Sabrina's Blog

Y is for Yay in today's 2nd to the last A to Z Challenge post! I must admit that I am SO relieved that it is almost over. I enjoyed meeting all the new bloggy friends and reading some really great writing, but it has been a ton of work and I am ready to go back to 1 or 2 posts a week. Thanks to all my fellow A to Z participants for visiting and following. I look forward to keeping our acquaintanceship going after the challenge ends and seeing more fabulous writing.

In exactly 6 days, I'll be pitching my very first finished novel for the very first time. I am sure that those of you who have been through this already can identify with me when I say that I feel sick when I think about it too much. *laughs* Why do we, as writers, feel uncomfortable with selling our work? I mean we practically attempt to sell something every single day. Oh, we don't use the same words, but it is still selling. When we attempt to persuade or influence someone to do what we want, we are essentially selling. So pitching our work ought to come easily, right? Wrong. Though I have slaved over this story for the past 1 1/2 years and know it inside and out, when I am faced with someone asking me what my book is about, I freeze. I stumble over my the first or second effort to tell them what it's about until, finally, it comes rolling out of me. But boy, when I get started....*grin* It's the initial 'deer in the headlights' feeling that t...

Today's A to Z Challenge post I've written based on a creature from my book. The wyrm is something only spoken of in tales of Azerea's long ago past, and most think them simply figments of a storyteller's imagination. However, I am here to tell you that they did once exist and shall soon return. Listen and you'll here the flap of great wings and the rush of their giant and graceful bodies as they pass overhead. Enjoy this poem about the wyrm. Wonder of the Wyrm Fanciful creatures told of in tales Bodies big as horses, wings on their backs Sunlight gleaming off jewel colored scales Majesty and grace they do not lack They glide through the air, over mountains yonder Like birds flitting from flower to flower. Mouths agape, we watched in wonder Longing to possess their power. Though they're long gone, we continue to dream Of the wonder of flying through the air. To Glide and dive, oh how our hearts keen Being denied such a power isn't fair.

Victorious Today's A to Z Challenge letter is ~V~ and I have chosen to right about a couple victorious events this week. First, my Gram came out of her surgery like a trooper and while she has a long road to recovery, she is going to be fine. Second, I took the final chapter of my book with its climactic ending and finally got it exactly right. So now rather than an insipid ending, my book is ending with a bang exactly as I wanted. I really enjoyed a fun, energetic happy dance at these two victorious events. Next on the list is the writer's conference here in OKC May 3rd-5th. I entered the first couple chapters of my novel in the contest and am hoping that the last year's worth of revisions proves good enough to earn me at least an honorable mention. I will also be pitching my very first novel for the very first time and am so nervous I feel sick to my stomach when I think about it. Needless to say, I'll be working on my pitch this week. Wish me luck!

Today's A to Z Challenge letter is ~U~ and since I just received word that my Gram had to be put on the bypass machine due to complications and that they had to do a 4th emergency bypass rather than the 3 we initially thought they were going to have to do, I am going to distract myself from my tumulus emotions by writing today's poem about being unafraid while we wait for them to finish the surgery. This one is about and for my Gram, the beloved matriarch of our family. Unafraid Unafraid, determined, you hide shaking hands as  you force your smile to reach your eyes. Emotions you work hard controlling To be strong for us. You're always our rock. I'm a fighter, you say, your eyes determined. If God leaves it up to you, you'll wake up ready for the next challenge that develops, Hiding your hands, appearing unafraid. It's a bit short. I hope you'll excuse that. I am a bit distracted. Thanks for letting me use you for a bit of self-therap...

For Today's A to Z Challenge I am going to post a poem about Trust, but not one that I wrote. Rather, I am going to post one I like by Lord Alfred Tennyson. Enjoy. In Memoriam A. H. H.: 54. Oh, yet we Trust that somehow Good  by Lord Alfred Tennyson Oh, yet we trust that somehow good Will be the final end of ill, To pangs of nature, sins of will, Defects of doubt, and taints of blood; That nothing walks with aimless feet; That not one life shall be destroy'd, Or cast as rubbish to the void, When God hath made the pile complete; That not a worm is cloven in vain; That not a moth with vain desire I shrivell'd in a fruitless fire, Or but subserves another's gain. Behold, we know not anything; I can but trust that good shall fall At last--far off--at last, to all, And every winter change to spring. So runs my dream: but what am I? An infant crying in the night: An infant crying for the light: And with no language but a cry.

Today the poetry is put on hold as I have had a family emergency and writing on this ~S~ word seems more appropriate. Today I am scared. This morning I went with my Gram for what I thought would be a routine angioplasty to check a suspected blockage in an artery in her leg and neck that showed up on an ultrasound. It turned out anything but routine when the doctor told us that my precious Gram had multiple 80-90% blockages in her heart as well as two 70% blockages in her legs and one 80% blockage in her neck. Now we are sitting in a heart hospital in Oklahoma City. She is having multiple bipass heart surgery tomorrow and I am scared. Only faith that God is with her eases my worry. I hope you will add your voice to that of my family and friends in prayer as well as your positive thoughts. Thank you.

For the letter ~R~ in the A to Z Challenge, I decided to try out another interesting poem type I have never done. This is a Tyburn poem. As with all of the others, it is based on my WIP. For my MC, Ruark, letting the dark win would be like dying. This end he fights, mind and body. Ruark's Fight Alive Contrive Survive Deprive Fighting to stay alive. Contrive and Determine to survive, deprive death.

Look at this! I just happen to have an interesting creature in my WIP that begins with Q. She is a bit on the creepy side, but hey, it's my fantasy novel and I like them creepy!  Meet the Quingore, Lilra. She is the first of her kind, made by dark forces using my MC, Ruark's dead mother's corpse, a living slave woman, and a secret ingredient you'll have to wait to read my book to discover. Here she is taunting a shocked Ruark after making her very first appearance.  Do you like this face, little king,  That my master gave me? Your mother was very beautiful. Does seeing her face on me make you angry? Come, inspect me for inconsistencies, I seek to gain your approval. Before I use these luscious lips To aid in your removal.

Today's A to Z Challenge letter is ~P~ and what is better for this letter in a fantasy novel than Prophecy. So here is the prophecy I wrote for my WIP. Enjoy. In the time of dark Murn’s glory, A great time of despair. Will begin the king and queen's story, The end of the world drawing near. Choice does their future hold, Wisdom will come with a price. Dark or Light can be their mold, This lesson will they learn thrice. Blood of dark and of light, Willing must the sacrifice be. Reset the balance and stop world's blight, If world end you want not to see. Heed these words given to you, Or see the world end in doom.

Today's A to Z Challenge letter is ~O~ and I find it timely and appropriate for what I have struggled with the last couple of days in my life. My MC, Ruark also struggles with OBLIGATION in my WIP. Unlike myself however, his struggle with obligation could mean the end of Azerea. Do you find yourself at odds with the sense of obligation you feel toward your family or friends? Especially when you feel used/taken advantage of? Yes or no, I hope you'll enjoy this poem about Ruark's struggle with obligation. Obligation's Burden Duty, honor, and respect demand I honor your command. Accept my destiny, find my queen, Free the light god, disrupt Namurs dark scheme. Find faith where none exists for a god I've never seen. No light shines where I trod In this dark and dying world. Hope is a flag that yet remains unfurled. This burden you insist I carry, Upon my conscience weighs heavy. I fear failure and disappointment As I struggle to accept entrustment. For ...

A recap for those unfamiliar with why I am posting poetry these days. I am participating in the A to Z challenge . I chose poetry based on my WIP as my theme and so will post for each letter of the alphabet. Today's letter is ~N~. For today's A to Z challenge I wanted to try a new poem type: the word sonnet . It is about Namur, born to be king of the light god's favored creations, he willingly turned his back on the light and his people to become the powerful leader of the dark god's magi. I think I packed quite a bit into this one little sonnet Namur’s Joy Inflicting Unnecessary Pain For Pleasure While Your Victim Weeps In Hopeless Despair And You Laugh

Today's A to Z challenge letter is ~M~ and I am keeping it simple with another acronym. This one is about Midun, the last country in Azerea not under the dark god's rule. Midun Mighty last defender In the fight against the Dark god. Your people, Unable to stop fair Azerea's death, Never lose faith that Koa will return to save them.

Today's A to Z challenge letter is ~L~ and so I would like to tell you a little of the Lytlingum. They were once a great race of magical beings created by the light to protect Azerea. Unfortunately, their blood was used to trigger it's destruction and imprison it's god. This is a piece of their story. To the Lytlingum Shining protectors of Azerea You beings of light’s favor and glory Held above all, full of power and grace The beginning of a perfect story. Above all others, shouldn’t you have known That Life is a balance of light and dark? Did you forget or did you just not care, That arrogance would earn you dark Murn’s mark? Now you are broken, Murn controls your land. Koa, held in a prison of your blood, Mourns the loss of your glory, the power Of your worship, the loss of all that’s good. But we beings of light and dark, we humans Know that life is a guaranteed balance. One day Koa will be free. Until then, We endure and learn fr...

Today's A to Z Challenge letter is ~K~ and this one was really difficult for me to write. It took me most of the day to get it right. But here it is. This poem is written to Koa, the god of light, from her brother, Murn, the dark god. Though he has defeated and imprisoned her and murdered her people in a brutal sacrifice, she continues to struggle. The effort to keep Koa in her prison takes much of Murn's concentration. Can you hear the exasperation in his tone as he mocks her? Koa Koa, bright light, once equal to my power, Unfortunate calm amid my chaos, Why do you fight me rather than cower? Is our separation really such a loss? Dear sister, we’re meant to exist apart Though I know you disagree. And so, from your prison you’ll never depart, Fair Azerea now belongs to me. Send your pitiful heroes against me. I will laugh as each one stumbles, Failing in their quest, begging from their knees Until faith in you finally crumbles. Soon no one will remember you e...

Today's A to Z challenge letter is ~J~ and for those new to my blog, I am trying my hand at poetry for the first time with this challenge. The poems are all based on my WIP. Today's poem is a simple Acrostic poem using the letters of the title as the first letter of each line of the poem. Today we learn about one of my 4 MC's, Jakys. He is the leader of one of the last countries of Azeria not suffering under the dark mage, Namur's oppressive hand. Jakys Just and faithful leader of the light, who Always places his god and people first. Keeping darkness from oppressing his people Yet surrounded by enemies in his own country Seeking to undermine him for the dark lord.

Today's letter in the A to Z challenge is ~I~ and so I'd like to share an Incantation the light loving people chant to their god during their most important ceremony. It is a plea for Koa, the light god to take her people's strength and worship and use it to break free from the dark god, Murn's prison. If you listen, you can almost hear the deep rhythm of the drums as the people dance around the fire. Their tempo starts out slow and increases into a frenzied beat so that the last two lines are shouted as the sound of slapping feet hit the ground rapidly. The smell of sweaty bodies fill the air and a feeling of electricity seems to spark with the fervor of these people for their god. Listen. Can you hear it? Bright God Beautiful Creator Discard Darks Prison Battle Free Forever Come Dawn Come Bright God Bright Creator Come Reign Free Creator Reign Free Life

Today's A to Z Challenge letter is ~H~ and I thought I'd share the pleas of a people tired of living in fear.  Hidden Amidst the enemy our king is hidden Until a man he grows to be Knowledge of his presence forebidden His safety determines our people’s destiny. Our world labor’s under the Dark God’s rule Our people fear unveiling As they pray that thier saving jewel Doesn’t end up merely failing. Send the savior oh god of light Please hear your people plead Send the king to wield your might Let it be time for him to lead.

Today's A to Z Challenge letter is ~G~ and I wanted to lighten things up a bit. So here is a limerick making fun of Gru, a slave master my MC, Ruark is forced to travel with for a time. Ruark did not enjoy the experience. There was a fat man named Gru Master of the slaving crew He wore smelly perfume That cleared any room Those who lingered around him were few

Today's A to Z Challenge letter is ~F~ and so I am introducing you to another secondary character in my WIP, Finn. Poor Finn loved Ailith, despite knowing that she was meant for another. In the end, Ailith loved him back, but by then it was too late. Here is a peek into Finn's story. Finn You crossed my path by chance As you thrust pretend sword into pretend foe. Soon becoming best friend and confidant With whom I played and joked. From child to adult you grew beside me While moving from place to place You learned from our guardians Knowledge and skills you used to keep me safe. From dreams of adventures to dreams of love, You found yourself in a quagmire As I continued along oblivious To your developing desire. Too late did I realize The gift you would have given. For when I realized I loved you, too  Your death was already written.

Today's A to Z Challenge letter is ~E~ and it is about the haunted ruins of a castle and city once occupied by a sacrificed people in my WIP. Echo of the Past Laughter of children heard no more As toys lie broken on the floor Dust on tattered curtains amassed A solemn echo of the past Hearths lay empty, no fire crackles Broken pot on bent hook wobbles As mourning breeze moves through downcast A solemn echo of the past Sad breeze blows slowly through the maze Over rubble and ruins of long ago days. A people now gone, their dreams smashed A solemn echo of the past.

Today's A to Z Challenge letter is ~D~ and for this one my poem will be about one of my favorite secondary characters, Deitric. He is Ruark's best friend and a slave to Ruark's household. You know you're intrigued. *wink* Deitric Devoted friend, a natural Entertainer who Insists on making me laugh. Trustworthy confidant, Refusing to leave my side even when I am in danger of turning against him. Courageous, Deitric, brother of my soul.

A to Z Challenge day 3- The letter 'C' My theme: Current W.I.P. and my 1st attempts at poetry. I will post a poem based on some aspect of my current work in progress whether that be a character or an important theme. So here is my 3rd entry. I hope you enjoy it.                       Captured Stalking close, like a wild cat on the hunt, Thumping heart, sweaty palms, I near the cart. Latch lifting, held breath, peering toward the front, Wood scrapes, door opens, the sound stops my heart. No alarm sounded, I peer inside And glimpse a delicate, paint stained hand. Crunching gravel alerts, I seek to hide From the slaver, a detestable man. Approaching footsteps stop, man muttering, turns. I wait, frozen, afraid to move or breathe. He debates with himself, my lungs burn. Relief, he moves away. On the handle I heave. Pain explodes, my vision is fractured As I fall to my knees and realize, I’m captur...

A to Z Challenge day 2- The letter 'B' My theme: Current W.I.P. and my 1st attempts at poetry. I will post a poem based on some aspect of my current work in progress whether that be a character or an important theme. So here is my 2nd entry, based on the letter 'B' for betrayal. I hope you enjoy it. Betrayal Duty and honor she throws in my face As I hang bloody and beaten in this dark place Bitter tastes the betrayal The torture does but pale Compared to her treacherous embrace

Today is the 1st day for the A to Z Challenge  and I am ready! My theme: My W.I.P. and my 1st attempts at poetry. I will post a poem based on some aspect of my current work in progress whether that be a character or an important theme. So here is my first entry, based on the letter 'A' for my main female character, Ailith. I hope you enjoy it.                                        Ailith Once human, blessed only to live a moment.  She transforms, a glittering butterfly Unfurling her wings. Appearing fragile As she flutters about uncertain, impulsive Thoughtlessness remaining within, obscuring Her light, one wrong decision after another. Darkness gathers, surrounding the butterfly. Duty thrust aside For love. She dooms her world, Fails her god. Glitter fades as Allusion is revealed. Divinely  Chosen, imperf...