Always Do Something That Scares You Blogfest

WARNING: DON'T READ ON IF YOU DON'T LIKE SPIDERS...!

In celebration of Mila Ferrera's new book, Spiral, I'm participating with her 'Always Do Something That Scares You' Blogfest. Mila is also hosting a giveaway today too.  I've posted details of this and her book at the bottom.

The gist of the blogfest that sinks with her book is: "In SPIRAL, Nessa confronts her fears about getting close to Aron by reminding herself of her father's motto: "Always do the thing that scares you."  It's probably a saying all of us could use from time to time, so for this blogfest post about a time that you decided to do something even though it scared you, either to get over that fear or because you knew it would be good for you."


For those who have known me for while, you'll know I don't like spiders.  As a kid I would scream and run from the tiniest of spids.  Now I've reached adulthood (don't ask me when that happened.  I'm still in denial at the age of 32) I've grown to tolerate the smaller ones, but once they're past a certain size, the panic button in me gets pressed, I feel physically sick in my stomach, and I have to squeal and back track pretty fast.

However, I don't have this problem when I'm outside.  It's like spiders are outside creatures, and they should be outside and not in my house!  So, if there's one in the room with me, it has to go.

I'm not a mean person, and don't like to kill unnecessarily, so I tend to try and catch spiders in a glass and let them out.  And with the larger ones that I can't catch myself, I have to call upon my trusty hubby to come to my rescue.  But trust me to pick a long-distance lorry driver who is away from home most of the week and who isn't there to help when I need him.

Because of this I've had to conquer my fear.  I can't see a spider and then turn away thinking 'out-of-sight-out-of-mind'.  I know it's still in the house.  I may not be able to see it, but I know it's there, and therefore it has to go there and then.  No if's or buts.  And because I'm often here alone, it's down to me to do it.  Battling this fear is still a work in progress, but I feel I'm winning.  And here's proof!!!

Below are pics of a spider I was nearly mauled to death by the other week. She was in my bathroom hanging off a jumper - EYELEVEL!!!!  The jumper has hanging on the cupboard door for which I had been in and out of for the past ten minutes.  She was probably sitting there with her front legs in the air every time I opened the door screaming "Weeeeeee....!!! Look, no hands....!!!!"

Then I clocked her, and let's just say a squeal wasn't the only thing that come out of my mouth!! I'll leave that to your imagination.  This beast was the largest I've seen in a hell of a long time (as UK spiders go, this was a dinosaur!).  So I battled my fear, and whilst sqweeming and shuddering, and saying many pleasent things to myself, spent another 10 minutes trying to usher this thing off the top of the hanger where she had perched - yes, PERCHED - until she got onto a flat area where I could put a glass over her.

I then succumbed her to some humiliating photos just for scaring the bejezzus outta me, before letting her go as far away from my house as a pjamma'd woman could get it.  All in all, I'd say it was definitely a step towards conquering my fear - and a step worthy to include in this blogfest. 

Now, I've warned all those who don't like spiders to not read on, but if you're still here, you've been warned...mwah ha ha ha...and to confirm, the glass used was a coca-cola pint glass!  I was pretty proud of this achievement :)

*Shudders....*

Spiral by Mila Ferrera

Summary
Nessa Cavanaugh, psychology student, knows how to stay on an even keel. Despite the urging of her mother and her academic advisor to get a life and have some fun, “all work and no play” sums up her plan to survive her grueling internship year at a children's hospital. She doesn't want to end up like her father, whose constant ups and downs broke her family, and avoiding unnecessary emotional entanglements is a must.
Then she (literally) runs into Dr. Aron Lindstrom in the middle of her disastrous first day on the job. The attraction is instant—and terrifying. Nessa knows she should stay away—especially when she finds out he has a reputation for being a player—but Aron is brilliant, intense, and as sexy as they come. When he challenges her to take a chance on him, her plans to stay focused on work start to crumble.

But what begins as passion takes on a dangerous edge, becoming an emotional roller coaster that’s frighteningly familiar. As things spiral out of control, Nessa must decide whether she should hold on for the ride or run … even if it means leaving her heart behind.

Check out Mila's giveaway

Rafflecopter giveaway...

And check out the other participants in this brave blogfest :)  Enjoy

Pic of the Week . . . Saara Makinen

Bonjour...

Quick post this Friday for Pic of the Week.

Introducing Saara Makinen Arsinoes from Finland and her fabulous piece, the Dark Elf Summoner. 

So enjoy and have a grand weekend.  For those in the UK, enjoy the sun while it lasts :)

A Writer's Companion...

What is it about writers and their writerly companions? 

Every writer I know - baring one or two - have companions that sit and watch them along their writers' journey.  I'm talking about pets - or even cats to be more specific.  They sit back and silently watch your struggles, your pains, your joys, before deciding that they're going to practise their feline-mind tricks in that jedi style in order to distract you and demand your attention.  Be it a simple, under-rated little chirp that does yet somehow doesn't sound like a meow, to the full 'roll-on-the-back-love-me-defy-me' mode, all writers/owners will find themselves looking from their monitors and 'awwing' whilst kitty simulates something that sounds like a purr in order to keep you in their grip.

I know many writers out there don't own cats.  They may prefer dogs, rabbits, hamsters or rats - or even horses (and some, none of the above) - but for the majority I know, it's cats.  What is it about cats and they're mystic ways?  And to prove my point, my own feline companion has just strolled in and sat on the floor.  She's done nothing else - she hasn't even looked up at me - yet I'm distracted.  Oh, and there's the meow!!! See!!  My cat is a master in the feline-jedi mind tricks.  But I digress...

So let's celebrate of all those feline writerly companions.  Here's a few piccies of mine :)



Here's Madam Daisy herself...



Here she is keeping close tabs on what I'm doing with my laptop...



Here she is pondering how I can improve...



And obviously here she is absolutely exhausted after her efforts.  It's a hard life...



Pic of the Week . . . Mario Wibisono

I've discovered a treasure.  Honestly, go and check out the gallery of Mario Wibisono.  His work took my breath away.  The way he uses soft and bold colours, his attention to detail...his imagination...!!! 

So introducing Mario Wibisono and his piece 'Redemption'.

But seriously now, spare a few minutes this weekend - if not now - and browse his gallery.  You won't be disappointed.

The 11.11 Phenomenon...

I seem to have developed a new obsession.  It's not quite fully formed yet; it's not keeping me awake at nights, but at the moment it's sitting at the forefront of my mind.  What is this?  It's the 11.11 phenomena.

So, what is this, I hear you ask.  Well, it first come to my attention a few years ago when a work colleague of mine explained that at the same time every day she would look at the clock on her monitor and it would be 11.11.  Every day.  Didn't matter where she was.  She would even look at her watch to see the same numbers displaying with pride.  Eleven eleven; one one one one.  Naturally I thought it strange but put it down to the human body clock, the same for people who automatically wake up at certain times.  It becomes routine, habit.

But then, just the other day, I discovered that a new colleague, someone who has never met my other friend, suffers with the same phenomena.  11.11.  Every day.

Now the cloggs in my over-active mind are beginning to turn.  Two people tuned in to the same time.  Of course I had to google this and discovered that this phenomena doesn't end with my two colleagues.  It's world wide with millions of people tuning in to look at their clocks as it clicks over to 11.11 - be it morning or evening.  Some people even find it goes one step further, with them being booked into hotel rooms, the 11th room on the 11th floor.  Why???  Why are these numbers so significant?  Why are these people so sensitive to them?

The skeptic in me wants to just continue believing that it's our biological clock, and that once we're aware of what's happening we begin to search for these things, thus beginning to see them everywhere, but the creative author in me wants to come up with a bigger theory, one that's far larger than we can understand, one that's ruled by forces beyond our reasoning and control.  The possibilities are endless...

With this fresh in my mind, we thought it would be good to write a short exercise on it in our writers' group.
Here's what I come up with:

The 11.11 Phenomena

It started of as merely looking at the clock at the same time everyday.  11.11.  The only reason why it stood out so much at first was simply the two elevens.  Four ones.  Who wouldn't spot that and smile?  But then it kept happening.  Every day, no matter where I was.  11.11/

I had explained this to my friends and received nothing but shrugs and jokes thrown in my direction.  But they didn't understand.  Unless it was happening to them, they couldn't.  So I laughed with them.  What else could I do?  They didn't realise how unsettling it was becoming.

Something was going on.  Something was happening.  It could have just been coincidence.  It could have just been my matural body clock in a routine that told me to look at precisely the same time everyday, but to me it felt more.  I felt like there was something bigger at play here and deep down it frightened me. 

Then, after a while, the dreams started.  I saw myself climbing to the eleventh floor of a building and opening a heavy fire door with two large ones painted on it.  Beyond stood people, so many people, crammed on what appeared to be a roof.  Who were these people?  What were they all doing here?

The dreams continued for sometime, accompanied by the ever continuous glances at a clock flashing 11.11.  And still I had the constant feeling that something big was happening. 

Today everything fell into place.  Something inside snapped.

As the clock clicked over to 11.11 an alarm bell rang inside my head.  I had to leave.  I had to go somewhere, but I didn't know where.  I had a feeling, however, that something was going to guide me.  I stood from my work desk, and without saying a word to my colleagues or my boss, I walked out of the building and headed down the street.  I walked until I reached the street corner and then waited, unsure.  A taxi crawled up the road, a white plastic sign on it's roof displaying its office number.  111 111.  Again the feeling roared inside me and I threw my hand in the air, beckoning it to a stop.  

I climbed in the back.

"Where are you off too?" the driver asked.  Truthfully, I answered that I didn't know.  "How about I just drive around until you do know?"

It sounded good to me so I sat in the back and enjoyed the ride, still questioning myself about what I was doing.  Five minutes went by.  Ten minutes.  I looked between the tow front seats and caught the metre just as it flicked over to £11.11p.  Andrenaline surged through me.

"Stop the car!" I yelled. 

The driver done so without argument.  I paid him the fare, thanked him and clkimbed out.  Looking around, I wondered where I had been brought.  I knew where I was but I didn't know why.

Then I saw the building I stood in front of.  It stood tall, towering over me, and with a bar located on its ground floor.  Its name screamed out to me like a huge neon light.  'The Eleventh Sea'. 

Coincidence?  I was beginning to think not.  I entered the bar and instantly recognised where I was.  It was the place from my dreams.  Over at the back there should have been a door leading to stairs that climbed up, and sure enough there it was.  FRowning and feeling somewhat frightened now, I headed for the door, and before anyone could call be back, I slipped through and began the ascent.  I knew where I was going now - up to the eleventh floor where I would be greeted bythe number eleven on a heavy fire door, and one that lead to a roof that was packed with people.

The door stood proud at the top of the stairs, and just as predicted on the other side stood the people, all facing towards the west, a direction I myself felt drawn to.  I looked, becoming part of the chosen crowd who were all drawn to this one spot, and saw it.  I saw the huge tidal wave, the tsuami, as it crept closer, crushing and drowning everything in its wake, and wiping out most of the human existance.  

From that moment I believed in fate, ruled by higher forces.  Those on the roof were destined to survive, lead by unseen hands, and trusted with the task of rebuilding after the chaos that was left behind...    

Pic of the Week . . . Ghost Ship

Jeeez...it's been a while since I last partook in Pic of the Week.  Why?  I was in a routine and something interrupted it.  When routine get's interrupted it's often hard to get back into it.  But I'm trying - I really am - and I'm determined to get everything back on track, because it isn't just blogging that's been affected.

Writing is slow...soooo slow at the moment.  I'm near the end of my WIP but every time I set out to work on it, it just doesn't go anywhere.  The 'zone' alludes me.  I may get a paragraph typed up, which is better than nothing, but after spending an hour at your computer and all you've achieved is a few lines, it's pretty disheartening.  I curse life for getting in the way of creativity :)

Anyway, in a bid to get myself back on course, I've gone for another Galleon Inspired piece this week, seeing as my characters have been trying to flee their burning Galleon for the last month or so now.  This piece is a free wallpaper, but unfortunately I didn't see who the artist was (Artist: if you're reading this, let me know and I'll happily give credit where credit is due...).

So enjoy, and hope you have a productive weekend...

  

Heroes & Villains Blogfest

Today I'm participating in the 'Heroes and Villains Blogfest', hosted by Jackie over at Bouquet of Books and Dani at Entertaining Interests. Check 'em out.

The objective:

•  Post who your favourite Heroes, and yes, your favourite Villains are.
• List as many, or as little, as you like.
• Be creative with it: videos, art, pictures, lists, etc.
• And most of all - HAVE FUN!

So here goes:

How can you define a hero? Someone - or something - who comes along and saves the day? Someone people look up to for hope and inspiration? Someone who makes us feel good and confident about ourselves in hard times? All of the above and many more...

And how do you define a villain? Someone who's the complete opposite of the above; who strives to destroy hope and inspiration; someone to kick you when you're down...

But not all heroes are heroes, and not all villains are villains. A fairytale princess may be rescued by her hero, a gallant knight, and after marrying him and expecting to live happily-ever-after discovers that he's a wife beater and a philanderer. And the man, the villain, who the knight battled against and killed, the man who kept the princess in the tower against her will, may merely have been keeping her there in order to protect her from the horrors that he knew this knight was capable of. This label is more often than not given from the eye of the beholder as opposed to the people themselves.

One of my all-time favourite heros/villains can be listed under both labels. Is he a villain or is he a hero? Only the watcher of this character can decide.

So who is this person?

Some know him as Eric Draven, but to others he's simply 'The Crow...'

I just love this character! But then is it the character that's loved or the curse? Without the Crow, Eric Draven would be just another face in the crowd. There are many films, books and comics that tell the Crow's tale, each with a different person but each with the same tragic premise; a victim of a murderous crime gets given the gift of resurrection for the purpose of justice. He then hunts down those involved, taking their lives one by one and exacting his revenge.

Usually it isn't just the protagonist that's a victim. Usually there's a loved one involved - a wife, a child, their lives cruelly ripped from them and from him - and for this you can feel his pain, your heart goes to him and you want him to exact his revenge on the evil that did this. You want him to kill those who killed him, who killed his family, and preventing them from inflicting the same pain on someone else, thus making him a hero. But this act of a vigilante is also seen as villainy in itself.

So, The Crow: Hero or Villain? I guess that's in the eye of the beholder...