Takhayyal #writingprompt no. 62: The offering

Welcome back Ladies and Gentlemen, Artists, Poets, Writers, Authors, Dreamers, Friends and Family; Welcome EVERYONE to Nadaness In Motion's bi-weekly picture-prompt writing challenge Takhayyal.

Photo credit: Artist unknown. Image found via Pinterest

Arabic for Imagine, Takhayyal is a challenge for writers of all ages and genres; a place to spark creativity and explore new genres.

Your post can be in English or Arabic, prose, poetry, short story, flash fiction; you name it and write it.

General rules:

·        No nudity, violence, and/or abuse.

·   Leave the link to your post in comments below OR post your piece as REPLY to this post

·        Your piece MUST be inspired in some way or other by the above picture

·        Multiple entries allowed

·    It is not required but it is a nice and encouraging gesture to comment on others' pieces.

·        Feel free to add your Twitter handle (@....) so I can tag you in my tweets!

Let's IMAGINE!

Takhayyal writing prompt 58: Flames of Fury

Are you ready to be inspired?

Welcome back Ladies and Gentlemen, Artists, Poets, Writers, Authors, Dreamers, Friends and Family; Welcome EVERYONE to Nadaness In Motion's bi-weekly picture-prompt writing challenge Takhayyal.

Arabic for Imagine, Takhayyal is a challenge for writers of all ages and genres; a place to spark creativity and explore new genres.

Your post can be in English or Arabic, prose, poetry, short story, flash fiction; you name it and write it.

General rules:

·        No nudity, violence, and/or abuse.

·        Leave the link to your post in comments below OR post your piece as REPLY to this post

·        Your piece MUST be inspired in some way or other by the above picture

·        Multiple entries allowed

·        It is not required but it is a nice and encouraging gesture to comment on others' pieces.

·        Feel free to add your Twitter handle (@....) so I can tag you in my tweets!

Let's IMAGINE!

Preparation - Takhayyal flash fiction

 

Photo taken by Stephanie Nehme

I breathe the salty air, the serenity, the scenery.

The hills beyond embrace the island like a mother holding her child; I feel at home here. The earth, the air, the water, all in perfect harmony and my fire to complement them.

We are all at peace together as we recognise one another, though we know it is not often so. And still I have a task to fulfil, my assignment, my kill.

I clean my swords and sheathe them, my daggers too; one in each boot. Then my bow and arrow.

I enjoy the power that courses through me as I hold the wood. I prefer old school, not the new metal ones with a lot of contraptions. The old ones are more accurate; straight and to the point.

I feel the wind pick up; the water too is rising slightly. They are becoming aggressive in response to my growing firepower.

It will be over soon and I can come back to enjoy this sight alone once more.

Whoever said assassins have no taste for beauty; we have taste, though perhaps not the time. Nature is where I belong, where my power runs freely, where I can be me without prejudice or contempt. True, we are not always on good terms, with water, air and earth but we have respect and that is all that matters.

My eyes move to the mighty mountains before me. They seem to beckon me, silently. I’ll get this over with and answer their call.

I look at the mirror briefly, pack my weapons, and adjust my clothing. I turn to look at the calming scene one last time before I leave for my assignment and my calling.

Let the fun begin.

My piece for this week's Takhayyal. Comments are highly appreciated and encouraged. There are two prompts this week, check them out here. 

It is also part of a supposed work in progress; one that I should allocate more time to soon.

Searching for the Fire

  

My fire is faltering,

My soul smouldering

But into a failing haze

Not a bright flagrant blaze

Foggy eyes despite the light

Tear-blurred vision,

A faltering will to fight,

No choice, no decision

The bells chime

As the cage door unseals;

It's time for the mountain climb

But there I stand; from progress I reel.

***

Darkness soothes me,

But not this kind,

For there are two.

I'm stuck in stale darkness,

Not fluid and free

I need air

To blow me away

I need fire

To burn it all into oblivion

To keep me warm

Amidst sight-blurring change

I need…

To become me once again.

Coral & Bone - Blitz & Giveaway

Today I'm posting a Book Blitz for Coral and Bone by Tiffany Daune. I'm featuring two excerpts from the book, which was released a few months ago. The book will also be available for free throughout the Blitz (18-22 November) and there is a giveaway, so keep reading and don't forget to apply below. Good luck!

Book & Author Details:

Coral & Bone by Tiffany Daune

Publication date: July 7th 2014

Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Coral & Bone Blurb/Synopsis

Halen knows the sparks igniting under her fingertips are dangerous. She has spent her entire life trying to quell the tingly feelings that make her destroy things, but now that she is back in Rockaway Beach, where she watched her father drown, the flames have become impossible to tame.

Halen is trying to hold on, but when she is thrust into a mysterious new world, the underwater realm of Elosia, she unravels the secrets of her past and can't help but ignite. As she explores Elosia, she realizes her life has been a lie. And when those who have deceived her come to her for help, Halen must choose—walk away or unleash the magick that could destroy them all.

Excerpt #1

"Yes, I'm scared! What's wrong with being scared? You make me sound strong. Well, I'm not. You've seen how well I handle magick." Sparks ignited at the tips of her fingers as she almost shouted at him, not giving him a chance to respond. Her voice rang loudly, echoing throughout the cavern. "I'm angry. I'm hurt. I've taken an overdose of confused, and you want me to defeat some demon?" She pumped her fist, trying to shake the static energy now flowing under her skin. "Right now I'm my own worst enemy." She couldn't hold back any longer. With a flick of her finger, she summoned the river to rise up into a towering wave. She clenched her fist, and the water crashed on the rocks, spraying them with a cold mist. "I'm not what you think I am."

Excerpt #2

"See who you are," the mermaid whispered.

Halen's eyes clouded over and when the smoke cleared she found herself standing in an open field. She was dressed in a cotton dress which fell around her ankles. Soft grass tickled her toes. She took a step forward and a flower sprung from the ground beside her. She leaned down to pick the red poppy. As she took another step a flower sprang up from between the blades of grass. Halen smiled. She walked a little farther and with each step a new poppy sprouted and bloomed. She ran faster and the field blossomed under her feet, and when she waved her hand, the entire valley filled with red poppies. She inhaled their sweet scent and when she exhaled, the birds glided in the breeze of her breath through an endless blue sky.

Halen laughed when the wind caught her skirt and swept the fabric up over her head, but when she pushed it down, dark clouds rolled overhead. She took one step forward and the grass beneath her feet sizzled to a crisp. Taking another step, the poppies burst into flames. The fire licked the hem of her skirt and she gathered it up over her knees. Scanning the field, she spotted a boulder; if she could make it there, remove her feet from the ground, she could save the rest of the field.

She ran in long strides, and with each step, she scorched the ground with her fiery feet. Suddenly, she tripped. Her hands touched down and the ground combusted with a brilliant light. The fire raced through the field, spreading to the trees. The flames reached up, lassoing the birds from the sky, dragging them to the ground. Halen crawled to the rock and hoisted herself up. She stared out to the barren land. "No, no. What have I done?" She clawed the air and the clouds rumbled with thunder. The fire burned hotter and hotter under her flesh. The only way to extinguish the flames was to release them. Tilting her head back, she opened her mouth wide and screamed. What birds had not been burned turned now to black beasts swirling in the torrid sky.

ISBN: 9780993653704
Purchase (FREE from Nov 18-22): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LG0SUE6 

Coral & Bone Epic Playlist

Born to Die ~ Lana Del Rey

Clarity ~ Zedd

Breathing Underwater ~ Metric

Dark Horse ~ Katy Perry

Monster ~ Eminem ft. Rihanna

Light Em Up ~ Fall Out Boys

Burn ~ Ellie Goulding

About Tiffany Daune

I write stories about magick, love and dark creatures lurking in the shadows. When I'm not lost in Edit Land you can find me reading a book from my towering TBR pile or at the movie theater nibbling licorice. I don't have a lucky number, but my favorite time is 11:11. I completely believe that the fortunes found inside cookies will come true and that you must be careful when wishing on stars. I live on an island, so if you want to visit you'll need a boat, and if you want to survive the passage, be sure to bring candy for the mermaids. 

Author links:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tiffany-Daune/395436080503637

https://twitter.com/TiffanyDaune

http://www.tiffanydaune.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6904400.Tiffany_Daune 

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The Saskian Trilogy Begins with Eden Forest

Eden Forest is a novella and the first instalment in The Saskia Trilogy by Aoife Marie Sheridan.

Narrated in the first person present tense, Eden Forest opens in Saskia with Marta giving a description of the land and alerting the reader to her pregnancy, which we later know is from a love affair with the King of Saskia. We also learn about Saskian laws and traditions and how Saskians are immortal and born with an affinity of air, water, earth, fire or spirit. At first glance, Marta appears to be a caring person.

The reader learns that Saskia is a world parallel to earth and that a fire barrier separating the two worlds can be crossed but with great difficulty.

Eden Forest is written from several perspectives, all in the first person; however we are told whose point of view we are reading at the beginning of each chapter, avoiding any possible confusion. It is a very interesting way of writing – the first I've read seen – and it gives character depth. Through this technique, Sheridan merges with each character making them come to life on the pages of her novella.

The author has an abundance of intriguing characters, but what I liked most was how each character has a specific role to play in the story – even eight-year-old Mei. Some have minor roles but are expected to have much bigger ones in the coming parts of the trilogy.

As the novella progresses, two characters stand out in contradiction; Marta and her daughter Sarajane. Whereas Sarajane is caring, believable, down to earth, intelligent and understanding, her mother, Marta, is unmotherly-like, as opposed to what we have seen in the first chapter. A face-off between Sarajane and King Morrick makes this point clear. Moreover, most of the time we see Marta, she is crying; yet the reader feels that her emotions are not deep. And when she finally sees her daughter after a long absence, all she is concerned with is food! (Of all things!)

Another interesting character is the conflicting, contradictory Tristan, King Morrick's head Guardian and who is later given the task to retrieve, or rather kidnap, Sarajane. Until the end of Eden Forest, the reader cannot read this particular character.

The massive contrast between Saskia's King and Queen makes the reader wonder how they ended up together. That bit comes at the end of the story.

Eden Forest is a quick and easy read. Its pace is fair at the beginning but starting chapter three, the pace and events become intense. You cannot put the book down and you feel the need finish the novella and skip work and sleep in the process.

I truly enjoyed Aoife Sheridan's Eden Forest and can hardly wait for the next two parts, which I expect will have more details about the elemental affinities and focus more on characters briefly mentioned or introduced like Carew.

(Note: There are a couple of brief, adult scenes).

Connect with Aoife Marie Sheridan by visiting her at: Amazon Page, Facebook, Twitter, Website, Goodreads, Blog, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Mailing List, TSU.

Fire

Breathtaking beauty

Swaying seductively

Under a gleaming moon

Dancing to the rhythm

Of the earth and wind;

A mixture

Of orange, red and yellow

Against a black sky,

Dancing to the beat of the world

But more to its own beat.

A sparkling seductress

Swishing and swaying

For all to see;

But come closer

And in agony you will scream.

She will strike like serpent,

Your skin will burn

At the heat of her touch.

She is pretty on her own,

But when approached,

Rages like a lightning storm.

Smooth to touch,

But sudden and quick to bite.

She will warm you,

Shelter you from the prickling cold,

Then envelop you in her arms,

Her flames.

Silently she dances

To the beat of her mind,

Her curves call to you,

Her colours beckon you forth.

She’s hot

- In so many ways.

She’s an artist,

A deceitful painter,

Who gives you love and lust,

Passion and deceit,

Desire and danger.

Love her not,

For she knows only pain;

A silent dancer,

A flickering flame,

Of blue and yellow,

Of orange and red,

Swaying and spinning,

Twisting and turning,

In a cold barren desert,

Under a love-struck moon.