About Laurie: The author of Forests Secrets and Finding Joy as well as The Pharaoh’s Cry, Portal Rift,Persistence of Memory, Kidnapped Smile, and Dragon Sky of the fantasy series The Artania Chronicles, Laurie Woodward is also a screenwriter who co-authored Dean and JoJo: The Dolphin Legacy. Her poetry has been published in multiple journals and anthologies and she was a collaborator on the popular anti-bullying DVD Resolutions. Bullied as a child, Laurie is now an award-winning peace consultant, poet, and blogger who helps teach children how to avoid arguments, stop bullying, and maintain healthy friendships. She writes on the Central Coast of California. More about her work can be found at Author Laurie Woodward — Next Chapteria.net
This early 1970’s steampunk is a triptych of novels that follow the adventures of a British officer, Captain Bastable who gets caught in a time travel stream while in charge of a detachment of troops in British India. He is then flung from one version of the 20th century to another where airships fly and wars have been won by alternative leaders.
The prose is definitely in a style that is no longer popular with long descriptive sentences that made it a more challenging read than many of today’s works. Also, there are dated cultural and ideological references about people of color that made me realize how much the world has changed for the better in the last fifty years. Still, Moorcock, shows multiple dystopian timelines that illustrate the horrors of war and the evil turns humanity takes act as a warning.
About Laurie: The author of Forests Secrets and Finding Joy as well as The Pharaoh’s Cry, Portal Rift,Persistence of Memory, Kidnapped Smile, and Dragon Sky of the fantasy series The Artania Chronicles, Laurie Woodward is also a screenwriter who co-authored Dean and JoJo: The Dolphin Legacy. Her poetry has been published in multiple journals and anthologies and she was a collaborator on the popular anti-bullying DVD Resolutions. Bullied as a child, Laurie is now an award-winning peace consultant, poet, and blogger who helps teach children how to avoid arguments, stop bullying, and maintain healthy friendships. She writes on the Central Coast of California. More about her work can be found at Author Laurie Woodward — Next Chapteria.net
About Laurie: The author of Forests Secrets and Finding Joy as well as The Pharaoh’s Cry, Portal Shift, Kidnapped Smile, and Dragon Sky of the fantasy series The Artania Chronicles, Laurie Woodward is also a screenwriter who co-authored Dean and JoJo: The Dolphin Legacy. Her poetry has been published in multiple journals and anthologies and she was a collaborator on the popular anti-bullying DVD Resolutions. Bullied as a child, Laurie is now an award-winning peace consultant, poet, and blogger who helps teach children how to avoid arguments, stop bullying, and maintain healthy friendships. She writes on the Central Coast of California. More about her work can be found at Author Laurie Woodward — Next Chapteria.net
A life of service, dignity, devotion, and love for her country. Promises kept. Always maintaining composure even in the most trying of times. An example we all can learn from.
As I watched the events during the United Kingdom’s official mourning period, I couldn’t help but see the stark contrast between her life and that of other leaders throughout history. How many other prime ministers, presidents, kings, emperors, or other heads of state have kept promises made to serve? Just as she did on her twenty-first birthday.
An example we all can learn from. You served us all. Thank you Queen Elizabeth. Your footprint on humanity will long be felt.
You make me want to be better. And serve in my own small way.
About Laurie: The author of Finding Joy as well as The Pharaoh’s Cry, Portal Shift, Kidnapped Smile, and Dragon Sky of the fantasy series The Artania Chronicles, and Forests Secrets. Laurie Woodward is also a screenwriter who co-authored Dean and JoJo: The Dolphin Legacy. Her poetry has been published in multiple journals and anthologies and she was a collaborator on the popular anti-bullying DVD Resolutions. Bullied as a child, Laurie is now an award-winning peace consultant, poet, and blogger who helps teach children how to avoid arguments, stop bullying, and maintain healthy friendships. She writes on the Central Coast of California. More about her work can be found at Author Laurie Woodward — Next Chapteria.net
I have been on a path to find my way back to myself But I’m so lost that I can’t tell if this bramble covered ground Is a road, a garden, or a kingdom. I reach for shears to cut through the thorny vines But they have long since rusted And crumble in my hands. I try wading through the woody sharpness And look down to find my feet torn and bleeding. I remember Jesus imploring me on that night So long ago. With unspoken words that touched and terrified me. And decide that this is not a path But a snare. I entrap myself in again and again.
Photo by David Stroup
About Laurie: The author of Finding Joy as well as The Pharaoh’s Cry, Portal Shift, Kidnapped Smile, and Dragon Sky of the fantasy series The Artania Chronicles, and Forests Secrets. Laurie Woodward is also a screenwriter who co-authored Dean and JoJo: The Dolphin Legacy. Her poetry has been published in multiple journals and anthologies and she was a collaborator on the popular anti-bullying DVD Resolutions. Bullied as a child, Laurie is now an award-winning peace consultant, poet, and blogger who helps teach children how to avoid arguments, stop bullying, and maintain healthy friendships. She writes on the Central Coast of California. More about her work can be found at Author Laurie Woodward — Next Chapteria.net
About Laurie: The author of the recently released Finding Joy as well as The Pharaoh’s Cry, Portal Shift, Kidnapped Smile, and Dragon Sky of the fantasy series The Artania Chronicles, and Forests Secrets. Laurie Woodward is also a screenwriter who co-authored Dean and JoJo: The Dolphin Legacy. Her poetry has been published in multiple journals and anthologies and she was a collaborator on the popular anti-bullying DVD Resolutions. Bullied as a child, Laurie is now an award-winning peace consultant, poet, and blogger who helps teach children how to avoid arguments, stop bullying, and maintain healthy friendships. She writes on the Central Coast of California. More about her work can be found at Author Laurie Woodward — Next Chapteria.net
The winter stars twinkled above the streetlamps in the midnight sky. Porch lanterns glimmered through the fog. A lone car’s headlamp shone in the distance.
But shadows prevailed. Dusky hands swiped from the gloom. A blackness I’d never escape.
I kept running. Rushing forward in a race against no one. Each breath drew shorter. I started gasping, chest tightening with every stride.
Palm trees swayed overhead, their sharp fronds whispering like necromancers creating curses. Repeatedly, they murmured, “Dog. Freak. Outcast.” Meanwhile, wispy clouds became wraiths assaulting the sky.
Praying that speed would shrivel the words, I tried focusing on my feet. And raced on.
If there truly was a fairy godmother, she’d tell me to close my eyes to erase it all. But when I tried, Angie’s sneering face remained etched on the back of my lids.
I sprinted up one street. Down another.
Then I turned the corner and flew head long into the street. Saw the headlights. Too late. A horn blared and tires screeched.
The next thing I knew I was splayed out in someone’s yard, watching a man in a dark Camaro roll down his window.
“Stupid kid! Watch where you’re going!” he shouted before peeling out.
If I’d had any buzz before that, it sure as shit was gone now. Panting, I hugged my knees as the wet grass soaked into my Dittoes.
The street was quiet now. Shivers tingled my scalp and pulsed down my spine until I was shaking so much, I thought that big earthquake they always talk about had begun.
I want to go home. Sit on Mom’s lap like I had when I was little, feeling her stroke my hair as she told me things that weren’t true like sticks and stones will break your bones, but names will never hurt you.
Take a deep breath, Joy. Think. You don’t’ know where you are, but you need to find out. It’s almost curfew.
My legs tightened as a full-on Charlie horse set in. Standing I limped over to a nearby street sign, grabbed the pole with both hands, and started to stretch out my right calf.
The sign said Malibu Avenue. Where had I heard that before? Wracking my brain, I tried to remember street names, but everything was fuzzy and mixed up.
Right or left? Both looked pretty much like dead ends, but I either picked one or stayed on this corner shivering all night. Eeenie meanie Minnie moe.
Left it is.
***
By the time I finally found my way home it was real late, probably past two. I thought maybe I could sneak in and my parents wouldn’t notice.
Turning the knob as slowly as I could, I slipped inside.
“Where the hell have you been?” Ronny thundered, his eyes red and angry.
“Umm. At Janice’s.”
He grabbed me by the collar and pulled me closer. I could still smell the Seagram’s under the toothpaste on his breath. “Liar. We called. She was with her boyfriend.”
“But I was with them. Really.”
“You were whoring around, little slut.”
“No! I was with Janice and Lisa, I swear.”
Mom stepped into the entryway. “Tell us the truth Joy. Was it a boy?”
“No.” I sighed. Busted, I might as well tell the truth. “I was a party, okay? Some kids had a party.”
“Whoring around?”
“I don’t do that. just went to a party.” Then under my breath said, “Nobody’d want me anyhow.”
Mom’s face fell. “You lied to us?”
“I thought you’d say no. You guys are so strict-”
“I’ll show you strict you little slut!” Ronny raised an arm.
“Stop calling me that.”
Grabbing a fistful of t-shirt, he said, “Slutty jeans. Whore top.”
“Asshole!” I jerked away.
“Why you fucking little–” His fist recoiled off my face.
For the first time I ignored the pain and fear. Instead, rage filled me. Every punch Mom and I had ever endured. Every black eye and bruise. Every cruel word of derision. Every time I’d cowered behind my door. All turned to paper flashing flame.
I wish he’d just crawl in a hole and die.
I swung. Fists curled like he showed me. Connected with that fucking red face. Arms burning with rage. Imitating the blows he’d inflicted year after year.
Smack! Rapid fire strikes shot off from two pairs of arms. Child against adult. Girl against man. Victim against perpetrator.
Mom’s screams did nothing to stop the conflagration. Too many years of fuel. I punched and punched. Not giving a shit as to how loud she cried or how much my face was swelling.
She got behind me and grabbed my waist. “Stop, now!” she said dragging me off him.
I stumbled back. Raised an arm toward her but then gasped when I realized what I was doing. A tear-stained face looked at me accusingly.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Ronny placed a hand on Mom’s back. “She’s a spoiled bitch, that’s what.”
Shaking my head, I backed up. Only now feeling the fire on my cheeks, I cupped them and froze. I hate him, fucking hate him.
After lowering my hands, I ran to my room. With a loud door slam, I fell onto the bed and buried my face in a Tide-scented pillow. Pounding the mattress, I screamed, “I didn’t do anything!”
Asswipe.
And I’d really been trying lately. Not getting high so much. Working on my grades, friggin’ joined the school paper, even wrote two articles that got published. I tried getting home before curfew. Wasn’t my fault I couldn’t get a ride.
Why do I even try? No matter what I do, things suck.
A smoldering something changed in me that day. It blistered into a scalding char that burned under my skin. And the tears that flooded my pillow did nothing to smother it.
I fucking give up.
About Laurie: The author of the recently released Finding Joy as well as The Pharaoh’s Cry, Portal Shift, Kidnapped Smile, and Dragon Sky of the fantasy series The Artania Chronicles, and Forests Secrets. Laurie Woodward is also a screenwriter who co-authored Dean and JoJo: The Dolphin Legacy. Her poetry has been published in multiple journals and anthologies and she was a collaborator on the popular anti-bullying DVD Resolutions. Bullied as a child, Laurie is now an award-winning peace consultant, poet, and blogger who helps teach children how to avoid arguments, stop bullying, and maintain healthy friendships. She writes on the Central Coast of California. More about her work can be found at Author Laurie Woodward — Next Chapteria.net
I see only darkness through my colored contact lenses
As pop bands play, “My future’s so bright I gotta wear shades.”
I tap my foot, sans rhythm, to the minstrel mime blaring silent recordings on a blank tape.
Voices clamor for the sky.
Tears fall on the shadows of shoulders.
While I orate and conversate.
And emit passionate cliches and sublime euphemisms.
But only the mute hear me,
And they can’t respond.
Photos by David Stroup
About Laurie: The author of the recently released Finding Joy as well as The Pharaoh’s Cry, Portal Shift, Kidnapped Smile, and Dragon Sky of the fantasy series The Artania Chronicles, and Forests Secrets. Laurie Woodward is also a screenwriter who co-authored Dean and JoJo: The Dolphin Legacy. Her poetry has been published in multiple journals and anthologies and she was a collaborator on the popular anti-bullying DVD Resolutions. Bullied as a child, Laurie is now an award-winning peace consultant, poet, and blogger who helps teach children how to avoid arguments, stop bullying, and maintain healthy friendships. She writes on the Central Coast of California. More about her work can be found at Author Laurie Woodward — Next Chapteria.net
Long ago, according to Greek myth, there were only gods. Then one day they decided to form the first woman and asked Hephaestus to mold Pandora from clay. Each of the gods next bestowed upon her a gift; femininity from Aphrodite, deceit from Hermes, and crafts from Athena. Pandora means, “she who bears all gifts” in Greek.
Soon the beautiful woman was betrothed to Epimetheus. As a wedding present she received from Zeus a box that she was told contained many more amazing gifts. In fact it held all the ills of the world. He told her to keep it safe but never to open it.
Pandora was wed and should have been happy. But that box called to her. Day after day she gazed upon it imagining the wonders it might contain. Finally, her curiosity got the better of her and she lifted the lid. This unleashed every imaginable evil upon the earth. She tried to halt the onslaught and quickly closed it. But that all was left at the bottom was a tiny bit of hope.
How do we use this myth as writers? I believe that every story whether it’s fantasy, horror, or tragedy needs what was left in the bottom of Pandora’s box. Without hope, the audience is left uneasy and unsatisfied. Battles may ensue. Lives might be lost. Love could be elusive. Yet still, the audience craves the fantasy that things just might be okay somewhere down the line.
About Laurie: The author of the recently released Finding Joy as well as The Pharaoh’s Cry, Portal Shift, Kidnapped Smile, and Dragon Sky of the fantasy series The Artania Chronicles, and Forests Secrets. Laurie Woodward is also a screenwriter who co-authored Dean and JoJo: The Dolphin Legacy. Her poetry has been published in multiple journals and anthologies and she was a collaborator on the popular anti-bullying DVD Resolutions. Bullied as a child, Laurie is now an award-winning peace consultant, poet, and blogger who helps teach children how to avoid arguments, stop bullying, and maintain healthy friendships. She writes on the Central Coast of California. More about her work can be found at Author Laurie Woodward — Next Chapteria.net
I recently was looking for a new book to read so went onto Goodreads to find some recommendations. One group was reading Furyborn by Claire Legrand and it sounded interesting so I decided to give it a try. What were my thoughts?
The first chapter pulls you right in with, “The queen stopped screaming just after midnight.” Then you meet a boy given an impossible task and start to root for him, only to change POV and time to years before. This made it challenging for me to continue because I didn’t like Queen Rielle at first and couldn’t relate to her. But I had committed to read the book in a Goodreads group who encouraged me to keep on. I’m glad I did! As the chapters unfold we get to know, Rielle and Eliana, two women struggling to find their way in two different worlds. For years Rielle has hidden the fact that she has all seven of the prophesied powers. When she uses them to save her best friend Prince Audric, Rielle finds herself participating in trials to find out if she truly is the queen of legend. Eliana, on the other hand, is a reluctant assassin. She is doing anything she can to protect her brother and find her kidnapped mother and finds herself waged in a war that is centuries old. She is hiding an important part of herself from the world for fear of how it will be used and who it could hurt. Both women are on separate journeys, but connected in ways they couldn’t imagine. In the end one of these women will save the world and one will doom it. A good start to a new fantasy series!
About Laurie: The author of the recently released Finding Joy as well as The Pharaoh’s Cry, Portal Shift, Kidnapped Smile, and Dragon Sky of the fantasy series The Artania Chronicles, and Forests Secrets. Laurie Woodward is also a screenwriter who co-authored Dean and JoJo: The Dolphin Legacy. Her poetry has been published in multiple journals and anthologies and she was a collaborator on the popular anti-bullying DVD Resolutions. Bullied as a child, Laurie is now an award-winning peace consultant, poet, and blogger who helps teach children how to avoid arguments, stop bullying, and maintain healthy friendships. She writes on the Central Coast of California. More about her work can be found at Author Laurie Woodward — Next Chapteria.net
Laurie Woodward 