Caedar Writing & Artwork

The Other Place

The Other Place

(a semi-musical Steampunk hybrid story)

Blog One

* The Other Place continues from where the Steampunk hybrid story, Books by Authors Who Never Existed, leaves off.

He feels the coolness of her fingers against his skin as she places a thin chained gold necklace with a single bronze skeleton key around his neck. In the centre of the skeleton key’s head is an onyx gemstone that glows. He looks towards the China cabinet as he hears Lady Oolong strum the lute while Lady Steamsail dings a crystal bell. The tiny gemstones in their skeleton key earrings are also radiating; one green, the other blue.

Lady Raven unties his wrists. “Come with me,” she says.

As he stands up to follow, he hears Lady Oolong sing:

Chief Shabuni,

I hear you’ve met my sisters

And you’re wondering

You’re wondering…

What are the key earrings for…

Do they have anything to…

Do with the slab of ice…

That never melts?

Chief Shabuni,

Chief Shabuni…

Have you ever heard of…

The Other Place?

Before him is the entrance to the kitchen. In the centre of the ceramic floor is a slab of ice that appears wet but doesn’t seem to melt. Within the slab he sees the thick tree root of a giant tree. The root is curved into a circle that reminds him of a nest. Within the nest are glowing blue rocks.

“My sisters will follow you soon,” Lady Elsewhere tells him. “Lady Iris, who you should now address as Countess Idris, is already there. She is staying in a suite within the Crimson Red Hotel.

While Lady Oolong continues to sing and Lady Steamsail dings the crystal bell, Lady Elsewhere gives him a silver goblet with a dark amber liquid inside. “It will help you travel.” As he sips the viscous contents with the strong alcohol and nutmeg taste, Lady Elsewhere undoes the buttons of his trench coat and the vest underneath. His head begins to spin as she fingers a scar in the shape of a pixie on his right pec. “It moves when I touch it,” he hears her say with interest. “Does our chief have a secret friend?” He vaguely sees her undo the lid of a jar. Her long fingers are icy as she coats his face, chest, back and arms with a jell that smells of frankincense. “The nest before you is where the antigravity stones come from. We call it the Between Place. There are numerous nests between your reality, The Other Place, and The Place That Never Existed. Step into the nest Chief Shabuni. We will see you soon….” He steps forward.

Dianne McBride is a multitalented artist. She can be reached at diannemcb@gmail.com.

Dianne was kind enough to let me alter her picture for the cover of The Other Place.

The Dance Effect

The Dance Effect

The Dance Effect is the latest book by the author of Climate Change – Health Connections, Songs of Bittersweet Memories, and Explore.

Nandita Khandelwal, M.Sc. is a geologist, health coach, author, and lover of dance. Determined to write an authentic book about her passion for dancing she sought out three of India’s renowned dance performers/artists: Jainil Mehta, En Lai, and Nicole Concessao. With their collaboration Nandita has created a book that tells each of their stories both in words and pictures.

The Dance Effect is a window into the struggles and successes of real dance artists. A glimpse into how they got started to where they are now. This is a wonderful book for lovers of dance, students, parents, teachers, and of course professional dancers.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nandita Khandelwal (@nanditakhandelwal)

From Nandita’s Instagram site

You can also find her at her website.

Books By Authors Who Never Existed, Acknowledgements

After four or more years of writing a weekly story/blog (sometimes alone, other times with a collaborator–Taylor Norris, RMT and Model) I will be taking a hiatus to focus on passing a course, creating one, and some other projects.

When I do start again, if someone is interested in “volunteering” as a model to portray a character I will certainly consider it. The reciprocity is I promote your “appropriate” business or charity. You own the picture(s) I, or I and a co-writer own the character.

There was a number of volunteer character models for the Steampunk hybrid story Books By Authors Who Never Existed.

Lady Evelyn Oolong portrayed by Taylor Norris, RMT taynorris@gmail.com

Lady Marina Steamsail portrayed by Joanne Gossling, Interior Decorator Jgosling@calclosets.com

Mr. Clockwind portrayed by Bob Godglick: vintage clock repair:

Considerate Done: Vintage Clock Repair: Bgdm201@gmail.com 519-897-0419

The Inventor portrayed by Brandon Gray (photo and costume set up by Robin Gray)

Robin Gray can be reached at @grayandwhitelaw Custom Decor and Designs Her new website is: www.grayandwhitelaw.ca

The weapons used are exclusively from Fire and Steel (just as most of the weapons in A Motley Sisterhood of Sisters! are)

Fireandsteel.ca Dragonrider Folding Knife

Perched Drake Cane by FireandSteel.ca

I would also like to thank my cousin Yvonne Haug (Giant Plants Interview) for the background for Mr. Intrepid.

Some upcoming projects are interviews with

Bob Godlick (Mr. Clockwind) on clocks that keep time in while in motion

Kendra Huddleston of FashionXtacy

In The Meantime

You can check out my books under BARD: Owner Of The Gemstone, and in Books

BARD: Owner of the Gemstone is an Epic, Dark Fantasy Novel

The Conclusion…For Now! [Part 24…]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed: A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

The Conclusion…For Now! [Part 24]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed: A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

***

Chief Shabuni blinks but his vision remains too blurred to see clearly. He realizes he’s sitting up with his wrists tied to the armrests of a chair. After a few moments his other senses kick in. He can smell cinnamon and peppermint. Every so often he hears the dampened sound of a steam powered vehicle going by. Keeping his eyes open he starts to see images clearly but his peripheral vision is still blurry. He realizes he’s sitting in front of the China cabinet at Lady Evelyn Oolong’s Tea Store. First, he sees Lady Marina Steamsail. She’s sipping from a China cup. A little behind, to the right of Lady Steamsail, he sees Lady Evelyn Oolong, with a six-string lute in her hands.

“A very special individual will be dropping by soon, Chief Shabuni,” Lady Steamsail tells him. She picks up a separate cup of steaming tea and lifts it to his lips. “First though, my sister asked me to brew this wonderful tonic for you.”

The taste of the tea is soothing, similar to the valerian tea Lady Oolong gave him only a day ago. But this tea has something piney, and even hotter than the tea itself. He glances at the two ladies as he drinks down the rest of the tea.

From somewhere behind him he hears a door open followed by heeled steps coming towards him. The one person he never wants to meet is just visible to his right. Her long, shiny raven hair falls around her heart shaped face, accentuating her thick succulent lips and ends in strands that highlight her glistening ebony bosom, pressed out by a midnight blue corset with a laced top. The fangs that press against her lower lip as she smiles, terrify him. But once he looks up into her almond shaped eyes; he forgets everything else.

In the distance he hears the two ladies say in unison, “Mother.”

“Play and sing Eve. Mar, tap your crystal bell. The frequency must be perfect,” Lady Raven Elsewhere says in a voice that is both enchanting and ethereal.

He feels the coolness of her fingers against his skin as she places a thin strand gold necklace with a single bronze skeleton key around his neck. In the centre of the skeleton key’s head is an onyx gemstone that glows. He looks towards the China cabinet as he hears Lady Oolong strum the lute while Lady Steamsail dings a crystal bell. The tiny gemstones in their skeleton key earrings are also radiating. One green, the other blue.

Lady Raven unties his wrists. “Come with me,” she says.

As he stands up to follow, he hears Lady Oolong sing:

Chief Shabuni,

I hear you’ve met my sisters

And you’re wondering

You’re wondering…

What are the key earrings for…

Do they have anything to…

Do with the slab of ice…

That never melts?

Chief Shabuni,

Chief Shabuni…

Have you ever heard of…

The Other Place?

***

Taylor Norris, RMT (Lady Evelyn Oolong): taynorris@gmail.com

Perched Drake Cane by FireandSteel.ca

Steampunk Hat

NEYYR Steampunk overdress corset

ILLUDE knee high military boots

Joanne Gosling (as Lady Marina Steamsail): Jgosling@calclosets.com

Fireandsteel.ca Dragonrider Folding Knife

GRACEART Unisex Steampunk Top Hat with Goggles

Alivila.Y Fashion: Women’s Faux Leather Steampunk Corset Victorian Bustier Top

***

Honourable Mention

A common occurrence for both A Motley Sisterhood Of Pirates! and Books By Authors Who Never Existed is the use of weapons by Fireandsteel.ca (fireandsteel.com as well now).

These are weapons made exclusively by Fire and Steel. This a very cool company that is made up of a mixture of martial artists who love everything from fantasy fiction, science fiction, Marvel, D.C., Manga, Anime, etc. And they’re all ruled (more Gandalf than Sauron—she loves Hobbits, Elves, Dwarves, Eagles, maybe humans) by a Nuclear Physicist/martial artist/traveler/lover all the things I’ve already mentioned/and more…Laura Suen

My Interview with Laura Suen of Fire and Steel

Sharp Sword versus Dull Swords

The Conclusion…For Now! [Part 24]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed: A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

***

In the distance he hears the two ladies say in unison, “Mother.”

“Play and sing Eve. Mar, tap your crystal bell. The frequency must be perfect,” Lady Raven Elsewhere says in a voice that is both enchanting and ethereal.

Lady Raven unties his wrists. “Come with me,” she says.

As he stands up to follow, he hears Lady Oolong sing:

Chief Shabuni,

I hear you’ve met my sisters

And you’re wondering

You’re wondering…

What are the key earrings for…

Do they have anything to…

Do with the slab of ice…

That never melts?

Chief Shabuni,

Chief Shabuni…

Have you ever heard of…

The Other Place?

***

Taylor Norris, RMT (Lady Evelyn Oolong): taynorris@gmail.com

Perched Drake Cane by FireandSteel.ca

Steampunk Hat

NEYYR Steampunk overdress corset

ILLUDE knee high military boots

Joanne Gosling (as Lady Marina Steamsail): Jgosling@calclosets.com

Fireandsteel.ca Dragonrider Folding Knife

GRACEART Unisex Steampunk Top Hat with Goggles

Alivila.Y Fashion: Women’s Faux Leather Steampunk Corset Victorian Bustier Top

***

Honourable Mention

A common occurrence for both A Motley Sisterhood Of Pirates! and Books By Authors Who Never Existed is the use of weapons by Fireandsteel.ca (fireandsteel.com as well now).

My Interview with Laura Suen of Fire and Steel

Sharp Sword versus Dull Swords

A Real Place [Part 23]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed: A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

***

“You see,” The Inventor says to Mr. Clockwind, who is stilled dressed in black, and continues to have a constant dazed expression. Which The Inventor is pleased with. It means, the clockmaker still hasn’t awoken from the injection. “I often dream of my twin. It wasn’t until a few months ago, when Lady Raven Elsewhere invited me to tea, that I learned these particular dreams are not a subconscious construct of imagination, but a real place. The Other Place. It means there is a way for me to get all of my twin back.”

The Inventor leads Mr. Clockwind out of the steam delivery truck and up the stairs to Lady Elsewhere’s mansion. “Lady Elsewhere wants someone else back, a Mr. Intrepid. Now, I’m going to keep my word and let you go, but Chief Shabuni—well, he’s going to the Other Place. However, in order for him to return, he needs a clock that exists between our existence and The Other Place’s.”

“I have the gravity stones.” He smirks as he recalls sending his automaton to steal the crystals Mr. Claws discovered in the Arcticterra. “Lady Elsewhere and her associates, have skeleton keys, each pair with its own stones; but we don’t yet have a clock. A clock that hovers, so as to be between two places simultaneously. I suspect my newly acquired books contain the solution to that problem.”

***

Mr. Clockwind continues to keep his face loose and stare absently ahead. It isn’t time to use the coiled spring wire, yet. However, now he needs to get it to Chief Shabuni, if he can. Proper time is essential for making plans. Sometimes, to thwart those plans, it’s necessary to slow, or speed time up.

***

Once again, I’d like to thank Brandon Gray for portraying The Inventor. And his wife, Robin Gray, for suiting him up and taking his pictures.

Robin Gray can be reached at @grayandwhitelaw Custom Decor and Designs

Her new website is: https://gray-and-whitelaw-101684.square.site

Background by Yvonne Haug

Honourable Mention

Tina Guo is the first person to engulf me in the siren sound of the cello.

To best summarise her, this is my reply to a request she had, for what people thought of her new website:

https://tinaguo.com/

Your accomplishments are amazing and overwhelming. I’ve been following you for awhile. You play well alone and with others. You are also a very clear and passionate instructor. A celloist…, collaborator, composer, and to borrow from Kevin Hart: always evolving. A businesswoman who earns what she gets, and a realist.

Teaching Cello:

The Last of the Mohicans:

I Tried…To Protect You [Part 22]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed: A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

Tobey is lying across the empty space on top of the Salinas desk. The bronze faced man is motionless in front of him. Behind him, he can feel the ridge of the bookcase that contains the books, by authors who never existed. His human mom is listening to the crank radio, while holding the hearing horn to her left ear. Through the side windows of the front door, he sees a steam delivery truck pull up to the curve. Dense mist starts pumping out of the steampipe on the top of the truck’s cab. His eyes widen and he looks closer. At the same time, he sits up. Dark figures pour out of the truck. He hears the soft sound of metal turning against metal. The front door opens. He detracts his claws and hisses.

Four human female figures, all around the same height, and all dressed in black, stand in front of a much taller, masculine figure, also dressed in black. The tall figure moves sluggishly. One of the females, pulls out a large brass pistol, with an air cartridge on the top. The muzzle of the gun has a pointy projectile protruding from it. He feels a sharp pain in his left shoulder. He cries out a warning, to his mom.

Chief Shabuni with Inspectors Harper and Campbell, charge through the front entrance. They must have been watching from outside. Tobey shakes his head and blinks his eyes. It’s getting hard to focus. There’s a scuffle between Chief Shabuni, the Inspectors, and the black clothed women. Three of the women fight, while the one with the brass pistol, steps back and takes aim. As he was watching the fight, Tobey forgot to keep an eye on the tall masculine figure. There’s a familiar scent to the man. A petrol smell mixed with lavender cologne. The man is placing some contraption into the brass man’s chest. With a hiss, he fights through his wooziness, and claws at the black clad man. The man ignores him and starts to screw the contraption into place. With all his remaining energy Tobey lets out another cry. Then he slides back down into a lying position. It’s getting harder to just keep his eyes open.

The man closes the brass faced man’s chest and pats Tobey’s head. “S-s-sorry,” the man says in a familiar voice. As the man walks away, a twirling sound comes from the brass faced man’s chest. The brass faced man’s headlight eyes flash on and his clamp hand reaches for the books.

Tobey glances at his mom. She’s asleep in her armchair with a needle in her neck. He hears a thump followed by another one. A moment later he hears a much heavier thump. As the brass faced man walks away with the books, he notices bodies lying on the hall floor. Some of the black clothed women are limping or holding their arms. On the floor are Inspectors Campbell and Harper. Closer to him, is Chief Shabuni, sprawled on the floor with one arm reaching in his direction. All the blacked clothed women, but the one holding the pistol, start to drag Chief Shabuni towards the mist shrouded delivery truck.

Sorry Chief, Tobey thinks. His eyes close and he rests his chin on the surface of the desk. “I tried…to protect you.”

***

Honourable Mention

That Cello Guy

Cremaine “ThatCelloGuy” Booker, is one of the first musicians on Youtube, who had me saying, “Wow!” and realizing how much I enjoy listening to cello music.

@thatcelloguy15

Nothing Else Matters

There’s A Deal I’ve Made… [Part 21]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed: A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

The Inventor, has his latest automaton, carry Mr. Clockwind outside.

“Place him near the garage doors, Bowditch One,” he instructs the automaton. He waits, until the yellow H4 chopper headlight eyes, of Bowditch One, blink in acknowledgement. From the ground he sees the clockmaker stir. “Soon the others will be here,” he says to Mr. Clockwind. “You’ll assist them in repairing my automaton. You’ll also help take, the books by authors who never existed from Mrs. Claws. And if you have to hurt Mr. TLC to get them, think of it as, collateral damage,” he finishes with a scowl.

In the distance, he hears the familiar sound, of a powerful steam engine. “Don’t worry,” he says, when he sees the confused look on Mr. Clockwind’s face. “You’ll be dressed in a ninja outfit.” Turning to the automaton, he says, “Place the contraption on his lap Bowditch One, so he doesn’t forget. Oh, and also his toolkit.”

A delivery truck drives onto his back-alley driveway. “Soon, it will all be over, Mr. Clockwind. And you’ll go back to fixing clocks. However, before that can happen, you and I still need to stay close.” The Inventor walks around with one hand behind his back, while he wields a long cane with a skeleton handle. “I have some unfinished business with a very powerful, influential, and enchanting associate. She has a great interest in our Chief Dimoso Shabuni.” He points at Mr. Clockwind. “There’s a deal I’ve made.” He hesitates before finishing with, “And you’re going to help me, conclude it.”

***

The Inventor is portrayed by Brandon Gray. The video clip and pictures are by his wife, Robin Gray, who also helped with the costume and did the makeup.

Robin Gray can be reached at @grayandwhitelaw Custom Decor and Designs

Her new website is: www.grayandwhitelaw.ca

Honourable Mention

Saharagirls

@saharagirls

A sax player and two violinists

I’ve never played the violin but I have played the alto sax

This quite the collaboration.

Just Curious–? [Part 20]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed: A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

He doesn’t know who this individual with the brass mask is, but the blue eyes behind the goggles seem very human, and dangerous. That’s when he notices the gloved hands appear human in shape. Although, there is something strange, about the stranger’s left hand. In the stranger’s right hand, is a rotating brass barrel pistol. The steam cartridge on the top of the barrel is oversized. This is a gun designed to take on numerous opponents at close range. The stranger slides his peculiar left hand into a pocket, where there seems to be something long and thin.

“I have a few tasks for you,” the voice snarls at him. “Tonight, you will help me repair the automaton, currently at Mrs. Claws’ house. Then you’ll be returning with me to my own shop, where I have further work for you to do.”

“Let me take off my optical visor and put on my glasses,” he says. He turns his back and sets down the device. Next, he takes off his optical visor and sets it on the ledge under the clocks on the wall. He uses the metal rim of his glasses to write into the waxy surface of the wood: brass face – taken, before putting the glasses on, and picking up the device.

“You first,” the brass faced stranger commands.

“Of course,” he replies. He starts to ask, “Just curious–?” when he feels a needle jab into his neck.

***

Bob Godglick (Mr. Clockwind) does repair vintage clocks.

He and his wife Dianne, and Lexi, the furry one of the family, are also fantastic neighbours and friends.

If you want to learn more about, Considerate Done: Vintage Clock Repairs, below is an interview we did a few years ago:

Video and Audio Interview with Bob Godglick of Considerate Done: Vintage Clock Repairs

Bob can be reached at:

Bgdm201@gmail.com

519-897-0419

Honourable Mentions (people I enjoy listening to and/or want to work with):

Cellistlidia (@cellistlidia) and Annaworldmusic (@annaworldmusic)

You can often see them playing together on their Instagram accounts

Lydia Alonso: Lewis Capaldi — Before You Go

Anna Kuzmina: John Legend – All Of Me

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