Getting Them Cogs in Motion

Hi all, sorry to leave you all in the dark for so long, getting back on track took a little longer than I thought. For starters, I thought for sure I would get some blogging and/or writing done over the break but low and behold being back at my parents house in central Canada, I was not allowed to use my microsoft word because someone else in the house was using a microsoft project on their computer. That's what you get when you install the same OS on three computers.

But that wasn't the only reason writing was not done. Family stuff and activities with friends seemed to be happening everyday and soon enough it was time to fly back out east.

Oh well, I am back now so no worries. I return to the land of snow and crows, leaving behind the big cities and the constant happenings. I do not regret my decision.

Anyways, now on to the real reason why you all read my blog, an update on Hunter. Although I said I did not get any writing done over the break that does not mean I did not get some done before and afterwards. During study breaks I did some editing, finally fixed the page layout that was pissing me off, and wrote a tiny bit. Coming back I enlisted my friend who is working towards a Bachelor of Arts specifying in English to read over certain passages to make sure what I'm saying in them is clear and that it is grammatically correct. After much confusion, both of us referring to different things using the same word namely, she understood what I was asking of her and readily helped me fix one glaring problem in my more recent passage.

One problem I find with writing, is that when you want the characters to travel, you have to be careful -especially if you've never been to the locations in which you want your characters to travel to. For example, I've been to England, Scotland, Ireland, and the USA; all of which I could easily pick a location and not worry too much about proper description since most of the places I would pick are still quite clear in my mind (because I've taken so many pictures). However, I've decided not to send Kat and West to any of those places. Instead, I have sent them to, wait for it, Verona, Italy.

As much as I love Italy and I would like to go there someday, I'm quite clueless to the actual layout of the city. Any and all help in this department would be appreciated, not because I'm too lazy to look up pictures for it, but I think it would be more beneficial to hear a description from someone who has actually been there.

Luckily though, with my novel being set somewhat in the future, description of some buildings can differ, but I still would much prefer to hear how Verona looks now and compare to how it might look in like 40 years after various supernatural beings have taken over.

Although right now I have hit the dreaded stalemate of the story -that is where it is nothing but boring information that, unfortunately, needs to be there to advance the story... there are usual a good number of these- I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and my good friend West is helping me move it a long. Yes, I do like to think of my characters as real people, for that, I feel, helps give them more personality.

Kat's as helpful as soggy mop to moving these parts a long, but she is key to the plot so I cannot simply stick her in a corner and tell her to wait until it's done -though I wish I could at times.

Anyways, enough about that. Just wanted to let you all know that YES I am still alive and working diligently on Hunter.

Now for another part that you all have been waiting for, book recommendations. YAY!

Today's book is Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel -which was given to me as a Christmas present from one of my sisters. There are not enough words in the human dictionary to describe how much I love this book. The story is based in the 1500's, during the reign of King Henry VIII of England, and follows the life of a cunning man by the name of Thomas Cromwell and his own rise to power during this time. I fear if I get started in trying to summarize the plot I will not be able to stop and thereby ruin the story so I shall leave it at that. Honestly, a great read!

And for you classic lovers, I do recommend Ovid's Meamorphoses, a collection of myths and stories from the Greek and Roman period. It contains a creation story, the story of the first werewolf, Lycaon, Pygmalion, Perseus and Andromeda, and the fall of Troy. From my own opinion, though I enjoyed the book, it is a good read, not a great one. Though that may differ depending on what one likes to read.

And finally, for the history lovers. Although I am not finished it... frankly I'm only on the first chapter, but nonetheless I am enjoying it, Lindsey Hughes last historical work, The Romanovs. Although more of a textbook than the other two I am referring tonight, it's an interesting read for those who are into the history of the Tsars and of Russia. I will add more information on the text as I read more, but like I said I am still on the first chapter.

With that, I shall leave you, as I always do.

Happy reading!

K. A. Becks

So It Begins...

Well fellow bloggers, it has begun. The month of nonstop work that drives University students to the end of their rope. I am locked inside a cage and the key has been placed within view and only just out of reach. A cage that consists only of research books, paper, a blanket and pillow and the occasional appearance of food and water... possibly a toilet as well. So with that, I say. Good bye for now, I shall speak with you all again in December.

In the meantime, all of you who are into Celtic mythology or Folklore, I recommend Celtic Myths and Legends by Rolleston and Folktales of Ireland which was edited by Sean O' Sullivan. Both are fountains of information regarding the old beliefs -watered down by Christian Monks, of course- but there are still some elements left from the oral tradition.

Happy reading!

K. A. Becks

Back From the Grave

Huh, so it appears I am not dead just being very neglectful of my blog, my sincerest apologies for all you who are waiting ever so faithfully for updates. To put things in retrospect, I have had so much going on lately that it is a miracle that I am not actually dead... or that I updated.

First of all, there was Thanksgiving weekend. A time where my family comes from all corners of the world to gorge on turkey, fish, and other meals that you cannot get at University... or at least cannot be prepared to your liking at University. Although my family was missing one member this year, a silly sister who decided to remain at her University rather than going home, we still had fun. Most importantly, I got to see my sister who lives over in the Middle East and went hiking with her in hopes of working off the potential Thanksgiving tummy. I think we were successful.

Secondly, Midterms started up the week following Thanksgiving, meaning that I spent majority of my life either in the classroom or reading chapter upon chapter about the Celts, studying Gaelic terms, and reading Greek Tragedies -like most University students. On top of that I was also making my Halloween costume, which had to be done by this past weekend. I was successful in that department and have discovered a great hatred for drawing teddy bears and colouring with crayons.

And lastly, this past weekend was my second horse show as an English Rider. It was much more successful than my first. My horse, who is not really my horse but I'm the only one who rides her every week so she might as well be, won her first 3rd and 2nd place ribbons -note, this is also only her second show- and she and my friends baby -a 4 year old Thoroughbred/something cross... also not really belonging to her but once again she is the only one who rides him- got first place in the costumer pairs division.

If anyone wants to know, we were Peanut Butter and Jelly.

Anyway, back to the most important part of this blog -and the whole purpose of its creation- updates of Hunter. Truthfully, I haven't really worked much on it and I don't think I will be seeing as I got a job recently and I have about 100 million papers due in the next month... but not really. I've got 3 papers and 1 project... but it feels like 100 million... I'm sure every University student out there will agree with me on that statement.

I am trying to write quite a bit right now to make up for the lacking of writing, but seeing as it is dinner time, and I am currently writing this post I am sure all of you can imagine how well that is going. I think I shall have to leaf through my Now Write! book in hopes that it will save me from my writer's block.

Now... book recommendations... (ahem) for all of you nonfiction/history lovers, The Fall of Empires is a great book to read. It touches on everything from the fall of the Pharaonic Egypt to the Mayans. Any teachers -or students- involved in Ancient Civilizations might want to take a look at this book for project information or essay ideas.

Well that's all for today!

Happy reading!

K. A. Becks

A New Month, A New Post

I realize it has been ages since my last update but I assure you it was not because I was neglecting Hunter... I've just been neglecting the blog. I am well into the writing of Chapter 3 and have, somehow, also managed to keep up with all the reading I have for my Celtic Civ course and my Celtic Paganism. I may have to take a break from Hunter for a bit due to Midterms, essays and presentations, so I am writing as much as I can to ensure that my absence from Word does not affect my goal.

I decided, while working on a map for Celtic Civ, to watch Dracula last night -a movie that stars Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, Keanu Reeves, and the guy who plays Wesley in The Princess Bride. I don't remember who actually played Dracula, but I can assure you that it was none of the above actors. Anthony Hopkins was very good in the movie, Keanu Reeves -surprise surprise- was not. The movie kept true to the book through most of it, though there was one point where I could not tell if I was actually watching Dracule or The Wolf-Man... so I double checked the DVD case and discovered that I was, in fact, watching Dracula. Could have fooled me.

One thing I really liked about the movie was that, at the beginning, they had a whole scene of the real Dracula, Vlad "Tepes" Dracula and his fight against the Turks. I was only slightly disappointed about the death of one of his wives, the one who through herself out a window and into the river because in the movie they say it was because she got word of Vlad's death -even though he wasn't dead- when really, she was just crazy.

On the topic of halloween-ish movies, I watched GhostBusters a couple of nights ago and discovered that, no matter how hard you resist, the end of the movie leaves you desperately wanted melted marshmellows. What a great movie :D.

I claim that the reason I have not updated recently was due to my neglecting the blog, but that is not 100% true, I also have been dealing with presidential issues... or vice-presidential issues. I am the vice president of X Against Horse Slaughter Society at my University, which basically means I have to make slideshows, send e-mails and manage everything while the President oversees and books things when necessary. Our society is in place to let the public know that horse slaughter does happen -over 100,000 horses last year in Canada alone- and that we are trying to stop it. Our goal is to raise as much money for Horse Rescue Centers as possible.

You may ask, why is this going in a blog about the supernatural? Well, I feel that the more people who know the more of a chance we have to, hopefully, stopping the mistreatment and the slaughter of horses.

Anyway, I think I have taken up enough of your time with my blabbering. Today I shall recommend two old classics to read; Dracula and Frankenstein. Both are well worth the time, especially to those who are interested in the Supernatural and/or monsters.

Happy reading!

Kim A. Becker

P.S. I have recently discovered that my library has online articles dedicated to werewolves, vampires, ghosts and witches, my love for my University increases.

Don't You Hate...

I absolutely hate when you want to listen to a song, but you don't know the name of it or who it's by... or even what it sounds like. It makes everything that much harder. ... I also hate trying to convert a powerpoint -with audio components- into a movie file... took me 4 hours to get it right...

The Insanity Never Ends

Wow, what a hectic week. To start off, I have finally attended all of my classes and love each and every one of them (yay). Thus far, aside from readings, I don't have any homework but it isn't so much school work that has made this week hectic. Firstly, there is the hunt for find all the books needed in your classes, the hunt for a job, making time to go to the gym -and to the barn- and, in my case, making time to write. 

However, readers, I am VERY proud of myself this past week, for I have written more in the past few days than I have since starting this blog. I think that deserves a round of applause. I have also figured out all the important characters that will ever be introduced -or mentioned- in Hunter, that, alone, deserves another round of applause. 

The word count at the moment is 10155, yay me.

Today, in my books, has been my greatest day -I wrote a lot today and I went horse riding (my first English riding lesson to be exact). That isn't to say that I haven't been on a horse before, quite the opposite actually. I, for the past nine/ten years of my life, am a cowgirl... or at least I like to think I am. I've been riding Western since... well for a nine/ten years. The fact that I didn't end up on the ground tells me that it was a good ride. 

I should probably get back to reading The Iliad but frankly, I much prefer writing in my blog and rocking out to Bon Jovi than reading the epic poem on the Trojan War. Don't get me wrong, the poem is... uh... decently interesting... I just don't have the drive to read it at the present moment... that and I am too hyper to actually focus on it. 

Tomorrow, I will be having my fourth Gaelic lesson of the year and I wonder if my professor is going to be late again. One would think that after the third or fourth day the prof would know where the class was... makes me wonder what he's actually doing. I'm on to you Professor Seamus...

Well, that is truthfully all I can think about writing for tonight, but I do have another book series to recommend to all those Fantasy readers... yet again. Laura Resnick's In Fire Forged and In Legend Born series is incredible! Once again, like Jane Lindskold's books, it is for the older audience, but it is a worth while read. The books actual names are In Legend Born, The White Dragon, and The Destroyer Goddess. 

I realize, that in my last post I only mentioned Jane Lindskold's first book in the Firekeeper saga, so I feel I should include the others, for the sake of those who do not know what they are looking for. In order, they are: Through Wolf's Eyes, Wolf's Head, Wolf's Heart, Dragon of Despair, Wolf Captured, Wolf Hunting,  and Wolf's Blood. Just a quick note, Wolf's Head, Wolf's Heart is one book, and in my opinion soo much better than the first, though from Wolf Captured on is the series peak. 

Happy reading!

K. A. Becks

Migrating East

I've arrived in Antigonish, Nova Scotia -my home away from home- at long last. Usually, on my journey, I have a finned companion -who is affectionately named Yin- traveling with me but alas, this year, I trade him in for my sister. On the plus side, you can have more than a one sided conversation with a sister as well as she is willing to buy the drinks when you arrive at a pub. Fish, no matter how well trained, do not offer to buy drinks. 

So, my dear Yin remains in Oakville, alone. I feel somewhat sorry for him, for before he at least had his other finned companion Yang to keep him company -but Yang, unfortunately, died the previous year. Ironically, in Asian culture, Yang is the symbol of life and Yin is death... and yet, in my case, it was Yin that lived and Yang that died... unless it means that Yin caused Yang's death. I, however, know for a fact that it was a Fire Extinguisher, not Yin, that killed my dear Yang. 

Off the topic of fish, I forgot how remote -and absolutely wonderful- Nova Scotia is. In comparison to Ontario I mean. I could care less that you can drive for four hours and not see so much as a breath of civilization. I love it. And seeing my school does nothing but put a chesire cat smile to my face. 

As for Hunter, it is coming along. Understandably, I haven't written much but I am trying. I have ideas for the far future, I'm just having trouble with the now. At this point in time, my faithful readers, I feel it is time to reward you. And by that I mean, I am going to post the finished Prologue to Hunter. 

I hope you all enjoy.

Steam resonated from the locomotive as it coasted to a stop within the old station, emitting a loud whistle-like screech as the brakes locked the wheels in place. The doors to the train cars creaked as they slid open, allowing the passengers to exit the steaming, winding snake.

Cold grey eyes watched every movement of the current inhabitants to the metal snake’s home. Scraggly brown hair surrounded caramel ears and topped a broad forehead. A single white wrapped stick of tobacco rested on the right ear; a single bright colour that contrasted greatly with his dark exterior. Calloused fingers grazed past a silver six-shooter, stopping at a dark leather pouch. Thrusting his hand inside the pouch, he pulled out a small silver lighter.

He removed the cigarette from his ear and turned to a small girl with golden blonde hair; a gruff smile crossed his features as he held the cigarette up for her to see.

“You see this?” he asked before placing th white stick inbetween two pale pink lips. The girl nodded, a small, slender hand diligently reaching for a .45 caliber rifle and the other resting at a sharp wooden stake. “This is our timer,” he explained, “our goal is to put all the creatures down before this goes out.”

The girl was used to the man not calling what they were hunting monsters- he theorized that at this day-in-age, not many people were being turned of their own free will. “The only monsters,” he had once told her, “are the ancients: Vlad, Set, and Lycaon –the ones who turned humanity into their cursed kind.”

The man flicked the silver lighter open, giving life to the flame embedded within. He placed the flame up against the white stick in his mouth, igniting the tip. Taking a long drag on the cigarette, the man uttered one word while exhaling smoke, “Go.”

                                                                        ~~

Crystal blue eyes opened as slender fingers grasped a silver six-shooter, ripping it from its holster. The short, golden blonde haired young woman stalked towards the resting train’s open doors. The train was long since vacant, awaiting its new passengers to board to their next destination. She held up a silver badge to the train’s attendant –a badge that allowed her free pasage on any train, boat, or plane.

The badge was of simple design; silver with the image of a falcon with its wings spread wide etched onto it and the words ‘Order of the Falcon’ carved above it. Really, it was the word –the single word- beneath the falcon that gained its bearer access;  the word “Venator” or “Hunter”.

Reaching for his two-way radio, the attendant fumbled with an order of claiming that the train was delayed. He knew what it meant for a hunter to be in the building; if there was a hunter present then there was unmistakably a monster in the vicinity.

The woman walked through the traincar slowly, her steps barely making a sound. Her senses were on high alert as she cocked her six-shooter as quietly as possible. The click of the gun echoed through the empty train, bouncing off the walls and disappearing as the silence devoured it.

                                                            ~~

Pointed, dark brown ears perked as a strange sound rang through his train car.  Blood stained lips curled back over large white fangs and a loud growl rumbled from the beasts thick throat. Rising up on muscular hind legs, the beast moved stealthily towards the compartment door, yellow eyes peering out through the small round window. The creature’s black nose twitched as it inhaled the scent of a stranger –a female stranger.

                                                            ~~

The women froze, her careful gait causing a boared to creak under her –or, what she had initially thought was under her- weight. Listening to the echo, the sound had not come from her but from one of the private compartments. She clutched her silver shooter tightly, glaring towards the entrance to the room. There was another creak, louder than the first which brought her eyes towards one compartment in particular.

She took up her steady pace once more. Stalking towards the door, she raised her gun up slightly, aiming it towards the room. The train had fallen silent once more. Glancing up at the small round window to the room, she was taken a bit aback by the fact that it was completely fogged up. What didn’t surprise her was when she had looked through the glass –through the fog- she could see a pair of glowing eyes staring back at her.

A loud rumble, equivalent to that of thunder, erupted from the room as the woman jumped back away from the door. “Shit!” the word barely left her lips when the door exploded from the impact of the colossal beast’s lunge. Projectile shards of glass and wood flew every which way as the beast –landing on all fours on the other side of what was once a door- rose back onto its hind legs; a bushy, brown tail flicking behind it. A barking roar escaped its agape maw as it glared at its advisary –who was still in the process of regaining her footing.

“You’re a big one,” she commented to the monster before her, “well, big or small, I guess you all die the same.” Her words were met with an angry snarl as the creature cracked his clawed knuckles. “Are you so far gone that you’ve forgotten how to talk? Pathetic.”

Whether it could respond or not, the beast certainly could understand what she was saying and understood that she was taunting him. With a bellowing bark the beast charged at her.

Raising her six-shooter to eye level, she squeezed the trigger and released a single silver bullet from the gun’s barrel with a loud crack. The bullet soared through the air only to be slowed by a shield of fur and flesh as it burrowed to its destination; leaving remnants of its silver poison to pollute the creature’s bloodstream. The bullet came to a full stop as it reached the over-accelerated heart, the force knocking the creature off balance.

The brown furred beast came to a crashing halt at the hunter’s feet, labored breaths racking from the creautres agape maw; its glowing eyes turned dull. As the beating organ slowed to a stop, a final heaving breath left its lungs.  

Taking two steps to the beast, the hunter gave its furred head a rough kick, assuring herself that the creature was indeed dead. Turning on her heels she let out a low snort as she marched towards the train car’s door, “I hate werewolves.” 

Personally, I believe it is a good start and you all are the first to ever lay eyes on it (a round of applause would be adequate at this point). It is interesting, but at times that I cannot think of what to write I find myself thinking, 'What would Joss Whedon do?' (the writer and director of Buffy the Vampire Slayer) or flipping through the pages of a well loved classic, Dracula. Sometimes I even find myself watching the very clever -and creepy- episodes of Buffy while looking through Dracula. 

For any who are deeply attached to the original myths and legends that surround the Supernatural, Buffy is a really good reference. Joss Whedon has certainly done his homework. So, not only do I enjoy the episodes just for the love of the story, but also for the informational value that it includes -which saves me hours of reading up on  the old myths (since we all know Anthony Stewart Head, as Giles, and Alyson Hannigan, as Willow, can explain it at a level we all understand and make it entertaining). 

It is my sincerest hope that Hunter might touch the world as Buffy did. Appealing to those attached to the old myths as well as those that do not know them as well but are just looking for a good read that includes the Supernatural phenomena that we all love. Sure, Twilight fans who love the idea of a sparkling Vampire romantic will probably be severely disappointed, but those Werewolf lovers out there will not. (Werewolves are better anyways). 

I must admit, though I am not overly proud of this (well, not so much not proud, but somewhat ashamed since I am so attached to the old legends) I have changed part of the Werewolf transformations... however, my faithful readers, I will not reveal to you as to what I have done -you will just have to wait until I release that information, possibly later on, or until Hunter is published... if it gets published. 

Seeing as it is late on my end, I shall now leave you, as always, with my favorite farewell. Well, after I say this, reading is TV for the brain -only without the gooey, loss of intelligence part- if you put some effort in, I am sure you will find something worth reading. For those of you who love wolves and are on the younger side -or enjoy an easy read- I recommend The Sight and its sequel Fell by David Clement-Davies. For those older and enjoy a more difficult read and LOVE fantasy, there is the Firekeeper Saga by Jane Lindskold, a series of six books, the first called Through Wolf's Eyes. 

Both are very enjoyable, though I highly recommend not reading the Firekeeper Saga until you are, at least, in Grade 11 -around 16 years old. However, The Sight and Fell are great from whatever age. 

Happy reading!

K. A. Becks