Posted By Debbie Mumford on March 16, 2010
Today we’re off to a part of the world I’d love to visit, the famed White Cliffs of Dover.
Be sure to click through and enjoy the photographer’s other shots. Very cool visuals.
Happy Tuesday, one and all!
Posted By Debbie Mumford on March 15, 2010
Once a month, a bunch of authors get together and post excerpts from published books, contracted work or works in progress, and link to each other. You don’t have to be published to participate–just a writer with an excerpt you’d like to share. For more info on how to participate, head over to the Excerpt Monday site, or click on the banner above.
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Again this month I venture into the land of Science Fiction with an excerpt from one of my STAR STEPPING anthology stories. STAR STEPPING is a book of science fiction and fantasy tales published by Wild Child Publishing, and three of the twelve stories are mine. “The Tie That Binds” is the last of my stories.
Star Stepping: An Anthology of Fantasy and Sci-Fi Tales
by Various
I hope you enjoy this excerpt from my paranormal tale of identical twins, The Tie That Binds:
Blurb:
The Tie That Binds takes us inside the unique relationship of identical twins. Twin brothers Cameron and Kyle McClellan have always share a psychic bond. Though the adult men lead very different lives, when career military officer Kyle is wounded in Iraq, Cameron’s ability to decipher their special link may mean the difference between his brother’s life or death.
Excerpt:
Cameron McClellan dropped to his knees, instinctively shielding himself from the aftermath of a bomb blast in Iraq—half a world away from his Denver boardroom. A red haze of pain paralyzed his senses. The dry erase marker he’d been wielding at the white board dropped from nerveless fingers. His skull ached with the intensity of Kyle’s anguished screams.
Shock and concern from startled colleagues registered in a diminishing corner of his mind, but the searing agony of Kyle’s wound prevented Cameron from responding to their questions. Cameron’s breathing mirrored Kyle’s panting gasps. His arms and legs echoed Kyle’s desperate attempt to drag his shattered body away from the fiery remains of the humvee, to shelter beneath the inadequate branches of a roadside shrub. Cameron’s eyes closed with Kyle’s, but he didn’t see concern on friendly faces; blood-soaked dirt, hellfire, and mindnumbing pain filled his brain as he followed his twin into oblivion.
Cameron woke to the smell of antiseptic and the feel of crisp sheets tucked securely around his body. A blinding headache made him reluctant to open his eyes, but soft breathing and warm fingers stroking his arm encouraged him. With a fortifying inhalation, and moving his head as little as possible, he peered at his surroundings. Institutional white walls, curtained room divider, narrow, railed bed, and Sophie. His wife’s warm brown eyes studied him with concern, their lids swollen and puffy. Her heart-shaped face, reddened and blotchy from crying, testified mutely to an overwhelming grief.
“Oh, Cameron,” she whispered, her voice thick with yet more tears, “I’m so sorry.”
“No,” he said. The word emerged with more force than he’d imagined he could produce.
“The rear detachment officer called.” She glanced away from him, bit her trembling lip, and continued, “Kyle died in a roadside bombing. Probably about the time you collapsed at the office.”
Her gaze slid back to his face before dropping to the hand now clutching his arm. “You felt him die, didn’t you? That’s what caused your collapse. He contacted you when he died.”
“Yes…no.” Cameron closed his eyes and took a deep, steadying breath. He opened his eyes and caught Sophie’s gaze. “Yes, Kyle opened the link and dragged me into his pain, but he’s not dead.” He turned his arm under her hand and grasped her trembling fingers. “Sophie, I’d know if he were dead. Kyle is alive.”
Tears spilled from her eyes and followed well-established tracks across her cheeks to drip from her chin. “I’m so sorry,” she repeated.
He opened his mouth to protest, but she laid a quelling finger against his lips.
“Hush, my love. Don’t…don’t think about it now. Just rest. Once you’re home, you can talk to the Rear D, yourself. Hear his account directly.”
Cameron closed his eyes and touched the psychic link he’d shared with Kyle their whole lives. Nothing. The link lay dormant in the back of his mind, a frighteningly blank place that should have been vibrant with Kyle’s zest for life.
He wasn’t dead. Cameron would know if Kyle…. He wasn’t dead.
For the first time in his life, Cameron McClellan experienced separation anxiety.
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Title: Star Stepping
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Book Length: Novel
Price: $5.95
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Posted By Debbie Mumford on March 12, 2010
My next installment of Hawaiian Reef Fish. This little guy was one of my faves when snorkeling off the Big Island.
Posted By Debbie Mumford on March 10, 2010
We’re building a seventeen-part structure for self-coaching and self-exploration, with an end toward becoming responsible, awakened adult human beings. The first ten steps of this structure originate in Joseph Campbell’s famed “Hero’s Journey” The second part of the Hero’s Journey is called the “rejection of the challenge.” What this means is that you are aware of a change that needs to take place, are aware that it would move you to the next level of your life, or alleviate serious concerns, but cannot motivate yourself to do it. In the original “Star Wars” this was the “I can’t go with you, Obi-Wan: I promised Uncle Owen I’d fix the moisture evaporators” moment. When it comes to the task of actually growing up, becoming an adult, this is usually the result of either fear or lack of clarity. In other words, if you know that a particular action or commitment will make a positive change in your life, and that change is, logically, stronger than the amount of pain associated with it, then you have to ask: why don’t you do it?
Well, the truth is that if you are clear enough on the benefit, and believe that you can actually accomplish it, the only thing that will stop you is fear.
There are three basic arenas in which maturation can be measured.
1) Career. Are you self-supporting?
2) Body. Do you have a body that sustains you with health and energy? That You yourself would find attractive?
3) Relationships. Can you attract and hold a mature sexual/romantic partner? Do you love yourself? Are you responsible for your own emotions?
Journaling and introspection can be critical factors in maintaining clarity and dealing with fear as it arises. And trust me: if you try to change any basic aspect of your life, an aspect that would move you to another level of your life, fear will be the guardian at the gate. There are many powerful ways to deal with fear, but here’s a simple one:
1) Visualize a glass tube filled with water.
2) Imagine glitter swirling in the water.
3) Watch the tube quietly, until the glitter settles to the bottom.
Do this, and you will arrive at a state of clarity in which your fear can be seen for what it is: a mental storm which can be observed without participation or control. “I am afraid” is an observation, a fact. “I’m scared!” said with a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach, followed by an avalanche of interpretations (fear means I can’t do it! Fear means I’m a coward! Fear means I am weak! Etc.) will cripple you.
Vow to see and note your emotions rather than be dominated by them, and you are on the path to control. And emotional control, the ability to choose the appropriate behavior regardless of momentary “feelings”, is an important signpost on the road to maturation. A child does what is fun. An adult does what is necessary. If you don’t grasp the difference, you will live your entire life in an immature state, being controlled by people who have accepted the responsibilities and powers of adulthood.
The choice is yours. Here are more questions to ask in connection with the emotion of fear:
1) What three benefits will this action give my life?
2) How will it impact my energy and health?
3) How will it make my relationships more powerful and loving?
4) How will it positively affect my career and income?
5) What do I fear in relation to this commitment or action?
6) Is this fear real? Does it make sense?
7) Where in my life have I overcome similar fears in the past? What lessons might be found there?
©2010 STEVEN BARNES
NY Times bestselling novelist, lecturer, martial artist and success coach Steven Barnes has over three million published words, as well as writing for television’s The Outer Limits, Twilight Zone, and Stargate SG-1. He has created Lifewriting™, the holistic success system for writers and readers. Also the breakthrough 101 program and the new HERO’S JOURNEY program for 21st Century men. Get FREE information at: DIAMONDHOUR
Posted By Debbie Mumford on March 9, 2010
Even though we had rain and sleet today, there’s no denying that spring is on its way. The daphne by my front door is just beginning to bloom and I’m being teased by tantalizing whiffs of fragrance. Can’t wait to glory in the full blooms and intoxicating aroma every time the door opens.
Ahhhh…I love spring in the Pacific Northwest.
Posted By Debbie Mumford on March 5, 2010
It’s wet and rainy here in the Pacific Northwest, as it should be this time of year. That doesn’t mean I can’t dream of sun and sand and warm tropical waters *happy sigh*
Here’s a nice specimen of a butterflyfish; the kind I enjoyed snorkeling with in Hawaii…
Posted By Debbie Mumford on March 3, 2010
For the next few weeks I’m going to present a series of articles by Steven Barnes. They apply to writing (explaining pieces of the Hero’s Journey) as well as to a life well-lived. Steven has given permission to reprint these articles:
You are free to reprint any of these essays on your own site, so long as you reproduce the copyright and resource box, with all links intact. Enjoy!
What is an adult? While we may argue about what a “Man” or “Woman” is, there is remarkable agreement around the world on the subject of Human Adulthood. An adult takes responsibility for his or her actions and emotions. While we can argue about many qualities and attributes, I think we can all agree that the world needs all the adults it can get.
We can address this core question of human maturation by cross-referencing two ancient cultural models of human life: the Hero’s Journey (found in various forms in all world myth and literature), which proposes a ten-step process for growth and progress, and the yogic Chakras which suggest seven basic levels of human existence. This new series of articles is designed to address this basic pattern, one step at a time. There will be eighteen basic parts–look for them!
The first step of the Hero’s Journey is THE HERO IS CONFRONTED WITH A CHALLENGE. In fiction, this might be “Come with me, Luke, and learn the way of the Force!” or a mother finally realizing her child is autistic. In our lives, it might be a sense of unease with our careers, a dissatisfaction with our excess flab, or a yearning to find our Soul Mate. We can have the careers we crave, the bodies we admire (and in general, if you wouldn’t find your own body attractive, there is a serious mis-match between your values and your actions) and a mate who appeals to every aspect of our psyche as well as supporting us in being the very best we can be. We CAN have it all–many have. But there is so much misinformation, as well as encouragement to be mediocre, that good people often can’t find their way to health and happiness.
We can end this by, first, demanding that we actually examine our lives. Look at all three basic aspects: career, relationship, physical health/fitness. Are you living up to your full potential in each? Is your career a source of pleasure or pain? Is your core relationship a source of infinite joy, or simply a dull coupling? Is your body vibrant and alive, or just a bag of negative emotions, a wall protecting a wounded heart, the easy movement and vast energy of childhood a distant memory?
Well, to change this, your first step is that you must SEE it. Must ACKNOWLEDGE it, must wake up and stop dreaming, must stop numbing yourself with denial. If you are successful in any ONE of these three arenas, if you can look deeply enough, you will find the knowledge and strength to succeed in all three. But you must be willing to admit that you want more. Demand more. That is the first step, and it is a powerful one.
First came the Word. The truth will set you free.
©2010 STEVEN BARNES
NY Times bestselling novelist, lecturer, martial artist and success coach Steven Barnes has over three million published words, as well as writing for television’s The Outer Limits, Twilight Zone, and Stargate SG-1. He has created Lifewriting™, the holistic success system for writers and readers. Also the breakthrough 101 program and the new HERO’S JOURNEY program for 21st Century men. Get FREE information at: DIAMONDHOUR
Posted By Debbie Mumford on March 2, 2010
DH and traveled to Hawaii a few years back, and I quickly fell in love with plumeria blossoms. They’re not only beautiful, but they have the most heavenly scent…ahhhh.
Just looking at this pictures takes me back to happy times: sandy beaches, sparkling blue water, colorful reef fish, and warm nights heady with exotic fragrance.
Posted By Debbie Mumford on February 27, 2010
Be sure to listen to the entire video. The second half is awesome…
Posted By Debbie Mumford on February 26, 2010
The 2010 Olympics are winding down. All the medals have been awarded in my favorite sport, figure skating, and many other disciplines are complete as well. But one major gold is still in doubt: Who will be crowned the finest Hockey Team in the world?
Here’s my tribute to the sport: