The Blog about the Blog

The Soundtrack, Part IV

2008-08-17T16:39:00.005+01:00

Joshua James, Colby's song

mog.com

More about this song

Brooke Fraser, Hymn

mog.com

More about this song

Priscilla Ahn, Masters in China

mog.com

More about this song

Kylie Minogue, No More Rain

mog.com

More about this song

The Soundtrack, Part III

2008-08-17T10:55:00.009+01:00

Five for Fighting, Superman

Rodrigo y Gabriela

Priscilla Ahn, Rain

Priscilla Ahn, Dream

Jason Mraz (featuring James Morrison), Details in the Fabric

Sugarland, Stay

The Store

2008-04-20T16:13:00.004+01:00

The Store

FYI

2008-03-05T12:26:00.000Z

A few days ago, there was an unprecedented happening at
Decadent Tranquility...
One of the characters left a message for the readers in the comments box.

To view, please click on the image below.

I'm counting on this being a safe and private place for discussion.
(but just in case, be on guard and censor/downplay if necessary)

Your thoughts please.

If you dare...

Sex: A Pearl to Twirl

2008-02-11T23:54:00.000Z

As shell into smooth-bore, wall gloving swell, warmth engulfing taut, tight, turgid heat, rotation pulled and thrust replied.

Excerpt from A Pearl to Twirl

Congratulations

2008-01-19T14:28:00.000Z

That those guys at blogger know a good thing when they see it was confirmed when Decadent Tranquility made the Blogs of Note listings. A good time they have picked too as plot-wise we wait with great anticipation to hear whether the crew of Bravo-Four-Zero will find survivors upon this second Hynerian vessel and where the writing as always is moving from strength to strength.

A toast to celebrate

Long may The Story continue

and as occasion presents a thank you once again

for all the pleasure and joy it brings

Sex: To Roachment

2008-01-02T08:04:00.000Z

Rotation my friend. Rotation.

Extract from To Roachment

Sex: What Baby

2007-12-30T00:53:00.000Z

“The art of frailing is the art of letting go, of riding the spontaneous waves of two souls on an ocean not of this world, of expression that slips the bonds of you and me and becomes a joining, a synthesis, if you will, a union where one plus one becomes three.”

“Do you have any frailing idea what that is like? To know, to experience, to enter a flow few ever enter; to reach a destination that fills your body and mind and soul so completely, so absolutely that you feel a joy, an ecstasy that explodes like thousands upon thousands of flowers on the most glorious meadow with golden rays of sun that warm skin with sensations divine and delight eye like candy before a child? A place where steps are taken but not felt, where the expanse of joy is so great, so complete, there is no room for anything else?”

Excerpt from What Baby

Sex: Close your Eyes

2007-12-30T00:50:00.000Z

Mairi heard it, saw it, felt it from the inside out. Yul spasmed. Mairi pushed deeper...

“Easy now, my little beotch,” whispered Mairi, unbuttoning her blouse with her free hand, a distinct bluish glow slipping from the valley of her tight and taut amplitude. Yul started to speak but couldn’t. Mairi smiled.

Excerpt from Close your Eyes

Ji's Sanctuary

2007-12-30T00:41:00.000Z

Ji's Sanctuary

Hyneria: Fossil Valley

2007-12-30T00:22:00.000Z

Fossil Valley, home of the Pufferbills, Hyneria

Sex: Waters of Divine Decadence

2007-12-29T00:07:00.000Z

Lil' moved around the desk, her eyes dropping in sync with her knees.

Her magic worked in the spaces between the notes, as she like to say, and this, in her mind, is what separated her from all the rest. "Feeling tumid I see," she purred with a voice smooth as her honeyed scarlet lips.

Excerpt from Waters of Divine Decadence

Sex: Playground of Angels

2007-12-28T03:41:00.000Z

Caitlin lit the last of a hundred candles moving quickly to place the cardinal flowers of passion beside the purpure ones of fidelity.

They say souls know not neither time nor distance in the weaving of two into one and in this instance, neither the hounds of hell nor the angels of heaven could have pierced the space between his eyes and hers.

Excerpts from Playground of Angels

Sex: Take Me

2007-12-28T03:34:00.000Z

Her hard nipples teasing his flesh and mind with delights promised, delights offered, delights for the taking. Why he didn’t have her face down on the bed right now, working her taut tight body as it begged to be worked, working the stress from his burden, stroke by tense stroke, puzzled him. I suppose, he thought, there was a first time for everything.

“Does anything ever stay the same?” Yul whispered in Rog’s ear letting the warmth of her breath communicate a sense of intimacy. He turned ever so slightly toward her whisper as his lobe nestled between her lips.

Yul rose on tip toe to meet his open lips with hers--a light graze, soft skin against intimate tenderness—an invitation without wait. Eyes opened not to see but to feel. Passion became palpable. Breath intermingled and then with a loud bang, they came crashing to the floor.

“Damn,” said Rog, “I knew that was going to happen. You all right?”

Yul laughed as her hands combed her hair out of her eyes. “Don’t think anything’s broken but I might need a little extra attention around my hips. Think you could be of service or do I need to call for the cabana boy?”

Excerpts from Take Me

Sex: Feeling Blue

2007-12-28T03:27:00.000Z

Yul looked up at Trev, “You’re holding back the candy like a one-year old. Did you come," she paused in the luxury of her tease, "to look or have you got something to show me,” said Yul, falling to the floor before Trev. Placing her hands on his knees, her nails traced small circles before slowly spreading his legs. His legs trembled but otherwise offered no resistance.

"Oh my, you do taste sweet," said Yul, her own eyes half closed as her legs wrapped around Trev's hips. Why was it, she mused, forbidden fruit always seemed to taste so damn good.

Excerpt from Feeling Blue

Sex: The Kiss

2007-12-28T03:21:00.000Z

...fingers moved as if on strings to a symphony heard in angels’ wings.

Hair tingled in the touch and noses snuggled, as if enough. The curve of one fell into other and where one began the other shuttered.

Excerpt from The Kiss

Sex: First Time

2007-12-28T03:07:00.000Z

Placing small warming tablets on either side of the bed, the sensual aroma of willowbrush gently rose as if awakened from sacred slumber. Breathing deep, she closed her eyes, and a thousand images flashed before her mind like cards shuffled.

Her lips found his, the warmth, the softness, the slippery wetness, the firmness, the intensity, the passionate energy as her eyes closed and the soft warm light reflected off her eye lids reminiscent of a dual moonrise on the beaches of Valla.

Excerpt from First TIme

Sex: Ministrations

2007-12-28T02:58:00.000Z

Steady the beat on skin pulled tight, a beat that bespoke of education, of intent, of plan. Trev pushed his head into the pillow. His hips rotated with a mind of their own.

.
Breathing increased. Lips opened and spread, softening to the tune of digits divine. Tongue flicked and smile melted into the intoxication of surrender taken. Time gave way to timelessness. Gravity took recess. And, as if by magic, the wonder of neither this nor that rose from darkness to light.

Excerpt from Outtake #2: Ministrations

Sex: Kiss My Eyes Shut

2007-12-28T02:52:00.000Z

He took one step toward the bed and she moved as if to make room, the curve of her breast soft as the pillows, warm as her heart, called forth a cocoon of times long ago and promises to come. He stopped, caught between the view behind to match the view before as, with eyes closed and flickering with dreams, Em released a jugal rising sigh.

Em stirred and with eyes still closed, stretched her arms as sheet on mountain sought the gravity of valley, natural as sunrise over forest verdant. The scent of almond waifed as a finger, inviting in words not spoken, a body hard to her bosom. Time could wait. Life was moments. This was a moment.

Excerpt from Kiss My Eyes Shut

Sex: Ripe

2007-12-28T02:45:00.000Z

Her tits hung ripe like melons on the pregnant dew laden vine.

Rog's roughhewn digits pressed into her warm swollen flesh, the temporal imprints of his desires roue.

She sighed.

He sighed.
Slowly, as inevitable as dawn to noon, he kissed her inviting skin and upon his tongue imbued the scent of submission.

Excerpt from Ripe

Sex: Frail Me

2007-12-28T02:36:00.000Z

His strapping legs, solid as aged oak, moved inside her tender long white thighs pinning them open, exposed; and his skin felt summer sun warm, tingling warm as visions of secluded beaches and hidden coves awash with warm salty azure waters filled her wicked mind’s eye.

There was only ever one first time, one first moment of hardness sliding into wetness, one first stroke where reality overwhelmed the imagination and dreams seemed like the playthings of children.

Excerpt from Frail Me

Sex: Curves

2007-12-28T02:22:00.000Z

Rog: You know what I miss?
Von: What?
Rog: Curves.
Rog: Her eyes, they curve like rainbows in the tropics. Her cheeks, curve like mountains rising in the dawn and those mountains Von, are never the same. I swear she can smile a hundred different ways and every time, that curve is slightly different, frailingly intoxicatingly different, almost as if she knows, like she can manipulate the angle of her jaw to communicate the smallest nuance of desire. And then, when you see those cheeks and those dimples, you notice the curve of her nose, that upturned, I will get down and dirty and make you like it nose, that nose that curves in such a way as to fit in places, well, in places, you know, places.

Excerpt from Curves

Sex: Like a Calf

2007-12-28T02:13:00.000Z

"...Yul suckled his lower lip between hers, letting her tongue dance back and forth from side to side before sucking his pink flesh between hers, pulling him inside her warmness, past the gates of mastication..."

"...To have him roped like the calf he thought her to be, literally tied down with teeth to lip and hand to vulnerable-ness, well, that was just too delicious a proposition for Yul to pass up. Her boy was going to find out what it was like to be taken, with or without his consent, but to be taken without recourse, to be taken in every way, however she wanted, at the pace that communicated complete and utter control..."

Excerpts from Like a Calf

Sex: Dance of Blue

2007-12-28T01:16:00.000Z

So lips slid and tongues danced as distant starlight twinkled as patrons at the opera, quietly approving the performance with a politeness born of dignity and breeding. Rog had long closed his eyes, although Yul often liked to peek, to see the effect she was having, to see the rapture on his face, to see a rough farm boy turn to muddle in her hands; and she delighted in a wicked way each and every time the expression on his face told her he was hers and hers alone.

...she pushed herself into him on tip toes, the warmth of her arousal glowing blue with the natural light of Hynerian desire.

Excerpt from Dance of Blue

Sex: Caribbean Canopy

2007-12-28T00:44:00.000Z

Open yourself, open to me, open to us.

Talk to me sweetness. Utter the words I long to hear, words born of pure intent, sacrificed at the alter of passion, profound in their direct simplicity. Tickle my ears with a symphony of she-devilish delectation. Swoon with the musical flow of two hearts in tune. Fear not the fall, what my arms might miss, my heart will catch.

Excerpts from Caribbean Canopy

Q5 The Blessed One

2007-12-22T19:18:00.000Z

Q1
In The Blessed One, Em, Von and Kyra are aboard Bravo, where they have slowly been running out of heat and air and have decided between them to swallow a pill that will allow them to drift off into unconsciousness. What has it meant to the three characters respectively to have been so close to death?

Trée:
The story hasn't told us much on this matter. We know Kyra longs for the peace she saw in Von's face and we know Em lamented the fact that "earthly" matters so quickly returned once they were out of danger (losing her sight). We know next to nothing as to how this has affected Von. In many ways, the story has not explored, the way I would to explore, especially with Kyra, how the dramatic events have changed them. For example, the "Kyra Incident" is one we need to revisit, or at least, revisit how she has and is processing what occurred. Then again, we still don't know the details of what exactly happened between the taking of the pills and the capture at the hands of the Arc'teryxians. I have my suspicions Kieran played a role here. :-)

Q2
The Blessed One refers to Kyra's sister, who died as a young child. Given Kyra's background and her parents' apparent lack of interest in her, whether or not her sister was treated any differently, what would it have meant to Kyra to understand that though their lives were too busy to include her, still they became parents to a second child?

Trée:
I haven't explored that idea and would rather not give an answer off the top of my head that could influence the way we see our main character. Maybe in time, we will see some Kyra and Emily chapters. :-)

Q3
Why is Em as affected by Kyra's story as she is? In her final hour she asks to hear it again, drawing hope and faith and peace from it from the words spoken by the child. What more it is (if this is the case) that the story is able to give her that the necklace does not?

Trée:
I suppose we all look to others who have experienced what we are about to experience. Em is about to die, just as Emily before her did. They both had that small window of knowing death was upon them. Em, as you can imagine, is filled with standing on the edge of the unknown, of dealing with her own uncertainty and fear; and yet, she knows the story of Emily (The Blessed One) and she is amazed at how the young hynerian was able to rise to a level of love and peace beyond Em's grasp, now that she is standing on that same cliff edge. So, in order to gain strength and hope and perhaps a measure of courage and insight, she wants to hear the story again, wants to believe that there is something more, that a hynerian can rise above unerring fate, so to speak. Now, why she doesn't take that from the necklace, I'm not sure, but I would guess that the issue at hand for Em is not the life to come but rather finding wisdom and courage in the moments of eminent death, an experience that Emily can speak to (with her story; I believe Em was not privy to her mother's last moments--just her dad and the "priest" and so her knowledge of how her mother handled the "edge of the cliff" is not the same), in a rather dramatic way, and this, I believe, is what she is looking for, needing. The second thing we see is her involving Kyra, helping to take Kyra's mind off the death to come, which is a very nice think to see Em do, which is also evidenced by the sketch she did of Emily--it was a way for me to show the pure heart that is Em, thinking of others when most would only be thinking of themselves.

Q4
In her reference to her sister as the blessed one, Kyra speaks of her being like an angel amongst them, sent to teach them 'how to live, how to give, how to love', she speaks of her courage and she speaks of her wisdom and later when she reveals, as she did not before, that her sister's name was Emily, she apologises to Em for allowing Em's name and youthfulness to put a distance between them that would not otherwise have been there. Though Kyra knows and understands the lessons of her sister, how far is she able to live it?

Trée:
Not to be cheeky, but I'd say two things here: (1) read the story; (2) keep reading the story. We have seen all our characters grow and change to some extent over the last two years. In my mind, I see the story continuing for years to come, and in that context, I cannot show dramatic growth in a short window of literary or real time because that would leave me no room to "grow them" over the long haul. Likewise, they can only grow as I grow. I can't write of things I don't know and, in that light, the story challenges me to continue to expand my understanding. If I don't grow, neither can they. In particular Kyra, since, as I've remarked several times, Kyra is as close to me, my personality, as any of the characters. Very little does she do that I could not see myself doing. Likewise, very little does she know is beyond what I know, or think I know. So to answer your question directly, there are days when the lessons she has been taught by Emily or Papa are clear and lived in her actions and then there are days when, for whatever reason, it appears she has taken a step back.

Q5
You have spoken several times in your comments about the wisdom of innocence, hearts that trust, eyes that see, ears that listen to the truth that lives inside, is the reason the words that she speaks about love being eternal and neither time nor distance or death being able to break the bonds that bind us truest to them for what they know or for what they hope?

Trée:
What they hope. If they "knew" it, there would be no need for a chapter like this. :-)

Glossary

2007-12-20T11:36:00.000Z

AAR abbr. ~ After Action Report, files relating to Zing Tao military activity

A/V abbr. ~

Aegis ~ name of Kulmykian vessel under John's command

Aeron ~ type of material

Aesthetic Philosophy of the Second Order ~ a field of Philosophic enquiry

Ampulator ~ Arc'teryxian living organism inserted by Dr X into Mairi to form a symbiotic relationship with her nullness

Amsec ~ Kulmykian beverage

Animus agent of retribution ~ antidote for the Animus virus

Animus virus ~ one of the most lethal viruses known

Anti-spades ~ Underwater Arc'teryxian attacking device

Arc’teryx ~ Astronomy. Planet

Arc'teryxian ~

Species of the planet Arc'teryx
pertaining or belonging to the planet Arc'teryx

Bamthem ~ (plural Bamthems) Botanical. A type of Hynerian flower

BC abbr. Big Cephelus ~ Kulmykian...

Bejanus ~ expression, part of, denoting fear, to scare the bejanus out of

Bejulius ~ expression, part of, denoting fear, to scare the bejulius out of

Beotch ~ derogatory term for a female Hynerian

Blu ~ Mechanical valet

Blue Oynx devision - special section of the Zing Tao

Blue Oynx ring - blue and gold ring given upon graduation from the academy
Blue Oynx horn - decorative addition to a Blue Oynx ring awarded for successful campaigns

Book of letters, the ~ Over a thousand letters written by Von's son Ceru, which Von was a prisoner, the book was recognized by the Order and given a rare seal (see Imprimatur of Letters)

Brandonia ~ Astronomy. Planet

Brandonian ~

Species of the planet Brandonia
Pertaining or belonging to Brandonia

Brandonian oils ~ paint, from Brandonia

Bravo, Bravo-four-zero ~ Hynerian vessel designed to travel long distances through space

Brotherhood, the ~

Bucklefinkles ~ characters from Ariel's Magic Treehouse

Calfuray ~ Arc'teryxian

Cephalopod ~

Chatelaine ~

Child of the shells ~ Term used to describe a Hynerian with birth defects caused by radiation. Defects occur at a ratio of 1:7, as it also does in shells hence the term. See Lesson of the Shells

Chron ~ Hynerian time teller

Cogitors ~ type of mechanical being

Comm noun, verb ~ communication device

Cryption ~ encrypted lock

Dance of Alisa - Ballet performed by female squorks

Dauculus ~ Astrology. Planet History. The Dauculus campaign represented the single greatest loss of Zing Tao in the history of the Order.

Deleo per Extremus ~ Kulmykian military orders meaning complete annihilation

Dinars ~ Hynerian currency

Dinkleberries ~ characters from Ariel's Magic Treehouse

Dock, the ~ Location. Hyneria ...

Doodledums ~ (rog in hosp.)

Dorfels ~ creatures native to Hyneria

Drachm (plural Drachms) ~ measure of liquid

Dr X abbr. Dr Goldenhair Surprise ~ Arc'teryxian

Duckhead ~ residence of the Discovery family

Eagle and Serpent ~ (see Mindbat)

Emperion Sector ~ area of space (from where Bravo transmitted it's distress signal)

Fireflies ~

Flashboy ~ affectionate appellation

Flutrix (plural Flutrices) ~ Botanical. Hynerian flower

Folio, the ~ gift given by Papa to Kyra at the dock containing his dairies and a holographic message

Fossil valley ~ location, Hyneria

Frail verb (Frailes, Frailing, Frailed) ~

General Jarzuphis ~ Javalina general

Golden Child ~ term used to refer to Ji Qong, who as a child was recognized to have superior abilities

Golden Tree ~ tree from the planet Metaluna, extremely rare and special, it is known to cure otherwise fatal disease

Golden Wabi ~ water creature native to Hyneria

Goldie ~ mechanical valet to Kyra made in the likeness of Grand

Grand ~ Kyra's grandmother

Healing Planet, the ~ Astrology. Planet

Hellocks ~

Hood, the ~

Hyneria ~ Astrology. Planet

Hynerian ~

Species of the planet Hyneria, female Hynerians are noted for their blue tongues and blue nipples
Pertaining or belonging to Hyneria

Hynerian Passion Fruit - Mango-like fruit found only on Hyneria developed by Rygel by the crosspollination of exotic fruits from seven galaxies. The effects are said to intoxicate 'the neural synapses responsible for amorous awareness.'

Identification pad ~ part of the security system on Bravo-four-zero to gain entry to quarters

Imprimatur of Letters, the ~ A sacred seal awarded by the Order for works deemed extraordinary

Janus ~ devine being, Hynerian God

Janusaries ~ Hynerian angels

Jarzuphis ~ Javalina General

Jasperian

Javalina ~

Astrology. Planet
Species

Javalina crawlers

Javalina gunships

Javalina Raptors ~ Kamakazie-type drones

Javalina Wiggalinas ~ Cruel elephantine beings designed to destroy

Ji Qong ~ Brandonian, founder of the Zing Tao

Juju bird noun ~ type of bird native to Hyneria

Jumper ~ Hynerian personal transport

Kawai butter ~ Used as flavouring in Snizzle

Kestral ~

K-rays ~ Medicine. Hynerian medical examination

Kulmyk ~ Astrology. Planet

Kulmykian ~

Species
Pertaining or belonging to Kulmyk

Kyra Star, the ~

Lamkur ~ Hynerian milk-producing farm animal

Lampré ~ friend of Ji, Brandonian

Las fire ~ gun fire

Las pistol ~ pistol

Lesson of the Shells - Twice yearly Hyneria's elliptical orbit causes deformities at a ratio of one to seven in shells as in children. Through the collecting of shells with the deformed shells being most coveted and treasured, Hynerian children were taught to embrace and value difference.

Living Brooch ~ Brooch containing the essence/spirit of the deceased

Living latern ~ lantern made with sea amines, a sea creature native to Hyneria. Sea animes glow when in harmony

her Lospusian lips

Luin ~ Philosopher of Aesthetics

Lumchair

Magic Pillow ~ Pillow given to Ariel by her father through which they can communicate when he is away

Magic Treehouse ~ consisting of movable orbs

Marauders ~

Mask, the ~ John

Metaluna - Astrology. Planet

Metalunan -

Species of the planet Metaluna
Pertaining or belonging to Metaluna

MetaRaven - Metalunan explorer

Mindbat ~ Battle undertaken by the mind outside of the body

Nano device ~ (Von)

Neocortex ~

Neraj ~ Astrology. Planet

Nerajian ~

Species of the planet Neraj
Pertaining or belonging to Neraj

Neutral Trace ~ device, surgically implant designed to read thoughts

Ninker ~ teasing appellation given by Rog to his brother Chaz

Ninth order - highest level to which a Zing Tao can rise, an order of one

Null ~ someone with 'the ability to blank out telepathic communication in [their] vicinity'

Nusian Peninsula ~ location, Hyneria

Oblivion Oculators ~ spectacle-like device used to eradicate memory

Order of Merit ~ Prestigious Kulmykian award

Pallium ~ (John)

Pandoras ~

Papa, Papa Kyra ~ this is how Kyra refers to her grandfather, Zeke

Pampus ~

Pappus ~

Passion fruit ~ see Hynerian passion fruit

Peace Flowers ~ Botanical. Hynerian flower species

Pepegai minor ~ Bird. Known commonly as Juju birds, native to Hyneria

Perfect Food - Hynerian eggs, containing all nutrients needed to sustain life

Penusian leather ~

Pinkie, Pinkster ~ a cogitor

podunk ~ (ship, the shield chapter)

Precepts, the eight - Part of the Hynerian Canon, the eight precepts are Love, Joy, Compassion, Peace, Faith, Hope, Truth, Mercy

Pufferbills ~ creature native to Hyneria, known for their selflessness

Purple Lake - Lake, located on the Caribbean island

Purple Trees - type of tree, found on the Caribbean island

Q-scans ~ Medicine. Hynerian medical examination

Quastra ~ landing station on Neraj

Quaidesque ~ verb, pertaining to characteristics associated with actor Dennis Quaid

Quill ~ (Quilling) Medicine. Full body scan performed by Kulmykians

Rainbow Owl ~ Hynerian owls that glow in the colours of the rainbow when happy

Raptors ~

Red Leader ~ Title by which John Discovery is known

Red Pills ~

Red Rain, Rain of Tears ~ Metalunan weather condition, rare occurrence signalling 'a time to reflect and give gratitude for peace, love and health.'

Red Tear ~ blood tear secreted by Kyra in the infirmary

Ring, the ~ heat sensitive, pressure reactive penile ring

Rubion ~ Kulmykian Sun, along with Triste

Rygel XVI ~

Scatalinas ~

Scottish fireflies ~ relatives of Rygel, inhabitants of the Caribbean island on which the story begins

Secpar Propulsion ~

Serenton ~ a rare chemical

Serpent, Eagle and ~ (see Mindbat)

Shen ~ Arc'teryxian

Shield, Ji Shield ~ special military award

Shiott ~

Silus ~ Hynerian Moon and location used for solitary retreat

Snoot ~ Beverage. Hynerian liquer

Snoozel skin satchel

Snazzle ~ onboard computer, formerly onboard the Bravo Pod, now on Bravo

Snizzle - Beverage. Hynerian, usually taken in the morning

Soul Shine ~ (kyra star)

Spades ~ Underwater Kulmykian attacking device

Squork - (plural Squorks) Metalunan fighter craft, uniquely half mechanical and half Metalunan, commonly known as the best small fighter craft

Spec verb ~

Spherion, moons of ~ place in which Squorks begin life

Sun globe ~ Globe that 'glows warm to the touch, animated by captured solar energy from Rubion and Triste.'

Suns of Tyrus ~

Taren ~ Artc'teryxian

Team Kilo ~ Kulmykian military team...

Tear, Atmospheric ~

Tearacs ~ Arc'teryxian hunting creatures used to track and kill

Teeler ~

Thorn Flower ~ Botanical. Kulmykian flower, cutting the stem releases a crimson coloured sap which upon contact with air releases a clarifying mist, inhaling too much can be lethal

Tigerland sea - sea on the planet Metaluna

Tool, the ~ Nerajian sex toy

Torpedo, electro-magneto pulse proton ~

Tracking hounds ~ Kulmykian

Tranquility ~ vessel that the crew travels upon after the failed mission to find the source of the Hynerian SOS signal

Triste ~ Kulmykian sun, along with Rubion

Turret room, the ~ addition built at Valla, an eight-sided room with eight windows and eight mirrors, a shrine to the eight precepts

Unknowns, the ~

V-rate ~ Medicine. Hynerian medical term relating to the measurement vital statistics

Valla cove - Location. Hyneria, family retreat of Zeke and his family

Vanguard ~

Vanguard Drones ~ vessel used by Hynerians in combat

Vector Beacons ~

Venusian leather ~

Vespersian leather ~

Vespusian campaign ~

Vial, the ~

Voice, the ~ Arc'teryxian leader

Vollmond - long range interceptors

Wabi Wabi ~ Hynerian game, designed by Ji 'to sharpen the connection between sight and mind in distinguishing between illusion, delusion and correct view within four dimensions.'

Waters of Divine Decadence ~

Wigglina ~

Witch's Tit ~ location

Zael ~ Astrology. Planet

Zaels ~ Species from the planet Zael

Zael CIC ~

Zimmler ~ Flying Hynerian creatures ridden in battle by the Zing Tao

Zing Tao

Kulmyk: A Place Called Hope

2007-12-20T07:41:00.000Z

Rog walked up behind her, noticed the image and placed his hands on her shoulders. “They say this facility is the best.” Yul didn’t respond. “You know, they call it Hope, the facility that is.”

Hyneria: Nusian Peninsula

2007-12-20T07:17:00.000Z

“Tell me about home Em. Tell me about those magnificent voyages with your dad.”

Q5 John and Caitlin

2007-12-13T18:46:00.000Z

Q1
John and Cait quickly became full members of the story appearing almost or as often as some of the original nine characters (including Papa) and between the two of them, three of them Ariel included, they have provided some of the most memorable chapters of the story. One of my personal all-time favourites was the chapter in which we were introduced to Cait, where we saw John returning from a mission, returning for just one evening contrary to what they both believed would be the case and John's certainty that Cait would be disappointed but accepting, a favourite for the beauty of the writing and the relationship and I remember thinking, here is someone who knows, who has felt, who has experienced, who has been blessed to be able to write so confidently. What attracted you to the character of John in those initial and relatively brief appearances of him that led to him being incorporated so thoroughly within the story?

Trée: As strange as this may sound, I fell in love with John when the image of "John" appeared in my mind, and the image, as you know, was of George Clooney playing the role. The image in my mind appeared, by the way, long before I did the sketch of "John" using George as reference. Once I had the image of George as John, I started to imagine what John would be like and a good bit of John's personality and demeanor flowed from the image. I wanted John to be a somewhat tragic figure caught between opposites, living in a world of contradictions, of a person who on the outside looks perfect (military hero, surgeon, top of his class, beautiful wife and child, big house and a lineage of tradition, etc.) but who is constantly having to live in a grey world of compromise and choice, a reality that bears on him over time, a reality in which he does not always win (think Cait here). Some examples: (1) John is a good guy but is caught in a rather "not good" administration, which he is serving dutifully; (2) he has a perfect wife that loves him dearly, but finds he has eyes for an exotic and unique alien (Kyra) and struggles with the temptation and corresponding guilt for emotions he can't supress; he believes in family but is constantly pulled away from them by duty and career; he is military (kills people) and a surgeon (saves them), etc. To me, John is the 'grey' person, the person most in the story that represents the seeming contradictions and complexities of life where all is not clean and clear and simple but rather a patchwork of choices, some good, some bad. I like that ambiguity in a character.

Q2
John writes in his journal that "After the Kyra Incident" he is losing his moral compass with Cait . In the beginning as we see the two of them together, although John has missions and during that time forgets to some extent, because he has to, those waiting at home, Cait is certain of him and there are those wonderful chapters entitled Magic Pillow and Sun Globe, which along with Cait's expression of the special bond between father and daughter, shows us that John has made certain that though he sometimes is away for long periods at a time, his daughter is completely secure in his love. After The Kiss, things begin to unravel, Ariel finds reason to question whether John still loves them, he forgets to fix the broken pillow and so forth, until eventually (I am of course only skimming the surface here, stating mere facts, which essentially tells us very little of what transpired) he risks more than he can afford to lose in setting out on the rescue mission toward Kyra, Von and Em. While Cait and Kyra are still outside of each others orbit, does Kyra, her gifts, her allure, their shared experiences and common ground, begin to eclipse Cait for John? As Cait tells him before he leaves; "Go, for you can't come back till you go. And I want you back, here, not back there. So go."

Trée: I think eclipse is the wrong concept. I'm not really sure what the right concept or metaphor is to explain what is happening in John's mind and heart. Perhaps a sky with two moons, both glorious as they rise over the horizon of this heart. Not sure that does justice to it either. Keep in mind, John did not go looking for a "Kyra" in his life nor is he clear on what to do with this unexpected turn of events, which is to say, Kyra is more than just another girl, another example of the shades of grey for John. Here is what I mean. Kyra represents several things to John: (1) She represents a person with unique abilities, which reminds him somewhat of himself, someone he can relate to (movie stars marry movie stars so to speak)--a being seen as special, as above others and in that regard means two things to John. First, although Cait is a wonderful woman, she is not John's equal in this regard whereas not only is Kyra John's equal, but as we see as the story unfolds, he begins to understand she is his superior, and this is something he has never experienced, something he never anticipated, something that has blindsided his emotions and he finds this aspect of Kyra very seductive; (2) Kyra has a beauty very different from Cait in most regards (black hair to blond, reserved personality to strong, younger to older, single to married, leader to wife/mother) and John finds himself attractive to a "woman" very appealing and very different from his wife; (3) and the story has only hinted at these things, but there is political turmoil on Kulmyk and the corrupt powers that be are entrenched and strong--Kyra is seen by all as a force multiplier. John has a choice to make, which we will see in an upcoming chapter more clearly, namely, does he abandon his people or does he solicit Kyra to help him in this fight, a fight he can only hope to win with her help. She truly is more powerful than she understands at this stage of her life, although it seems everyone can see her gift and see how it can be used for purposes she has yet to imagine or contemplate. So, the attraction is complicated. And so is the guilt. And try as he might, he cannot separate the complexity into individual threads. The cloth is whole, good and bad, right and wrong. In other words, grey.

Q3
At the point in time referred to in the previous question, Cait is not aware of all the facts. As she tells John, the Commander later explains things to her and as they, she and John, are able to spend some time together, alone, on Bravo, they are reconciled and there is harmony between them once more. What do you think might have been John's thoughts on Kyra and Cait occupying the same space?

Trée: Extremely uneasy, LOL. Emotionally quartered, or the feeling that he was about to be quartered to the words, "and don't spare the horses." And here is the dirty truth that John does not want to admit, may never admit, to himself or anyone else, but it is there. Cait's unfortunate and horrifying death, as tragic as it was, has freed him, in one regard, from the "quartered" emotional situation the "triangle" and fate had placed him. That thought lies fuzzy on the outskirts of his consciousness. He knows it is there, but at this stage, he cannot allow himself to entertain it. But it is not going away and at some point he knows he has to make peace with that terrible thought, to acknowledge that he has thought it and it is true and that he must somehow reconcile it, justify it with the image he has of who he is. How he does that, assuming he can, neither John nor I know. As I like to say, stay tuned. :-)

Q4
Several times throughout The Story you have stepped away so as not to intrude, so it is read, upon moments that have been particularly emotional/painful/personal, incidentally very high on the list of admirable qualities within the writing . What happened to Cait is not unclear, told to us matter-of-factly by Tom and so forth, but we are only now, some several weeks later, seeing John on his own as he lives within his grief. Anyone who has read your work knows that you are exceptionally gifted and if you had so chosen could have taken an audience inside those moments, can you confirm that you have intentionally refrained from intruding on those occasions?
Also, the mark of a great writer is knowing that in order to maintain the interest of the reader, there needs to be desire to learn more, to find the answers to the questions posed within and so it is imperative to a great story that there is plenty of room for the reader to fill in the blanks so to speak. A writer does not need to tell the whole story. Your story is ongoing, the singular events are not always without end, yet as I have often said, for every answer that you give, you provide a multitude of new questions. As an extra question for you to answer if you choose, how much if any thought goes into continually widening the plot?

Trée: Your first question makes me smile in that methinks you give me too much credit. Everything you have said is what very good writers do, or so I've read. I would like to tell you that I have consciously done the same, but that is not true. To be as brutally honest as I can, without deceiving myself, which I am very adroit at doing, when I get to those very intimate and personal moments (the rape of Cait, for example) I feel that I do not have the insight or wisdom to know exactly what was felt or how it could be described. The rape, for example. This is the second time a "rape" has appeared in the story. Since I have never been touched in my life or the lives of those I know by rape, I feel I am on extremely thin ice writing about it. Out of respect for those that have experienced the horror and out of respect for my audience by not filling their head with my uneducated nonsense, I stop. I stop not as a literary technique employed by a "knowing" author, but I stop because I cannot do justice in words to what is happening. If I had been raped and if I knew first hand of the experience, I promise you this, you would see a chapter unlike any other as I would share that experience with all the skill and passion I have to communicate in words. Now, if the unintended benefit is that the reader is allowed to fill in their own blanks and it adds to the enjoyment of the reading, then I will caulk that up to a happy accident. Having said that, I will say that there are times when I fully realize that leaving something unsaid or unwritten in the story is best. I getting better at knowing when to "shut-up" but I still have a long, long way to go.

As to your second question on widening the plot, I'll say this again and I reserve the right to change my mind later as in next month or next year, but I believe that plot is overrated (just my own opinion that I've stated many times in part because there are only so many plots in the world and once you know the "seven" plots everything written can be easily classified and labeled). I'm still open-minded to changing my opinion on plot so if you see me contradict myself somewhere down the road, well, so be it. So, to me, plot is the coat hanger upon which the real work or art is hung. I expand the plot, or the "coat hanger" only to serve the greater purpose of the art, which is to say, to mix my metaphors (something I love doing and do constantly and consciously to the chagrin of english teachers around the world), I use plot as a vehicle to further explore the emotional and psychological landscape of the characters or--and this is heavy on my mind at the moment--I use plot to give me new terra to describe, new settings to paint my characters within. Having most of the action take place on Bravo or another vessel limits my ability to describe the surroundings (one of the reasons I like going back to Hyneria whether it be the beaches of Valla or the scenes at the dock).

Second, and let me refer to Wolfe's first book in the new sun series, perhaps the most influential work I've read with regard to my own view of the art of prose, I can say without any hesitation, again my opinion, that what stays with me, a reader, when the book has been read, is not the plot, not the twist and turns within a story (which is much like a magic trick in that once you know how the trick is performed, it loses its appeal or lasting impact--read plot here) but the skill and art of the author to paint pictures that forever live in my mind and forever change the way I see a thing, an emotion, or the world. For example, Cormac McCarthy's The Road has what one could consider a very, very simple plot: Love of Father for Son. That's it. The whole book revolves around that one idea. Now that you know that, why read the book? I just told you in one sentence what it is about. Yet, the art is not in the vehicle, the plot, the post apocalyptic world the characters inhabit, the art is Cormac's ability to show this love in the wonderfully crafted set pieces embedded in the story. I think I will remember for the rest of my days the scene of the hot chocolate. That is what lasts. Not plot. But the art created with the power of words to shed light on greater truths. A father sacrificing for his son is so beautifully illustrated in the hot chocolate scene by an author at the top of his profession that I just sit back and stare in wonder at what the written word can do, and what it does is beyond plot. I hope that answers your question. ;-)

Q5
Your thoughts, please, however you wish to present them on the chapter entitled Lacrimation.

Trée: I have very mixed emotions in talking about this chapter. I wrote this short piece at the behest of a reader who wanted to see words put to pain, a pain not exactly as what happens in the story (read two different plots here) but a pain that is universal, a pain that knows not the plot of man or woman but just is pain. So, I revisited the rape of Cait, plot as my vehicle, to explore the concept of pain, of fate unfolding beyond our ability to stop or control it, and lastly, and perhaps most importantly, that even in the horrific, there can still be love, that love endures, that love transcends. I leave it to the reader to determine if all the above was accomplished in just two rather short paragraphs.

From a literary point of view, I also had mixed emotions and those emotions are not resolved in my own mind. In other words, I still don't know how I feel and this is what I mean. The scene is a rape. Horrific. Terrifying. Disturbing. Yet, the way it is written, 'poetic prose' is what I would call or label it, almost gives a beauty (in the writing) that is at odds with the subject matter. I didn't know I was doing it when I wrote it. Only later, in looking at the initial comments from readers and rereading the piece the next day, did I almost feel embarrassed that I had taken a rape and wrote in a way that people would use the word beautiful to describe the writing. I almost wanted to write this piece over again and make the writing ugly and brutal and hard to read to reflect more the event. Then again, I remind myself that I wrote this piece as a dedication at the request of a reader and I wanted the gift to be beautiful, to touch a heart without denying the pain, so perhaps I got it right the first time. I suppose time will judge the matter and for that I am content to let it sit. I will say this for the record, the reader for whom it was written commented to the positive in such a way, that the touching of hearts went both ways. And for that, I will forever be grateful, and for that, I can, in my own mind, justify the entire story as to time and effort.

Q5 Moments

2007-12-09T19:37:00.000Z

Q1
In Moments, you make use of a diary entry to tell of an event that has happened. As a writer, you have shifted between many different styles, straight prose, poetry, interviews, dreams, flashbacks to name but a few, do you make a conscious choice to use one style over another in any given chapter or do they present themselves to you in the flow of inspiration and creativity? Anything else you could tell us about the writing process as you see it would be welcome.

Trée: 99% of the time the style is dictated by inspiration in the moment as opposed to a conscious plan. Some chapters, however, are usually best written in a particular style--for example, the snoot imbibed chapters with Rog and Von and John are usually best written in "play form' with very little accoutrement of the descriptive nature. Other times I feel like I'm stuck using a particular style with regard to moving the story forward and this is when we see "interviews" or "letters" or "flashbacks" etc. I will say there is a conscious desire to use many different styles for a few reasons. First, I like the change of pace and feel that each style is like a tool and that some tools are better than others for painting the picture I want to paint. The heavy dense poetic baroque style used to describe the rape and murder of Cait was, in my opinion, the only tools that could do what I wanted. To use a play format or even a journal entry from John, although doing the job, I think would have been less effective. Second, as I work on my writing skills, I like the idea that I don't have to start a new story in order to try my hand at a new style. Third, I have the belief that readers enjoy the change of pace and in a way it helps keep the story fresh and worth the visit since one never really knows what or how the story will move forward.

As for your last question, we could discuss that for days and perhaps should save it for a Mega Q all by itself. I have many thoughts on that matter. ;-)

Q2
As with a real journal entry, this chapter seems to flow in one endless stream of thought, was it written as such or did you take great pains to make it appear so? Either heralds an innate gift.

Trée: This chapter, as almost all of them, are written in the moment. I usually have a vague idea of where the chapter is heading but rarely do I know how a chapter (even one that is just a couple paragraphs) will end. Diary entries are a lot of fun for me because I don't have to worry about writing or grammar or style or consistency or logic or anything since it is a diary entry and technically, I'm not writing, the character is, so any mistakes are theirs, not mine. LOL

What I love about doing a diary or journal entry is I treat them as if I were writing my own journal entry, which is to say, I just start writing and let the character say whatever comes to mind in the moment of that entry. That is exactly what happened in this chapter. I had no idea if it would be 50 words or 500. Nor did I know where Kyra might take me. I am often as surprised as the reader as to where a chapter goes. And, I wouldn't have it any other way. There is magic in the moment. Think too hard about a chapter and that magic slips through your fingers like sand. My best chapters are written quickly with very little thought, they just flow from mind to fingers and even 1,000 words can be written in a matter of minutes. Those few chapters that I labored over, that took a long time and many revisions, are, in my opinion, some of my lesser pieces. Somehow, they lack the magic. Hard to explain. Which brings up another question, I do not write on a schedule at a fixed time. I write when the chapter presents itself, and that could be any time. :-)

Q3
Kyra writes "For the third time in my life I felt a warmth radiate from the center of my being", remind us please of those other two times and which chapters they occur in?

Trée: I may be completely wrong here, so take my answer with a grain of salt, but I believe the other two times involve-as she indicates in this chapter at this time in the story--the night of the fireflies with Papa and the iso-ward with Kieran when they entered the white room. There have been, and I'm not sure if these happened before or later, other episodes that Kyra could say this same thing about, feeling the warmth (Yul on the stone floor would be one; perhaps the "Kyra incident" would be another, her visit with The Unknowns too; not to mention the trip she took Ariel on to see her mother).

A question like this reminds me of just how much as happened and unlike a book that one might read in the course of a few days or a week or two, this story is now over two years old, and like real life, my memory of just exactly what happened and when it happened is sometimes a little blurry. :-D

Q4
In this chapter, Kyra is reluctant to place defining words upon the events that transpired, are you willing and able to?

Trée: No and Nope. Only Kyra knows and she has not spoke to me of these things. To put words in her mouth would be a grave injustice and could harm the relationship (Kyra and I) that I have worked so hard to cultivate. I won't risk that relationship with idle speculation on a matter that I have no direct experience of, of a matter that is very personal to herself. One day she might share and I promise you this--if she does, I will document her explanation in the story, probably via an interview or a journal entry or maybe even a late night exchange with Von or John over a snoot or two. ;-)

Q5
Kyra's special abilities have been the basis for much of the story, how did you come upon such a wonderful idea? Were you inspired by something seen, read or heard or did it tumble forth from the rich and fertile soil of your imagination?

Trée: In short the idea evolved as the story began to unfold--it was not pre-planned. The underlying idea, however, forms the basis for the story, and that is the gifts of a child are magical and they are to be cultivated and nourished as if precious jewels. This is what Papa does and in this fictional story, we see those gifts become something quite spectacular. But the basic idea is there. Love your child and in that love you will be repaid a thousand fold. As will the universe. ;-)

Q5 Mairi

2007-12-08T18:54:00.000Z

Q1
Mairi was the last of your characters to appear in the story just after the Arc'teryx boarded Bravo-Four-Zero and still the one least known, albeit truer still it would be to place Trevor along side her in this respect. With all of the characters of The Story, there seems to be an essential component to their character, a flaw, a gift, and no unacceptable contradictions through the many appearances ahead. Are they telling you their story or are you telling theirs?

Trée: I'm tempted to say neither in that the story I'm telling is my story through them. As I've mentioned many times, each character in the story is a little bit of me, some more so than others with Kyra the one I most see as having my personality. Likewise, most of the chapters and events are educated by events in my own life rather than events I imagine or make up. Having said that, however, I would say the characters are telling me their story rather than me telling theirs. In other words, there is no master plan that a character is on a certain "track" to do certain things, to reach certain goals, to fulfill a certain objective within the story. I like that idea, that as long as the characters stay true to themselves, there is nothing predestined about what they may or may not do.

Q2
One of the first things we learn about Mairi is that she has always felt seperate from both the 'normal' children and the 'children of the shells', never quite feeling at home amongst either of them. We learn as she appears that she has kept herself to herself on board Bravo and though she begins to take centre stage on a number of occasions, with Dr X, Trev, Yul, most recently with Em, though we have seen her share some of her experience while captured and we have seen her hold her own ("Frail you farm boy")under verbal attack, there is still very much a sense of reservation, of her approaching when she is needed and retreating when that need is over. Given the desire she has expressed that carried through her childhood and onto Bravo of wanting to feel as though she belonged, as told in her regret over never approaching Kieran, another child of the shells before he was struck down by the Animus virus, do you think finally having to some extent at least her singularity defined has made her feel more or less at peace with who she is?

Trée: Mairi is moving in that direction but is not there yet. What seems to be an apparent inconsistency in her character, that is, on the one hand she is a Chatelaine and on the other seems to lack a certain sense of confidence in belonging, the two are actually a fascinating look into the layers we all have, which is to say, I believe we all harbor such complexities as to make our behavior appear, at times, to be inconsistent. I think to do otherwise with a character is to make them book-like, cardboard, or two-dimensional, and therefore less interesting, less real, less mysterious, and l think, less able to move in ways we don't imagine, which is to say, unpredictable, within reason. The bottom line is this: Mairi has a gift. She didn't know she had it until about a year ago. That gift is developing. And with each development she grows in confidence that she fits, that she belongs, that she can make a contribution. In short, if Mairi were a flower, her bud is opening to the sun of her gifts and the blossom gets more beautiful with each unfolding petal.

Q3
With Mairi, there has been much expression of regret, of guilt, in some ways she has a background similar to Yul. She speaks of feeling regret over not having approached Kieran, of having taken things for granted, guilt at what happened to Trevor, always and unspoken and so to say so is to say so without basis there seems to be a sense of self-reproach, an acceptance that she is destined to remain on the sidelines, as with Yul, it would appear that in Mairi's case too environment has convinced her of a truth that is nothing but an opinion. One of the few direct insights we gain into Mairi comes as she overhears Taren say; "I wouldn't want to be her" and we catch a glimpse of the inner workings of her mind and heart as she questions privately; Who else could she be? Where could she go to escape herself? She knew the answer. She knew the answer because she had asked herself the question a thousand times and the answer was always the same. In Evv-err, Mairi still with no clue of how essential her passage on Bravo would become to other members there, even knowing what she now knows, knowing that were it not for her, Dr X would not have been able aid Yul, Em would have the chance to regain her sight is Mairi any closer to understanding why fate dictated, however it came about, that she was meant to be aboard Bravo?

Trée: That is a great question and the answer is no. She doesn't think in those ways, in short because there is little fruit in visiting such a question. The immediate reality of their life is too overwhelming. I feel I have not done as good a job as I could have in painting the bleak picture of their reality, of what it means to be the last seven of your race, where the future is dark, you have no home, and the environment, unknown space, is hostile, dangerous and unforgiving. This reality overwhelms virtually all other thought and the crew is in danger of turning to drugs or sex or other unhealthy diversions to keep insanity at bay.

Now, having said that, what I really like about this question is the assumption that the crew of Bravo was handpicked, an idea not expressed in the story but begs to be addressed. That is, did Papa know about Mairi and put her onboard for that very reason? I don't know the answer to that question and perhaps we will see Ceru ask Papa that question if they make it to Silus. ;-)

Q4
It seems to be suggested that although a Chatelaine is a creature of stature and reverence, Mairi was searching for a place to belong and a place to hide all at the same time, in becoming a Chatelaine, she could bury herself, become someone else, be associated and accepted. Though rising to the top of her profession, her questioning after hearing Taren's comment indicates her training did little to dispel the thoughts of unworthiness and the question is did she merely succeed in disassociating herself further from where she truly wanted to belong, in short does she regret becoming a Chatelaine and if so, is it for the reason that in seeking not to care, in seeking to rise above it, in seeking to belong, ie in seeking to eradicate the thoughts that tormented her throughout childhood. does she feel that what was once imagined, she has made a reality?

Trée: Interesting question. Let me answer it like this. What is on the surface and what is underneath are not always the same. Mairi wants them to be the same. Right now, they are not. On the surface, she is an accomplished and skilled Chatelaine. Underneath, all the childhood insecurities are still there. Becoming a Chatelaine only covered up the issues. She hoped the training would transform her, but it didn't. So we see one person on the outside and another on the inside. Mairi has been, at some considerable cost, living a dual life--one public, one private. Now, on Bravo, there is no place to hide and no place really for her to a Chatelaine, to practice her trade and derive self-esteem from the practice, so she finds herself naked so to speak and all the insecurities bubble right back to the surface. Only her association with Dr X has given her reason to believe she is more than the outcast, that she has a place and can make a contribution.

Q5
How would you define the relationship between Mairi and Dr X by what we know to date?

Trée: In a word, Symbiotic. Fate has thrown them unexpectedly together. Dr X has the scientific find of a lifetime and he wants and needs to investigate. Mairi, as expressed before, is experiencing the transformational experience she has always longed for. So we have this rather strange beauty and the beast relationship, although to be fair to Dr X, my painting of him did a disservice to how handsome, in an alien sort of way, I picture him. :-D

2007-12-06T19:36:00.000Z

Favorite Character Poll

2007-11-30T10:42:00.000Z

2 years ago

2007-11-26T20:24:00.000Z

A single image came to be.

An image that inspired a beautiful piece of writing,
entitled Caribbean Canopy

Unknowingly at the time, it was the beginning of an epic story,
image following image to inspire the next chapter
and after two years thankfully it shows no sign of coming to an end.
(a reading of this very first chapter)

As captivating as this first chapter is,
it was nevertheless a mere seedling,
a seedling from which greatness grew
to comprise close to 400 chapters and over 400 images.

With a remarkable talent for expression,
for painting a scene so vividly it is seen not read,
for touching upon the spectrum of human emotion
with knowing hands thus shared not witnessed,
for creating characters impossible not to fall in love with,
for imaginative detail and
extravagant plots that only thicken with progression,
The Story holds me, among others, captive
and I count it as a greatest blessing.

2 years
a vast body of work
so astonishingly good
2 years
and counting has not been ample time
to craft an adequate clarification of its measure.

To begin is to want to read on
to read more
to read again
to recognize a gift, innate and presented
poetic prose against a backdrop of visual delight
parcels of every shape and kind
from love to grief and all that lies between
mostly of love

most refulgently of wisdom

You see the world not as it is,
Papa repeated often,
but as you are.

with thanks and felicitations

for the world at Decadent Tranquility

The Soundtrack, Part II

2007-11-26T18:29:00.001Z

The Soundtrack, Part I

2007-11-26T17:49:00.001Z

Foo Fighters, Everlong

Connie, Somewhere over the Rainbow

Paul Simon, Father and Daughter

Matt Kierney, All I Need

Josh Groban, Un Giorno Per Noi

Enigma, Sadeness

The Pretenders, I'll stand by you

Nena, Liebe ist

Recent Audio

2007-11-25T22:59:00.001Z

Link to Gabcast featuring more recent audio postings

Watering the Garden

2007-11-25T22:59:00.000Z

Vestiges

2007-11-25T22:58:00.000Z

mog.com

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Vector Beacon

2007-11-25T22:57:00.000Z

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mog.com

2007-11-25T22:53:00.000Z

So Close

2007-11-25T22:52:00.000Z

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Sailing the Nusian Peninsula

2007-11-25T22:50:00.000Z

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REMember

2007-11-25T22:48:00.000Z

mog.com

2007-11-25T22:44:00.000Z

Marauders

2007-11-25T22:42:00.000Z

Learning to Walk

2007-11-25T22:41:00.000Z

Frequency 643z

2007-11-25T22:40:00.000Z

The Healing Planet

2007-11-25T22:20:00.000Z

No outside observer would have been surprised to learn that our friends attempted to land at the first planet that came into view. Later dubbed The Healing Planet, for the purplish waters had magical powers to heal all infirmities.

Hyneria: Valla Cove

2007-11-25T22:16:00.000Z

To their right, Hyneria’s three moons rose with dignity, casting a warm glow on sea and skin alike. Papa and Kyra walked in silence, if one did not count the symphony of waves bowing at their feet, nature’s red carpet.

Zeke

Kulmyk: Duckhead

2007-11-25T22:09:00.000Z

Residence of the Discovery family

Four Minutes

2007-11-25T21:42:00.000Z

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mog.com

2007-11-25T18:45:00.000Z

Eight precepts: Truth

2007-11-25T18:33:00.000Z

“No buts, Kyra,” intoned Papa. “The thought is never the thing—always two, never the same. As soon as you think you create separation. Your mind is a tool. Good for some things and not good for others. The mind works at one level, the heart another. Most live in their minds; prisoners of their own making, never realizing they hold the key. They live between the walls of their own making and forever feeling lost, forever searching for this or that only to find once they have this then they want that and once they have that then they want this. No one tortures one more than one’s own mind. You must learn to see it for what it is—a tool of the lower order. We need it to function in this world, but it will never take us home and it will never take us to truth, which is to say it will never take us to love.”

Kyra had never heard Papa talk quite like this. She felt as if he were lifting her to a higher duty, a higher level of being and with it a higher level of responsibility.

“Papa, what did you do to me with your hands?”

“I opened a door that only few can open. You, my dear, are one of those few. We started our evening with the question of then what. But I ask you a more profound question. What is love?”

“Love is truth and truth is love, you have always said that Papa.”

“That is true, but tell me child, is love and truth just words, just concepts, just more ideas?”

“What I felt a few minutes ago had nothing to do with words, or concepts or ideas,” said Kyra.

(excerpt from the chapter entitled Underneath It All)

Eight precepts: Joy

2007-11-25T18:17:00.000Z

“I’m just frailing exploding with the joy inside of me, the joy you’ve shown me, the joy we create, but most of all, the joy I’m able to express to you, right here, right now. Do you have any idea how it feels to be able to say what I’m saying—the freedom? I’m free baby, free to open my heart, free to express. You’ve taught me that. You’ve taught me how to let go, how to open without fear, how to open without expectation, how to just open. Baby, I may be opening my arms, my legs, but if that’s all you see, you are missing me opening my soul and you are missing our souls at play in the waters of the divine flow.”

Rog pulled Yul tight, his eyes full with unshed tears of a joy he could not explain and he hugged her like they were on the stone floor of her dark bathroom, and as before, Yul felt a hug that was more than a hug—she felt a soul melting into her, she felt minds in tune, the harmony of a pure understanding shared.

(excerpt from the chapter entitled What Baby?)

Eight precepts: Peace

2007-11-25T16:23:00.000Z

Em opened her arms and as before, the two embraced. “You know what?”

“What?” asked Kyra.

“In just a few minutes, you are going to introduce me to that little girl and the three of us are going to hold hands and we are going to dance and laugh.” Em yawned again. “We are going home Kyra. And we are going to meet the blessed one.”

(Excerpt from the chapter entitled The blessed one)

Eight precepts: Love

2007-11-25T16:17:00.000Z

“I want to know now, right this instant. We must devise a plan. That’s what you always said father, that we need a plan, that we must win the fight in our minds before we take the fight to our enemies.”

The captain squeezed tears down his cheeks with a smile he could not repress. She was wrong and she was right. His wife, her mother, was dying and nothing known on land or sky was going to change that. But that wasn’t really the point.

“We start with flowers.”

“Flowers?”

“Flowers brighten everything. We need flowers in every room, a signal, our standard. Mother will know. She will see and when she can no longer see she will smell the aroma of our untiring efforts. We will bathe her senses in our love and our strength will become her strength, our hope her hope, our conviction, the road to recovery. We will carry her father. We will lift her upon our stout shoulders as victors and she will know, know a love unlike any other.”

(excerpt from the chapter entitled A Good Woman)

Eight precepts: Compassion

2007-11-25T16:05:00.000Z

"When we landed and I exited my Kestrel, Zeke was the first one to greet me. I expected court martial, on the spot." Von paused, looked down at his drink and then back up at Rog.

"And?"

"With tears in his eyes he hugged me."

Rog looked askew at Von.

"Only a Zing Tao with the ability to make it to the ninth order could have responded with that level of compassion in the heat of the moment. I learned more in that one embrace than my entire training up to that time. And I owe everything else I accomplished because of that Hynerian."

(excerpt from the chapter entitled Annus Horriblilis)

The characters

2007-11-25T13:26:00.000Z

Who's who, in the words of the author

Comments

2007-11-24T18:23:00.000Z

Click the image to view a montage.

DT comments

2007-11-23T22:04:00.000Z

Take My Quiz on
QuizYourFriends.com

Metaluna

2007-11-20T06:56:00.000Z

On weekends the Metalunans loved to sail on Tigerland Sea.

Caribbean

2007-11-20T06:31:00.000Z

Contour carving from the Caribbean Island on which The Story begins.

Silus

2007-11-19T13:27:00.001Z

Silus was the third Hynerian moon and location of Zing Tao annual solitary treks.

Dauculus

2007-11-19T13:23:00.000Z

Horrors without, horrors within. Dauculus represented the single greatest loss of Zing Tao in the history of the Order.

Neraj

2007-11-19T13:22:00.000Z

“Nice view pumpkin, but I ain’t figuring you brought me here to wax philosophical about the cosmos,” said Rog.

Kyra laughed. “Cut the crap Rog. That view blows you away, you know it, but ain’t got the balls to tell this little pumpkin that there might actually be a sentimental bone in that leather saddlebag of a body of yours.

Hyneria

2007-11-19T13:18:00.001Z

Home

Coming in waves never seen before and beyond Hynerian scientists to either predict nor understand, massive hurricanes, like roving bands of wolves, made life untenable.

Marvel

2007-11-19T09:51:00.000Z

Delight

2007-11-19T09:50:00.000Z

Wonder

2007-11-19T09:44:00.000Z

Appreciation

2007-11-19T09:35:00.000Z

Audio: Caribbean Canopy

2007-11-17T22:18:00.000Z

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The characters: Mairi

2007-11-17T21:24:00.001Z

Mairi’s heart raced. Taking a step back, she hurled herself against the door, her feet bloody with the life of Trev, cells dying in step with hope. Images of stains filled her mind. Stains of the body, stains of the mind, stains of the soul. Janus she hated stains. Her small lithe body was as feather pounding rock against the door. Falling to her knees in step with tears down her cheeks she began to sob as mothers sob for children, her head heavy in her hands as if guilt were lead. In anguish she cocked her head to bang the object of resistance and fell forward as the door swished open and where there was one bloody body upon the cold stone floor, now there were two.

Excerpt from Stains of Scarlet

The charcters: Trev

2007-11-17T21:23:00.001Z

Bravo-4-0

2007-11-17T21:09:00.000Z

The Grand Conference Room

Bravo-Four-Zero

The Chapel

Images - a selection from the first 14 months

2007-11-17T20:31:00.000Z

For a better view, click the icon in the bottom right corner.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Trée

2007-11-17T20:22:00.001Z

Blogger Profile Page

The fractal that inspired the chapter entitled Caribbean Canopy was a key that unlocked the door to the world of Kyra, Papa and the others. As image followed image and the words flowed there from, surprise at the magic unfolding was often expressed by the author and readers alike. Surprise that to some degree was unwarranted given the pages of DT have always been a source of great inspiration and delight, posts as well as comments showed, clearest in hindsight as most things are, the great writer that Trée is and the scope of his imagination and insight.

Through full-bodied characters, he invites his readers to dwell and explore beliefs, concepts, behaviour, emotion, to stretch the imagination and to touch hearts. In the words of Papa; Water the love and joy and compassion in your heart and watch them grow. In this amazing story, we are shown the power of Love and what happens when love and compassion are wanting.

It does not require much reading to understand that the person writing has great depth, that his soul shines and the way in which he views the world and processes that information is thoroughly enchanting. A brilliant writer and artist, but more than that a beautiful person, mind, heart and soul.

The characters: Yul

2007-11-17T20:14:00.001Z

The characters: Von

2007-11-17T20:13:00.001Z

Pull up a chair and have some snoot.

Most definitionally, as a member of the Zing Tao and a father, Von has seen, he has lived and above all he has learned. Whatever the occasion, Von rises to it, whether in battle, at a karaoke party or a friend in need...

The characters: Em

2007-11-17T19:57:00.001Z

The characters: Rog

2007-11-17T19:46:00.001Z

The characters: Kieran

2007-11-17T19:44:00.001Z

The characters: Caitlin

2007-11-17T19:43:00.001Z

The characters: John Discovery

2007-11-17T19:41:00.001Z