Dodeka

It’s that time of the week again! I feel as if this is the only time that I’ve been updating; I’m going to have to change that. Moving right along…

For this week’s Transcript Tuesday, I have dug up my second attempt at novel writing. On the morning of November 5, 2009 (thank you, DeviantArt for always dating everything!), I woke up from a strange dream in which I attended a Neo-Titan Festival. This traveling festival was run by Greek Demigods and their families – it was both their “fake” back story for the visitors and the actual truth. The demigods had a few rules set down from the Greek gods, and were checked in on by them quite frequently. The dream gave me a great idea for a story – one I actually mapped out in its entirety, but never completed.

Here is an excerpt from the first chapter:

Chapter 1
Unknown Steps

There are countless quotes about journeys and fate; but they all seem so cliche when you think about it. Nothing can quite describe that first step that propels you into a whole new life. You know what I’m talking about – we all face at least one monumental decision; the kind where one choice will leave you where you are – no harm, no foul, you can go about your business as usual…but then there’s that other choice – the one that will lead you into that frightening abyss that we call the unknown.

This is the story about my decision and where the choice I made led me.

Consider this your warning…

___

“Whatchya looking at Phe?”

I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sound of my cousin Rebecca’s voice. Dropping the letter I had been studying, I spun around sharply, “You gotta stop doing that Becc!”

“What? And miss the hilarious look on your face and that little shrill scream of yours? Wouldn’t dream of it!”

Becca laughed heartily, and I just couldn’t stay mad. She had that affect on a lot of people: always ready to make a person laugh. My anger was quickly replaced with embarrassment as she picked up the parchment-like paper I had dropped. “Let’s see what had your attention so.”

I could feel my cheeks get hot as I shifted my weight from one long leg to the other. All of a sudden, playing with my knee-length raven hair became interesting as my cousin examined my curiosity.

It’s funny; even though it wasn’t right in front of me I could still see it, feel it, and smell it as if it had never left my possession. The tri-folded paper looked like something a scroll in ancient times was made out of…and smelled the way I imagined a scroll would. The writing was a rich, deep blue that announced: “Neo-Titan Festival. Friday, November 13, 2009 through Friday, November 20, 2009 at Glasgow Park.” All around the writing were silver engraved markings that resembled the Parthenon, various symbols of gods long forgotten by most, and what I assumed was Mount Olympus.

“Where did you get this,” Becca said slowly, eyes not leaving the paper; apparently it had the same affect on her that it had had on me.

“It’s the 12th one I’ve gotten,” I replied quietly, shuffling my feet.

This response caused her to snap to attention, “Excuse me?”

“Yeah, um, I keep finding them everywhere…around me. There have been 4 left on my windshield in 4 different places; then there were 4 put in my slot at work; and finally this is the 4th one that has been sent here addressed to me.”

“12 scrolls for the 12 gods…that’s it we’re going!”

I love how she can just make a snap decision…it always is so easy for her. I promise you, I had fully intended to make arguments and excuses about work and us not knowing much about who is running the program and so on; but nothing in my brain would transfer to my lips. What words finally did make it to my mouth surprised the both of us, “Of course we’re going!”

***

I think my biggest creative “stopper” in continuing this novel is the fact that after I reached chapter 11, I began reading the Percy Jackson series. To be honest, I felt that I was somehow ripping it off. Not that I am by any means comparing myself to the incomparable Rick Riordan, because I am certainly not doing so. I feel that I had nothing truly to add to a genre that was already getting new and wonderful life breathed into it. I have loved Greek mythology since I was a child, and the last thing I wanted to do was attempt something original and end up with fanfiction (not that I’m rejecting fanfiction either, because I have read/written that as well). Now reading this after five years has got me thinking that there may be something worth expanding on after all.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments!

Until the next page…

Danies and the Tree of Eisdan

Danies and the Tree of Eisdan is my second completely written novel. Personally, it is my favorite piece of work – mainly because it is dedicated to the ones I love who have passed on. Every single character in the novel is named after someone I hold dear that have passed on save for three; and those three are still named after loved ones, just ones that are still here.

The premise of the novel is:

Bullies and parents and teachers – oh my! This is pretty much life for Danies Treadell. Her only solace is painting and spending time with her beloved mom-mom, Vera. One night, Vera gives her a necklace for no reason whatsoever, with the cryptic promise that it would somehow help her find who she “truly” is. Before Danies knows it, she is swept up into a brand new world full of strange people who are looking to her, the one whose necklace displays a charm liken to the sacred Tree of Eisdan, to save them all! Now if she could just figure out how to stay in this strange new land (that may or may not be a dream) and stop continually ending up back home where things are steadily getting worse and she is starting to spiral out of control…

Here is an excerpt from the first chapter:

It’s the same old song and dance…I’m not the first and unfortunately I’m not even close to being the last person who will be treated this way.

Then again this position has given me a unique perspective. From what I have observed friendship is not all what it’s cracked up to be either. I can’t begin to count how many times I have seen people gossip about their omigosh besties for life or backstab their bros for the hos they claim they put said bros before. Seriously, groups aren’t even a safe haven. One small slip in wardrobe or if you enjoy something the others do not or even glance in some undesirable’s way for too long and blam you are ostracized.

“Freak.”

Crap I didn’t realize I was zoning out and staring at the queen bee. I really need to knock off the inner monologueing during school hours.

“You should just transfer no one wants you here.”

Just like that there go all my books all over the floor. It’s hard for me not to desire my heart to die as I examine the new bruises that have developed from all the checking into lockers and pushing and tripping that went on today.

As I finally leave this prison I’m reminded of the two things that keep me going.

There is nothing like the feeling of slashing a fresh canvas with the colors of my discontent. While the paintings always represent all my rage and hopelessness I can’t help but smile and feel total peace as I create. Right as I was about to put the final touches on my latest work I smiled even bigger at the presence I felt behind me.

“You’re home early mom-mom.”

“And you are having a worse day than normal it seems.”

“How could ya tell?”

“Well on your especially bad days there seems to be just as much paint on you and the floor as there is on the canvas.”

As I looked down at myself and the area around me I realized she was right. Then again she often was. We both just laughed off the mess and walked out of the room specially designated for me whenever I came over.

“So what is our plan for tonight mom-mom?”

“Well I thought we could run away to Greece tonight!”

“Sweet! We haven’t been there in a while.”

One of my favorite rituals with my mom-mom was her themed nights. Everything from the dinner to the dessert to the movie was all tied in somehow. Tonight we had lamb and potatoes with baklava for dessert and we sat on the couch eating it all while watching My Big Fat Greek Wedding and My Life in Ruins. I think the country themed nights were my favorite because my desire to run away increased.

Mom-mom never said anything but I think she knew what I was doing. Whenever my parents left me money for dinner I pocketed it and ate at mom-moms instead. As soon as I graduate I am going to have enough to travel. See the ruins of the world that made me feel not so damaged. I mean they’re a mess and people flock by the thousands every year to see them. So maybe I’m not so bad after all. Maybe.

By the middle of My Life in Ruins I was starting to fade so I snuggled close to my mom-mom like I used to when I was small. She is the only one in the universe that I will ever let it show how hurt and tired I am of it all.

“Do you want me to call your mom and tell her that you are staying the night here?”

“You mean staying forever?”

She laughed and it warmed my heart. I nodded and curled up in a ball on the couch as she got up to call. I am not sure how much time had passed but I know it was the same night because it was still dark and I was still on the couch when mom-mom gently woke me up.

“I’m sorry I missed watching the end of the movie with you.”

“It’s okay sweetness. Before you go on up to bed I wanted to give you something.”

“Huh? What for?”

“Well I know you are going through a harder time than you are letting on,” she passed me a black velvet drawstring bag before she continued, “and your pop-pop gave this to me. I know this may not make much sense but this right here has the ability to show you, as it did me, the way.”

“The way to what?”

“To find who you truly are.”

I hope you enjoyed the excerpt! I’m still going through my final rounds of editing, and then I hope to officially publish it! Let me now your thoughts in the comments!!

Until the next page…