Let me start by saying that when it comes to business, my brother is a genius. Lawrence is ten years younger than me, and the proud owner of Best and Fastest Books, a company specializing in selling used and out of print books on the internet. He founded Best and Fastest Books while attending Rutgers University in pursuit of a Master’s Degree in Education and History.

His book obsession started when he came across a  Craig’s List ad announcing a 50,000 volume library of books for sale. Most sane people would have passed on the logistical nightmare of acquiring a dead man’s library–not my brother. Instead of seeing hardship, he saw a business opportunity. Though most of the books were out of print technical and scientific treatises with little value to the reading public, Lawrence’s gut told him there was a market.

He convinced my dad to lend him a few thousand dollars, rented a U-Haul and spent a whole week carrying loads of back-breaking heavy boxes from the family’s estate to his run-down dorm room. He piled the boxes floor to ceiling and when they didn’t fit he convinced the landlord to let him use the basement, which was partially occupied with squatters and crack addicts. I don’t know if any of you have ever laid eyes on a pile of 50,000 books–let’s just say, it’s a lot. Lawrence was sleeping on top of boxes, some of which he had to move to my parents’ house.

As early as high school Lawrence had made small fortunes on Ebay reselling fragrances, computer chips and junk he found in estate sales. He had traveled to the bowels of the Bronx and Chinatown looking for bargains. Get rich quick schemes and Lawrence were perfect together. At one point he bought thousands of Playstation memory chips only to realize that there was no profit margin, and still he made it work. He was a tad overconfident when it came to e-commerce, figuring books couldn’t be much different. Wrong.

It took a few days for Lawrence to realize the nightmare he had created for himself. He didn’t know the first thing about selling books, how to find collectors or even where to begin. Staring at the thousands of boxes, he was completely overwhelmed. Add to that torrential rains and a flooded basement that ruined a rare and valuable collection of astronomy books and you’re talking nervous breakdown. I got a call from him one morning and he sounded really down. “Hey sis, I got a problem, think I can come over for a bit?”

When he came over we sat and talked about the books. He felt like he was in over his head and had wasted my dad’s hard-earned investment. Within weeks the boxes of books had begun to grow green, hairy mold in the damp basement of the house he was living in. In short, Lawrence was stuck.

He was about to graduate with a Master’s Degree and needed to look for a job, a prospect that was adding to his stress. The student teaching jobs he had landed as part of his program had left a sour taste in his mouth. All of a sudden he wasn’t sure he wanted to teach, in spite of having spent the last six years preparing for the classroom. Once he graduated, he would have to move out of New Brunswick and find a new place to stash the boxes or pay a garbage removal company an exorbitant amount of money to dispose of them. Books are, after all, very heavy.

My brother felt like he had let our parents down. Mom and dad had worked so hard to help pay for a prestigious school and he didn’t want to become a teacher. Further, the thousands of dollars my dad had given him for the books was rotting away in a moldy basement. He had managed to sell some books on Amazon and Ebay, but the process was too slow and the prices too low to break even. As he sat in my kitchen, worry lines creasing his handsome face, I realized my brother was ready to quit.

Up until recently, I’ve been the type of person to favor creative pursuits and personal edification over entrepreneurship. I’ve never seen myself as an “owner” and subsequently have spent the last fifteen years working for someone else. I’ve taken great pride in my work as a designer and am now highly regarded in my chosen field as an expert, but I digress.

In that moment when I looked at my brother, I realized that he didn’t need common sense. Common sense tells us to go to school, get a job, get married, have kids and retire. Common sense has transformed us into automatons on rails. I didn’t want that for my brother any more than I wanted that for myself. What if I had taken a risk as he had when I graduated college, I asked myself. Where would I be now?

What my brother needed was a push, not some humdrum speech about responsibility. It was in that moment that I told my brother to follow his heart. If he didn’t want to work as a teacher, he shouldn’t force it. Working for someone else wasn’t all that satisfying. I had been doing it for years and what did I have to show for it? Yes, I had earned money. Yes, I had traveled the world. Yes, I had continued to do my art on the side, but I didn’t have anything that was really mine. I had never pushed my freelance design business and taken the risk of doing it on my own because deep down, it wasn’t what I was meant to be doing. I found my purpose a few years later (as you all know) when I began to write.

I told my brother the books weren’t going to be easy. They were going to prove to be a pain in the ass, but the bright side was that if he made it work, he would be the owner of his own business. He wouldn’t have anyone breathing down his neck when he was late for work, or bitching and moaning about the way he chose to spend his waking hours. He would be in control of his own destiny. I’ve always been a very motivational speaker and by the time I was done, my brother left feeling like he could breathe a little easier.

In a couple of months Lawrence graduated and spent the summer worrying about finding a job. The books were still looming over him like a dark shadow. As fate would have it, no potential employers knocked. As September rolled around Lawrence knew he had to make a decision. His deadline for moving the books out of the New Brunswick apartment could not be further delayed.

The next step involved more risk. He rented a warehouse in our home town and spent another week moving books. Using Craig’s List he purchased hundreds of discounted shelves from a local factory. In a couple of weeks he had set up shop with a couple of computers and had begun listing books on Amazon. The investment wouldn’t pay off until Christmas, but lo and behold he was able to pay his rent and some of the money back to my dad. Best and Fastest Books was up and running on wobbly legs. Me, I couldn’t be more proud. I was beaming. With hard work and dedication, my brother had made his dream possible.

He learned about the book business while selling penny books plus the cost of shipping on Amazon. The orders trickled in at first, but every month there were more. It wasn’t long before he had to hire someone to help with the orders and the organization that the warehouse required on a daily basis. Within months, my dad quit his job to help Lawrence cope with the growing business. 50,000 books turned into 100,000 and so on. Weekends found Lawrence scavenging estate sales and talking to book dealers. More and more sales followed more and more shipments. Lawrence hustled to pick up any and all free books from anyone and everyone who didn’t want them. It paid off.

Today Best and Fastest Books employs my father, my mother, my brother and three other people. The warehouse is no longer large enough to house all the books and will need to be expanded this year. I always compare my brother to Johnny Depp’s character in the movie The Ninth Gate. You should see him! He’s come across Medieval bibles, first editions of King Kong, Santeria tomes so frightening that potential customers hang up on him and original Picasso prints that have paid for his Caribbean vacations. He’s living the life!

When I set foot in the warehouse I lose myself. I am truly a lover of books–especially old ones with frayed pages and years of history. Lawrence keeps a special box of memories where he puts all the old bookmarks and photos he finds hidden inside the books. His warehouse is like a time capsule with rows and rows of the world’s literary highs and lows. It’s truly a beautiful place filled with vibrant energy. Maybe only an outsider that doesn’t deal with the daily hassles of the business can see it this way, but deep down I know my brother is passionate about what he does. He loves being surrounded by all those books. It’s pure magic.

Lawrence was right in taking that risk. My brother is a huge inspiration for me. He has always been incredibly supportive of my creative pursuits, but never more so, than with my writing. There is nothing wrong with working for someone else, but I’ve reached the point in my life where I desire something else. The day is approaching when it will be my turn to leap. Making a living from books is as much my brother’s dream as it is mine. The time has come when I am fully prepared to make that dream a reality.

Best and Fastest Books Links

Facebook Page (Give them a Like!)

Amazon Store  (Check out the goodies for sale!)

The post Books: The Family Business appeared first on Khajj.com.

A little over a year ago I wrote about how Narcisse and I conduct worldbuilding. While that post gives you insight about our philosophy and the joys we gain from the creative process, it falls short of illustrating just how seriously we take the matter. (ed. “Seriously” more like how obsessed we can become when creating our Universe!) In this post, I hope to give you a better idea of our intensity when it comes to building the worlds in which our stories take place.

In our current novel, Naera’s Daughter (working title), and our overall world, there are three moons in the sky. They exist for more than just pretty scenery; these moons play a significant role in our story. The Three Sisters: Aeppia, Aeliah and Aeiad rule over our night skies. When they align all manner of natural and supernatural chaos occurs. Once we decided on three moons, it might have been easy to simply say “There are three moons in the night sky” and leave it at that.  For most people that would have been fine. Not us! If there was going to be three moons in our night sky, we needed to know the effects they had on the world.

It is common knowledge that here on Earth, our lonely moon has a very important and fundamental impact on life.  The lunar influence on Earth’s tides is only the beginning; the Moon has geophysical, biological and sociological implications. Here is just one example of how intimately tied our Moon is with Earth. Without the Moon’s gravitational pull to put the brakes on the Earth’s rotation, our days would be only six hours long!  Here is another, because the Earth is tilted on its axis, the Moon’s gravitational pull stabilizes the planet. Without the Moon we would experience radical season changes instead of the rhythmic order we have now. That is two examples of how the Moon impacts life on Earth. If that is the result of but a single moon, what effect would THREE moons have on a planet!?

That is the exact question that arose the other day, and just like that Narcisse and I were off researching lunar effects. We started by gaining a better understanding of the moon and tides, which of course meant we needed to know more about tides in general. This line of research resulted in fun facts like the most extreme tidal changes occur at the Bay of Fundy and terms like spring tide, neap tide and a super-cool tidal bore named the Silver Dragon! Did you know that some high tides are so powerful that as they surge upriver they create mighty whirlpools that are dangerous to ships? Indeed one such whirlpool nearly drowned George Orwell (yeah that George Orwell)!

That is just tides! We discovered that our moon affects volcanic activity (slightly) and that planets with multiple moons can experience violent volcanism as a result of the gravitational stresses.

Then there is the matter of moonlight. The Moon’s presence in the night sky has had huge impacts on Earth’s biology. Nocturnal cycles, prey/predator behaviors, plant life all are influenced by moonlight.  Then of course there are the societal implications of moonlight. Religious influence is the most obvious. Every religion has a relationship of some sort with the Moon.

Here is a really cool fact I learned last year in the Yucatan. According to my guide in the ancient ruins of Coba, the Mayans traveled at night along roads paved with light colored stones called Sacbe’ob or ‘white roads’. These raised roads or causeways run in straight lines and connect major Mayan centers of trade and religion. As it was related to me, the sacbe’ob were paved in limestone so that at night they would be easily seen in moonlight. Since it was cooler at night, this enabled more effective transport of heavy goods and supplies. The moon was critical to their trade.

The idea (true or not) inspired me at the time and the idea has lingered with me ever since. You will see the tale’s influence in a later book. For now, the account serves to illustrate how the Moon not only affects so much of what we take for granted but in ways we might never suspect.

Then of course, there are the myths and legends about the Moon! My personal favorite, werewolves, is just one! A more commonplace myth still told today is the lunar cycle affects the menstrual cycle. Other Moon myths tie the lunar cycle to higher crime rates and instances of madness AKA lunacy!

Or how about the poetic and artistic implications – the ‘Lovers’ Moon’ or ‘the Hunters Moon‘  ‘once in a blue moon’ or ‘the Killing Moon‘. But I digress.

If just one moon can affect all of these things, realistically describing a world with three moons seemed more and more impossible. If there is one thing you should know about Narcisse and I it’s that we’re stubborn! Having decided our world has three moons meant we needed to figure out how to make it all work!

More digging revealed that we weren’t the only ones wondering what life on Earth would be like with more than one moon. We found plenty of scientific hypotheses on the matter. One of the better ones hypothesized a second moon called Luna orbiting between our existing moon and the Earth. From the chaos such a hypothetical situation caused, we knew our moons needed to be further away not closer. Adding to the difficulty, we wanted our extra moons to be visible to the naked eye and not always present. That resulted in a model with eccentric orbits and extraneous gravitational influences of other planets and the sun. I can’t tell you how much time I spent playing with gravitational simulators. Narcisse has an idea but she has been kind thus far and has avoided needling me about it!

Then we discovered that Earth has a ‘second moon’ – Cruithne  (CREW-ehn-ya). OK, Cruithne is not a true moon, but close enough for us. It seems we were on track. The asteroid Cruithne is on what is called a horseshoe orbit and swings by once a year. Now it is too small to be seen by the naked eye or to have any noticeable impact on Earth, but it was a good omen for our thinking.

Then we found this article that states the Earth may have had THREE MOONS! In fact they may have circled for up to a billion years! Crazy huh? But there it is! So we have a solid basis for our world and its three moons. One moon is very similar to Earth’s Moon, the others orbit like Cruithne and are visible to the naked eye every 18 years when they draw near. We will leave it to someone smarter  to calculate the actual mathematics and physics involved in the orbital patterns based on our rudimentary line drawings.

Now to be sure our discoveries weren’t so linear and neat as laid out here. We found all sorts of articles and ideas throughout the day. Yes, DAY. We spent over six hours researching the idea.

If you think we are nuts, rest assured, we definitely are. Did it really take us six hours to research a scientific basis for having three moons in a fantasy world filled with magic, mermaids and demons? Well, um, YES!

See, here is the crux of the matter. Had we simply said “three moons” and been done with it, we would have missed out on so much cool knowledge and ideas — ideas that inspired NEW ideas. You will read some of those ideas in our next novel and others in later stories. By digging deeply into our questions, not only did we base our ideas firmly in science and physics but we also learned more about our world.

And that my friends, is never wasted time or effort.

The post Moon Madness – Worldbuilding Revisited appeared first on Khajj.com.

How did the Narcisse Navarre Official App happen?

Sometimes there is no better explanation for why things happen than serendipity. I had been working with the folks of World Live Mobile for a while on their various projects. I had designed the first version of their Author’s App along with Hip Hop, Country Music and Pop Apps years before I ever knew I’d write a novel. When they returned to my design firm to redesign the Author’s app from scratch, it was difficult to hide my excitement. I explained to them that a lot of things had changed in my life. I was now a self published author, working on my third book. They were, naturally, thrilled, that their lead designer was also their audience. As a result, we had a great deal of synergy in regards to features authors would find valuable in their proprietary apps. As a thank you for a job well done, they gave me my very own app free of charge. The Narcisse Navarre Official App is now available for the Nook Tablet, the Kindle Fire and Nexus 7 tablets.

Narcisse Navarre Official App Features

The Narcisse Navarre Official app has a lot of neat features. Fans can keep up with my Twitter, Facebook and Blog updates in one place, read excerpts, view trailers, see upcoming events and even buy books. In the future the app will contain exclusive content, contests and more. I have big plans.

Where can I download the Narcisse Navarre Official App?

The app is completely free on all the devices.

Nexus 7/Google Play

Kindle Fire

Nook Tablet

Is there an iOS/iPhone version in the works?

The answer to that question is yes, though I don’t have a release date yet.

What is the WorldLive Author’s App?

Well, before the brilliant folks at World Live came up with the idea of an authors’ app, it simply didn’t exist. There are a ton of apps in the music and entertainment world to fave your favorite tunes, stars, etc., but very few apps just for authors. The Authors’ app allows you to add your favorite authors and keep up with their favorite tweets and posts without having to go to each of their individual websites. It’s amazingly convenient and it now comes in a redesigned, beautiful package designed by yours truly. I’ve been included alongside some really impressive names which is fantastic. Marketing wise, it’s really, really a great opportunity for me as a new face in the marketplace. Love it.

Cool, where do I download the WorldLive Author’s App?

Nexus 7/Google Play

Kindle Fire

Nook Tablet

I am an author and  I want my own App. How do I do it?

Easy. Fill out the contact form here and I will put you in contact with the guys who make the magic. In case contact forms make you queasy, my email is narcisse [at] khajj.com.

The post Narcisse Navarre Official App appeared first on Khajj.com.

I was tagged by the talented author Keri Lake to participate in The Next Big Thing Blog Hop. She’s been cooking up a literary storm of late and is someone you should get to know if you enjoy solid indy reads. Keri is a kindred spirit and it’s been immensely gratifying to see her succeed with her work. I began writing responses to this a week ago, but the storm and the passing away of my kitty (of twelve years) thwarted my progress. The last few days have been very quiet, but alas, the internet is back and all is right again! Progress on Naera’s Daughter, A Book of Laremlis continues, full steam ahead.

1. What is the title of your work in progress?

The current title is Naera’s Daughter, A Book of Laremlis.

2. Where did the idea come from for the book?

I was on vacation in Turks and Caicos, surrounded by peace and quiet save for the gentle lapping of the ocean. As the days passed I began to feel quite happy I hadn’t even touched a computer. I was half way through Gardens of the Moon by Steve Erikson when I realized I wanted to write and not read. I was impressed by Erikson’s ability to “just write” and not do too much explaining, whisking the reader from one character to the next, one political climate to the next. While reading Gardens of the Moon I had some kind of writing epiphany about third person perspective. I realized that I needed to pull the camera back and let the grand theater of my worlds unfold. That night I had a dream about mermaids, maybe it was all the water and scuba diving, but at 4AM I took the laptop out of the safe and began writing. I wrote 10K words in a few days, often sending Marzio revisions and new chapters. As usual, he was very encouraging and so I kept going. The story had gripped me.

I set the tale in the existing world of The Books of Liryos, the trilogy I had been working on up until that time. I didn’t bother outlining or even thinking. I just wrote. It was a wonderful feeling to just have the words flow. One thing I didn’t enjoy about Erikson was the way the romance was dealt with expediently and coldly, set aside to make way for war. Well, I wanted it all. I wanted my epic fantasy, my intrigues, my wars, and my love story.

3. What genre does your book fall under?

This book has it’s share of sexy scenes, but it falls in the realm of epic fantasy.

 4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Andrei Andrei and Carmen Ungearu, the two models that posed for the cover are phenomenal aesthetically for the characters. Amanda Seyfried would do an amazing job with the role of Avaren. I’d love to see her as a siren with whipping black tentacles.

The leading man is a bit trickier. If I can’t cast Andrei Andrei, I’d have to go with Henry Cavill, Kellan Lutz or French actor Tahar Rahim. They are all hot, I’m not picky!

The rest of the characters are not so young or pretty. We have a war veteran and forensic investigator by the name of Deneven who has Sean Bean written all over him. Our weathered sea captain named Goran would be played by Vladimir Kulich, and last but not least, a tough-as-nails queen, Eva, played by classy Anne Hathaway.

As for my villain, Shiloh Fernandez, definitely. I’d cast the rest, but I want to keep some things a surprise.

5. What is a one-sentence synopsis of the book?

This is always one of those questions that takes several hours to answer. Boiling down Naera’s Daughter or any book to one sentence is nothing short of an epic feat–something akin to acquiring the Golden Fleece, but I digress.

As the Three Sisters convene in the night skies, the fate of the ancient port city of Reyza depends on the actions of the infamous rogue Jarle Jadien, and a refugee girl whose dark lineage may be the city’s only salvation.‬

6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

Our book will likely be published by Digital Alchemist LLC, our own publishing house, but it’s also possible that we may ‪submit the manuscript to the major publishers as well.‬ As we get closer to the finish line we’ll have more information regarding the specifics.

7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript.

The first draft of the manuscript is in progress. I began writing it in July and Marzio jumped in sometime around September. The story has thus far continued to surprise us with it’s twists and turns. We’re reaching the half way point now.

8. What other books would you compare this story to in your genre.

One of the reasons I’ve chosen to write is that there are very few books that have captured what I want to read. I would say the Malazan books may come close in style.

9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?

One of my main characters, Khajj, inspired me to write this book. I was quite upset with her you see. I was angry and frustrated with the progress I was making with the Soulbinder’s Covenant. The words weren’t cooperating and I was losing steam. After banging my head on her book it was clear that I needed a break, but I felt guilty taking one. Sometimes my characters talk to me in dreams. Khajj had put her foot down. The message was clear. Stop. Breathe. Live. Write an introduction to my story the only way that you can. Naera’s Daughter does just that. Aside from being an action-packed thrill ride, it will also be a great primer for the trilogy to come.

10. What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?

Naera’s Daughter is the first foray into our vision of epic fantasy. Marzio and I often talk about what we love and what we find missing in the fantasy genre. We are both fans of rich settings, exotic characters and epic situations. We loathe deus ex machina and other ‘cheats’. We promise our readers that our characters and plots develop naturally and whatever seeds we plant early will blossom later. Another peeve is that all too often we are left hanging when authors choose to ‘fade to black’ just when things are beginning to heat up. We feel that romance and sex are just as vital as bloodshed and intrigue. In our books we promise to get the heart pounding with action of all sorts!

~

To conclude I’d like to tag the following inspirational writers who I absolutely love to read: Rick Gualtieri, Donya Lynne, Gavriel Navarro, M.R. Merrick and Robert Mendoza.

The post The Next Big Thing Blog Hop appeared first on Khajj.com.

The epic fantasy of Khajj, the heroine of The Books of Liryos Trilogy, began many years ago in the heyday of our gaming days. Back in those days Narcisse and I had no intention of writing novels. We wrote because we loved it, immersing ourselves in Khajj’s world with the zeal of children having discovered a new toy. This sense of adventure led us down a slippery slope that soon turned into a mountain. We idled away hours detailing our world, drawing maps, character studies, working on artwork and fleshing out disjointed scenes that would later be incorporated into our outline.

Khajj had an energy all her own. Her story captured the imagination and seduced all whom we told. That’s when we knew we were on the brink of something magical. It was time to roll up our sleeves and get to work on her epic tale, but could we stop there? Certainly not.

Narcisse and I have roots in film and music. As many of you know she is a designer and artist, not just a writer and would never be content with just the idea of a book. We are in love with experiences, extended editions, content that goes well beyond the page–and why not? In today’s world of social media, internet, accessible video, music and so on, why limit ourselves?

Suddenly we had unlocked a variety of methods for storytelling, both old and new. In addition to our website and the artwork, we have plans for a coffee table art book, a mobile app, sculptures and even a role playing game set in Khajj’s world. It was in this vein that we reached out to talented composer Asmodius, owner of Sepulcher Studios about creating a score to accompany the book trilogy. To our delight, he eagerly agreed.

As a result, Digital Alchemist LLC, in conjunction with Sepulcher Studios, will produce Hellion’s Choir: Music of The Dream, featuring thirteen original, decadent compositions to complement The Books of Liryos Trilogy.

Name the Child: Track One of Music of The Dream

Interview with Asmodius, founder of Sepulcher Studios

For the last few months, Asmodius has been feverishly composing the first musical piece inspired by Khajj’s origin. After seemingly endless hours honing the work’s 90+ audio tracks to razor sharp perfection, it is finally complete! Name the Child by Sepulchre Studios is a mere glimpse into the wonders that lie in store for readers of our books.

To celebrate the release of the very first musical composition for Hellion’s Choir: Music of The Dream, I inveigled a rare interview with its mysterious composer, Asmodius. We met in his crypt-like atelier, the home of Sepulcher Studios.

Tucked away underground, the chamber where we spoke is equal parts music studio, mad scientist’s laboratory, ancient crypt and tech-geek playground. Busts of long-dead composers peer from candlelit pools amidst the glow of computer monitors and LEDs.  My eyes were drawn to screens that displayed what can only be described as modern day alchemy. Although Asmodius mixes elements of sound rather than physical compounds, the result is the same – magic.

 ~

MARZIO: Thank you for taking the time to speak with me. I just have to know, where did the name Sepulcher Studios come from?

ASMODIUS: Originally I wanted to call it Sepulchre Studios, for a little more old-school gothic flair, but it seems that the universe had other plans. I went with Sepulchre because it’s in my basement. Over the years, in keeping with the theme, it’s become pretty crypt-like down here.  I usually try to add something to a wall or nook every couple weeks.

About ten years ago, I decided to create a faux stone plaque for over the door. I carefully laid out the lettering until it was perfect. It was only when the glue had set and the finish applied that I realized I somehow overlooked the fact that I spelled it “Sepulcher”. There was no going back, I was going to have to trash it and begin again from scratch. I was actually pretty pissed!  Just before tossing my work and grabbing my car keys, I checked online and discovered that the domain name sepulchrestudios.com was already taken! Double turds! That’s when I realized the accident was really a sign, SepulcherStudios.com was available! That is how Sepulcher Studios was established.

M: That’s pretty cool! So Sepulcher Studios has been around a while. How long have you been playing/composing music?

A: On my eighth birthday my mom brought me down to our basement. She pointed at my present – a crusty upright piano that must have been from the turn of the century. Two minutes later I was playing that piano!

Physically, it looked like it had been used to entertain troops on the front lines of both world wars. But to my eyes, it was an immaculate example of the finest elven craftsmanship, ensconced in a visible aura inspiring my hands to usher forth music into the realm.

I ground that poor thing into dust over the next six years until we could afford a “real” piano. I’ll never love an instrument quite like that ever again.

I started composing a couple years later. As I’m turning 40 on Halloween, I’ve been writing for almost three decades. Um…Yikes!

M: Happy Birthday! You have come a long way since that upright! In fact, you have one of the coolest studio set-ups I have ever seen. Care to share with us what equipment you are currently using?

A: I’ve played with and collected a vast arsenal of stuff over the years. In my early days, I used to record through a massive seven foot wall of outboard gear. I would actually drag all that gear in its entirety to gigs!  Fortunately technology has caught up and now I use soft synths and plugins for just about everything.

The only outboard gear I use on a daily basis is the orgasmic Eventide Eclipse for reverb and ethereal effects.  My control surface is comprised of all AVID/Euphonix Artist series modules.

Years ago, I converted everything over to Apple from “Winblows” and have been using Logic since version 7 when Apple bought them from Emagic. Logic is, without a doubt, the most aptly named program in history. It’s a joy to work with and feels like an extension of my consciousness.

My recording chain consists of Neumann TLM47’s mics going through dual Focusrite Liquid Channel preamps into an Apogee Ensemble interface for A/D conversion.

I once calmed down a nervous singer prior to a session by describing this setup as a “suckage distiller” claiming “there’s no way you can sound bad through it.” Unfortunately, some vocalists have proven me wrong over the years. (laughs)

Lastly, I’ve been a KORG devotee all my life and still use a 1991 01/W Pro X as my main weighted MIDI controller. I used to haul that beast to gigs—all 85+ lbs of it. It’s been dropped a few times, yet it still works like a charm. It’s an absolute friggin’ tank!

M: Wow, that’s a lot of technology at your disposal! With all that gear plus all of those programs and options available it seems overwhelming. What is your process? How do you develop an idea from concept to finished piece?

A: Picking out instruments is generally harder than composing as the options are nearly infinite. I have a pretty vast digital arsenal to draw upon so it’s really just a matter of perseverance. Composing is extremely time consuming, but ultimately it’s worth the effort.

When I started work on the Khajj soundtrack, I had little to no experience in composing a full blown orchestral score. I thought that I would exclusively compose by strictly following time honored and traditional principles of orchestration. It was an insane idea!

I actually made it halfway through a rather large, scholarly and tedious book on the subject, taking notes on how many instruments were in each section, where they are physically located in the orchestra, etc. I even printed out and set to memorizing the ranges of each instrument. I gained a new-found appreciation for such an endeavor and understand why most classical composers never seem to be smiling on their busts.

That’s when I realized that I was writing a soundtrack to a fantasy book, the only rules that exist are the ones I chose to create. If I wanted to summon a few thousand demon baritones from the smoking pits to harmonize with a coliseum full of naked vestal virgins with perfect pitch, so be it. “Yo! She-bitch. Lets go!” After that epiphany, things just started to flow.

M: ‘Naked” vestal virgins?

A: (grins wickedly) Oh yes, very important for Equalization purposes!

M: Of course! I see you have a bust of Bach next to your set-up. There is also a a death mask and a hand cast on your wall that I suspect is another composer. Who is it?

A: That is Chopin.

M: I am sure those icons are more than simple decorations. Would you mind revealing your influences? Who are your favorite musicians, composers and bands?

A: I’m inspired by just about everything musical. I could be listening to Medieval polyphony, take my earbuds out to listen to a street drummer banging on pots in Times Square then put them back in and find my playlist of the day has drifted rather abruptly into Slayer!

My favorite composers range from the legends such as Bach, Chopin, Albinoni, to the more modern masters like Scott Joplin, Hildegard von Bingen, John Williams and Danny Elfman to my personal hero, Ben Franklin!

Similarly, I have a wide spectrum of taste when it comes to musicians and bands. One of my all time favorites is Buddy Guy. I also listen to George Lynch, Rik Emmett, Randy Rhodes, Oscar Peterson, James Brown, Danzig, Mucky Pup, Christopher Hogwood and the Academy of Ancient Music, Frank Sinatra, Black Sabbath, Led Zep, Arthur Rubenstein, The Beatles, Kool and the Gang. . . to be honest, the list is endless.

M: What inspired you to write ‘Name the Child’?

A: In the past, I have worked on book trailers, music for websites, dance albums, etc. but I never heard of anyone creating a soundtrack specifically to accompany a book trilogy. When Narcisse approached me with the idea, bursting with her usual passion-laced prose, showing me her maps and artwork, I could tell that you were both embarking on an epic creative journey; one that I was very excited and honored to be invited to join.

Also, from experience, I generally make it a rule to never to piss off hot Cuban babes. Trust me, just don’t do it! (laughs) I’m sure you’ve felt some of that pain.

M: I plead the Fifth! (laughs) One of my favorite elements is the chorus. It sounds like a choir singing in an exotic language. How did you create their wonderfully ethereal voices?

A:  (grows animated) Yes, they are all singing in Latin. One of the sample libraries I used has this astounding feature to program in Latin syllables which change each time a new note or chord is played. My Latin is a bit rusty lately so they are in fact, singing in gibberish. However, the effect is extremely convincing once processed through a multitude of vocal-specific plugins and reverb.  The backing choirs are comprised of no less then 5 different sample libraries, each with their own unique characteristics and nuances. It took 14 simultaneous tracks to create the effect you hear on the track. A rough calculation puts the number of members in the choir well above 500.

M: Listening to ‘Name the Child’ I imagine the scenes unfolding before me like an opera. Is it appropriate to say that you are telling Khajj’s story through music?

A: When Narcisse described the origin of Khajj, the main character of your trilogy, she mentioned that the child’s mother was on a storm-fraught sea voyage to a distant land.

If you listen to the track, it progresses through the beginning of the journey where the music mimics the sway of a ship, the sense of adventure and true freedom one experiences on the sea. The music then builds to evoke the sense of a sinister storm, followed by a wreck. It culminates with Khajj’s birth and the voice of a daemon lord (winks) or so I am told.

I’ve started working on the second track which takes place at a daemonic soiree. Narcisse gave me some artistic liberty regarding who, or what, was providing the music for the event. She described this strange daemonic musician with multiple arms. As I have often wished I could sprout some extra appendages, it was easy for me to envision how they might be used. Musically, of course!

M: Of course!

A: I think we started with four arms but as my ideas started flowing, I asked her to write in two more pairs.

M: So, what is our nightmare musician doing with all those extra appendages?

A: At the moment, it’s playing a thirty-foot piano built into the walls of the concert hall, which also happens to be on fire, a hammered dulcimer that exhibits uh, rather unusual properties and a glass armonica that is being kept moistened with blood. I still have two arms left to keep busy!

M: A glass ‘armonica’?

A: (nods) Ben Franklin invented it! Its name is derived from the Italian word for harmony. Franklin took the idea of musical glasses to the next level. Working with a glassblower in London, he made a few dozen glass bowls, tuned to notes by their varying size and fitted one inside the next with cork. Each bowl was made with the correct size and thickness to give the desired pitch without being filled with any water. Franklin also color coded each bowl to differentiate the notes. A hole was put through the center of the glass bowls through which ran an iron rod that could be rotated with a foot pedal. Moistened fingers touched to the edge of the spinning glasses produced the musical sounds. Click here for more.

M: Very cool. What was the easiest part of composing ‘Name the Child’?

A: Deciding on the name of the song. It got exponentially harder from there onwards.

M: The most challenging?

A: Deciding when it was finished and forcing myself to move on.

M: I am amazed by what you have done so far. You have perfectly captured the mood and drama of our story. You said you were honored to be a part of our journey, well I will tell you that I am honored as well. Thank you for composing such a beautiful piece and for sharing your experiences in its creation.

A: You are most welcome! And if you will excuse me, I have a dozen more to compose!

~

Thank you for spending some time with us and for listening. I hope you had fun reading and hope that you will return to Khajj.com often for updates about our zany writing lives.

The post Name the Child appeared first on Khajj.com.

I spend long hours at the computer. When I’m not designing, I’m writing or tweeting or doing something computer related. Hours spent hunched over the keys can quickly add up to burnout if I’m not cognizant of taking breaks. Working around the clock may seem important until you realize that you’re not getting nearly as much done as you thought. Taking a break and getting some distance from the work is one of the best things you can do for your body and your soul. When the weekend comes around I always try to do something fun. Today it was a glorious day out. Seventy-two degrees, sunny, perfect for a walk in the woods. I headed up to Ringwood Botanical Gardens with my camera.

The home and grounds is reminiscent of an old English estate. Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights comes to mind. Skyland Manor is a magnificent Jacobean-style manor house that was built in the 1920′s but “weathered” to resemble a much older estate. The posh mountaintop retreat was built on 1,100 acres for New Jersey financier Clarence McKenzie Lewis. It was designed by John Russell Pope whose other works include the Jefferson Memorial  and the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. Wandering the grounds it becomes evident that the Lewis family spared no expense. Elaborate architectural details, statues, reliefs, fountains and all manner of decorative elements peek out from carefully thought out landscapes.

If you live in New York or New Jersey I highly recommend a visit to this historic park. Ringwood Gardens in the Fall are a spectacle of glorious color. Bright reds, yellows, ochres, greens and purples formed a stunning autumnal tapestry. Take a look!

Ringwood Gardens Photo Gallery

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Some call me Double N. While it may be true that I posses superhuman powers of doing,  I assure you there is only one of me. A friend asked me recently if I spent a lot of time dreaming of my stories. The truth of the matter is, I do. I live in this sort of split universe where only half of me is present at any given time, while the other half is gallivanting in any number of imagined worlds. In a sense I am living many lives, all at once and the pace is harried. These other worlds have voices and faces and dreams of their own.  My characters can often be found picketing at the edges of my mind, clamoring for attention. “Let us out!” they scream, “hurry!”

That’s when I get myself another cup of coffee and skip another two hours of sleep. I know, it’s not good, but it’s the price I pay for having a full time job, freelance design work, a life, and writing to do. I’m not one of those people that writes every day. I am an impulse writer. Things come to me. Characters scream at me. Sure, I often set myself up in my dark little corner, raise my sleeves and tap away hoping for lightning, but that’s not always when the magic happens. The magic, you see, rolls by me and it’s my job to catch it when it does. If I happen to be at work, or in a meeting or doing something that doesn’t allow me to reach out in time–there it goes. That’s not to say that I am not productive the rest of the time, but when I’m rolling with that magic I can pen 5000 words and not even know it. Time disappears, or stops, or just leaves me alone.

Either way, I work with what I got. I’m not the only writer out there with quirky habits and a full time job. I’m happy to be employed at a time when the whole country is struggling to find work. Overall I am in a very happy place, surrounded by people who love me and support this great new adventure I’ve embarked upon. It’s not always easy to stay motivated or to come home knowing I gotta write. I have yet to finish my first full length novel. That provides a lot of incentive for me.

I keep hearing the words of Neil Gaiman in the back of my mind. “Enjoy the journey.” I’m trying Neil, believe me. Sometimes, like today, I spend too much time on Galleycat, browsing blogs and writing advice columns and trends and get depressed. For all of thirty seconds today I said to myself, “Fuck this.” Then, I snapped out of it. This is the point where most people would turn back. This is the point where most would throw the towel in, admit defeat and crawl back to their their plan B’s. I closed the browser window, took a deep breath and said these words: I surrender.

I surrender to the flow and the plan the universe has for me. The crammed marketplace filled to the brim with indy authors and thousands upon thousands of new books is not something I have control over. I can’t control the fact that Amazon has rolled out something called Ranking that allows me to see that I rank in the 2000′s in Erotica and the 5000′s in horror. It might as well be zero when it comes to sales. This whole ranking thing gave me a good laugh. I can’t control that no one knows who I am, but I can control how I react to said information.

OK so it’s a popularity contest based on recent sales. It’s high school all over again. Charts to make already neurotic indy authors more neurotic. Good job Amazon on diminishing the mid list! But you see, I was never popular in high school. I was the strange goth chick that showed up to classes with my hair turned to icicles cause I didn’t own a blow dryer. I was the chick that hung out with the deadbeats down the cliffs, that read Coleridge at lunchtime for fun. This popularity contest doesn’t bother me. It doesn’t phase me. I am the underdog, the immigrant who got left back a whole year cause I didn’t know English, the immigrant who later went on to graduate Summa Cum Laude, and the very same immigrant who has an extremely successful career as a Creative Director. I am the hispanic girl who proved a lot of people wrong.

I am Double N. I have superpowers and I’m not stopping here. I am going to write the best god-dammed books I can and worry about all this marketing and popularity crap later. That much, I promise you.

As for having two of me, that would be fun. It would mean that I’d achieve my goals in half the time (and the lesbian sex would be insane).

Surrender to the gifts that you’ve been given and the universe will do the rest. Peace.

-NN

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It’s been a while hasn’t it? Everyone keeps wondering what we’re up to and I’m finally going to enlighten you: We’ve been writing a new book! Marzio and I have been working on the Khajj trilogy for two years now. It’s a sprawling fantasy world with complex characters and it’s own mythos–in short, it’s epic. The Soulbinder’s Covenant is an extremely complex project. The outline alone is 50K words. Just imagine! At some point it became readily apparent that as much as I wanted to tell this tale, I was stuck. Not stuck in the sense that I didn’t know the story, but stuck in the sense that I wasn’t happy with the writing. It happens to all of us writers, we get half way through a book and suddenly we hit a wall. We have that moment when all the gears come to a screeching halt for no apparent reason at all.

My gears stopped. I felt clunky, rusty, like a ten year old with a survival kit in the middle of the woods. I had all the tools to make fire, but no idea how to strike a spark. My word counts were painfully low for months. I found myself staring blankly at the screen, doing artwork, distracting myself in every way possible. I was exhausted by this project. Marzio wasn’t much better. His life has been a roller coaster of stress and pulling the words out was difficult. We were both in a funk. I switched gears in January and decided to polish up an old horror manuscript (An Endless Hunger). We dove into that project, again neglecting The Soulbinder’s Covenant. Publishing An Endless Hunger gave us something to do with our time. It was good, until the process ended. Then, Marzio and I went back to our computer screens and stared blankly some more.

Don’t get me wrong, my idea of staring blankly equaled about eight chapters, but still, it was nowhere near the 110K words we needed. The novel as it stands, has about 30 chapters. I became increasingly more frustrated with my work. My 9-5 job was stressful and I had freelance design work piling up. In June I dived into yet another project. I began to collaborate on a coffee table visual poetry book with a friend. It was clear that I was running as fast as possible from my novel and seeking inspiration elsewhere.

Everyone tells you that writing a novel is not easy, but I’m here to confirm it. It’s not easy. I am fussy. I like my language a certain way. I don’t drop my standards. I don’t cut corners. I want to write the book I want to read, and, let’s face it I’m cerebral. Mental. I am in love with beautiful language and characters that feel real. Maybe I’m a snob. Yes, I could probably crank out subpar novels one after the other, but I refuse to do that. That is not me. I see the marketplace for books and it makes me both happy and sad. Happy in that I see even the lowliest trash being gobbled up, sad when I wonder if good writing even has a chance. In the end, regardless of the market, I will only write what I want to write. If it is received well that’s great, if not, I’m still going to do it.

So on to the big question: What is this new book about?

I’ll tell you. Realizing that I needed to recharge my batteries, I booked a trip to Turks and Caicos in July. The Caribbean has a way of unknotting the kinks left behind by the harried pace of New York City life. We arrived in Providenciales on a sunny day and made our way to the Seven Stars, a luxury condo community on Grace Bay. The resort was quiet, luxurious and large. When I say large, I mean LARGE. My husband and I wandered through our 2500 Sq. feet apartment in awe. We got lost in the place. The balcony faced the ocean and wrapped around the whole building. It was nothing short of magnificent. For about four days I didn’t touch a phone, laptop or kindle. My routine included beach, beach and more beach. We took walks and snorkeled our days away. It was blissful.

One night after having gone to bed, a story began to gnaw the back of my mind. It was abstract at first, a series of moonlit rooftops stretching as far as the eye could see. Darkness. Shadows. An assassin. But what was he doing? What was he after?

I got up and took  my laptop out of the safe. I plugged in and began to write. By the time 4AM rolled around I had 3000 words and the beginning of what will become my next novel. I was overjoyed. During the next five days, the story grew and grew. Words hadn’t flowed this easily since The Olive Grove the previous year. I was on to something and I chased it. I was sending Marzio my updates through email every night. He was excited that I was writing again and it wasn’t long before I got him involved in the process. When I returned from vacation we went to our usual spot to brainstorm–the Russian bath house. Apropos considering this new story was influenced so much by water. In the hot tub we began talking about the plot. As fate would have it, that’s where our villains were born and Marzio got on board.

The story is set in the world of the Khajj books in a port city called Reyza, where political schemes and wars over commerce set the backdrop for murder and romance. It’s not your typical boy meets girl story, but it has elements of romance. The sex is explicit (it’s me we’re talking about), but this book is not erotica. It’s fantasy through and through. I’ve created a Pinterest Board for inspiration that shows you where my mind is at. Flooded caves, bazaars, assassins, and yes, nymphs and mermaids. Maybe it was Yemaya herself who inspired this story, waking me from my zero-word-count slumber to beat the war drums of the ocean. Who knows? The important thing is that I’m flowing, no pun intended.

To read an excerpt of the story click here.

Naera’s Daughter is the working title for our new book. This story is leading me by the nose and teaching me how to write in new, unexpected ways. I broke out of the mold I didn’t even know I was in. Did that make sense? Anyhow, I am inspired to tell this story. The best thing is that I’ve been able to connect the threads of the Khajj storyline and world into this novel. The clever reader (that means you) will be able to connect little events in the books and smile in the knowledge that the authors knew what they were doing. That is the great benefit of having a solid outline.

The Cover

In anticipation of the completion of this new book, I’ve commissioned UK fantasy artist, caricaturist and portrait painter Manon Delacroix (@artbymanon) to do the cover. I fell in love with her work as soon as I saw it. Once I told her of the concept she jumped at the idea. “We’ll need an attractive male model to pose,” she said. I smiled. “I know just the person,” I said. That’s when I wrote an email to my friend, model Andrei Andrei who was more than happy to work with me on this project. (Click here to read an interview with my muse Andrei )

Last weekend I showed up to Andrei’s and Carmen’s apartment with backdrops and lights and setup shop. Using Manon’s preliminary sketches, we played around with some ideas. The pictures that emerged were nothing short of stunning. Aside from being a model, Andrei is very knowledgeable of lighting and photography. Between the both of us we nailed it in under an hour (totally pro!). The best part is that Manon can actually capture their likeness in her painting, making this collaboration super fun. I am blessed to be working with such amazing talent. I think the most interesting part of being my own publisher is handling all the aspects that go into creating a book. Each book has it’s own energy and should be treated individually.

I love this process and can’t wait to tell you more. In the meantime, rest assured, I have crawled up from the depths of my writer’s block. Naera’s Daughter promises to be an unbelievable tale of adventure.

Andrei Andrei and Carmen pose for some cover shots!

The post Working on a new book! appeared first on Khajj.com.

Captain Gøran battles against the encroaching ice as a deep freeze threatens to tear his fleet apart.

Thick ice had inched along the Swoughünd’s hull until she began to list sideways. The cries of her captain pierced the morning fog sending sailors scampering into the frozen harbor. They descended along the slippery docks with pick axes and clubs, ready to beat warmth into the ship’s wooden ribs. Icebergs had formed upriver, cutting off the flow that led out to the sea. Somewhere in the fog, Gøran heard the crack of wood. Eight carracks loaded with lumber, precious furs and ore, had fallen prey to the ice. If he didn’t act quickly the ships would be crushed.

“Ring the bell!” Gøran yelled, “or we’ll lose the fleet!”

A ruddy-cheeked urchin bolted up the snowdrifts, falling several times before climbing lookout hill. “RING THE BELL!” he cried, “RING THE BELL!”

Over the sound of splintering wood, groaning ice and the cries of men a bell tolled. It rang twice, paused, then rang twice again. The pattern repeated, piercing the fog that enveloped the city of Thyra. Several minutes passed before the first peasants armed with clubs ambled down to the docks.

“Fight the ice!” Gøran yelled, running alongside the men. He armed himself with a spade and joined the fray. He had planned to sail to the Southern port of Carr at week’s end. No one had expected a deep freeze for another moon. More and more people came down to the docks until the sound of breaking ice became a roar. Somewhere, the ice cracked. The sound was followed by screams as half-frozen men were pulled from the frigid waters. Gøran cursed his luck, beating the side of the ship with renewed vigor. It was dangerous business deicing a ship.

The sun rose to the exalted cries of tired men. The first to escape her prison was the venerable Erika. She bobbed up and righted, the force of which snapped her mizzenmast in two. The mast swung, suspended by ropes, then crashed to the quarterdeck. The sound of cracking wood ground against Gøran’s ears. It was a nightmarish, dreaded sound.

The cold seeped under the hides, invading every inch of warmth. Beneath his mittens, the skin on his hands reddened and cracked. Gøran worked alongside his men until his vision grew bleary and his limbs shook. It was past midday before the temperature rose high enough to dislodge the ice. Only then did Gøran seek the refuge of his cabin.

*

“You do not fear being crushed by the frost gods do you?” he asked, closing the door behind him.

Beneath the furs strewn upon his bed, someone stirred. “Gods do not write men’s destinies,” a female voice replied.

“But women do!” said Gøran, his mood growing lighter.

A woman twenty years Gøran’s younger with green eyes and olive skin, surfaced, bare-breasted from the covers.“Come, find your warmth between my thighs,” she crooned pulling the covers aside.

The myriad of wrinkles on Gøran face crinkled as he smiled, feasting on the goosebumps that raced across Vira’s naked body. The Valantian wench had given him more happiness in three months time than all of his wives combined. In two steps, Gøran reached the foot of his bed. He threw the covers over his head and crawled beneath them. The squeals of the woman filled the room as he closed his cold-chapped hands around her ankles. He pulled her down and was about to pry her legs apart when he was interrupted by a heavy knock at his door.

“What!?” Gøran cried out.

The muffled sound of his first mate’s voice came through the door. “Urgent news captain. A Whisperer has ridden north from Carr.”

Gøran eased from under the covers and crossed the room. He opened the door. “A Whisperer you say?”

The first mate eyed the woman in bed appreciatively. “Yes, he demands to see you immediately.”

Gøran straightened and slicked back his graying hair. “Go,” he hissed to the woman.

Without a word, Vira put her boots on and wrapped herself in a pelt. She slipped past the two men with a polite nod. “I’ll be in the galley warming my belly with your wine.”

“The nerve on that one,” said the first mate.

Gøran’s eyes looked grim. “It seems we cannot appease the gods this day. Escort the rider to my chart room.”

* * *

Gøran had heard of the mysterious sect of Seh’nahiel messengers that rode like the wind, but he had never met one in person. Rumor told that they rode fearlessly to their destinations, often passing unseen through the midst of battles. Neither inclement weather nor adverse terrain deferred Whisperers. Gøran’s palms began to sweat. He stood in time to bear witness to one of the most peculiar sights of his long life.

A strong wind blew his door open. Charts and maps flew from their shelves. Oil lamps were extinguished. Three riders cloaked in red, bearing the sigils of A’diel stepped into the room. Their feet made no sound upon the weathered planks. The wind died down in Gøran’s cabin, but continued to buffet the riders. Their long hair and cloaks whipped haphazardly, caught in an unseen storm.

Two of the riders stood on either side of the door, hands over the pommel of their blades as the man in the center moved forward. He pushed his hood back to reveal a gaunt, yet hauntingly beautiful face. “I am Anadern Stormsinger, Fifth Herald of A’diel. I have ridden north from Carr to deliver a message. You are Captain Gøran Rarikian of Thyra?”

Gøran rose to his full height. “I am.”

The door to the chart room was slammed closed by the wind. “I am charged with delivering a message from Ther’oldo Ers, the Thrommish Ambassador to Reyza. Will you accept delivery?”

Gøran nodded. “I do.”

The Whisperer’s slim body convulsed as if hit by lightning. Gøran flinched, taking a step back. He watched in frightful awe as the young man entered a trance, continuing to tremble. The invisible wind picked up, whirling around him like an unseen serpent. An inner light shone from the depths of Anadern’s sea-green eyes. Through his lips Gøran heard a foreign, disembodied voice. “Gøran listen carefully. Our liege and commander Tan’os Ensther has been murdered along with most of his household staff. His young daughter, Avaren, recently betrothed to Jarle Rigo Queire is missing. The Jarle has issued a public decree accusing a local thief by the name of Jarle Jadien, but I suspect we have been betrayed in favor of Dessian allies. Alert Tan’os’ son. I leave military matters in your care.”

As the last word was uttered, the Whisperer’s body grew limp. In an instant his two protectors were at his side. With a respectful nod in Gøran’s direction, they supported their comrade until at last the wind surrounding the man quieted. Anadern stood with the help of his men. “We are sworn to secrecy under penalty of death. Our lips and hearts are sealed. Do you grant us free passage so that we may be on our way?”

Gøran narrowed his eyes. “Your reputation precedes you. I don’t imagine you would take no for an answer.”

Though visibly exhausted, a knowing smile blossomed on Anadern’s face. “A formality captain,” he said, taking a shallow bow. “May fortune smile upon you.”

Gøran nodded his consent. A storm brewed behind his gray eyes as he watched the Whisperers disappear in the shadows of the corridor.

The post Excerpt: Captain Gøran battles the encroaching ice! appeared first on Khajj.com.

To say that I did much on this vacation to Provo would be a lie. As soon as we landed and got a whiff of that warm sea air we knew we were in for a treat. I’ve been to quite a few islands and can say that each island has its own unique pace. Barbados is vibrant and hectic with one too many cars blasting loud hip hop and a friday night fish fry anyone who is anyone attends. Bermuda is upscale and refined with old world British charm. Long Island, Bahamas is possibly the most remote place I’ve ever been to with one road that is sparsely traveled. Dominican Republic is poor, but filled with boisterously happy people who leave their mark on your heart forever. Cuba, once my home, is a dilapidated place whose cultural beauty struggles to shine. Provo in Turks & Caicos is in one word: Slow. Now I happen to enjoy my slow, but there are degrees of slow. Undoubtedly places like Long Island Bahamas are more sparse, yet they offer adventurous opportunity for the bold. Provo, not so much.  We had to wrack our brains to come up with things to do.

The main reason to go to Turks & Caicos is the water. It really is electric, it burns through your eyes and your soul, erasing whatever long moths you’ve slugged through work and stress. Our suite at the Seven Stars was spacious, luxurious and at half price, I couldn’t complain. The place was immaculate with a wrap around balcony facing the ocean. Wow! It didn’t take long before I found myself on one of the wicker chairs gazing out past the horizon. Bliss doesn’t even begin to describe it. Grace Bay is one of the most stunning beaches I’ve ever seen. Miles of white powdery sand stretch as far as the eye can see. Dip your head beneath the calm, warm waters and you will be greeted by starfish and darting, baby barracudas. For days I refused to touch my laptop, content to idle away my hours snorkeling and walking.

In Provo I had my first shark sighting. We were diving off the reef wall at Northwest Point in about 80′ of water with a 120′ of visibility when I veered off to see a lobster. This lobster was impressive, probably the biggest I have ever seen. When I looked down into the darkness of the wall, right at my feet was an eight foot shark just cruising along. My heart leaped into my throat. Sharks are the Ferraris of the deep, now I understand why. They are pure muscle–lithe and powerful. If sharks really enjoyed eating us none of us would have a chance. I kept my eyes on him as he swam among the other divers, then came back towards me for a second look. It was glorious!

Photos of Provo

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