IWSG, A-Z Complete and A Bloggy Break!

 

The Insecure Writer's Support Group

 

The first Wednesday of every month is reserved for the Insecure Writer's Support Group, where we tell the world our fears about being writers. Thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh for hosting. If you'd like to sign up, go HERE.

So --a few months ago I worried that the novella series I wanted to write was a bit over the top. Well, I'm still worried about that, but I've written the first one, and if you followed my blog during the A-Z Challenge, then you read quite a bit about Second Death in addition to excerpts from Givin' Up The Ghost and A Guilty Ghost Surprised. It's so funny and silly that I write about ghosts and my real worry was adding a demon to the mix! (That was the Z post yesterday.) I mean, like ghosts aren't over the top but demons are? *shakes head* Anyway, people who followed my A-Z posts seemed to enjoy them, so thank you so much to everyone who stopped by to comment.

The 2013 A-Z Challenge

Mission Complete!

I finished! Even though my posts were pre-written, it was still a lot of work commenting and visiting every day. I loved everyone's creativity and it was such an awesome experience. I was a minion, too, one of Spunky's Soldiers!

 

Congratulations to everyone who finished! And to those who didn't, well, life does tend to get in the way, doesn't it? But really, my hat is off to those who hold a full time job and were still able to complete the A-Z! I don't know how they do it unless they're into cloning like the Ninja Captain, Alex Cavanaugh!

 

 

Thanks so much to everyone who put the A-Z Challenge together and made it run smoothly. Let's give a big hand to the A to Z Hosts, Alex J. Cavanaugh, Damyanti Biswas, Tina Downey, DL Hammons, Jeremy Hawkins, Shannon Lawrence Matthew MacNish Konstanz Silverbow, Stephen Tremp, Livia Peterson, L. Diane Wolfe, and Nicole.

 And a very special thanks to founder Arlee Bird at Tossing It Out.

And of course I have to thank Indigo Eady, who showed up every day at my blog to talk about her paranormal misadventures! Thank you, Indigo!

Indigo Eady, illustrated by Corona Zschusschen

 

 

 

Bloggy Break

 

And now, I'm on Bloggy Break for May! I have a lot going on and will be incredibly busy this month, not to mention that blogging every day for a month sort of exhausted me. I like those blogs who posted Zzzzzzzz's for their last post. My sentiments exactly! I may be back to post something that comes up, but if not, I'll be back on June 3rd because the lovely Rachel Morgan will be here with a post about her new novel, The Faerie Prince!

 

 

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What are your current writer insecurities?

 

How was your April?

 

What is your plan for May?

 



A-Z: Zagana

A - Z Challenge 2013:

The Paranormal Case Files of Indigo Eady

 

 

Hey bloggers! I’m Indigo Eady and I play the leading role in Givin’ Up The Ghost, A Guilty Ghost Surprised and Second Death, written by Gwen Gardner.  I've had some pretty interesting paranormal experiences, to say the least. I mean, just look at those titles!

So I’ve been asked by Gwen to host and share some of my paranormal case files for the A-Z Challenge.

I’m always happy to help Gwen out. Right now I’m trying to get on her good side so she’ll ease up on the clumsy angle of my character. And maybe she’ll even give me a little more confidence, especially around boys. Oh, and I’d totally love it if she made my bubble butt just a little bit smaller. So—you know—if you enjoy my case files, maybe you could put in a good word for me…



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Z is for Zagana.

 

Zagana is one of the fallen angels turned demon, and is now one of Lucifer’s henchmen. I had the displeasure of meeting her far underground. Further underground than any live person has a right to be. She is the leader of the Shadow People. She also commands legions of demons, as well as protects them from anyone who would interfere with her evil intentions.

Yeah, Zagana and I don’t see eye to eye, needless to say. Here is a scene from when I had the displeasure of meeting her acquaintance:

 

“What do you want with us? And what did you do with Franny?” Yeah, I was sort of hiding behind Badger during my bit of bravado. I never actually claimed to be brave.

“I do not know what you mean,” said Zagana. “And perhaps I should remind you that you dropped in on me—uninvited.” A hint of menace laced her deep, but feminine voice. Her darkness hovered over the whole wall, about ten feet tall and almost as wide. The smell and her very essence made us back up several steps. Actually, we ended up backs against the door with nowhere else to go.

“W-w-well,” I said, lifting my chin. “W-w-we’ll just be on our way then. R-r-right after you tell us where Franny and her friends are.”

“HAHAHAHAHA! You are an amusing little plaything.” She drifted further into the room, and if possible, grew another few feet. Or maybe it was the huge shadow she seemed to cast on every wall. “And I do love playing,” she cackled. “Perhaps I do know something about your friends.” She hover-paced a few steps before turning back to me. “And a lot about you.” Red laser beam eyes pinned me to the door.

I shivered. “W-what do you know about me?” I was starting to suspect I knew about her as well. I didn’t know much about demons—except that they seemed to favor red eyes. And hers were blood red. And then there was the rumor that they stole lives of those close to death. And souls. They fed on souls.

***

Have you ever had to be brave when scared witless? Without stuttering, I mean?

 

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A - Z Related Links:

Creepy Cotillion

Gertrude's Garden

Lucifer's Cage

Shadow People

Volatile Vortex

A - Z: Yggdrasil Packs a Punch

A - Z Challenge 2013:

The Paranormal Case Files of Indigo Eady

 

 

Hey bloggers! I’m Indigo Eady and I play the leading role in Givin’ Up The Ghost, A Guilty Ghost Surprised and Second Death, written by Gwen Gardner.  I've had some pretty interesting paranormal experiences, to say the least. I mean, just look at those titles!

So I’ve been asked by Gwen to host and share some of my paranormal case files for the A-Z Challenge.

I’m always happy to help Gwen out. Right now I’m trying to get on her good side so she’ll ease up on the clumsy angle of my character. And maybe she’ll even give me a little more confidence, especially around boys. Oh, and I’d totally love it if she made my bubble butt just a little bit smaller. So—you know—if you enjoy my case files, maybe you could put in a good word for me…

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Y is for Yggdrasil packs a punch.

 

The Yggdrasil is a type of sacred ash tree. Also called the world tree, it is said to unite Heaven, Earth and the Underworld by its roots and branches. The real Yggadrasil tree is located at the center of the universe and is considered the tree of knowledge.

I suspect this to be the main ingredient in the punch at Gertrude’s Garden. My theory is that’s why all the dimensions can congregate and coexist there, the living and dead alike. Even non-seers like Simon and Badger. I also think that’s why the punch affected me so much more than the others—because I am already able to see the otherworldlies. Adding the punch sort of put me on overload.

Here’s what happened. Do you remember when we were on ‘G’ for Gertrude’s Garden? Or was it ‘I’ for inter-dimensional travel? Anyway, while I was there, I drank the punch. Paranormal Punch. And lord almighty, what a mistake. Here’s what happened when we were inside Gertie’s seated at a table and discussing the missing paranormals case:

 

“Th-they want to know, bwahaha,” snorted Franklin, “why Gertie’s is called the ‘garden.’”

The table erupted into a roar, but eventually Franny controlled herself. “It’s a joke, dear.” Snort-sniggle-cough. “It’s called the ‘garden’ because it’s attached to the cemetery. It’s the one thing all paranormals have in common. We’re ‘planted’ there until we emerge in the afterlife. Get it? Planted instead of buried? That’s why it’s called the garden.”

Everyone began laughing again.

“Um, yeah. I get it.” I guess when faced with the strangeness of afterlife, a morbid sense of humor is a must.

“Nice they can laugh at their own demise,” said Badger out the side of his mouth.

“No doubt,” added Simon, a plastic smile pasted on his face. He reached for his glass and took a sip of the red drink. “Mmmm, this is bloody tasty. What’s it called, then?”

“Just your garden variety punch, dear,” said Franny, tittering at her joke.

Realizing how thirsty I was, I took a sip. “Oh, this is good.” I chugged half of it in one gulp. Suddenly the room began to sway and faces blurred. I shook my head, blinked my eyes. When my chair began to spin, I clamped my hands to the seat to keep from falling off. The last thing I remembered was wishing I had a seat belt.

 

*****

 

And I’ll bet you already guessed that I had to be carried home, dead to the world so to speak.

 

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A - Z Related Links:

Creepy Cotillion

Gertrude's Garden

Inter-dimension Travel
Krispin the Kitsoon
Shady Shadow People