This is a really cool way of getting a concept across. I commend Thames Valley Police in kicking up the volume on this production.
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Writing Exercise: Animals
Photo by Dessy Dimcheva on Unsplash
Have you ever been held up driving because of an animal in the road? Sheep, goat., dog, cow, cat, rabbit, squirrel … just to name a few that have given me and my car pause over the years. It’s like there is a world of life out there unrelated but overlapping with humans.
Misty Masey brings up the topic of “Critters in Fantasy” (and other works) in the Magical Words post from September 11, 2012. For the purpose of this writing exercise, I’m focusing on the final question “Are there animals in your stories?”
The URL for the original article is: http://www.magicalwords.net/misty-massey/critters-in-fantasy/
WRITING EXERCISE: Look over your body of work. Have you ever written an animal WHICH IS NOT a pet or an animal that is normally a pet? Do you regularly have animals when describing outdoor scenes? Today either comment about a time you wrote about animals, or create a scene with an animal. It doesn’t have to be a major part of the scene, but it could be.
My attempt: Ok, wow. I don’t write much with animals and when I do, it is usually a dog (Following a Lead) or a cat (The secrets of cats). My characters don’t tend to have pets, since with my own allergies, I’ve never been able to have them. I do have frogs and crickets mentioned in Moon Reflections. I need to work on adding flora and fauna to my white boxes.
Flash: Full Potential
The busty blond shimmied over from the dance floor to Daniel’s minuscule table. “Hey, can you pretend to be my boyfriend?” She didn’t need to scream, since Daniel sat behind the aimed speakers.
“Problem?” he asked, waving her to sit on the stool opposite his. Daniel had been watching her, but not her exclusively, just enjoying the view between kicking up his boots. The woman was a regular and had a lowcut blouse, but not too lowcut, and a short skirt, but it didn’t raise the hem to mini. It was her friends that pushed the sensual envelope, and tonight they all seem to have hooked fishes.
The woman moved the chair closer to him, then shimmed up on the raised chair. “Not anymore, I hope,” she said, angling her body to him, while touching his arm. “Some guys don’t take no for an answer.”
Blue shirt, opposite side of the dance floor, fired his stalker stare at his prey and her camouflage. Nope, Daniel thought, that is not a guy that understands no. He turned toward her, smiling, leaning closer, he laced a tease in his voice. “How do you know I’m not worse?”
She laughed, partially for show, though nervousness laced it. “Short of you being a serial killer, we should be fine.” She dropped her eyes as she plucked at his cream-color linen sleeve. “Besides, I see you here every Saturday.” The woman angled her eyes up through her fake eyelashes and kohl cat eyeliner. “You are a great dancer by the way.”
“Thanks.” Daniel touched her cheek, turning her face back toward him. Her eyes had been drifting to dance floor and the blue shirt brute plowing his way through the crowd, his buddies chuckling from one side with several of the more risk-seeking regulars hanging out with them for the free drinks. The group that oversized asshole came in with weren’t regulars. Likely in town for the political protests raging back and forth while everyone waited for the jury to make their decision.
He pushed his drink toward her.
Distracted, she glanced down at the pale brown bubbly liquid.
“Ginger ale. Sorry I don’t have anything stronger, but you do look overheated.” he stated, drawing her hand towards it gently. “I’m going to need a name soon.”
“Jennifer.” She smiled, lifting his drink. “Usually, Jenny to friends.”
“Daniel, but never Danny to friends.” His firm lips twisted up one side, waiting for her to finishing swallowing, her shoulders relaxing at the sweet safe drink. “So how would you define a serial killer?”
Jenny still choked a little at the question. “I don’t know, maybe five?” Leaning forward, giggling a little more naturally this time, she asked, “Are you a serial killer?”
“Nah,” Daniel, never Danny answered, “but I got good potential.”
“Don’t we all?” Jenny rolled her eyes in sympathy. “Job or family.”
He took his drink back for quick sip. “Why not both?”
“Who the fuck are you?” the blue shirt psycho finally broke through the crowd. Sitting behind the speakers, and in the area furthest from the bar, bathrooms, and official entrance was a choice Daniel made to avoid too much crowding, but it did mean few witnesses to the man’s rudeness and less bouncer backup.
Putting on his game face, Daniel gave all the appearance of a suitor reluctantly pulling his eyes from the most beautiful woman in the world, a slight confused expression crossing his face. “Excuse me?”
The jilted stalker gave his perceived opponent a once-over. Even taking into account Daniel was sitting down, the goon had at least four inches and what appeared to be forty more pounds of muscles based on the way the linen didn’t stretch on the pansy’s biceps. No scars, perfectly straight nose, perfect teeth. Learning in, the blue-shirt poked Daniel with a finger, repeating each word. “Who.the.fuck.are.you?”
“Danny.”
Jennifer’s dark eyebrows crunched at this obviously hated nickname. Her pretend boyfriend wasn’t sweating, or worried, at least as far as she could tell. She hoped he wouldn’t get into trouble. His dark brown eyes returned to hers and his lips curved in a reassuring smile, which in no way, shape or form, reached his cold eyes. Their strange sparkle of delight twisted her stomach.
“Jenny here tells me you’ve been bothering her.”
“Nah, she came on to me.” The asshole snorted a laugh. “Guess she was tired of pansies. Time to go sweetheart.” The six-two man reached with his orangutan arms to grab her, flashing very specific tattoos of his full sleeves at the seated couple.
Daniel moved faster, grabbing a wrist, and with a quick twist, the brute kneeled while Daniel smoothly rose above him. “Leave now.” Nothing had been snapped. The hold was a non-lethal measure. “Unless you want to take this outside.”
“Outside,” the other growled.
“No,” Jenny said, scared for her chosen rescuer.
“It’s okay honey,” Daniel’s smile morphed to match his eyes, freezing her in place, “it’s what I’m here for.” He dropped the wrist of the blue shirt, and motioned the larger man to a fire exit slightly ajar for the DJ and staff to sneak out for smokes.
Shivering, Jenny asked, “How many?”
“Three, soon to be four.” Daniel’s brown eyes gleamed black. “Come back next Saturday. I’ll love to have someone help me reach my full potential.”
***
The following week Daniel arrived to find Jenny sitting at his favorite table with two ginger ales. He slipped in the chair opposite her.
“Serial killers have a type.” The busty blond, in a lower cut blouse than her normal style, gave him a very determined look. “If that asshole was your type, I want to help you.”
“Sister?” Daniel stirred his drink with the little straw.
She shook her head, “but two friends, yes. And … well …” Jenny looked away gripping her hands together until her knuckles were white. “… but not really, well, not really really, but every woman has a me too.”
“It is never right, and a wrong is a wrong.” He assured her. “It’s not a competition.”
“Do you do it,” she made eye contact, “to make things right?”
He laughed at that, a deep belly laugh. “Nah, I just wanted a challenge. Complete psychopath here.”
(words 1,043, first published 5/24/2023)
Geeking Science: COVID More than Once
222465383 © US Navy Medicine | Dreamstime.com
Three and a half years into the pandemic, now also endemic, first shot and a couple boosters (thank you universe for human ingenuity to quickly identify and create a vaccine), COVID-19 aspects continue to prove its Novel aspect.
Normally I love Novels … but not so much in medicine as novel there means new and unprecedented. Or, really, “we don’t know what the f* is going to happen until it happens.” The brains are trying so hard, and studying so much, but the mutations and the reinfections are do a fan dance reveal, hiding all the good stuff from the scientists.
Especially for long-term COVID.
Remember at the beginning we thought COVID-19 was the typical respiratory disease with its coughing and pneumonia like reactions. The big worry was the cytokine storm killing people. Took a little time to figure out how best to care for people to prevent the storm.
But COVID was hiding what it really was when hanging out in the blood-rich lungs. Now we know it is a vasculature disease – anywhere blood flows, COVID goes. And what it really likes to damage during its house parties is the itsy-bitsy blood vessels carrying oxygen from the lungs to the brain, hence Brain Fog being one of the worst hits of this disease.
A … study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care system shows the health consequences of reinfection. The researchers found that repeat SARS-CoV-2 infections contribute significant additional risk of adverse health conditions in multiple organ systems. (Sauerwein. 2022)
Unlike glorious chicken-pox, which is pretty much a one and done, COVID can be caught more than once, and each round contributes to the damage making acute COVID more likely, long-term COVID more likely, and all the other hosts of issues. Thanks to the vast database of the Veterans Affairs, cases could be studied from initial infection through further courses of care, and a lot of reveals came out.
The small scars riddled throughout the blood system increases heart attacks and strokes.
(P)eople with repeat infections were 3½ times more likely to develop lung problems, three times more likely to suffer heart conditions and 1.6 times more likely to experience brain conditions than patients who had been infected with the virus once. (Sauerwein, 2022)
The bottom line is, COVID isn’t done and we need to avoid catching it still.
Stay safe and stay well folks. Be cautious with our new normal.
Bibliography
AdventHealth. “COVID-19: Transitioning from Pandemic to Endemic.” August 24, 2022. – last viewed 12/23/2022.
Martinez-Salazar, B. Holwerda, M. Studle, C. Piragyte, I. Mercader, N. Engelhardt, B. Rieben, R. and Doring, Y. “COVID-19 and the Vasculature: Current Aspects and Long-Term Consequences.” Frontiers in Cell and Development Biology. February 15, 2022. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2022.824851/full – last viewed 12/23/2022.
Sauerwein, Kristina. “Repeat COVID-19 infections increase risk of organ failure, death.” Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. November 10, 2022. https://medicine.wustl.edu/news/repeat-covid-19-infections-increase-risk-of-organ-failure-death/ – last viewed 12/23/2022.
Book Review (SERIES): Quincy Harker Year Four
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I spend a lot more time talking about the Bubbaverse John Hartness created than the Quincyverse … although Canon has them sharing the universe. Hartness says it is because he can’t keep things straight. Quincy Harker focuses on a more traditional brand of Urban Fantasy, whereas Bubba is more humor-filled (and the humor is why I love it so).
Salvation: Quincy Harker, Demon Hunter Year Four by John G. Hartness
BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON for SALVATION
The Quest for Glory comes to its thrilling conclusion in this Quincy Harker collection! Glory’s lost her wings, and Harker is running around collection Archangels like they’re Pokémon, but things go from bad to worse as he gets nearer to his final battle with the king of lies himself, Lucifer! Follow the adventures of Harker and the modern day Shadow Council as they try to save the world and restore Glory’s divinity.
MY REVIEW for SALVATION
The final four novellas of the Quincy Harker, Quest for Glory, have been collected in one volume: She Talks to Angels, Shout at the Devil, Angel of Harlem, and Sympathy for the Devil.
A well-done urban fantasy series beginning to end within the greater lore of the Quincy Harker universe. I loved how each of the angels had their own particular style and personality. The fight scenes are Quincy blow-outs – leveling mansions and erasing demons.
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BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON for SHE TALKS TO ANGELS
She’s part Harley Quinn and part Wynona Earp.
She’s the granddaughter of the greatest vampire hunter who ever lived.
She’s part of The Shadow Council, a secret group of people working to save the world.
She’s Gabriella Van Helsing, and she’s going to blow some crap up.
In the fifth part of the Quincy Harker crossover series, Gabby helps hunt down a rogue archangel in St. Louis, learning more about herself, about history, and about that cute doctor’s son than she expected when she took the gig. The fate of the world is in her hands, and now this non-magical woman from Chicago has to suit up and play in the metaphysical big leagues to hunt down The Voice of God and keep the Midwest from becoming Ground Zero for the Apocalypse!
MY REVIEW for SHE TALKS TO ANGELS
Gabby Van Helsing gets her own book in the Shadow Council Case Files and fills it cover to cover with action, humor, and her own version of mayhem. A gray hat – straddling talking to angels and drinking with demons (and trying to get dates with both) – Gabrielle will settle gun fights with grenades and magic battles with daggers.
John G. Hartness does put in one darling (technical editing term) into the book when Gabrielle joins a poker game. Long-time followers of Hatness knows he got his writing start in blogging about poker championships.
Two Jacks represents Gabby’s placement in the world perfectly. Not powerful enough to win on her own, usually, but with good enough support – she might-could rake in the pot. And she picks up an Ace supporting card – but can she keep him … and his very hot son … in her hand and on her side?
An action-packed and funny addition to Quincy Harker’s world.
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BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON for SHOUT AT THE DEVIL
The Quest for Glory continues as Quincy Harker travels west to hunt down a rogue Archangel and avenge the murder of a good friend!
For the past year, Quincy Harker and the Shadow Council have been hurtling toward a climactic confrontation with Lucifer for the fate of the world. That final battle moves ever nearer as Harker learns of the murder of an old friend in San Francisco. He puts his quest on hold to find his friend’s killer, but when he gets to the City by the Bay, he finds that his two cases are irrevocably entwined and leading to a cataclysmic confrontation that may leave all of San Francisco a smoking ruin!
Ah crap, aren’t angels supposed to be the good guys?
Well, nothing is ever easy with Harker and the gang!
MY REVIEW for SHOUT AT THE DEVIL
Quincy Harker may gain friends from time-to-time but few are old friends – as in, they reach an old age and die of natural causes. Faye Spataro, a West Coast water mage, unfortunately was not the exception to prove the rule. Happily married and now brutally murdered, Quincy investigates among the supernaturals in a town he is unfamiliar with, Sparato’s wife at his side seeking her own vengence.
Then Quincy finds the signs of an Archangel among the corpses of more of the city’s Talented.
While Quincy may be equal a tactical nuke in the supernatural world – capable of laying waste to city blocks, Archangels are the Yellowstone supervolcano. Without his normal team, can he (and the city … and the state and the country) survive when the Archangel of Death walks the Earth?
The normal action-packed magic-slinging Quincy Harker story with a side of police procedural thrown in. If you like Quincy, you’ll love this.
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BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON for ANGEL OF HARLEM
The Quest for Glory rushes toward its conclusion as Quincy Harker steps in for a missing Shadow Council member and goes to New York City to find the last Archangel. But when pieces of his past come back to haunt him, Quincy Harker must face feelings long buried and horrors brand new when the Big Apple and a band of angry demons try to take a bite out of him!
MY REVIEW for ANGEL OF HARLEM
A pitch perfect Quincy Harker story – magic and mayhem, unexpected twists, Harker cursing, emotions, amusement, and moving the Quest for Glory forward. Each angel finding gets harder and harder; and the final one comes with a nearly impossible price to pay.
This novella’s book buzz was so good, I’m scared to go into the next.
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BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON for SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL
He’s collected Archangels like Pokémon. He’s battled monsters all over the country. Now he’s fighting his way through all the Circles of Hell to save a friend. In Sympathy for the Devil, The Quest for Glory concludes as Harker and Co. literally go through Hell to get Glory’s wings back!
It’s been a two-year quest that has spanned the continent, and now Quincy Harker, Charlotte, NC’s favorite (and only) Demon Hunter is crossing dimensions to do battle with Lucifer and restore his Guardian Angel Glory’s divinity. Harker and his band of merry angels, monsters, and humans set off to keep Lucifer from re-starting the War on Heaven, but things go sideways right from the jump.
How will Harker navigate the tortures and temptations of Hell to save his friend and the world?
Can Harker keep himself together in the face of everything Lucifer and his minions will throw at him?
Is he really hero enough to stand toe to toe with the Devil himself and come out alive?
Or will he fall prey to the “man of wealth and taste?”
MY REVIEW for SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL
If you get told to go to hell often enough, you might end up there through no fault of your own. … But in Quincy’s case, it’s all on him.
The end of a two-year arc over lots of novellas, Sympathy for the Devil finishes the Quest for Glory and does a very good job on delivering on the buildup.
The falling action, though, in the epilogue, too predictable and common. Everything else though is pure Quincy Harker style.