NaNoWriMo 2013 - Coming up way too soon

Got lots of story ideas, still no clear idea of what to try this year. Planning on using it, as always, to drive job interview interruption-itis.

Well, Let's take a look at my early candidates.

Mr. Tanner still wants to tell me what he lost that week....and how, maybe even why, or at least why it's on his expense account requests.

Looking again at Crossing of the Shadows and Knife Has No Forgiveness. Two tougher pieces to write, both high fantasy, one a Billenius Tale, the other the final hunt of Scorpio Kenrai.

However, Scorpio seems to be talking about two different tale as well. Both are from early in his career, the first is Blade of Smoke and Shadows, on how he makes his first real friend among other peoples, and second tale being Blood of the Hunters, a story of an elemental demon that attacks his peoples, both of them, the blood ones and the adopted.

I also have been suffering from an idea that defied the efforts of being a short story, even in outline/research, a steam-punk mystery thing.

Then we have a true sci-fi tale, as CJ swung by about a moment ago and demanded to know when I planned on telling any of his tales.

Also in the wings is a dark tale told from the dragon's point of view about captivity in a circus, a tale of erotic horror/sci-fi that keeps popping up (The Harpies of Sheol) fighting it out with Mazetown (a cyber-punk erotic horror idea that died early on last year), and a mythic tale from my world called (for now) For the Honor of the Twenty-Third, about the fall of the Old North Empire.

Yeah, too many ideas, I know. Which is why you will see me working them out here over the next few weeks, narrowing them down, presenting the finalists for laughs and jeers, as well as maybe a few thumbs up. and then making a choice.

I will put up full synopses next week, after I take a few days to think it all over. And maybe even some maps of the places I am thinking about setting tales in.

Restoration via the Park - A Poem of Walking Amid Life

I find my daily bit of peace
walking through and about the park
just absorbing the calm from life
feeling the breeze soothing my torn soul
as my smile returns watching waterfowl
who wander about on land and pond
and Nature herself speaks inside my heart
reminding me I am a living being.

The green of grass and trees soothes
as the flames of anger dampen slowly
stirred before by foolish things all do
not just others, but this idiot also
as I keep trying too hard to suceed
not seeing that life can be won slowly
until here amid naught but fresh air
the soft ground reminds me of joy.

Life has its burdens we all bear
but in a park you can find
a place to lay them down briefly
and reconnect with that joy once felt
when as a kid you came here
by watching others around you relishing it
or just finding moments of near silence
that allow your sanity and innocence restoration.

(24May2012 - Dyfedd Rex)

Why not head to the Tundra

Too damned cold
the dawn brings no relief
as the wind rises up to chill
down to the very core
our very marrow.

We stomp around
swinging arms back and forth
shooting the breeze to keep wide awake
not letting the cold consume
our last energy.

"Might as well"
Stranger says in loud voice
Leaving me to scratch my head slowly
then stare back at him
and request clarification,

"Might well what"
to which he grins big
"Head to the Tundra way up North
Its got to be warmer."
then laughs loudly.

Which sparks discussion
of how to stay warm
by the Tundra's harsh and deadly rules
debating the virtues of igloos
and walrus robes.

Its all bluff
we won't head that way
we know better than to tempt Fate
as that cruel, cold witch
hates us already.

Its just jawing
even as the door opens
and warmth and lunch exit so briefly
as we thaw fingers out
sipping hot chocolate.

(12/4/2011 - Dyfedd Rex)

MacMushNDawg and its variants!

MacMushNDawgs (or Hot Dog Soup) and its many variants in my household!
The basics are easy,
take some elbow macaroni (about 2 cups) and cook it off
as you do, chop up some hotdogs (1 pack) and fry the pieces up in butter or margarine
drain the macaroni when its cooked to your level of preference (tenderness),
add a can of cream of mushroom soup,
1/4 can of milk
and the dogs...
stir well, salt and pepper to taste...

I began to play with this and got these variants over the years,

I tended to use soy sauce or Worcestershire (not any more, the anchovies make me break out and suffer allergic reaction, so using kitchen bouquet or teriyaki/soy) sauce when browning off the hotdogs,

I have been known to add shredded cheese (colby jack is my fave, but cheddar is great as well) to the final mix, and add chopped onions and green peppers to the dogs when browning them. I also like tossing in bacon bits (as in make some bacon with the dogs and break it up to add in.)

Once upon a time I messed with the recipe in a big way...

I used a 50/50 mix of hamburger and italian sausage (hot) instead of hotdogs, added garlic, onions, peppers and pimentos to the browning, using a splash of teriyaki sauce with soy and no butter this time round. I also added half a bag of frozen green beans to the macaroni as I cooked it, and then when combining everything at the end, all I had was a handful of shredded pizza cheese (mozzarella) and a half hand of colby jack, this still was great...

Later, I dropped the sausage due to costs, and went just hamburger.. still good. Adding Fiesta mix and California mix veggies in for the green beans,

but for some reason, no veggie works with the dogs....

other than the onions and peppers.

Yes, you can feel and hear your arteries clogging, but it tastes good to me...

La

Another of my recipes.. Sausage Parmesean Casserole

Another of my comfort foods I miss right now, though I think my arteries are happy to avoid:

Take a box of beef sausage links (I did the brown n serves, small box)
boil the sausages in about 2 cups of water
add as you boil:
1 1/2 tsp of sweet basil
1 tsp of cracked black pepper
reduce to simmer for 1/2 houradd 1/4 cup diced onions (frozen works)
1/4 cup diced green bells (also frzn)
and 1/2 package of italian blend frozen veggies (Fiesta blend worked too)
then use one of those envelope pasta things, the tomato parmesan one...
salt to taste...


Sausage Soup:
One box of brown'n'serve maple flavored sausages, or for spicy version, Heat n serve hot n spicy flavored sausage links, slowly bring to simmer in 2 1/2 cups of water, adding to the water as it begins to simmer
2 tsp sweet basil,
2 tsp cracked black peppers,
1 tsp crushed red peppers (if want hotter flavor)
a pinch of oregano leaf,
a dash or two of garlic or onion salt.
1/2 cup of diced fresh/frozen green peppers
1/4 cup of diced fresh/frozen onionsSimmer these for two hours or so, allowing the juices to build, as you stir occassionally, and use spoon to cut the links into bite sized or smaller bits.
then add:
1 tsp of either chicken or beef builloin.
1 cup of water
1 package of Fiesta or California style frozen vegetablesopen at this point our noodles, using either chicken or pork flavored ramen noodles to chicken flavor, and beef or better yet the roast beef to beef flavored. Add only the seasonings packets at this time. Cook until veggies begin to exude flavors into soup base.
Then add the noodles, bring to boil for time enough for ramens to cook, but beware of boilover.
Last, stir in 1/2 cup either colby jack, Parmesean or other shredded cheese
cook now on low heat until all cheese is melted into soup.
Serve out carefully, allow salt and pepper to taste..

Updates and Notes

Well, I have a new tale, but unless it gets totally rejected out of hand, it will not be posted here. Sorry, folks, but this guy is making his try at the semi-pro writng market. I will keep you all posted as to whether this tale gets accepted or not, as well as something else still being shopped around.

Now, you should get chapter 7 of Clansman this weekend, and perhaps even chapter 9 from the rewrite of Billenius' Tale. Unless I get job, in which case, well, Clansman just needs a good edit, so I may still get it done, but no time promises.

Last, I am on my way to true insanity, working on 9 Works in Progress, which means don't stand close, if my brain boils over, the splatter will be ugly....
Its 4 novels in some stage of writing, four shorts in progress (counting Clansman) and a poem I am still not happy with. Its a Small Town America one, which is what makes it harder to do.
So, be well, hope to have folks enjoying tales soon, and please, leave a comment, even if its just using the buttons at the end of the tale or poem.
Sinc.,
-Dyfedd Rex

For the mobile crowd

I am allowing this blog to go to a mobile template as well, it does say beta, so not all the crashes will be my overly long and excessively wordy and strange tales.....

enjoy taking my blog, and the blogs of others you read, mobile as you head out into that brave digital world...
Me, I am heading off to  ludite heaven to find crickets and other nightly noisy critters.....

Just a note

This is just a note for fans of Billenius and Scorpio.
I am still working on their tales, just a little slower than of late. Expect a new chapter from Bill by next week and one from Scorpio in the next two or so. Also, I have the strart of a new Scorpio tale in draft, which may get part of it posted here, its a longer work, part of the Demon of Elements Cycle in his path to where ever it is the young clansman is headed. Watch for Blade for the Clansman's Blood coming soon, the first chapter, a teaser if you wish.

Other than that, things have been hectic with a yard sale to keep my head above water, trap season for the kids I help out with and the like. The patio is calling though, promising me a place to sit and write more for you folks soon. Until then, enjoy the poems and few other things that may sneak in here!
And remember, no writer can survive in a vacuum, your feedback on my writings is welcome and will be taken into account. I can't fix what folks don't point out to me!
-D.Rex