !any people together in one place. + "as dressed in su!ptuous abrics that + couldn8t even drea! o be ore. -o!eti!es in the hustle and bustle + longed or the $uiet days in the orest but then night "ould co!e and + "ould look in Methos8 eyes, eel the s!ooth skin o his knuckles touch !y cheek and + kne" the noise and the pain "as "orth it. 9e sa" so !any places in those e" yearsU Pienna, Mosco", Penice, >o!e, London, !y avorite by ar "as Paris. )h the "ay the lights t"inkled in the darkness, the !usic that "ould carry out into the streets, the s!ell o chocolate and "ine and rich co ees. +t "as heaven to !e. + spent the days e#ploring and the nights + spent "ith !y Methos. 9e "ould talk and laugh and kiss. And he "as right + "as "ooed by ,ount8s and even a Prince once. (o one turned !y head ro! Methos though. + al"ays kne" that "e "ere right together. 9e "ere on a boat slo"ly dri ting do"n the -eine "hen he asked !e to !arry hi!. Marriage !eant little to Methos, he "as centuries old, A va!pire. =e never took li e to live but !erely nibbled on "illing donors. 5here are so !any horrible stories o creatures o the night but Methos "as never one o those horrors. + have been though. At certain points in history + have gone against everything that he taught !e in the hopes that + could bring his soul back to !e. A shiver runs do"n !y back at the "ay this story ends. And + apologize or the lack o detail. + "ant to share but this story hurts or it ends badly. &ut let !e hurry and continue. 9here "as +F )h yes, Methos "as "hat "as considered a good va!pire. =e didn8t har! those around hi! or take li e i he could help it. =e tried to help those he could and "as generous "ith the !oney that he had especially those "ho lived on the streets or to"ards orphans. =e "as kind and intelligent and
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Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue hilarious. @on8t get !e "rong he had his aults and his ego "as so large so!eti!es + "ondered ho" both hi! and it it in the sa!e roo!. =e "as also vain and took al!ost as long to get ready to go out as + did. And re!e!ber at that period in history + had to get into about three di erent skirts, plus a corset. -o !arriage !eant little to hi!, he asked only to !ake !e happy and because it "ould see! !ore acceptable in society. 5hat and he could never resist any e#cuse to dress up and be the center o attention. + "ish there had been pictures in those days. 9e never had the patience to "ait or portraits. 5he "edding day "as glorious, he "as shi!!ering in gold and purple. + al!ost ran a"ay be ore + could "alk to"ards hi! or he "as so beauti ul that + couldn8t understand ho" this creature "anted !e. 5hen his eyes caught !ine and + "atched his ace light up at the sight o !e. + elt the love co!e o o hi! and + kne" he truly "anted to be "ith !e orever. 5he rest o the day "as a blur really. Again + "ish or pictures so + could better re!e!ber it. +t "as a blur o laughter and teasing. Methos had !any riends and they "ere all there to "ish us "ell. 5here "ere !any ribald Gokes about "hat "ould happen later. + think + !ight have over drank a little as even the "edding night is Gust a vague !e!ory o a hint o pain !i#ed "ith pleasure. =e "ould ever tease !e a ter"ards that his loving "as so good that it "iped the !e!ories o the day a"ay. Methos "as charis!atic as + have !entioned and he had !any riends. + didn8t kno" yet that he also had !any ene!ies. 5here are parts o this story that + a! glossing over. 5hey are Gust too pain ul to yet share "ith you !y ne" riend. -o!eti!es + doubt they even happened in !y o"n !ind let alone co!!it the! to paper. 9hat i you disbelieved !eF 9ould that !ake it any less realF 9ould + then plunge back into the darkness + ought so hard to be ree o F -o + "ill start "ith the si!ple things. =ope ully you can believe that he "as a va!pire at least, born in ancient 6gypt. + a! a va!pire no", born in the 1:008s. ) course, !ost o this story has been be ore + "as turned or reborn, ho"ever you pre er to think about it. -o reader, it "as shortly a ter !y "edding day that "e learned so!e people "ho didn8t particularly care or !y ne" husband had heard o the "edding and "anted 7 to introduce the!selves to !e. 5hat is the polite "ay o saying that they "anted to rough !e up a little in the hopes o teaching Methos so!e sort o lesson. -o "e reluctantly le t Paris and hurried to a cottage that Methos had stashed in a $uiet corner o +reland. + realize that sounds odd to you since even in this century +reland has been torn by "ar and stri e but i you live there or have ever visited you "ill understand. 5here are places in that country that you could s"ear had never been touched be ore you stood there. 9e both thought there "as plenty o ti!e and "e "ould re!ind ourselves that "e "ould visit Paris !any ti!es over
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Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue the years. M9e8ll al"ays have ParisN "e "ould "hisper to each other. +t beca!e a pro!ise o orever and love or us along "ith the pet na!es o the sun and the !oon. + loved being in that re!ote corner o +reland. Paris is special "ith its !ove!ent and architecture. +reland is !agical. 5he eel o the ground beneath your eet, the "ay the !ist cra"ls over the land to s"irl around your eet. 5he stories and the !yths are all a!azing and bring such li e to the ields and pastures around you. + "ould "alk or hours during the day s!elling the green grass and listening to the distant baaing o the sheep. 5hey ound !e "hen + "as "alking. 5"o !en on horseback during the day, it "as dayti!e + never really thought about there being a danger. Looking back + see ho" naXve that "as o !e. -o they rode up on beauti ul horses and + s!iled as they nodded their heads. 5hey stopped and asked !e ho" ar to the ne#t village and + gave the! directions. 5hey see!ed like nice young !en. -illy child that + "as, + shake !y head still "hen + look back on that day. 5he ne#t thing + kne" "as + could eel their hands s!acking !e. A good hit to the head and + "as do"n on the ground. 5hat "as "hen they used the horse8s hoo s to pound !e. + a! still lucky that they didn8t "ant !e dead, they only "anted to inGure !e. 5he "ords they le t !e "ith "ere MAbra# sends his regards and "elco!es you to the a!ilyN. + could barely groan in response to those "ords and + a! not even sure ho" + heard the! over the sound o the horses and then they rode o . + think + prayed or the strength to drag !y broken body back to the cottage. 5he pain ripped through !e and + kno" + had heard several crunches. + never did reach the cottage. 5he !ist ca!e up and surrounded !e, called to !e until all + could do "as lay there and pant eeling the nu!bness cra"l over !y body. +t "asn8t air, "hy does innocence al"ays have to payF + tried so hard to save hi! but in the end it didn8t !atter ho" hard + tried. Methos ound !e a ter the sun had led the sky. + "as alive, it "as a !iracle. =e turned !e that night. + never sa" the sun againU never leaned back in a glade illed "ith sun light and "atched the orange curtain through !y eye lids. &ut + a! alive and that is so!ething that + cherish. Methos8 blood still pounds through !y veins encouraging !e to live long a ter + "ould have given up. + cried so hard as + clung to Methos that night. + can8t describe the pain both e!otional and physical that "racked !e. )ne day + "ill ully e#plain !y heart ache o that day to you. 9e hoped that it "ould be the end o it. 5hat the score had been settled though so!ething lurked in Methos8 eyes. + think he kne" that it "asn8t over and he Gust didn8t have the courage to talk to !e about "hat li e "ould be like i he "asn8t around. =e did prepare !e in s!all "ays, he sho"ed !e "here the !oney had been hidden and "hat properties he o"ned around the "orld. + he "rote to so!eone or help + "ill never kno" because they didn8t arrive in ti!e. 5"o !onths later "e had settled into a nightly pattern, + "as learning !y ne" gi ts though !any things "ere still hard or !e to do. +t "as better that "e stayed
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Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue in that little cottage because + could contain !y thirst rather than being thrust into the heart o people so soon. =o" + regret that decision no". 9e should have ran as ar and as hard as possible. 9e "ould stay up and talk and !ake plans or the uture. Methos looked at !e, he !ust have s!elled Abra# on the air or 7. + don8t kno" ho" he kne", but he looked at !e and reached out and touched !y cheek. MMy !oon, underneath the loorboards "ith you, re!ain still, re!ain silent and he "ill not har! you. 9hen this is done "e "ill go to Paris and you can see the lights "ith your ne" eyes. M =e s!iled sadly at !e. + tried to argue but Methos si!ply !oved !e as he "ould and hid !e beneath the loorboards like + "as a treasure !eant to be hidden. -o + hid like a co"ard underneath the loorboards, a hand pushed to !y !outh to keep !e $uiet but + "atched through a s!all crack in the loor. Abra# strode into the roo! like a golden god. =is hair "as so gold it could put the sun to sha!e and it !atched his ta"ny eyes. =e !oved like a lion that had been penned too long and the s!ile he gave Methos chilled !y blood. M&rother too long have you been gone ro! !e, co!e back and "e shall rule the nightN his voice "as dark velvet and !ade !e run cold "ith the cruelty that "as barely concealed in it. Apparently at so!e point in history Abra# and Methos had been as close as brothers until Abra# had allen in love "ith a !ortal "o!an. 5hey had vo"ed to never turn another creature into a va!pire but Abra# broke this vo" and turned her any"ays. 5he vo" broken Methos had threatened to leave. Abra# said he "ould kill the "o!an i Methos "ould Gust stay "ith hi!. Apparently the "o!an had been so!e sort o seer and told Methos that one day he "ould love a "o!an "ith a sy!bol o a crescent !oon on her and i she died because o hi! then she "ould curse hi! and that love. -o he told Abra# to leave the "o!an alive. 5o keep his relationship that he had ought or. Abra# killed her any"ays. -o Methos le t hi!. Abra# bla!ed Methos or killing his love or the seer and then leaving hi! alone. (o" Abra# "anted revenge, Methos could either kill !e or leave !e and return to Abra#. =e re used and they ought. Abra# had been Methos8 !aker and a ter "hat elt like orever Abra# "on. + don8t kno" ho" to describe that ight. =o" does one describe the screech o preternatural lesh pounding into lesh that is Gust as strongU the speed "ith "hich they both le" around the roo! and dodged each otherF +t "as horri ic and beauti ul and burned into !y !ind though !y ingers and tongue go cold and re use to describe it accurately. As + said, Abra# "on. =e held Methos head in bet"een his hands and stared at !y beloved8s ace even as his body slo"ly slu!ped to the loor. + "atched the horror play over Abra#8s eatures as he realized "hat he had done. + s"ear + sa" hi! look right at !e as he dropped the head to the loor. + didn8t care at that !o!ent i he killed !e as "ell. + "atched the head bounce and roll, every !ove!ent like a pain lancing through !y chest. 5he head ca!e to rest close to !y o"n and + could see his beauti ul ace staring at !e. + tried not to screa! as those sightless eyes stared into !ine. A lock o hair
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Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue ell over one eye and !y ingers itched to s"eep it a"ay ro! his ace as + had done so !any ti!es. &lood dripped through the loor boards and on to !e. 5o be honest + don8t kno" ho" long + stared into his eyes. +t8s di erent no" and !aybe you "on8t understand but he "as everything, Methos had been the one thing + kne" every day or !y "hole li e at that point. 6specially in a ti!e "hen "o!en "ere raised to believe that they needed a !an. + had orever but !y reason or living "as gone. 6ven no" + "atch the red stain the pages o this book as + "rite this. + suppose that8s a good sign that so!e"here in here a soul does re!ain. 5he sun rose and as a young va!pire + "ent to sleep as it crested across the land. + don8t kno" "hen Abra# le t or all + sa" "ere Methos8 eyes staring back at !e. + kept trying to "ill those eyes to light up again. + "oke as the sun ell behind the "orld, there "ere no candles burning, + could see nothing in the darkness. + orced !y "ay through the boards and lit a candle even as !y eyes started to adGust to the darkness. + "as desperate to hold hi! one last ti!e. +t is a !yth that va!pire8s turn to ash "hen "e are slain. 9e have bodies as do you. 9e do not cease to e#ist Gust because there is no !ore li e inside o us. =is body "as gone. + ear + "ent !ad. + tore apart the cottage looking or so!ething, any sign o his body, + even tried to track around the cabin in the darkness. + could s!ell so!ething strange on the "ind. + never ound his body. As + said + ear + "ent !ad. + stayed in the !adness or so !any years. + you love so!eone, truly love the! and give the! every part o you, then "hat "ould you give to have that person backF 9ould you give your soulF + leave you "ith that $uestion reader as + leave you or the evening. -a e travels in the darkness reader.
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Wacky Writers
<es, that8s correct olksB 9acky 9riters is backB @id you !iss itF + kno" + sure didB Are you ready or this !onth8s "acky "riter8s pro!ptF =ere goes7 5here are !any people in the "orld "ho don8t have the basic essentials to survive such as a house, or even ood or clothes. 5hey rely on shelters, churches and synagogues or those resources. Put your characters into the shoes o so!eone "ho has less than they do. 9hat is your character thank ul orF &etter yet, "hat can your character do to help so!eone "ho is !uch less ortunate than heEshe isF 9hat is the reaction o both the character and the person they o er to helpF
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-i# -entence Madness

-i# -entence Madness, "as inspired by the "orld "ide pheno!ena called -i# -entence -unday. %or those "ho don8t kno" "hat -i# -entence -unday is, it8s "here authors help pro!ote other authors by posting the irst si# sentences o the other author8s book or short story on their blog. + a! taking it a step urther. + "ant to help each and every one o you authors out there by advertising your books right here in this !agazine. +n order to do that, + need those "ho "ould be interested, to e!ail !e the na!e o their book, and the irst si# sentences o it. <ou !ay also send !e an optional book cover, along "ith book purchasing in or!ation. + a! accepting sub!issions or -i# -entence Madness until April o 2012. 5o participate, please sub!it the re$uired in o to sub!issions'literarylunes.co!
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Flash Fi%tion
9ant to "rite so!ething, but don8t have the ti!e to "rite anything longF 9hy not participate in so!e %lash %ictionF 5he obGect o the ga!e is to "rite a short story or poe! based o o a photo that + "ill provide. 5he piece should be less than 200 "ords. 5here "ill be a ne" lash iction piece every !onth.
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There /ou 'a*e It: M! 0+inion &y ,a!bria =ebert 5itle. A!aretto %la!e H6agleton ,oven Q1I Author. -a!!ie -pencer Jenre. <oung Adult %antasy A+-(. &00?5-,M@M Publication @ate. March 2:, 2011 by -a!!ie -pencer Available or!at. 6*book )livia has spent her li e training, learning ho" to kill the Penator, her people8s greatest deadly threat. -he has never kno"n the care ree kind o li e that she thinks hu!ans live. -he has al"ays elt like she "as on the outside, never part o the group. -o, "hen she co!!its a Wcri!e8, the high priestess o her coven sends her a"ay to live a!ong hu!ans as her punish!ent, she eels !ore out o place than ever. 9hen she takes a "aitress Gob at a s!all bar in to"n, she is surprised to ind ne" riends7and an intriguing singer "ith gorgeous a!aretto colored eyes. )livia inds hersel part o a "orld she never i!agined and !aybe actually liking it7 &ut it isn8t good ti!es or long because Penator attacks start happening, and )livia is a raid or the a!ily that she le t behind*the a!ily that she can8t be "ith to protect. 9hen she discovers the secret behind the attacks, everything she has been training or is put to the test. + have to say that usually books about "itches are not !y thing. 5his book is an e#ception. + loved this book, and + give it our stars. -a!!ie -pencer has "oven $uite a uni$ue "orld that + "as so easily dra"n into. 5he characters are believable and relatable. + really loved )livia8s internal Gourney throughout the book. -he "as honest "ith hersel about hersel , and she really "orked through a lot o her o"n issues internally "hich !ade her such a strong character. -he never let other people de ine her, and she al"ays did "hat she believed "as right. + also really liked that even "hen she ound that her ne" li e "ith the hu!ans "as un, she never orgot about "here she ca!e ro! and never stopped caring about the people she le t behind. Aackson Pance "as another great character. =e "as $uite a puzzle in the beginning, and + ound !ysel thinking that he "as "hat "as presented. a bad boy player that liked to keep things non*co!!ittal and easy. &oy "as + "rong. + loved ho" the layers o his personality un olded along "ith the story. Aust "hen + thought + had hi! igured out, + "as surprised. 5he !agic and po"ers in the story "ere also so!ething that + enGoyed. As + !entioned be ore "itch books usually aren8t !y thing, but + really enGoyed the
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Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue di erent po"ers each person held, and + liked the act that it "asn8t all about the !agic. +t "as !ore about ho" they used their abilities and the lives they lead "ith each other. 5hey "ere a a!ily o !is its that discovered they "eren8t really !is its a ter all, and they belonged together. +t "as a great a!ily bond. 6verett, )livia8s brother, "as another avorite o !ine. 5he bond that he and )livia shared !ade !e "ish that + had a brother o !y o"n. + can only hope that -a!!ie -pencer "rites in a rockin8 love interest or hi! in her ne#t bookB + can8t "ait to see "hat happens in the ne#t book, and "here )livia and Aackson go. + "ould reco!!end this book to anyone "ho likes a great story and strong characters. 9ith su!!er approaching, anyone "ho had thought about getting a copy o this book, $uit "aitingB -nag this book, pull up your chair near the pool, "ork on your tan, and settle in or so!e great entertain!entB
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There /ou 'a*e It: M! 0+inion &y ,a!bria =ebert 5itle. Any 9itch 9ay Author. Annastaysia -avage Jenre. <oung Adult %antasy Publisher. Aournal-tone 2011 %or!at. 6*book and paperback +-&(. /01*1*/3:2:?*02*0 -adie8s li e is tossed upside do"n "hen the police and the school principle call her out o class on day and tell her that her !other has died in a car accident. 9ith no a!ily, -adie is le t to live in oster care. %oster care isn8t the ideal place to begin "ith and "hen -adie starts telling people that she thinks her !other is still alive, it beco!es a place that is even harder to bear. &ounced ro! ho!e to ho!e and ostracized at school, -adie only tries to get through the day. =er only escape is a s!all bookstore in to"n "ith a riendly old lady and a cat as her only riends. As -adie8s thirteenth birthday approaches things start to change around her. At irst she doesn8t notice the "ay a tree8s leaves "ilt "hen she8s sad or the "ay the lights overhead burn out "hen she8s upset. &ut then things begin to happen that she can8t help but notice7 )n the day o her birthday H"hich is also =allo"eenI the gla!our bet"een the hu!an "orld and the !agikal one ades a"ay, and -adie inds that she has been sharing her little Pennsylvania to"n "ith the likes o "hich she never i!agined. 5o top it o 7they all kno" her7 And so!e o the! "ant her dead. 5hank ully, there are so!e Magikal &eings that are on her side and "illing to help save her li e. 5he trouble is trying to igure out "ho e#actly is on her side. &n "itch "a is illed to the bri! "ith enchanting characters and lots o t"ists and turns. 5here is also a bit o !ystery thro"n in because the reader is al"ays "ondering "ho is betraying "ho!. + really liked the !ain character, -adie. + thought she "as a believable thirteen*year*old girl. + liked the "ay she handled all the !aGor stu thro"n her "ay but still didn8t see! too old or her skin. -he still acted like a young girl. 5his book "as very entertaining, and + "ould reco!!end it to anyone "ho "anted a light, un read. + "ill say that + think this book "ould !ost especially appeal to the younger side o the young adult audience. As + "as reading + kept thinking about the @isney ,hannel and ho" this book "ould be per ect or one o
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Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue their 5P !ovies. + could Gust see the "ay the Magikal &eings "ould co!e to li e on screen. + really thought that this book held a good lesson or teenagers as "ell. 5o !e, the lesson "as all about sel *acceptance and believing in yoursel . 9henever you can accept yoursel , li e Gust see!s to all into place around you. + think that or young adults this can be the hardest lesson in li e there is, and this book rein orces that it is possible to really Wgro" into yoursel 8. 5he antasy aspect o the book "as probably !y avorite thing about it. 5he characters "ere Gust so diverse, but yet they all it into the sa!e "orld "ith ease. + especially liked the )gres and the ,entaurs. Adding a bit o co!edy to the book "ere 6lgarba! and 9histle. 9herever they "ent these t"o little guys "ere hitting each over the head and threatening the other "ith bodily har!. 5here "as Gust about everything you could i!agine in this story, and it all see!ed that !uch !ore enchanting because the reader "as e#periencing it "ith a thirteen*year*old girl. 5he plot o this story "as "ell thought out, and + liked the "ay it !oved right along "ith the action. 9hen you are done reading you are le t "ith no $uestion unans"ered "hich, + eel, is i!portant. + do hope that Ms. -avage plans to "rite a se$uel because + a! certain that -adie8s adventures in beco!ing a "itch are only Gust getting started. (o", i you8ll e#cuse !e + need to go call the @isney ,hannel7..
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There /ou 'a*e It: M! 0+inion &y ,a!bria =ebert 5itle. =e# =all Author. >achel =a"kins Publisher. =yperion Press, 2010 %or!at. Paperback, 6book Jenre. %antasyE <oung Adult +-&(. 1?2312130/ -ophia Mercer is a "itch. &ut she isn8t a very good one. All her spells tend to be disastrous and leave people pointing and screa!ing. -o !uch or blending in and not dra"ing attention to hersel . -he never has lived in a place long enough to !ake a real riend and her dad has been M+A or her entire li e. Jranted, he has an e#cuse. =e8s a po"er ul "arlock. 9hen a good pro! night goes bad because -ophie does yet another bad spell, her dad sentences her to =e# =all, a super e#clusive boarding school or "ay"ard prodigiu!. %or anyone not up on the lingo, prodigiu! is another ter! or aeries, "itches and shape*shi ters. -ophie doesn8t "ant to go and her irst day Gust ha!!ers ho!e her eelings. -he inds hersel al!ost attacked by a "ere"ol , the ene!y o three hot "itches and a !ega crush on a guy that is totally out o her league. @id + !ention that her ne" roo!ie is a va!pF 5he only va!p on ca!pus, so there goes any chance o getting any sleep. &ut all o these obstacles see! !inor "hen -ophie learns that there is so!e kind o predator attacking the students. +t turns out there is so!e kind o ancient secret society that "ants to "ipe any and all prodigiu! o the ace o the earth7 And they are starting "ith -ophie. + have heard nothing but good things about this book. 9hen + started reading this book + didn8t read any revie"s, + didn8t read the blurb on the back o the book, nothing. + "ent in blind and Gust "anted to enGoy the story and let the characters un old be ore !e. And it didn8t disappoint. + really liked this book. + "as a little surprised at irst because the story line see!ed a little predictable7 girl goes o to a boarding school or kids like her and !akes ene!ies "ith the popular girl and develops a crush on an untouchable guy7and "hile that is the plot it "as still told in a resh "ay. 5he book "asn8t predictable, and + kept reading to see "hat "ould happen. + like -ophie, she is a great !ain character. -he not only struggles "ith nor!al teenage angst but also has to deal "ith the act that she is a "itch "ho can8t see! to do a spell right. + ind it endearing that she uses her spells to try and help people but she lacks the !aturity to see that her ideas aren8t helping anyone * Gust causing trouble. -he8s an innocent "ho doesn8t really kno" she8s innocent.
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Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue Archer "as a character that + liked as "ell, having the Mbad boy "ith a good sideN do"n pat. + even like the head!istress o the school and ho" she tried to be stern and i!partial "hen it ca!e to -ophie but she never $uite got there. UI + have to say though that one o !y avorite characters "as one that "asn8t in the book enough. ,al. =e is so!e yu!!y goodness. + ound !ysel "anting -ophie to orget about Archer and ollo" ,al. + "ould have. =e "as a big bee y !an "ith that sober e#terior but "ho "ould s!ile or light up his eyes Gust enough to !ake you realize that there "as so!e !elt*"orthy stu inside o hi!, + or one pray there is L)5- !ore o ,al in the ne#t book. + can8t really get into the plot too a" ul !uch because + don8t "ant to give anything a"ay, but this book is "orth the read. +t8s an easy read. 5he author "rites "ell and her "ords lo" together creating chapters that go right by. -he gives enough description so that the reader gets to kno" the surroundings and really all into the pages and orget the outside "orld. 5he setting o the book "as cool too. + liked the Gu#taposition o the boarding house, see!ingly ugly in the !iddle o a beauti ul island. + !ean, "hat "itches H"ho can turn anything prettyI live in a patched together, ugly boarding houseF As + said be ore, =e# =all takes so!e une#pected turns and the reader realizes that not everyone is "ho they say they are. 5here is so!e bad stu going do"n and -ophie is at the center. All + "ant to kno" no" is "hat8s going to happen ne#tF + "ill be reading @e!onglass i!!ediately because + "ant to kno". -o there you have it. My opinion.
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There /ou 'a*e It: M! 0+inion &y ,a!bria =ebert 5itle. @e!onglass Author. >achel =a"kins Publisher. =yperion Press %or!at. Paperback, 6book Jenre. %antasy, Paranor!al +-&(. /01*1?23121312 -ophie Mercer thought she "ent to =e# =all, the uber e#clusive private school or prodigiu!. 5urns out she is not a "itch7but she is so!ething. =e# =all didn8t teach her ho" to use her po"ers but she did learn the a!ily secret. 5urns out she has so!e !aGor skeletons in her closet. (ot to !ention the act the total hottie she spent an entire year crushing on is part o 5he 6ye, an organization hell bent on taking do"n all prodigiu! every"here, starting "ith her entire a!ily. + that isn8t enough or one teenage girl * she is all set to travel to London to undergo 5he >e!oval, a li e threatening ritual that "ill orever "ipe her o her po"ers. 9hen she arrives in London she learns even !ore shocking ne"s. 5here are others like her. )thers being raised so that they can be used or ne arious !eans. 9ho is doing this and "hyF As she races to ind the truth she also has to dodge 5he 6ye as they try to kill her. 9hen she co!es ace to ace "ith the guy "ho broke her heart, the guy she thought she "as over7things get !ore co!plicated than ever. (emonglass is the e#citing se$uel to He# Hall ro! author >achel =a"kins. + really enGoyed =e# =all and (emonglass "as no disappoint!ent either. 5he story really !oves or"ard in this install!ent "ith a lot o action ro! so!e ne" characters as "ell as so!e oldies Hbut goodiesBI. -ophie is her usual unny sel yet she still develops in character along the "ay. + enGoyed her relationship "ith her dad and thought that it "as pretty realistic Hyou kno" !inus the "hole a!ily secret thingI. + still enGoyed her relationship "ith Aenna, her va!py &%% and the setting in London "as abulous. + loved picturing the giant estate that she stayed at and the description o her bedroo! "as a"eso!e. + "ant a roo! like thatB >achel is an easy "riting, developing an entire "orld that though is paranor!alE antasy it is still believable. + think that is a great trait to have "hen "riting this genre. + like the unbelievable but + love "hen the unbelievable actually see!s possible. =er "riting style see!s current and uses all the pop culture re erences that "e love. + s!iled a lot "hile reading this book.
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Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue (o", onto the !eat and bones o the story. 9ell, so!e o the !eat any"ay. 5he love triangle. Y-ighY. Are love triangles overdoneF + !ay have heard so!e !ur!urings o this be ore. =ere8s "hat + think. yeah they probably are overdone, but they are overdone or a reason. they "ork. 5hey dra" in a reader and "hen the characters are abulous you Gust can8t help but root or your avorite. + personally, "ould like to see so!e sort o t"ist on a love triangle. More speci ically, the love triangle in this book is a little rustrating or !e. 9hyF &ecause "hile + think Archer is hot and he8s the bad boy, + Gust can8t see! to get past the act that he is part o an organization that "ants to u!7.kill her. =ell*)F ,an anyone say date ro! hellFF <eah, + get it -ophie and Archer are tortured in love and destined to be together but !iles apart7that is eeling a little over done. And !aybe + eel that "ay because !y heart belongs to ,al. 9hy oh "hy does the !aGor bee cake in lannel and Geans al"ays co!e in lastF 9hy does the nice guy never get a chanceF &ecause he8s being overshado"ed by the bad boy. Y-ighY 5here "as not enough ,al in this book. + sincerely hope that he puts up a ight or -ophie instead o bo"ing out and !uttering ho" happy he "ants her to be. 5hat brings !e to !y other bee "ith this book. 5he ending. + !ean, reallyFF 5alk about a cli hangerB + can appreciate the po"er and the a"eso!eness o a good cli hanger but + a! not totally convinced that -ophie "ould have done "hat she did. + kno" + "ouldn8t have H<eah, + kno", "hat + "ould do is co!pletely beside the pointI. + can8t really go on like + "ould "ant because that "ould spoil the book but i you have read it then + invite you to give !e your opinion on this as "ell. @o you think "hat she did "as in characterF @espite the t"o Mbee sN + had "ith the book above, + did enGoy it. + can8t "ait to read Spellbound. -o there you have it. My opinion.
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5+5L6. Prisoner and -urvivor. 9illia!8s -tory A45=)>. &rian Kittrell >6P+69. Prisoner and Survivor: "illiam,s Stor is the third tale o our in the M5he -urvivor ,hroniclesN by &rian Kittrell that + have had the pleasure to read. 5his book tells 9illia! Merris8s point o vie" on the events o the biological bo!b "ith the virus >evelation aEkEa Ke!per A. 5he story starts "hen 9illia! escapes ro! Gail be ore the zo!bies can turn hi!. )nce he escapes he !eets 5i any and 6dgar "ho travel "est "ith hi! because 9ilia! sees a vision o a girl telling hi! to go "est. 9ill all o the! get to the "est "here it is sa e or "ill the zo!bies get the!F +n reading MPrisoner and -urvivor. 9illia!8s -toryN + realized again ho" !uch "ork Mr. Kittrell has put into this series. + love the history that Mr. Kittrell has put in 9illia!8s character and in act there "ere ti!es "here + succu!bed to the eeling that + "as 9illia!. + also like ho" Mr. Kittrell has started to sho" ho" all the characters are going to co!e together. + a! i!patiently "aiting or the last book. ? book!arks ,arol Langstroth, Manager and >evie"er Mind %og >evie"s
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The Staff
&eth Ann Masarik, is the ounder and chie editor o Literary Lunes. -he created this !agazine, because people are al"ays co!ing to her or literary advice, and she "anted to be there or all aspiring "riters. -he is the author o her debut novel, 5he 9orld A!ong 4s, a young adult, urban antasy novel. =er book "ill be released on August 1/, 2011. +n addition to running Literary Lunes, &eth also runs her blogs, 9riter8s Advocate, and =allo"ed 9riters. %or !ore in or!ation about &eth, you can visit her ull "ebsite at """.bethann!asarik."ebs.co! A!y Audd, is the graphic designer or Literary Lunes. -he currently lives on her a!ilies "orking ranch in )klaho!a "ith her pet Pekingese Kikyo. As an artist, she spends hours painting the roses red and reading idyllic prose and old novels nobody bothers to re!e!ber. -he is currently "orking on publishing her irst novel a ter receiving various a"ards in art, literature and poetry. Aen 9hitten, is the editor and proo reader here at Literary Lunes Magazine. -he is a pro essional "riter, editor, consultant and positive living ninGa. -he also creates the !ost darkly delighting cookie recipes kno"n to !an. Learn !ore about her "ork at http.EE"riterGen"hitten.co!
Ashley Laura is dedicated to giving "riters a voice outside o their "ork. %or Literary Lunes, she assists "ith the accepting o article sub!issions and the or!atting o the !agazine. )utside o Literary Lunes, she is also the Municipal Liaison or Me!phis (ational (ovel 9riting Month H(A()9>+M)I.
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Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue

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-i# -entence Madness

Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue

Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue

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Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue

Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue

Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue

Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue

Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue

Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue

Literary Lunes Magazine: November 2011 Issue

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