Paths of Empires

 As a writer, and especially of historical novels, I find research a key to the stories, but my love for history began as a child with the books I loved to read, especially when I got old enough to check out books from the adult side of the library. Most writers of such books also do a lot of research, which makes their books more exciting when blended with fictional characters.

One book I bought years later, when at the farm, was Generations, by Neil Howe. It dealt with how one generation influences another, and he took it from our beginning as a nation to 2069. The idea is what our parents experienced will impact how we see life-- and we will also impact our offspring in ways we don't really understand. For me, with my historicals, I saw this as advantageous to understand the personalities of the characters. 

So, where I am today with what I see with my country, the United States, is how history and the impact of generations, might impact what we want... although there are many my age with a totally different idea of what is right for ethics and life. We as humans are complex is all I can say.

Because of all I have heard from right and left wingers, I found this article very interesting and drew from it some key points. This is its link for those who want more than those points: The Seven Stages of all Great Nations.

Here those stages based on his research of nations going way back in history. It definitely fits the United States quite well-- at least for the past:

1. pioneer

2. conquest

3. commerce

4. affluence

5. elites and intellect

6. decadence and lack of courage

7. decline-- distrust, scapegoating, factionalization, currency collapse 

Basically, the 7th stage is the end; or if not, a total recreating in a new form, what that would be decided by the ones in power.

I could write more about each stage, but better those interested go to the link for the interpretations there. 

So, where are we in the United States today? 

We can see, if we know history, that we've been through a lot of the stages, although defining things like conquest might vary with different empires.  The US went through a lot of conquests with other nations but especially with the people who were first occupying this land-- i.e. Native Americans. 

The 7th stage though is where it seems we are now with blaming others, trusting nothing, divided into 'tribes' with only currency collapse yet to show up.

With the factionalization, what gets to me is when I hear people complain about the 'other' side. While I don't disagree that both sides have their part in leading to distrust, to taking away other people's freedom of speech (as they see it), but rarely can either side see something wrong with their own. 

The other big thing for me is how we have so many programs intended to help people, often keeping them dependent (while calling it empathy) but how are the programs being paid for? We know our  US debt is approaching $40 trillion dollars, and increasing with every new budget. How do we pay for these 'nice' programs? I know there are those who cannot take care of themselves, but is this because they never could or were taught that someone else could fix whatever was wrong, and they didn't have to do it?

Some say to think that way is a lack of caring but does that really help weak people or were they actually ever weak? We know some have mental illness, but do we have programs for that or is the answer just throwing money at the problem? A lot of times, the money goes to those running the programs... sometimes a LOT of it. Is there ever true accountability for how well something is working? Where it comes to education, sadly many of the best teachers are hindered from what they'd really like to do by partisan rules sent down from above, which can be from either side.

When I talk to some about these ideas, they blame me for how I think. They do not offer real solutions, if there are any. 

If we are truly in that 7th stage, maybe some are hoping for a totally reworked culture, along lines they believe better--like with sports and how a biological male can compete with biological females simply if he says he sees himself as a female. Well, we can't just see ourselves as another race because does that make us one? It's very unfair to the girls who have trained so hard but cannot beat a biological male. Talk about misogyny. But is there any turning around from the fractionalization that is clearly in our country right now?

Sometimes I say what I think, but a lot of the times I do not, mainly because I am not sure how to fix anything. I only know one thing-- we cannot keep borrowing money because at some point no one else will want to loan to us. What then? A sugar daddy? Santa Claus? A mystical spirit? Or is it really up to us if we don't want total destruction with not a sugar daddy running things but the meanest, toughest ones possible...

The photos above are ones I've kept for historical reference, not my family-- although I have those also for maybe some other time. They, and many others I have saved, are a reference to what it was like and not that many years ago in terms of time. Is it any wonder that we are having a hard time adjusting to all the changes. Yes, young people have not seen that many changes, but they have also seen so many.

Is it luck or fate?

 First, new news:  PI Webworks has said they will add the page I want on my website, raintrueaxbooks.com (link alongside here), when they finish their model shoots, those, which give writers more character options for their book covers or videos. 

This page will mostly complete my current library of books. It is all contemporaries in a series I call Romance with an Edge. It gets the edge because most of the books have suspense or danger, frequently with villains -- the challenge has to be worthy of hero/heroines to overcome. 

Although I still want to write about my books and how I see being a writer plays out, I have something in mind for next blog that relates more to culture. I am frustrated with seeing so many expressing views, with which I can't agree. Likely, this is due to my age and how many different aspects of life that I have observed. So, the first one in June will have a view on culture and what goes wrong-- clearly, mine is the opposite of how many see it. Alas, can't please everyone. 

Most of today's blog will be about choosing titles for our books, particularly, of course, how I try to do it. I am not sure if I've written before about the importance of the right title. Generally, for my books, I look to the theme of the book to find the right words and cover images to convey that to potential readers. I want the characters on the covers to look as much like I have described these protagonists. Not always easy. This is where Period Images comes in with their diverse cast of models. I will not use AI for covers as I don't think those images feel real. I do not use it in writing my stories either. I want my own creativity to provide that, with some checking of spelling with research.

Do titles and covers sell books, I have no idea. I look for the right words to satisfy my own creative needs. More than once, the original idea I had didn't work out and the title got changed. That is not a good thing to do, by the way.

Looking at the book I wrote about when discussing the new website, its title, Luck of the Draw, checked all the boxes for me. As I said, my first idea for a title isn't always the best or the one I will use. That was true for this romance of the rodeo. I was going to use Eight Seconds to Ride, which suits rodeo with its need; then a movie came out after the death of a famous cowboy, Lane Frost, with that title. Lane, for those who don't follow rodeo, was young and killed by a bull he had been riding. Big tragedy and led to a movie.

I still could have used it as titles get reused all the time, but my respect for what Lane Frost stood for made me want a different title. If you are not familiar with that young cowboy, the info is easy to find with a quick search.

For the rodeo world, the luck of the draw was how rides were determined-- a draw, like a lottery where the cowboy found the number for his animal on a board. Cowboys want an animal that will buck enough to give them a high score for an exciting ride. Getting an animal though that is known as dangerous, for when the rider eventually hits the ground, hopefully at the end of the ride, that can send chills down their spines before the ride begins, as some are known as more dangerous or the rider has been bucked off before. 

But that title, luck of the draw works for more than the rodeo. Luck is not everything, but some luck,fate, coincidence, or karma can make a difference in our opportunities. There are some things that happen and not of our making. One choice leads to another, which can be down the right or wrong path. Luck can impact how we can move forward toward our dreams. Of course, is about more than luck, but some of it sure doesn't hurt. The right time can be as key as the wrong time.

She was young to meet the 'one.' Working in her parents' dry-goods store and thinking about a future in art. She had no idea how this guy would disrupt it all-- or was that make it work out. Two different worlds. Perfect for fantasy but how about for real life?

That is the fun of creating titles. Do we need villains? Well, there kind of is one but he's more the average villain, the kind most of us come across to screw up our plans-- if we let them. All I can say at this point is Luck of the Draw was the perfect title and has not had to change from the beginning. Not so for all of mine.

Acquiring a Webpage.

 One thing that has worked out amazingly well, was the offer we saw from a company that creates websites; something I have never had out of not knowing how to do it. Well, PI Webworks knows how and did a fantastic job. Some of what they did, I did not realize would be so important. Well, I believe it now. 

The link for this website is alongside here, but I wanted to say more about what has pleased  me so much with their work. At this point, it's not finished but that's not due to them. It's because I wanted new covers for my contemporary romances, which are based in the West of today. When I first brought these books out, they'd been written from the 1970s, up into the 2000s. To make the earliest ones fit modern times , took a year, 2011 to bring them up to date. You only realize how much things had changed during those years, when you edit the way we communicated.

It was set in 1974, about when I wrote it, because I knew a lot about rodeo then, but practically nothing about it today. Resetting books works with many as it doesn't matter about the main stories. Where it comes to rodeo, rules change, and it changes the stories. It's the only one, aside from historicals where resetting the time would have mattered.

When I got interested in the option of being an independent writer, I dug it out from under the bed. It was all there except the last three or four pages, the climax lol. How could I have lost them? Well, I had to think long and hard what I had originally written. That was just the beginning of writing it all again, this time on a computer, and editing it multiple times in the future. 

As I said, communications have changed so much and maybe will even more. With more edits, the essence of this book stayed the same regarding young love and its pitfalls especially with the drama of rodeo, and two people coming from very different backgrounds. The last time I edited, it, I added an epilogue for how it worked out for those two and where they ended up. Were their dreams fulfilled or lost? That's the fun of writing. 

How to buy it will be in the website if I can get the contemporaries added. For now, it's on Amazon: Luck of the Draw.

Because the contemporaries came out, most of them in 2012, I had no clue how to help readers find them. They have since fallen into Amazon's black hole, to disappear to an average search. I believe in them for their characters and the reason each was written. As I have said, I don't follow popular themes for romances, which might be a mistake in terms of marketing, but I believe in it where it comes to increasing my own creativity.

So, hopefully we can get Romances with an Edge added to the webpage, leaving only the three Diablo Canyon novellas not there. And, of course, the books I have yet to write, the ones churning around in my head.

 Here is the URL for the webpage: Rain Trueax Books to see the creative collaboration that led to a place for potential readers to find the books and maybe increase their own creativity.

when it does not work out...

 Because of showing some of my impressionistic landscapes, I also saw two paintings (of many), from when I wanted to try painting abstracts, but ended up feeling I did not have the talent for them as they always either ended up as 'something' or were like-- 'so what.'

I decided they would though be good for this topic of creativity because you try something and then find out if it's your thing. Failures aren't always bad, whether in writing or the fine arts. You won't know until you try.

More on writing next blog as I have something new for there.

In looking for images of my paintings, I came across this photo. It is Ranch Boss with his best friend from before he met me even. The friendship is not over though his friend died of the cruelest disease I can imagine, ALS. Fisherman, his nickname, is still missed, will always be missed. The photo was from one of the many times the four of us stayed at a beach house.

Earlier blog is below--

~~~~~

 This week I played a little with oils as I had no subject I wanted to paint. I thought perhaps doing abstracts would loosen up my landscapes. I have a lot of small canvases (Michael's had the packages of 10 on sale). Small seemed more promising than big. At least if they didn't work, I had less invested in them.

I started the first one by covering the surface with a bright orange. As my brush seemed to suggest water, the painting took off from being an abstract to a kind of fantasy sea. Well, at least the colors are abstracted. It is really hard for me to make a painting that doesn't end up being about something.

Creative Energy can take many paths

This week, because I had been asked to answer questions, plus provide a few images for an interview, I went looking for some paintings I had done back when I was painting. When I came across the blog below in a site that is no longer public, I thought it fit well with this topic of creativity.

For many creative people, they go through various ways to express their ideas. The beauty of it is how each can seep into the other venues. The experiences I had while painting and waiting for Ranch Boss as he fly fished, an art form of its own, also gave me the chance to wade creeks looking for more round rocks, a hobby of mine. Did you know that all creeks do not produce round rocks? When they do, it takes looking carefully to see how round they are.

The main experiences of creativity for me, besides always writing, were impressionistic painting and clay sculpture. Those two plein air paintings are at the farm. I remember doing both of them as I describe below. As my tremors worsened, both became less feasible. I am glad though for the times I with those modes of expression. 

One thing I hadn't mentioned in the earlier blog is that when I painted at Slough Creek in Yellowstone, we also saw and photographed a grizzly. It had been sleeping on the other side from where I painted and Ranch Boss fished. 

We left that site to look for wolves and more buffalo pictures in the Lamar Valley, Returning, the grizzly had clearly waded the creek from the brush where he'd been napping and was heading out. Lucky for us, he crossed the gravel road, right in front of our vehicle. Then, he headed up the hill to a quieter area with tall trees and no fishermen. Ranch Boss said you can tell by the trail, that a bear knew it well. likely that bear.

While I was painting, a ranger asked if I had seen the grizzly. I described what we saw. He then asked if he had seemed aggressive. Absolutely not, he just wanted to get out of there. Too many people.

 

 ~~~~

It seemed a good idea when making a trip to Montana and Yellowstone National Park that I would take several small canvases, my oil paints, and the new portable easel along. The truck had plenty of space although there was one difficulty in planning to sleep in the back while in the park. That meant packing light and I kind of thought I had... if I didn't consider the easel.

What I learned was that the easel was not needed and was in the way. It takes too long on a fast trip like that to get it out and set it up-- not to mention it was not necessary as I actually like sitting on the ground with a canvas propped against a rock and mixing my paints right on the canvas. So next trip, no easel unless I have a trailer along to carry the extra supplies and plan to spend more than one night in a location.

The other thing I learned was that wet oils are a problem to transport. The need for a small box that will hold the oils apart from each other and protect everything else from getting paint splatters is obvious.

I have to get used to the curiosity some feel when they see someone painting on location. I was asked by one man if I was a painter. How does one answer such a question? I said I want to be but thought that I need to decide if I am; or if I am not than what am I doing?

Creating vs. marketing

In trying to put together some words regarding my writing philosophy, I realized the initial ideas that came to me, first two paragraphs below, were about encouraging someone else to be a writer. 

That led me to try to change my focus to why might someone like my books and the third paragraph below.

My blog has had the first purpose, along with loving nature, and positive ideas toward life. Marketing my books has not been here so much. The thing I am wondering is can they be blended?

Writing romances is taking what you know, have loved, experienced, dreamed, along with the losses. mistakes and failures, adding a touch of fantasy, mixing it together with fictional characters, who use it to create their happily ever after.

 For writing romances, take what you have learned about life, the positive and negative, add to it imagination and characters you get to know as if they were friends. That’s basis of my work for what I value, love, honesty, which comes first? For me it's been the writing, but many say write to th, courage, strength, friends, and family—along with happily ever after.

 The basis for my romances, whether historical, fantasy or contemporary comes from what I value—love, honesty, courage, strength, friends, and family. I use what I’ve learned and dreamed—the easy and the hard with an added touch of fantasy.

Here's a question for writers and wantabes--  Which comes first, writing or marketing? It's taught by many that you need to know what the market is and write to that, if you ever want to sell. You need to learn what tropes readers want and make sure they are there.

As for me, I've gone the other way with writing to my interests, whether that was the historicals, contemporaries, or fantasies.There are popular tropes that turn me off totally for reading. How could I write to that. 

What I have believed is that my characters work through different problems and time periods (where research comes in), taking into account what changing outside forces might be impacting them. My plots do have a similarity to them with some suspense, conflict and, of course, the happily ever after romances require. But that's me as a writer. What about the reader, those who know what kind of story they want and are unsure if what I write, in a different series, will satisfy them.

Selling books has to be part of a writer's focus. For some writers, it supports their families, but even when living frugally in retirement, it's important as writing is about sharing the writer's voice with others. Selling means that happened. 

Some might say then make the books free or 99¢. That would be undercutting writers who are supporting their families. Another reason, to keep the price higher then that, relates to some believing a low price indicates less value in the book.

Other than for a sale, mine are priced based on lengths, as I believe they have equal quality. Novellas are $2.99. Novels vary from $3.99 to $4.99 based also on length. Their prices could be higher, many writers have their eBooks at $6.99 or more. 

Marketing is frustrating to figure out what is fair to writers and readers. Currently none of mine are in KU because they are wide to sites like B&N, Kobo, etc. Well, there is an exception to that, with the contemporaries, which I have only in Amazon, but not KU. That's because of Amazon rules regarding independent writers. I can't have any book in KU unless I do not have it elsewhere. 

For now, the contemporaries are where they are because I want to do editing, before I make them wide. I know that sounds confusing. It is to me, but I need to deal with their covers and maybe titles. I tend to not have enough commas, which had been a problem in the books I did just edit (the ones in the below poster).

It is a poster I made for the contemporary paranormals. I did it for my own satisfaction as not a lot of places I can use it. I like seeing my purposes and books together. Stories were set in Idaho, Montana, and Arizona, my beloved West.

Diablo Canyon

 Because your question searches for deep meaning, I shall explain in simple words. ---- Dante Alighieri

There were several aspects to what made Diablo Canyon the key to everything that had come before, It was both a place and a goal. It also was part of what this earth and its nature is all about. Of course, also for me, with some changes to the novellas, it became the novel.

For the novel, mysticism was important, but so, was the physical reality of the earth on which we live. Is it really, what we think? We know that it's made up of many chemical aspects (names most of us have never heard). Our flesh, all that is below, and around us is made up of atoms/nucleus and whatever, is beyond that. What holds it together and gives it form is energy. This is the reality of life even though we operate on a physical level as though that what we see and feel, is all there is.

What makes Diablo Canyon important, beyond what I ever intended is the question of  the importance of physical ley lines. Do such energy lines exist? And if they do, how might that impact human life? In the book, the climax uses not only energy, what we see, but the spiritual stories that grew from the beginning of humans collecting them from religion and mythology. Are those stories fiction or might they reflect a reality that a more 'sophisticated population' rejects?

In the ending of Diablo Canyon, is presented a question. How do humans, even those with spiritual powers ,fight evil, that which would destroy or dominate them-- or can they?

The story, of course, depicts all of this, but there is something else. In some ways, the cover is about marketing, but it also can be the heart of the book, inspiration for reader and writer.

For Diablo Canyon, I came to see it needed more than images that would show the romantic couple, but go beyond for how they would fight wrong? Could a cover, one with three couples do that? Or might one couple depict the book's theme?

As usual, when putting together a cover, I looked at a lot of images. Most, I had purchased years earlier with no precise idea of how I could use them. Then, I came across two that worked for what I believed  the book needed.

The hero, of the book, was a 'druid', running a detective agency to solve problems that went beyond the physical. The image had to look like someone who could take charge. The one I found had an expression that looked as though he could deal with whatever was needed. I liked how his hands were tucked into his belt, but fist like. That expression in his eyes said he was looking for how he would use his power. He was in no hurry to rush into action, but would be ready at the instant he knew the time was right.

The heroine, his love interest, had been in the second book. Except there, she was an angel and spirit guide. To deal with what was happening in Diablo Canyon, the powers above, requested she become a human to bring strength to the needed warriors, along with her own, to fight for right. Some humans today think the spirit world has all the powers-- what if they were given the power to use and expected then, to do it. This one-time angel didn't feel she had those abilities, but turned out, she had a lot more going for her than she knew. It's all about ... energy.

For readers and writers, covers can impact the stories for which they are supposed to represent. I think this one did that for me. The rings in my dream are on it because they represent a love that hovers over a canyon that could lead to destruction or happily ever afters. And the hero and heroine on the cover, depict two ways of dealing with a huge problem. There is the suppressed power as the man waits for that moment where it will be unleashed. Then, the drawing up of spiritual energy by what might seem delicate hands.

 Having three novellas, then a novel with the spice the others didn't have, bothered me, in how I promote them. Four books? Three? One? If someone doesn't read the whole blurb and buys the novellas and then the novel, they might feel they were cheated. The novellas do have one extra feature-- Dante's quotes fit each chapter. What a philosopher/poet he was.

Remember tonight... for it is the beginning of always.     

Dante Alighieri

 

 

  Images purchased from Romance Novel Covers, and Stencil.

 Diablo Canyon

Being Open

Because I am hoping to do more promoting of my Mystic Shadows Series, I got to know these books better, as I edited them for the umpteenth time. Fortunately, for the novellas, their original covers still worked.

Those covers represented three couples, but when the novel came along, what kind of cover would work? Maybe, no couple but background or a monster or two? With its title being Diablo Canyon, I wanted something that represented the challenge these humans were facing. I believe, in many ways, the conflict we still see-- supernatural or physical.

The thing is, although the first novella began with a dream, in actuality, they all were aimed toward the challenge in the last book. It is there, the reason for everything is revealed, with, of course, another romance and how the two earlier ones were doing.

Those, who haven't been reading my blog for very long, might not know that dreams are a big part of my life-- the night-time sort. Some of mine are prosaic or seem that way, pieces of my life, or scenes that I see like going to a movie theater. Mine are usually colorful and the beauty of nature or the sort of art I wish I could have when I wake up. In my experience, dreams don't always make sense. Mine are sometimes where I've been, but not always. They don't have to, as it's the brain playing around, or is it the muse trying to speak to us? In the past, some of my dreams have worked to be inspiration for books. 

The one, that began that first novella, came because I had lost a cat I loved very much. I'd have paid a lot of money to save her life. She was too young to die, but something was catastrophically wrong inside. All I could do was let her go, which happened when the veterinarian came out to the house and gave her a merciful end. I cried so much. I still cry when I think about it, which is why I don't include her picture here. I think we love many animals, but always there is one very special. She was that for me and still is.

 That night I asked for a dream to know if reincarnation was true. I had thought this cat had come to me twice before. Both other times, she'd lived out her whole lifetime. This time I wanted to know-- could I get her again? Was reincarnation true? 

The dream did not turn out to be about my cat, but it was powerful.

A man and woman were on a train. They had been lovers in previous lifetimes, but always star-crossed. This time they were both destined to die early from accidents.

There were two spirit guides looking at what was happening. As the lovers kissed, a gold ring was clearly seen over the kiss. The guides saw it and observed how rare true soul mate love was.

 'They will just ruin things again if we don't let them fix it this time,' they said. 

At the same time, there was another couple, where the woman was plotting to kill the man to get his fortune. What can fates do to fix these two star-crossed lovers? The dream had the answer.

When I woke that morning, I realized I had to write this story. For it to work, as a book, it'd take some adjusting, like no train, but the ideas for what would work were already percolating. I knew it'd be set in the ranching country of Montana. Having raised cattle for a big part of my life, with many trips to Montana, the setting was a natural. The cowboy life has long fascinated me, even though our piece of it is small.

After the first came together, it led to a second and then a third novella, each with their own romance and mysticism. I wrote about the general premises of all three in the previous blog. What I didn't expect is to put the three together, with the spice, for which there is no room for in my novellas. That became the novel-- Diablo Canyon.

~~~

 Once again, this blog has ended up too long. The importance of Diablo Canyon, its cover, and theme, that'll be next blog. Remember, what I am trying to do with my blogs on writing is to encourage others to find their own creativity. Sure sales are nice but mainly to know others found something of value in choosing the books.

To me, ironically, Diablo Canyon became my most important book with its combinations of energy and the unexpected way it worked out. Why did that happen? I believe it came about because I was open to it. That is also to me what creativity is all about-- being open in life and our dreams.

Melding Three books... or were they three?

Novellas, that is my novellas, aren't exactly sweet, but they don't have spice, as there isn't room to have character and plot development, without sticking to the closed door. 

Below are the three novellas in a paranormal series, Mystic Shadows. They are connected by secondary characters, mysticism and an eventual common goal as they look to the unknown. As romances, each has a different couple dealing with not only finding love, but what else is going on out there?

The first of these novellas was When Fates Conspire. It came out of a dream, with needed additions as I decided what would it take to make a satisfying story. Two star-crossed couples, spirit guides, and the mystery of what life might be. It would appear at first to be a tragedy but is it? Can't be if it's a romance. Can the power of the Divine fix what has gone wrong-- and even more, why would it get involved? 

All three novellas are set in the ranching country of Montana, one of my favorite places and where I have spent time when I can.

The idea for the second novella came out of the tragedy that left a mother to run a big ranch and deal with her loss. The story also carries on the earlier couple, some Native American history, and delves into how when someone is reincarnated (in a rather unusual way), what memories might they carry with them. That led to: The Dark of the Moon.  

Although these books are all contemporary fantasy, they are set with real people except-- something extra. The romance in this one gives the mother a chance for her own happy ending with a cowboy, who has rather unusual gifts-- but they are beneficial if he is also a detective.

Exploring that led to the third novella with the mysteries of earth and spirit. Storm in the Canyon had a most unusual hero and heroine. That is another plus for a writer. Could it actually happen? Does it matter for a fantasy romance, a paranormal? It is about what can the imagination create. With my own thinking of possibilities, and my luck of being married to a science guy, it came together. 

Three novellas was how it stayed for a month or so, until I began to think I'd like these characters to experience full physical relationships. It took a few months to make the stories into one book, with chapters and those three romances. 

One of the fun things for a writer is the ability to do something like this. An independent writer only has to please themselves and their editors. It has bothered me some that these end up being three novellas and one novel, but with the same basic stories. I enjoyed creating a new cover for that novel, using one couple, but none I'd used before.

So, next blog will have more about how that novel came into being and what that took.

 Couple images were purchased from Romance Novel Covers and Deposit Photos. Backgrounds were our photos and Stencil.

From Where Does it Come?

 

Before starting to write this blog, I tried to think what was needed. Should I go into what I, myself, have experienced from the other side, leading to deciding to write paranormal stories? Does any reader really care about that but instead just want a good story? If people are interested in mysticism, does it have to be of a religion, for which they are comfortable? Keep in mind that the religions, I know anything about, all have mystical aspects to them. Some probably more than others. But, it's a mysticism that people have grown up thinking is okay.

My mystical books have elements of 'magic' that some might be comfortable with-- if it is in their religion, under authority that makes them comfortable.

So, where did I get the mysticism about which I have written? Some is what I have experienced or been told about from others. In Mystic Shadows, my characters are from the earth or spirit. 

In these books, it is all imaginary for their stories. The first time I wrote a book, that had a spirit connection, was Sky Daughter and likely in the early 90s for its first draft. I had a monster. When I got to where I had to decide if it was to be someone's delusion or was it real, I spent some time deciding?

Because I do a lot of research for my books (all of them), I found books from those who had experienced scary experiences of what they believed had been monsters. They claimed what they saw and had impacted them were real experiences. If someone goes to YouTube today, you can find more such, claimed experiences..

Is what we see, or think we see, all there is out there? You know there are plenty saying even aliens have been and are being impacting human life. No aliens in my books though. 

What Diablo Canyon ends up being is one long book with three romantic couples dealing with a world beyond their expectations. They were each in their own novellas, then secondary characters in the next books.

It was a couple of months later, when I decided I wanted these couples to have the spice, for which the novellas did not have room. Can I complicate my writer life any more? Likely not, but you write what comes to you.

How though do I put one couple on the cover? I think to have all three there would be complicated. How about if I used the couple from the last story? I would say it has one of the more complicated stories, but actually, the first qualifies as that also, given it began with one of my dreams, a very significant dream. More on that later maybe *s* 

The first image from Stencil is the peaceful side of what might be. It is not the only possibility though, as those who delve into the dark side know (from Deposit Photos)..