The Plunge!

Oct3

(Photo credit: Flickr)

‘The step between prudence and paranoia

is short and deep.

Prudence wears a seatbelt,

Paranoia avoids cars altogether.

Prudence washes with soap;

Paranoia avoids human contact altogether.

Prudence saves for old age;

Paranoia clings to every penny!

Prudence prepares and plans;

Paranoia panics.

Prudence calculates the risks and takes the plunge;

paranoia never enters the water.’

* * * * * *

I read this today and it had a profound effect on me. I have been extremely busy at work, and coupled with my upcoming book, it was like walking in a sea of unending deadlines. But then I paused and allowed these words sink into my spirit, mulling it over, I realised that as humans, we’re certainly creatures of comfort, and taking the plunge could be easier said than done.

What do I mean by plunges? They’re simply changes, making new decisions and following them through. Having faith in God and yourself (if you believe in God) and stepping out to make the needed changes to your life. To reach a glorious destiny, you have to stop holding back. Some have changed their lives by going to college and following their dreams, others signed up for reality shows, and some, just improving their skills by attending night school.

But you must first take the plunge!

I need to apologise for my silence, I have been inundated with work and had certainly missed a lot of posts. Please bear with me, and I’ll catch up soon. I’ll be travelling out of London this weekend but would be back next week, before then, I’ll still visit your wonderful websites!

Have a fantastic month! October had always been my best month (I was born in October! 😉 ) and as the weekend inch closer, just have fun and enjoy life!

Much love, always!

🙂

Why Can’t I Fly?

Jul22

I read a brightly illustrated children’s book this morning titled, ‘Why Can’t I Fly‘ by Ken Brown and I learnt a lot of lessons. The story is about a discontented ostrich who wanted to fly at all cost. Ostrich continually failed to appreciate his many good qualities, the only thing he cared about – is flying and he tried this repeatedly with disastrous results. He built himself a flying apparatus, yet, he failed still, then a miracle came, his efforts were rewarded when he tried again with his flying apparatus and he was flying, overjoyed, he yelled for his friends to see him flying, he wanted to prove to them that he could fly but lo and behold, his friends were nowhere to be found, why?

Because they were carrying his apparatus, all of them! And it made me realise that life is too complex to go at it alone, let’s not be like the Ostrich, who failed to realise his many good qualities, let’s surround ourselves with friends and loved ones. The life of a loner is a terrible one.

I hope you’ll all have a fun-filled week, as for me, I’m on the bed with my right feet swollen – I fell down the stairs yesterday on my way to church. It’s nothing serious, a pack of ice and some Ibuprofen has done the trick, the downside is I can’t move around as such because I walk funny but the plus side is, I’m not going to work and the kids are on holiday! 🙂 Hooray!!

Have fun and much love, always!

🙂 🙂

Are Writers Seers Or Plain Old Liars?

May30

It’s strange really, but I do tend to write stories that has a poignantly close resemblance to reality. When I wrote ‘The Feet Of Darkness,’ I wasn’t setting out to save the world but just believed that love can truly work its magic on a vengeful heart. But how some events has played recently, got me thinking – some people would not respond, even if you heap a universe load of love on them.

Someone once called me a liar, in his words,

‘Writers believed they have a complete knowledge of the human psyche, how people behave, what they might do, how they might react, but writers are plain old liars.’

I asked him to expatiate but he scoffed and left me staring hard at his retreating back. I didn’t know what to make of his assertion and I didn’t bother to try. Two days later, I was having my lunch break when my friend wobbled to my side and snatched my sandwich, I was furious.

‘Hey,’ I yelled, ‘bring that back!’

Nope,’ he refused, daring me to charge after him, after weighing my options, I declined and watched open-mouthed as he gobbled it down, belched, and patted his stomach, then left.

When I got home, I wrote a very good story, based on my experience, I didn’t tell my friend that he was the source of my inspiration but his behaviour helped my creative quest. I simply conjure up a character that bore a close resemblance to him. Now, did I lie? No! Spice it up a bit? Oh, I sure did.

My upcoming novel, Cydonia, Rise Of The Fallen was written about four years ago. I just dumped it in my library when I couldn’t get a publisher. That’s all ancient history now, but the events in that book was played out in the Vatican a few months ago. And believe me, I was shocked. When People read ‘Cydonia,’ I’m sure there would be lots of comments about the story line and plot.

In my opinion, I don’t think writers are liars, we just write from deep within, our writings may be significant, or not, but we can’t seem to do any thing else. It’s my pleasure writing this post.

Thanks for reading.

Much love, always!

🙂 🙂

A Soldier’s Dream.

Nov16

Map of the city recently established and without walls. Circa 1550 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Drake dodged bullets flying past as he engaged the enemy in mortal combat, his platoon mate was shooting rapidly, his face contorted in war rage as they moved into enemy territory, by the end of the night, his friend laid beside him dead. They counted their losses, evacuated the wounded and retreated back to camp.

Lying down on his bunk bed, Drake’s exhaustion and the death of his friend temporarily took a backstage as he gazed admiringly at the picture of his bride of twelve months. She was his saving grace, the few letters she wrote to him gladden his heart but it wasn’t the same like seeing her in the flesh. Her picture was also his only source of comfort and in a way, he would survive his stint at the war front only because her thoughts gave him strength.

The war dragged on longer than expected and after twenty-four months, he came back home unexpectedly. The cab driver dropped him in front of his house and he walked slowly to the front door, his heart beating with excitement. But he held it all together and knocked the door, there was no response but he saw someone peeping through the window.

Finally after waiting for about ten minutes which seemed like ten years, Anna opened the door by an inch, Drake’s broad smile was met with stony silence.

”Hello darling,” Drake crooked out in what he thought was a normal voice, but his wife said nothing and she also had problems looking up.

Drake’s intuition was to push her back into the house and then he saw the protruding tummy. It didn’t take him long before he made mental calculations to know that he was not the father, his bag dropped to the ground with a thud and he felt faint.

And then he heard the unmistakable voice of his friend, who couldn’t be drafted to the war because of an illness.

”Honey who was that?” Jonas called out from the room and they both heard footsteps, Anna’s eyes was still drawing maps on the ground beside her husband.

Jonas pulled the door back to show his rumpled pyjamas and hairy legs. Drake doesn’t need a soothsayer to tell him what has gone on while he was away fighting for his country.

Jonas retreated back to the safety of the living room while Anna finally found her voice,

”I am sorry,” she said and wanted to touch him.

Drake’s dream was over, his visions for a happy family crashed like a pack of dominoes at his feet. Ever so slowly, he picked up his bag and turned away from his home…

If you were Drake, what would you do?

*****

Most of you must know by now that I am a story-teller and I guess it runs in my genes. My mum would keep you enraptured for hours on end about tales and rib cracking jokes, my dad would look on smiling just adding titbits to the tales.

And I have one good news, the second edition of my novel, ”The Feet Of Darkness” would be out soon and I would love the candid opinions of my friends.

To Kill Or Not To Kill?

Nov7

The Kill (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’ s a little frustrating for me when I kill off some of the characters I don’t like in my novels. Like the current one I am writing now, I had to kill off a guy I loved ( I thought he was going to be good and then decided against it) I noticed he’s got some hidden secrets and so I just had to let him go, if he stayed, it could ruin things for a lot of people (characters).

It’s funny because I actually FEEL my characters… I often questioned their motives, behaviour and reasons they are in the plot. Boring and time-consuming isn’t it? But that’s just me, a realist fiction writer!

I was still battling with my decision when my children came back from school and they asked me about the novel, this conversation ensues between my 6-year-old daughter and myself, her name is Elizabeth.

Me: ”Hey guys, how was school today?”

Elizabeth: ” It was ok mum, how was your writing?”

Me: ”Not bad, I am thinking of killing one of my best characters,” And I told her a little about the plot (She’s written a hundred word story by the way, we’re still looking for publishers, she told me she wanted to be rich like me, I wish!)

Elizabeth: ”I think you should still give him a chance…” then there was a pause and she added, ”Don’t you think you’ll go to jail if you kill XXA (name of the character)

Me: ” No, I won’t, I created him, so I can kill him.” I explained smiling, such innocence.

My son entered my office, ( a cool corner in the house) and the expression on his face was one of uncertainty (he’s ten), he asked politely if he could give his opinion and I agreed.

Samuel: ” Why not ask your readers what they want?”

Me: ”Thanks dear, I’ll put that into consideration.”

And that ended our conversation but I was back to square one, to kill or not to kill? At the end of the day, I decided to give him another chance but I am still going to kill him, soon…

I am a very shy writer, I get so protective of my work so I won’t be asking what you guys think yet until the novel is out.

And I am feeling emotional right now, I have met some wonderful people on this blog journey. Creative, intelligent and brilliant friends and I just want to say I love you guys!

Au revoir…

I’ll be back! (Arnold used to say that in most of his films, right? How weird!)

Tales Of Five Lies

Sep14

Tales Of Five Lies

The Paperback and Kindle Edition of my new book, a short story, ”Tales Of Five Lies” has been released.You can click on this link and it will take you directly to Amazon.Com http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0096W3PZ0 This explosive thriller is filled with suspense and unexpected twists, it’s a tale of betrayal, murder and deception.

Below is a brief description;

”A brutal murder in the cover of darkness. A shameful secret fuel by deceit…

Christine White is rich, beautiful but gullible. She witnesses a crime which ultimately changes her life and to make matters worse, the killer is on the prowl, ready to pounce again. The only way she can survive is to unmask the murderer before all hell breaks loose but is the truth closer home than she cares to imagine?

Events soon spiral out of control and she realises her whole life is an illusion and everything she holds dear is base on a lie. In a race against time, she must fix the glaring holes in her life before it is too late but time is not something she has in abundance but it is what she needs to unravel the mystery threatening her life and that of her family.

But sometimes, the truth is worse than the lie…