Tag: Evilynne

  • Z Is For… Zombies!

    Contributed by Evilynne.

    In the horror genre, zombies are used as a metaphor for ‘xenophobia’, that is fear of ‘the other’.  This is a logical fear as the unknown is always just that, unknown.    Writers and directors work to create art that resounds with others.  “Let’s make a movie, write a story, paint a picture about it.  Everyone responds to fear.”  Zombies have become a useful, and evolving, creature in this art form.

    In the black and white horror movies of the 1950’s zombies were depicted as black slaves, usually from Haiti, most of them entranced by a witch doctor.  They were forced to obey their master; they moved slowly and had no thoughts of their own.  Their circle of influence was very small, within a few miles of their creator and they died when their master did.

    Looking at those first movies we can see ‘the other’ was usually a black man, and we don’t need to make a reach to see the Civil Rights Movement of the time feeding these fears — especially considering the witch doctors often used their zombies, dirty from working the fields and dressed in rags, to kidnap blond, white women, dressed in flowing white gowns.  What a terrifying image: the vulnerable, unconscious landowner’s wife thrown over the shoulder of a black man and carried away into the night.  Not only did it look great on the black and white film of the time but tapped into the upheaval that movie goers lived with in their daily lives.

    Now let’s fast forward to the modern zombie movies. In their newest incarnations zombies are the reanimated dead; horrible and unnatural as that thought is in and of itself.  Most are brought back by a disease, a comet from space or some government experiment gone wrong — common fears of recent times.  The ‘newer’ zombie’s hunger for human flesh and will find and attack any human to get what they desire, often in the most fast paced, claustrophobic, and gory way possible.  And these monsters don’t die when their creator does, instead they create more zombies through their bite, making their numbers grow exponentially, infecting not just our country, but eventually the whole world.  As for killing them, most movies rely on killing the brain by shooting, beheading, or a knife through the eye.  The genre must now use extra violence to compete with the wars and crime that are seen every evening on the news.

    Yes, the most recent zombies reflect the immigration problem at the Mexican border, terrorist attacks from the Middle East and diseases like Covid and Ebola.   These ‘frightening people’ and the diseases they bring are now a part of American society.  “They will take our jobs, put a drain on the economy, overthrow our government and take over our culture, and heaven forbid, most of them don’t even speak English!” is a frequent fear expressed by some.    Not only will these monsters kill us, they will bring down our whole nation and civilization. Images of survivors wandering a vast cityscape of empty ruined buildings, foraging for food and safety, prey on our primal fears of being alone, vulnerable and desperate.  Without our technology and the help of others we are forced to be our own police, food provider, mechanic and doctor; we have become very specialized in our culture and most are not prepared to learn all of these skills.  More vulnerability awareness.

    Zombies just hit the spot when you want to scare someone, don’t they?  Who knows what zombies will look like in the future, what they will do?  I believe they will echo the fears of the period.  So, next time you are watching a scary movie, especially one with zombies in it, try to figure out what it is about the monsters that triggers you.

    The writers and actors have planned on your reaction. Were they successful?

  • World War Z

    We welcome back a long-time member of the Writer’s Retreat, Evey, as a blogger here at the Writer’s Retreat.  Here’s her first of what we hope to be many, many posts!

    World War Z

    I’ve just finished rereading one of my favorite books, World War Z by Max Brooks. I was struck by its interesting story the first time through and this second reading has given me even more appreciation for how thorough his alternate universe is. I admire his ability to shift from tragedy, horror, satire, and yes, even humor as he retells the story of the WWZ.

    Subtitled ‘An Oral History of the Zombie War’, our narrator is tasked with chronicling a war mankind fought not against other men, but against the reanimated dead. The UN Postwar Committee sanctioned his writing, granting him access to soldiers, politicians and others from around the globe but in the end was only interested in the facts, casualty counts and battle strategies. Unable to let the ‘human factor’ go unheard, he wrote this book to keep the memories alive. “Because in the end, isn’t the human factor the only true difference between us and the enemy?”

    The book is a series of interviews, beginning with the doctor in rural China who saw the first cases of the zombie disease. From there our narrator moves to Tibet where ‘shetou’, human smugglers, sneak millions of Chinese refugees across the border to supposed safety, unknowingly allowing the disease to spread.

    The histories come from across the globe, Antarctica, Finland, India and Israel as we watch each country react in their individualized ways to the crisis, some effectively, others not so much.

    There are stories of heroism, as one Indian military officer sacrifices himself by hand detonating a bomb to bring down a bridge to keep zombies from the civilians on the other side. The tone then switches to irony in Cuba, where with its large military presence; the government manages to easily defeat the zombie menace. And when millions of Americans build themselves makeshift boats and float their way to asylum they are placed in internment camps and forced to work menial jobs that regular Cubans don’t want– yard work and maid service.

    My favorite interview involves a female pilot whose plane goes down in a ‘white zone’, territory overrun by zombies. She makes radio contact with a ham-radio operator familiar with the area. ‘Metsfan’, as she calls herself, talks the pilot through a difficult three days and guides her to a place she can be seen and rescued. When asked later how she managed to survive alone the pilot pulls out her radio, which is found broken and rusted. And there are no records of a ham-operator with that call sign either…

    As the book progresses the world eventually begins to retake the planet, slowly defeating the ‘Zeke’, (one of the many slang terms for zombies). We see how the countries begin to put themselves back together and how they’ve changed; Russia is now a Holy Empire with the Czar as religious leader, China embraces democracy and America struggles to rebuild and understand that they are all part of the problem, and the solution.

    There is a movie starring Brad Pitt out now, it includes small details of these multiple interviews in its story, but twists them around a single hero as he helps find a cure for the plague. I prefer the book’s take on the story of millions of heroes who all had a hand in saving mankind.

  • Thursday 13

    Every Thursday, the writers of the Writer’s Retreat participate in the Thursday 13 meme. Come join us as we ruminate on 13 things of interest this Thanksgiving Thursday!

    Nikki Memmott

    Tess Miller

    A. Catherine Noon

    Darla M. Sands

    Taurus and Taurus

  • Evilynne’s TTT

    I posted this on my own blog as well-tesswriteswell.blogspot.com

    For this week’s Thursday Thirteen I thought I’d list the reasons why I should go to the gym. I was a good girl this week, been there twice! I’d love to get back to where it’s a habit, not something I forget.
    1. Exercise has been proven to relieve depression and I so don’t want to go back on the Paxil.
    2. Exercise releases endorphins, nature’s own pain relievers. Helps with the arthritis the cold weather brings on.
    3. Increased flexibility can never be a bad thing.
    4. Better quality sleep, not that I’ve ever had trouble sleeping. 
    5. Increased lung capacity. As an asthmatic it’s the next best thing to a lung transplant.
    6. Improved self image and sense of well being. That’s right, I work out! Bragging rights galore.
    7. Nice excuse for some more ‘me’ time. No phones, nagging kids or chores to do while I’m there.
    8. Better memory recall. No sense in learning all the things I have and not being able to use them. Now, what was I saying? I’ve lost my train of thought. Oh, yeah; list. Right.
    9. Longer life expectancy. Good reason!
    10. Improved bone density. No broken hips for me in my old age. (Note to self, this doesn’t negate the bad effects of Diet Coke on Calcium absorption! Keep the Big Gulps to one a day.)
    11. More resistance to infection and in flu season that can’t be over rated!
    12. Weight Loss, need I say more?
    13. I already paid for it! I pay my monthly dues whether I use the facilities or not and I hate to waste money!

  • My TT

    Thirteen things I could make for dinner.

    1. French Toast-fast and warm, it’s cold outside.
    2. Omelet’s-same as above, seems I’ve got breakfast on my mind.
    3. Burritos-already got the grated cheese, heat the beans and voila.
    4. Spaghetti-got some homemade sauce made from my garden in the freezer.
    5. Toasted cheese sandwiches and tomato soup-mom always made this for me as a child when it was raining outside.
    6. Ham sandwiches-Got some awesome eight grain bread, Swiss cheese and fresh tomatoes
    7. Hot dogs-extremely fast, kids can heat them up while I get ready for work.
    8. Sloppy Joes-Take some time, but always good.
    9. Macaroni and Cheese-oldie but a goodie
    10. Chicken Noodle Soup and Tuna Sandwiches-yummy.
    11. Pork chops and stuffing-time consuming but more like a real meal.
    12. Cold cereal-a mommy cop out-but I could squeeze in a nap before work.
    13. Shepherd’s Pie-frozen will take an hour or more to heat up.

    So, what will it be?

  • My Secret LIfe as an Author

    My Secret Life as an Author

    Hello, my name is Stacey Harlowe. That’s me, in the white SUV idling behind you in the long line of cars waiting to drop off kids at Emerson Elementary this morning. I’m just another soccer mom stationed in suburbia U.S.A. I’m a touch overweight (who isn’t?) and wear the standard uniform issued to all women with children; Capri pants and a polo shirt. I blend in nicely with the rest of you if I do say so myself.

    But that is where the similarity ends. I have a secret identity, a disguise that I put on once the children have left for the day. I am a writer of erotic fiction. That’s right, the bodice ripping historical romances that you see on the shelf at the supermarket. I write for ‘Betsy’s Boudoir’, a successful publishing company that specializes in erotica for women. And I make a pretty good living at it.

    The world at large believes that I spend my days at my home computer, processing insurance claims. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. I am busy putting my innocent heroines into dangerous situations that will ultimately lead them to love and plenty of hot sex with the man of their dreams. Oh, yes, and a happily ever after ending, can’t forget that part.

    The sexual tension is always thick, the word choices explicit and the plot points often laughable, but when my books hit the shelves at Barnes and Noble that doesn’t seem to matter. They sell like hotcakes.

    My disguise is necessary to keep my ‘normal’ life secure. I am positive that my services as Sunday School teacher for the three year olds would no longer be needed if my real employment were known. And do you think I’d be up for election to the PTA presidency for the fourth time in a row if the word got out where my paycheck comes from? I think not.

    I can just imagine the look of surprise and horror that would come over your face if your neighbor, the minister, broke the news that Stacey Harlowe from down the block writes ‘pornography’.

    “But my children play with her kids,” you stammer. “They’ve been to her house for birthday parties and Girl Scout meetings! She just seems so…normal.”

    Well, here’s the deal—I AM normal. I’m just like you in every way except for my job description. So before you make any moral judgments about me, answer this question truthfully. Have you ever read a romance novel? Odds are good that you have and it might even have been one of mine. Someone buys them…and it’s probably you.

  • ‘On Writing—A Memoir of the Craft’

    Review of Stephen King’s ‘On Writing—A Memoir of the Craft’

    I found a copy of Stephen King’s writing guide, ‘On Writing–A Memoir of the Craft’ on my Artist’s Date to Barnes and Noble last week. After reading the foreword I was hooked. His style of writing is disarming, an every man’s voice. He states that he worked to keep this volume short because he figured that “the shorter the book, the less the bullshit” and he has kept his word. Each section of this book deals specifically with the craft of writing; the language, the storytelling and the process involved in creating with words. No extras, no fluff, no ‘bullshit’ are found here.

    The section that is most memorable to me deals with plot, or rather, the lack thereof. Many authors plot their stories out methodically on cards or in a notebook. Mr. King states that he doesn’t follow this method and gives two reasons to explain his break with literary conventions. One, the act of living is ‘plot less’, therefore; writing about life should be as well if there is any truth to be found in it. And two, plot takes away any spontaneity involved in the creation of your story. The end result seems artificial and labored.

    He believes that stories make themselves and authors just transcribe them. “Plot is, I think, the good writer’s last resort and the dullard’s first choice.” Mr. King also states, “Story is honorable and trustworthy; plot is shifty and best kept under house arrest.”

    Mr. King prefers to begin with a situation, next he adds characters, drawing them as accurately as possible. Then he narrates, letting the story tell itself and the characters do things in their own way. The outcome is sometimes close to what he imagined, but often he admits it becomes a surprise to even him. Knowing the ending isn’t necessary to begin writing, it will come naturally as part of the process of storytelling. And no story will ever be finished if it isn’t begun. He recommends you stop plotting and just write.

    He likens stories to fossils in the ground; they are found, and need to be unearthed as intact as possible. Maybe you have found a seashell of a short story, or a complete tyrannosaurus rex skeleton of a novel. Excavating each of them should include the same steps. Consider the situation, listen to what your characters are saying and doing when confronted with this predicament, then watch what happens. And, oh yes, write it down.

    Many of the writing skills I was taught in high school and college classes are not used by the successful authors of today. What a lot of time wasted in the pursuit of dated rules and style. I wish that I had read what Mr. King has to say about writing years ago. This book was well worth the price, full of information and told in an entertaining manner.

  • Review of ‘Dark Desires after Dusk’

    I recently finished Kresley Cole’s novel, ‘Dark Desires after Dusk’. It is one of her ‘Immortals after Dark’ series. I found it a different take on the often cliched paranormal romance novels that are so popular at the moment.

    In the tradition of all good romance novels, Ms. Cole offers us a young, beautiful heroine, Holly Ashwin. The author ups the ante though by giving our young lady an unusual quirk, Obsessive Compulsive Disease. We find her constantly counting everything around her and arranging them into groups of three. She also finds herself helpless when it comes to leaving a room unorganized. As part of the story, she and the hero stay in a string of hotel rooms and she is compelled to rearrange the furniture in each and every one of them; placing lamps in the exact center of the bedside tables and aligning the phone, and its cord perfectly against the wall before she can rest. The author manages to make Holly’s faults endearing, not poking fun at her or making her into a caricature.

    Our hero fares just as well in Ms. Cole’s hands. He is everything a girl could want; a bad boy with a good heart. Cadeon is a brutally handsome demon, a mercenary with a guilty past. He holds himself responsible for the loss of his brother’s throne, the one thing he cannot forgive himself for. Until fate sends him a chance at redemption, in the form of our heroine. He has fallen in love with Holly from afar, watching her, wanting her, yet aware that it is forbidden for a demon to marry a mortal. Cadeon’s current assignment is to deliver Holly to a dark wizard in exchange for a magical sword, the only thing that can help him regain his brother’s kingdom. Torn between love, lust and duty, he struggles with his conscience. He jealously protects her as they travel towards the wizard’s fortress, all the while wondering if he’ll be able to give her up, even for the sake of his brother and their tortured subjects.

    The universe the author has built around these characters is well drawn and detailed. She manages to weave witches, vampires, werewolves and more legendary creatures into her stories, yet keep them believeable, even while they coexist with humans in our current timeline. Many of the characters from her other books show up in this book. It’s good to see them again and renew old friendships.

    Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read. I found it difficult to put down, even giving up sleep to see what happened next. I can’t wait to get the next book in the series!

  • The Kingdom of Sound

    The third kingdom or chapter in “The Vein of Gold” is related to sound. Sound is powerful and can be used in many ways to heal the individual. Ms. Cameron suggests washing in sound, building a sound shield, setting moods, and using silence as exercises to help us get in touch with ourselves.

    Washing in sound is a technique you may already use to clear your mind after a hard day at work or school. Putting on music to help ‘wash’ away the stress you feel. You may choose the sound of soothing waves or the sound of Native American drums. Or you might head straight for the loud and cathartic rock music. It’s a tried and true method teenagers have used for years to blow off their ‘controlling parents’.

    This task was easy for me. I already have CD’s burned for each of my moods and keep them in my car. By the time I’ve finished the commute from work I feel better and more relaxed. I use Enya and Sarah McLaughlin to soothe me, their music can be very much like lullabies. They cradle me in their beautiful melodies, using lyrics that help center me. Screaming along with Linken Park and Nickelback help me vent frustrations. They allow the rage I feel to surface and dissipate in the safety of my car, not at home on unsuspecting family members. My AFI and 30 Seconds to Mars albums encourage me to whine and pout, literally. Pounding on the steering wheel and shaking my head.

    NOTE: I drive home in the early hours of the morning when there are few other drivers to see the ‘crazy lady’ in the car next to them singing at the top of her voice. You might need to wait until you arrive home to begin your ‘washing’, or at least be less obvious as you listen to your music in traffic.

    Sound can also be used to build a shield around you. Sitting on a crowded train you will be bombarded by the conversations and bustle of those seated next to you. Putting on your iPod and listening to your choice of music can create a bubble around you, a ‘shield’ if you will. It will protect you from the influx of noise and allow you to think your own thoughts, to focus on your book or laptop. It is one more way to use sound for your well being. A friend of mine uses the Red Hot Chili Peppers to keep the world at bay as she commutes, allowing her to use the time productively.

    Music can create a mood, more effectively than any other medium. The images Hitchcock used in his infamous ‘Psycho’ shower scene would be infinitely diminished without the screeching strings of the background music. The deep bass sounds that signal the entrance of the shark in ‘Jaws’ induce more fear than the pictures onscreen do. Even if the viewer turns away, they are still at the mercy of the music. Good filmmakers know and use this fact.

    Use music as your own soundtrack. One type of music might help you feel safe, another more likely to take chances with your life or your art. Experiment and see what happens.

    The absence of sound can be powerful as well. “It’s so loud I can’t hear myself think!” is a literal statement. Silence allows the mind to let perceptions and ideas trot themselves out and BE noticed; without being pushed to the side by louder and more insistent cares.

    One of the exercises was to make our own ‘Silence Task’. I have tried doing the commute to work in silence, the drive home I ‘wash in sound’. At first I found the silence uncomfortable. What am I supposed to do with no music, no one to talk to? But soon my thoughts began to take over. Where am I going to take my next chapter? How can I best deal with my son’s poor grades? Why do I allow people to make me feel less?

    In silence, insights come to us. Silence allows our thoughts freedom to wander, and they will wander where we need them to go. Stillness brings to light the beauties-and pains-we keep suppressed.

    Religions use silence to help their followers focus and gain inspiration. Prayer, in its most powerful form is silent; between the individual and the Creator alone. Monks take vows of silence and Native Americans take solitary spirit journeys to learn from this potent instrument.

    “And silence, like a poultice comes
    To heal the blows of sound.” Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

    As human beings, we use sound constantly. Caroling at Christmas time, singing hymns in church, crooning lullabies to children are all good examples of this. Everyone has a ‘workout’ playlist for the gym and learned to read by singing the alphabet song.

    Sound is universal. Sound is therapeutic. Sound is intrinsic to our well being. Try these exercises and use sound for your own benefit.

  • Vein of Gold–Alchemy Exercise

    Vein of Gold–Alchemy Exercise

    In the book ‘Vein of Gold’, I found one exercise particularly interesting. It is titled ‘Alchemy’. It consists of taking the destructive and painful words that were used to describe us as children and converting them into strengths, or positives. As in the ancient belief that alchemy as a science could convert a common metal like lead into gold, so are we to take these ‘wound-words’ and find their gold–or make that–silver lining.

    Often, parents and teachers will find a child’s gifts threatening or disruptive. Through these words they are able to tamp down that talent in an effort to make the child behave, or in worse cases, maliciously to scold, ridicule or shame. Eventually, after hearing these judgments over and over again, the child begins to believe them.

    A partial list of some of these destructive words might include, but is certainly not limited to: dreamer, impractical, irresponsible, lazy, weird, too sensitive, unrealistic, silly, childish, grandiose, foolish, not disciplined, not focused, selfish. Have any of these words been used to describe you in an unkind way?

    Taking these hurtful memories and accepting them has a therapeutic effect, like cleaning a wound is necessary before it can heal properly. It can be painful, but with a pinch of compassion and some creative thinking we can see the very weaknesses we were derided for, are really the strengths that make us the creative people that we are.

    For example:

    Dreamer can be converted to—-Imaginative

    Eccentric becomes—-Original

    Obsessed makes one—-Focused

    Silly turns into—-Playful

    Unrealistic means—-Generous

    Too sensitive changes into—-Passionate

    There, you get the idea. Now, make a list of ten of those labels that have been used to abuse your self esteem and creativity and ‘convert’ them into gold.

    Now you have your list of Golden Words, ‘consecrate’ them; make them real, the new you and not the old. Post them on cards, decorate them with calligraphy, glitter, illustrations, anything to make them more valid and vivid to you.

    Take these new descriptions of yourself and tape them on mirrors throughout the house, pin them up at your desk at work, or on the door so you are reminded of the new and positive you each time you leave your home and venture into the world.