A Surprising Guest for new Story!

 Be it no surprise to any, I have a very special guest as a character in my new book 'A Kiss of Death(By the Countenance of Devils)'. A guest who I've always felt a sort of connection to because of her beauty and of her mystery. It's the Mexican Folk Goddess Santa Muerte.  And to help me along with this tale, I've done a ton of research about her. I feel she is a very effective goddess, as her cult is one of the fastest growing in Mexico and Central America. She also seems to have a benevolent demeanor, yet in my particular tale, she has a dark side too! As of today I've been working on this project for five months three weeks and two days, and it has only been most recently that I have felt her presence and it has been mesmerizing to say the least. That being said, I am looking forward to having this tale be one of my most memorable

Chaotic directions

 Its officially been two months since I started my current project 'A Kiss of Death: A Countenance of Devils'. Needless to say, I'm not even close to where I want to be as far as length is concerned, but I am happy to be working on it nonetheless. As with so many other projects before it, this project has definitely been affected by sporadic fits of writer's block, which if you're a writer is the worst affliction you could ever endure. I have to admit its taken a tremendous amount of research, meditation, and overall straining to get to proper vein, if you will, as far as direction goes. For without direction, I don't care how good of a writer one considers themselves, nothing they create will suffice. 

This particular project is, in a way, quite chaotic and all over the place. But, I really don't consider that really a bad thing if the story can create, and keep, a general interest. A narrative that overall makes sense. Naturally, I have to make use of so many elements necessary to my creations. Namely: dark and atmospheric music and wine. Also, the season this is taking place in is quite helpful as well. Anyone who knows me truly knows that the autumn season is my favorite time of the year and creating another story this close to Halloween is definitely a reward unto itself!

Called once again...

 Isn't it quite humorous that when one actually thinks they have a degree of control in their own lives, much less the rest of the world, life has a way of proving them otherwise. 

Honestly, the last two years I have quit writing all together a few times yet I always find myself drawn back to it from the every mysterious will of the divine. A will I can't possibly ignore. And now, just as then, the process repeats itself. 

I find the same haunting imagery filling my mind once again, with little to no understanding of it's origin. This time around, these images are of sadness and despair. Conditions of the human experience that seem to elope all others in terms of abundance. Where the direction of these images will take me is anyone's guess, but one thing is for sure: I have no choice in participating with them. Whether I like it, or not. 

This new tale will be called 'A Kiss of Death: The Countenance of Devils '. That is all I do know...for now.

Having no say

 Well, what can I say. It has been a somewhat active year for me to be honest. I finished my morbid tale 'The Abbey de Excessus' roughly one month ago with the solemn outlook that once that was completed, I would forever be finished as a writer. 

This is an endeavor I have dedicated my life to for over 21 years. And, just like so many others before me, the passion to keep going forward with it has all but disappeared. The whole of this time I kept a standard that I would never deviate from. A standard that made sure every one of my macabre stories were one hundred percent original, for I always considered the mere concept of plagiarism pure anathema. Keeping that standard high for over two decades can be rather taxing, especially when one has the rest of life's upkeeps to consider. 

Yet, I don't feel that the other side is totally finished with me. Truth be told, there is not one story that I've completed that wasn't in some way or form inspired by the other side. And I've always felt that my tales more or less basically wrote themselves in that regard. 

That being said, I have the same mysterious process suddenly taking me over again, regardless of my protestations and hesitant nature. So, I honestly have no idea if I have any say so in ceasing my aspirations which can be both Ironic and fear provoking if you really think about it. What comes next, to me, is an absolute mystery. I honestly have no idea. All I can basically say is that we as mortals truly have no defense to the wills of the supernatural. I may be partaking this journey, a journey I decided to opt out of some time ago, whether I want to or whether I don't.

Again comes the demon!!

 It is with great satisfaction to state that I completed my seventh novel 'A Goblin Tale 3: An Upheaval in Tartarus' roughly six days ago. Truth be told, I really thought that with the end of that particular project my adventures in literary undertakings were basically finished. I mean, that story would have been a perfect way to end a would-be storybook career writing horror/fantasy storybooks. It was a perfect writing experience from beginning to end, which is more than I can say of my some of previous works, no matter how much I've enjoyed them. 

Yet, as with the completion of any of my works, here again comes the demon. The images, the scenery, the evil inclinations far too vile to ignore. And again I find myself about to partake in yet another ambitious project. One that has the potential to be longer than any of my previous projects. There is truth to the saying 'Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans'. It is a truth that I, myself, seem to be embroiled in no matter how much I try to deny it. 

The Will of the Divine!

 Well, the will of the gods is definitely confusing, indeed! It was only a couple of months ago when I was absolutely convinced that my time as a writer had run it's course. And then, out of nowhere, I received a message from the other side that I had to complete yet another project. It was a message that carried with it utmost urgency, so I was in no way able to decline. 

Needless to say that this new project is part three of my previous two novels 'The Goblin Tales'. Now honestly, I did have plans to eventually write this conclusion, but I must admit that it very well could have been years from now. The process so far has been very smooth which is a lot more than I can say about any of my previous works. I've actually completed almost fifty pages within a little over one month's time.

As far as having any answers for such a situation, I really can't say anything. Whenever we mere mortals assume anything, it very well should be regarded as folly. This is a fact that I have slowly learned throughout the course of all my days. And after this project is completed (I've been given the deadline of March 6th of next year) I really don't know what to expect. What is clear is this: Whenever the divine expect anything out of you, it is best if you simply surrender to their will. 

A painful shift to an unknown direction

Well, it seems a lot has happened in the last few months. The world has been gripped by both plague and chaos and I finished my cavalier story, 'Bruja'. I, like seemingly so many others at the moment, have really no idea what the future holds, which technically is not surprising since No one really does. But, this year makes 20'years that I pursued my lifelong goal of becoming a writer. A goal that has been nothing less than a stupendous journey past the depths of monotony I could have never imagined.
With that said, I feel myself being pulled and the truth is that I have no understanding of the direction to which such a pull will take me. It's quite scary really because writing is all I have really known.
It's defined my passions, my motivations, and everything one associates with success.
Everyone involved in the creative fields, and most people period I think, understand that everyone changes with time. Their interests change, their personalities change, the core of what they desire changes. Nothing remains as it once was, especially after 20 years.
Looking at my past accomplishments, I consider myself bordering both success and failure. Truth be told I never came close to achieving what I wanted to yet I've had several fellow writers tell me that I've achieved more than about 90%  of 'average' writers. So, in a way my journey was very bittersweet.
This is not to say that one day in the distant future I may or may not make the amazing decision to once again put pen to paper, but as of right now uncertainty is definitely a factor.
I may have been meant to be a writer, but perhaps I wasn't meant to stay one. Or perhaps this shift in direction is simply another chapter in the journey that is life. Who knows?

Strange Patterns through part 2 of 'Bruja'!

I must say there is definitely strange patterns occurring as I press forward with the second part of 'Bruja'. Mainly they consist of writing times. It seems that every three to five days I'm able to get anything written, which is both peculiar and sad to me because it makes the process take so much longer than I prefer. During the times I'm not writing is also strange because while I do my utmost to brainstorm and contemplate the direction of the story, I have no luck what so ever in doing so no matter my efforts.
The days that I am able to write bring forth a wellspring of direction I would never even consider on my off days. So, needless to say, when all of this is over its definitely going to be a chapter among many in which my writing processes were just as strange and unpredictable as my stories themselves!

First Part of 'Bruja' finished!!

The first part of my new Novella 'Bruja', has been recently finished. Honestly, the direction of the story so far has even exceeded my own dark inclinations. The time frame has been a tad disappointing as I loathe taking more time to complete a project than is absolutely necessary and I now have two other parts to accomplish in conjunction with the first. But...the fact that this tale is so thought provoking along with being informative as to Marta's origins couldn't have me more satisfied. I can only hope that the time it takes to complete the other two parts leaves me, and the rest of you all, feeling just as mesmerized!

Writing for yourself first!

Years ago, I once heard someone say that every writer should 'Write for themselves first, and worry about the world secondary'. While such a comment can be viewed as inflammatory to some, I can totally see where they were coming from. It's a direction that I, myself, often take with regards to my own creations. I mean, when I take into consideration that the reason I started writing is because most of the writers the contemporary world considered as 'Talented' or 'Groundbreaking' were so tawdry I couldn't bring myself to finish any of their works, it makes perfect sense.
That being said, I consider true horror an art. An art that hasn't been given the same amount of distinction it deserves. An art that shouldn't be diluted with anything not in it's nature. Graphic violence should be included almost as an afterthought, as well as blatant deviance in all of its forms. Namely, the hush and hidden realities of human nature should be shown in every light that showcases it's savagery. And that, most of all, is why I write horror: Human Beings are the truest of all monsters and nothing stays more true to that aspect than the genre of horror. Nothing gives that fact more credence.
In truth, I've become so selective with what I choose to entertain myself nowadays, lots of things I would find shocking in my youth hardly grasp my attention today. So, writing to please my own macabre indulgences has become more of a necessity than mere choice!

Continuing on with 'Bruja'

I've been keeping myself busy working on my new Novella "Bruja: The Origins of Marta Salazar". As with all of my works, the direction of the story has been a complete mystery to me since I first put my pen to paper. Yet, as with all of them, the direction of the story has been nothing less than inspirational. Of course, there's always what seems like minor setbacks. For instance, I had a terrible case of writer's block during the first two months so far. But, the more I prod along, the easier it has been for me to piece together each aspect of this particular tale. I believe I'm going to section this story into three parts. So far, the first piece deals with Marta's introduction to the Occult and to her introduction with the demon E'ferries. As far as the second part goes, I've yet to wonder....

 

2020 and already new ideas in the making!

Happy New Year to All!! While 2019 was certainly a very busy year, it was by no means a bad one and that being said, I am happy to say that I've been working on the concept of a new Novella. This new tale deals with a character who has had parts in my second Novella 'Further Passage' and my most recent screenplay 'Infernal Covenant'. Of course, I'm talking about Marta Salazar and, ironically enough, the new project is titled 'Bruja' just for her. While I've shown several aspects of Marta's character with the aforementioned tales, this story is quite different because not only does she become the main protagonist, but we explore her origins as well. Marta is unique because she started out as a simple yet malicious secondary character in 'Further Passage' and had only a slightly bit larger part in the screenplay. Taking her to the length of main character status is quite the transformation, and it makes me wonder if I will be able to create similar characters along the way!

2019 in Retrospect

I must say, 2019 was a VERY busy year for me. I completed my sixth novel at the beginning of the year and spent a great deal of energy in both school and menial work. One thing we all notice when such years happen upon us is that time is extraordinarily fleeting. This year was almost one gigantic blur. But, I still made time to enjoy the finer things in life. Namely: Food, Wine, and, of course, writing. At my age I can honestly say that I now understand how years can literally 'fly by'.
My screenplay, also a first, was another aspect of this year that was, for the most part, extremely unexpected. Yet, it was quite another reminder that in the grand throes of life, we must carve a way that separates us from the mundane. So, while 2019 could be tedious and repetitive at times, it seemed very productive and those are the years that benefit us most!

Finally Finished First Screenplay

Exaltation's supreme! I have finally finished my first screenplay and I must say, it was marvelous! Like all the rest of my works, the theme of the story was a process in the making. Truly, I really couldn't predict creating one scene from another. While creation is usually a slow and tedious process, and this story was no exception, the process as a whole was every bit as rewarding as it has ever been. Now, I have a screenplay to go with the rest of my creations which include: 33 short stories, 3 novellas, 6 novels, 3 published books, and a plethora of twisted , dark poetry.
And again, after each and every creative process has been completed, a vital question remains. The same inquiry that has been asked by myself so many times now, it's almost second nature. 'What Happens Now?' How do I press my passions further? And, like so many times before, as of now I really cannot say.

 

Happy Halloween 2019

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Even if it's roots are inherently Celtic (and I'm Hellenistic Pagan), there really is no other holiday quite like Halloween. Being somewhat of a recluse, I tend to enjoy the day watching true crime documentaries and horror films(of course!). If I do get out, I actually enjoy strolling through graveyards or going to themed settings, like for Dia dos los Muertos(The Mexican Day of the Dead). As for the usual commercialism that's apparent everywhere, I tend to simply ignore it. My screenplay is almost finished and if I had to estimate, I'd say it will be complete within a months' time. And after that, as usual, who knows where the journey of life will take me?
Happy Halloween to all, and may flights of devils see you to your way!!

Must have Serenity

Anyone who has ever been a part of the creative process would probably agree that serenity and peace of mind are extremely important. While its true that no one can control the dictations of life itself, I believe it to be impossible to complete, or even attempt, anything in a chaotic environment. With that in mind, I have a tendency to keep the rest of the world at an arms length while I'm engaged in any sort of project. I also find myself to be a bit of a control freak in regards to my own life. Because time is the most precious resource any of us have in life, I never take the concept of it for granted and I never want to waste it on endeavors that I consider needless.
So, anything that benefits my own serenity during any of my various processes are always appreciated.

Autumn, Beautiful Autumn

Ah, the chilled yet beautiful touch of Autumn has come yet again! As I have always stated in the past, this is definitely my favorite season. It carries with it a somberness worthy of a writers attention and that is why I have depicted so many of my stories in this season. Though it is quite sobering that I have been very busy as of late and haven't had quite to notice and titillate all the subtle changes taking place, I'm definitely making time for my favorite holiday Halloween like I always do each year.
As I'm writing this, I'm almost one third of the way finished with my screenplay 'Infernal Covenant.' And, I must say, the direction it's taking is rather interesting. One aspect of writing I must comment on is this; it is absolutely essential that one enjoys their work. Once that concept is lost, it will have a detrimental effect on everything. For it is very surprising how many writers out there that are driven more by delusions of grandeur than they are a passion for their craft.
Another concept is the point of writing to please one's self first. I truly believe if you compromise your own interests in the pursuit of gaining a large audience, all you will truly achieve is disappointment. All the greats of the past wrote their own will first, whether or not they gained public approval was always a secondary priority. And with that in mind, I tend to ignore fads and follow my own proclivities. They always seem to procure my morbid imagination!

Again Comes the Demon!!

As always, I've been very busy. Life to the living! I always say. Aside from yet another semester of school and monotonous work, I took the liberty of creating yet another tale of the demon E'ferries. This time in the form of a screenplay. The location of this tale is the same town that I used in the story 'The Call of E'ferries'; a place called 'Cold Creek'. Influenced by many other fictional towns, Cold Creek is a sleepy, not-too-densely populated seaside town with a lot of old-world buildings. And, as aforementioned, it has a dark secret.
While coming up for the storyline of this particular tale, I focused on the imagery of haunted East Coast towns, the kind that would be elaborated by authors such as Ray Bradbury or H.P. Lovecraft. This is the eighth story that I included E'ferries. And, just like all the ones I've created before, I given him a different essence. For instance, while in the previous tales he has the capability to speak and has a very cynical and maniacal personality, in this tale he takes the persona of a stereotypical monster.
Also included in the story in the second appearance of the Bruja and Demon disciple, Marta Salazar. First seen in the Novella 'Further Passage', Marta is a beautiful yet malevolent conjurer who essentially has full sway over the town as a result of a penance they must pay.
So far, I must say I am satisfied with the direction the story is taking. And like every strange and sinister tale I've ever created, it is basically writing itself!

A New Direction?

Well, I'm about to start my first screenplay. Its a project I've had on my mind for some time now. This  is probably the first non-horror related project I've done, so in a sort of way its a showcase for my own versatility. Its actually quite a wonder what you can achieve when you venture outside of what you're used to and this project is a tad inspired by my interests in the 'Mondo Macabro' film genre that was popular in the 1970's. Like my first novel, it kind of came out of left field as far as the timing for it and the direction, but as life has repeatedly shown me, there's a first time for everything.

The Inescapable Mundane

Oh, the throes of life! I have spent the last few months back in school (Yes, even horror fanatics have to do that sometimes) and now I'm going to start a new job as well. Its been a little over four months since I finished my last novel, but in all honesty I haven't received any messages from the other side in relevance to any new material. Again, I am looking outside the confines of simply being 'just' a writer. Something within the context, of course. Something just as magical and rewarding. But, something that can help me grow my passions just the same. Who knows what that can ensue. Right now, I especially do not.