Video with music of the author reading “Owner of the Gemstone” from the epic, deep, and dark fantasy novel, BARD: Owner Of The Gemstone.
Random Thoughts: Pretending I Knew A Famous, Dead Stranger
My take on this? Not everyone is meant to parent a family. T.N.’s exploration of one’s personal destiny, goes much deeper.
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The Race Series: What Is The Opposite Of Generational Trauma?
There’s a conversation going around these days about the generational traumas we inherit from previous generations and pass on to our descendants. I’d say it’s an attempt to justify all the inexplicable patterns that crop up in families -regardless of whether or not the people who constitute that family know better. The patterns may be in illnesses that are common in that clan, or behavioural hiccups that cause much pain and discord amongst those family members. The patterns are in mindsets that keep people from progressing in different kinds of relationships or in their finances.
In other words, generational traumas are seemingly unbeatable curses which uncommon individuals in the family are then tasked to break in their lifetime. It’s all quite legendary, makes for a good story if you are able to cast yourself as The One who will fight those battles for your loved ones -wage the ‘war to…
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The Gravity Crystal [Part 9]
(Books by Authors Who Never Existed: A Steampunk Hybrid story)
By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone
Lady Iris opens one of the glass doors of her China cabinet and steps back. A large, teardrop crystal hovers inside. The crystal is about as large as an egg holder. She blinks against its constant prism of light and places her hand, palm up, below it. She blows on the crystal. As she pulls her hand out, the crystal follows.
As she brings it closer to her face, her own tiny crystal, that hangs from her gold necklace, shines blue. A gift from The Inventor. A gravity crystal, or more often called, an antigravity stone. This is one of the many particularities to Eartherra, that does not exist in The Other Place. Now that she has the panel of ice that does not melt, she can prepare the next step, in her grand scheme.
It’s too bad the Bookstealer didn’t succeed, already. She closers her eyes and sighs. She wants Mr. Toklo Claws and Avonlea Claws to succeed in finding a portal to The Other Place. Perhaps, they’ll find their father without getting captured. However, she doesn’t want anything from The Other Place to enter Eartherra. She is a temptress, and one that likes to control. She does not want a chasm of chaos to be opened.
She stares at the gravity crystal and tries to brush it with her index finger. A smile crosses her face as it moves away. She blows on it and this time the crystal lets her caress it.
*** One of the goals for these writing experiments is to include makers, and models of Steampunk along with musician and artists I have been following. Maggie Boone (@missmaggiemoon) is an extremely talented musician and singer. When you go to her site you’ll see she’s also the creative director at Vignettes bar.
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I’ll See What I Can Do [Part 8]
(Books by Authors Who Never Existed: A Steampunk Hybrid story)
By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone
The Inventor wears an inconspicuous midnight blue cardigan poncho cape cloak with the hood pulled up. It’s twilight and the Krystal Jewellery Store is about to close. A song by Unwoman is playing within. The Inventor watches as the last customer departs, before slipping inside.
The store is full of glass shelves with a variety of jewellery set quaintly on silk cloths of different colours. Throughout the store shine kaleidoscopic prisms.
“I wouldn’t have recognized you,” a lively, young woman, with dark brown hair, and sparkling blue eyes, says to The Inventor, “other than your left hand is where your right should be. You are the only person I know of who has two left hands.”
The Inventor hisses. It’s the only other part, other than the heart, of The Inventor’s twin that The Inventor still has. “Lady Raven Elsewhere, I need to speak with the witch,” The Inventor says in a raspy voice. Someday, someday The Inventor will make a better voice box.
Lady Raven Elsewhere continues to lock up the glass counters as she glances back at The Inventor. “She prefers, sorceress.”
“Vampiress, witch, sorceress, elder….” The Inventor lingers on the last word.
“She definitely does not like to be called elder,” Lady Elsewhere says, correctively.
The Inventor sees a darkness flicker across the enchanting eyes of Lady Elsewhere. They’re all witches, succubus’s, sorceresses, perhaps elders, or something else, not to be trifled with. “The vile Maine Coon, Mr. TLC, hindered my Bookstealer. Now the police have it.”
“Lucky you told Lady Iris of what you intended to do.” With a sweet smile, Lady Elsewhere combs back her hair.
The Inventor sees a skeleton earring with an amethyst stone hanging from her left earlobe.
“You invented the Bookstealer?” she asks.
“Yes,” The Inventor replies, wondering what the cost will be this time.
“Just a piece of skin and a tiny vial of blood,” she tells him.
*** One of the goals for these writing experiments is to include makers, and models of Steampunk. Ben Lanzenstein of Switzerland creates Steampunk vehicles, weapons, and more. I will be posting a short interview with Ben in very near future. Meanwhile, you can see his work at: ben_lanzenstein
Unwoman.com
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The Inventor (Part 7) (Books by Authors Who Never Existed: A Steampunk Hybrid story)
By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone
The Inventor leans over the next generation in automatons. In a fowl mood, The Inventor is determined to get a hold of the books Mr. Claws left to his wife. Books with knowledge The Inventor desperately wants. To learn how to become invisible! How to build a vehicle that can not only travel under the waves but stay below the surface indefinitely! But that cat, that darn Maine Coon, Mr. TLC caused the Book Stealer to run out of steam! The Inventor never liked that undersized tiger. Neither did The Inventor’s twin. Shame about the automaton. Maybe the witch will help get the automaton back. The image of her standing close, completely enthralled in his plans, while shaking her long, silken, raven hair, and staring with utter interest with those large, almond shaped eyes. The Inventor jolts out of the reverie.
The Inventor and The Inventor’s twin used to torment that stupid Newfoundland dog, Ulysses, when they visited Mrs. Claws. That nasty, miserable, vicious Mr. TLC was just a kitten then. Yet, that malicious, horrible, evil kitten swatted The Inventor’s twin for bullying the slobbering, giant dog. And Mrs. Claws defended that irascible, untamed—kitten.
The Inventor’s beautiful, loving, understanding mother was horrified when Mrs. Claws accused her children of being untrustworthy, spoiled, and needing discipline. Mrs. Claws even accused The Inventor’s twin of trying to steal one of the “precious” books her husband gave her. What rotten people the Claws are! The Inventor’s twin actually took two books. Only one was returned.
The Inventor adjust the brass masks on The Inventor’s face. During the Great War, The Inventor and The Inventor’s twin joined as Royal Engineers to learn more about explosives. They were both, a little too enthusiastic, about adding mixing TNT, RDX, and ammonium nitrate together to make a bigger bang. Afterwards, only one of the twins survived, that the world knows. A genius doctor not only rebuilt the Inventor’s face but also added The Inventor’s sibling heart beside the one nearly destroyed. Now endurance is never a problem. But after studying The Steam Man of the Prairies by an author no one has ever heard of. An Edward S. Ellis of Ohio, Maine, a place that exists on no known maps. Perhaps that’s where that wretched Maine Coon came from. The book is a marvel! And now, The Inventor is more interested in becoming superior by melding machinery, with flesh.
*** One of the goals for these writing experiments is to include makers, and models of Steampunk. Ben Lanzenstein of Switzerland creates Steampunk vehicles, weapons, and more. I will be posting a short interview with Ben in very near future. Meanwhile, you can see his work at: ben_lanzenstein
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Interview with Steampunk inventor, and soon to be author, Ben Lanzenstein
One of my goals in writing the weekly steampunk hybrid blog/story “Books by Authors Who Never Existed” is to add links to Steampunk fans. Ben Lanzenstein from Switzerland creates Steampunk objects, lamps and more. He is also working on a steampunk story. Below is a short interview with Ben.
His Instagram page is: ben_lanzenstein
What sparked your interest in steampunk?
My eyes were opened to the fact that steampunk is my outlet to bring my inner world to the outside world. In steampunk, everything is possible and everything is allowed. There are no limits. Time is non-existent in steampunk, but nevertheless time plays an important role in this theme. People have their own world turned upside down and new connections are created in their brains. So to speak, their gears connect in their minds and are reawakened. This is important in today’s world where we are shaped with a dull and superficial education. The world forgets what is really possible through its consumption. We can draw our full potential in steampunk and find more of our own truth. Racism also no longer finds a place when we begin to understand ourselves and other characters again. As I said, steampunk allows me to experience myself and to animate my true character.
When did you start designing and creating steampunk vehicles and lamps?
4 years ago, when a precious friend opened my eyes to it.
Are these for sale?
The objects come from my personal history. What is the point of selling them? Maybe to a special person who understands this world and is sensitive to these stories.
Can you tell us something about the steampunk novel you are currently working on?
It is an adventure novel. I am taking people on my personal journey and into a world that is new to them. It will be an unforgettable journey for everyone, and they will come out of it different than they went in. Whether the eyes and their spirit will see it depends on the openness of the person. For me, the story is particularly precious. But what is a treasure worth if you can’t share it. That is why I will publish it.
Will the steampunk vehicles and devices you design feature in the story?
Yes… not everything but some will have a special meaning in the story. First, I had to create something on the outside to activate the inside. And then came the word and the word is creation in pure essence. This is how my story comes into being…
Are there any steampunk authors or links you would like to recommend?
At the moment I’m not inspired by any authors. I want to bring the world out of me without distorting the image. But inspiration for me is also the world when I travel. Every place tells you a story if you are open to it. I am fascinated by people from all cultures. We are all human beings. Everyone is the author of their own life, but only very few have woken up to understand this. I wish every human being this insight. There is a fascinating world behind everything, which should be discovered…
Thank you for sharing your story Ben!
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The Question of the Brass Faced Automaton [Part 6]
(Books by Authors Who Never Existed: A Steampunk Hybrid story)
By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone
Chief Shabuni sniffs the air. There’s a faint burnt rubber smell.
“Toklo and Avonlea won’t be happy when they get back. Oh, I hope they are safe,” he hears Mrs. Claws says, as she heads back up the stairs.
He sees Mr. TLC’s eyelids open wider. The giant Maine Coon darts off into another room. He hunches down and follows.
Sunlight shines through, where trap doors used to be. There’re cracks in the bricks of the foundation. He bends over and brushes dust away from a shiny object. A silver gear wheel. The ninjas used a steam concussion explosive to open the trap doors. He looks around again and sees a piece of thick cast iron banding. Mr. Toklo Claws, was determined to keep people out of the basement. He would have to call the Square Nail Hardware store and have the trap doors replaced. Right now, he needs to figure out what to do with the brass faced automaton.
Upstairs, he can hear the confident, clear voice of Inspector Harper, and the crasser sounding voice of Inspector Campbell, talking to a still very upset Mrs. Claws. Chief Shabuni glances at Mr. TLC, whose ears are now perked. In an instant the Maine Coon cat is bounding up the stairs.
As he ducks down to get up the stairs himself, he hears Inspector Harper making contemplative, “Hmm, hmm, hmmm,” sounds over and over again.
He walks down the hall, to where the automaton with the bronze face is standing. Now surrounded by Mr. TLC, who sits with his tail wagging on the Silas desk, while Mrs. Claws speaks rapidly to the inspectors, while emphasizing her words by moving her hands around in a flourish.
He notices that the inspectors have removed the automaton’s hat and goggles, and unclasped the top of the automaton’s head. Inside the head he seas tiny gears, a lit lighter with a rubber tube that leads to a fuel bladder, and pistons to pump water into the lighter to make steam. However, the pistons are not moving. Both the inspectors look up at him.
“Time to call the Clock Maker on Tic Tock Street,” he pronounces.
*** One of the goals for these writing experiments is to include makers, and models of Steampunk. Ben Lanzenstein of Switzerland creates Steampunk vehicles, weapons, and more. I will be posting a short interview with Ben in very near future. Meanwhile, you can see his work at: ben_lanzenstein
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Mother/Daughter
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Random Thoughts: Writing and Censorship
Its hard to talk about reality “academically” while still conscious of how others may feel about it. An honest commentary on race in Africa and elsewhere.
Caedar Writing & Artwork 