New Blog

I have a new blog at:


http://www.storiesbystacy1.blogspot.com/

This blog has been discontinued. Please refer to new blog on Monday, 19 October 2009. Thank you. Have a great day.

Blessings,

Stacy

Latest Information

This blog will only be added to periodically. Instead, for writing information, please refer to three different sites:


http://www.storiesbystacy.com/

http://www.storiesbystacy.blogspot.com/

http://www.sacredstoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/

Thanks!

Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy

Greetings from Stories by Stacy

Hello! It's been a while. Sorry to not be here yesterday and add a posting to this blog. However, I'm here now.

I am mostly settled in my new home in Omaha. It's been fun (not sarcastically speaking, but I'm serious) setting up a new home and combining two households in one. This is the first time my husband and I've been under the same roof. Therefore, it's quite nice. I not only love my husband, but I like him. So, it's been a while in coming but here we are.

Omaha is a great deal better than I anticipated and I had positive thoughts about the place beforehand. It's pretty, green, and hilly. I love the people, the community in which I live, and so on. It's a slower pace than Denver and I definitely love that facet. It's also nice to be near more Christians and patriots. Everyone is friendly and when you let a driver over in front of you, they actually wave and say thank you.

It took us a month to get some of our furniture (and we're still waiting on the last round to come in on Friday). But, the wait was worthwhile. The house is a sacred place and quite peaceful. It's a retreat and that matters more to me than anything else.

We got a kitten named Sinan (pronouced See-naw-n) on Sunday and have been enjoying him very much. He's a huge ham. He has no fear. He's vocal, follows us around, and comes when called. He's a lover and purrs loudly. It looks like I've got a good helper.

I really have not had time to miss Denver yet and I think that's a good thing.

My dad is coming out to visit next week, so I'll be a little out of the loop again. Sorry about that.

It looks like I have four books I'm working on at the moment, as far as writing goes:
1. A book on 1 Corinthians. It's a bible study, devotional, reference, journaling type of book. It's meant to be done individually or in a group. Non-fiction.
2. A book on journaling. I actually call it journalblogging. It's a combination of journaling and blogging where you get thoughts out on paper or in a blog. It forces us to realize that we miss most of life every day because of busyness. We need to slow down and try to process what we experience, think, feel, be intentional about living, plan and seek our goals every day or we miss life. We forget what's important. Non-fiction. It can be done individually or in a group.
3. Zeagar. Fiction. Sci-fi.
4. A book about if walls could talk. It's set in the future and is going to be an epic love story about a construction worker who helped built the arch in St. Louis. The construction worker is purely fiction, but I want to do a series about 'Building America,' and how everyone has a story and these stories build America as well as the hands that build the landmarks. Fiction.

Also, I need to edit and get ready for publication:
1. Cammi's Story
2. Demarcations

How are you? What's new with you? Let me know.

Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

I'm Back

Greetings from Omaha.

I'm back and will start to blog again tomorrow afternoon. Thank you for your patience.

By the way, I have a new kitten. He's an orange tabby, named Sinan (pronounced: See-naw-n). Sinan is a good lion name. He acts like a lion and looks like one in a way. Sinan means spearhead. So, get ready for tales of the adventurous one.

How are you? What's new with you? Drop me a line and let me know.

Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

See You in August

I will try to write some blog postings whenever I am able. However, plan on me taking a hiatus until August. Then, look out! I will blog daily once again.

I'm moving at the beginning of July and will take a while to set up my house. Then, I'm going to join some time off with my best friend and hubby before our lives get quite busy. Moving from Denver and going to Omaha.

I hope all is well with you. Take care.

Stacy Duplease

Space and Sci-Fi

I wanted to be an astronaut for years. Then I took Calculus and Physics and quickly learned I might not want to become one after all. However, that didn't take away my love of space. That's why I write sci-fi.

Imagine walking among the stars.

Imagine it literally.

Can you?

Can you imagine seeing other planets, stars, and galaxies?

Think about it. Take a while to imagine it and see how it shapes your life.

Stay Duplease and Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

Zeagar: What Does Utopia Look Like to You? By Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy

The question I asked as the title of this blog is what I want to address at this time and go deeper with in my explanation as to the question.

What is Utopia like to you? Which Utopia?

The Utopia I am thinking of is what does the perfect United States of America look like to you? What is your view of an achievable Utopia today? What does it look like? How is it accomplished?

Let me know what you think.

In my novel, Zeagar... I am addressing my response. However, my muse can always be fed by other's opinions.

Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy

The Hunt for Tanpres #7

Yes. That was what he was afraid of. Would she accept things as they are? She had no other choice. But, the question in his mind was how hard she would make it on herself and everyone else involved. “You weren’t the only one that was voted on yesterday, my queen.”


She raised her eyebrows as they made eye contact with one another. “Who else was?”


“The King, my Queen.” He braced himself for her reaction.


Megan was mesmerized by the beauty of the mountains, the crisp blue sky, the multicolored rocks below and the sides of the mountains with trees: pine trees and aspen without leaves. It felt like a sacred moment as he flew between the mountains. “Hmm?” What he said hadn’t registered in her mind. His silence only made her think about what he had said. “Wait a minute.” It hit her. “What king?” What’s the crazy flying dragon talking about? She wasn’t sure.


He realized that she hoped to deny it. Surely, she hoped that it wasn’t so. “Your King, Queen Megan.” He phrased it that way in order to get her thinking. He waited for a second. “Your husband.”


Of all the crazy things that she had heard about today and had seen with her own eyes, this was the one that stopped her heart the most of all of them. How could this be? She thought about it. “Are you telling me that I have a husband?” She tried to take several deep cleansing breaths since she felt lightheaded since she already knew the answer. She sensed it. This made her completely terrified. His nod was almost unperceivable. “Okay.” She paused. “I was afraid that was what you were telling me, Bakari.” How did she feel about that? She decided to remember that this was just a dream anyway, so she could survive this without having a panic attack like she felt she could so easily do right about now.


He nodded once more and spoke in a quieter voice than normal. “The women voted for the king and the entire Northern Kingdom voted for you, male and female. You were from the Other World, after all, and that’s why everyone votes in order to ensure you’re the best. The opposite sex only votes for those in the Outer World so that the royal can be a better mate for the royal from the Other World.”


Outer World. Other World. It confused her to say the least, but she wondered if she went along with it, if it might make more sense. “That sounds like a good tradition. I bet I got a better man for my husband because of it. Right?” She tried to reassure herself. She didn’t mean one word, but hoped that it would be the case.


“That was the idea. It had been your mother’s brainstorm a few years ago since the Outer World changed so dramatically. Dryden Astoria of Saphir Philo, whom you’ll call Dryden, is a wonderful man. He’s handsome, a warrior, educated, a reader, a lover of Shakespeare, a songwriter, and a natural born leader. He’s in the army by trade and is in charge of a division. He’d be like a colonel in the American armed forces, if that helps you to comprehend.” Bakari depicted the situation to her.


“It does.” Although, Megan wondered if it were possible to ever fully understand a dream or a hallucination.

Followers, Comments, and Emails

If you read this blog, please:
* Sign yourself up as a follower (in the margin of this page, it gives you the opportunity. Use a fake name and a fake picture if you desire privacy.).
* Add comments at the end of each blog posting. I want all of my blogs to be interactive rather than just have me flapping my trap.
* Send me email comments if you desire to: storiesbystacy@gmail.com

Thank you! My bloggings are not supposed to be about me, but about life in general and about you.

Stacy Duplease

Cammi's Story #1

Here's my fantasy entitled, "Cammi's Story." I'll start to upload it to this blog in order to get you excited for when I publish it in the next couple of months.

Here it is:

“YOUR POSITION HERE AT THE library is being eliminated, Cammi.”
Cammi stared at Caroline with wide eyes. “What do you mean?”

“I’m afraid we have to let you go due to our county’s budget constraints.” Her boss sat back in her chair and crossed her hands in front of her on the desk.

“In other words, I’m fired.”

“No. You’re not being fired. You’re being laid off.”

“What’s the difference?” Cammi tried to hold herself together. It wasn’t the time to cry.

Caroline reached for a folder in front of her and opened it. “The difference is your severance package.”

Was that supposed to make it better? “When is my last day at work?”
“Yesterday was.”

Cammi stared at the woman with narrowed eyes. “Gee, thanks for the heads up.”

“I’m sorry, Cammi, but it’s nothing personal.”

“Maybe not to you, but it is to me, Caroline.” Cammi’s eyes shifted to the floor. “I’m 31 years old and have been here for 8 years. What do I do now?”
Caroline handed Cammi the folder containing the severance package. “You always wanted to own your own bookstore. It seems to me this might be the perfect opportunity for you.”

“I’ll take that into consideration. I guess I’ll go clean off my desk and get going, unless you have more to say before I go.” Cammi stood and held out her hand to Caroline when she did not respond. “For what it’s worth, I really did enjoy working here. Thanks for everything.” Cammi held her head high as she turned to leave the office.

She kept her emotions in check while she headed to the storage room to grab an empty box. Well, this is great. Where do I go from here? Just as she reached her desk, she heard the vibration of her cell phone. She looked at the caller I.D. It was Kristen, her older sister. “Thank God you called.”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“What are you doing for lunch?”

“Do you want to go to the Riverwalk?”

“Sounds good. I was just laid off from my job and I need an ear.”

“Ouch. Sorry to hear that. I’ll pick you up at your place, Cam. Lunch is on me.”

“Give me an hour.”

“See you then.”

“Thanks, Sis.” Cammi closed her phone and took one more look at her office before she began to pack her things.

CAMMI HAD JUST BROUGHT THE last box into her home when her sister showed up. “Knock, knock,” Kristen said with an air with apprehension. “How ya doin, kid?” She approached her sister with her arms open. “Come here.”

Cammi wrapped her arms around Kristen. Her crestfallen state became evident when she broke into sobs. “Kristen, where do I go from here? How much more can I take?” She began to pace. “What a year it’s been. First, I find out Charles had an affair. Then, the divorce. Next, I find out he got her pregnant while we were still married. And now, I lost my job. What’s going to happen next?”

“Next, we’re going to lunch.”

“Kristen, you know what I mean.”

“Yeah, I do, but you’ve gotta take care of yourself. It seems to me we have a reason to celebrate.”

Cammi stopped in her tracks and stared at her sister. “How in the world can you say that?”

“You never cared for that job anyway. We both know what your dream is anyway. You keep procrastinating, but I think it’s time you gave it a try. At this point you’ve got nothing to lose.”

It sounded right. “Why do you always have to be so positive?”
“Because I’m older and wiser. It’s my job.”

“A whole three years.” Cammi rolled her eyes. “But, you’ve got a point.”
“When’s the last time you did anything for you? The beach is less than three hours away. When was the last time you were there? It’s August. You need to go before it cools off.” Kristen bent down to pet Cammi’s dog, Sunny. The Golden Retriever sniffed her hair and licked her face.
Of course, her sister knew her well. When was the last time she went to the beach? Cammi was not sure. “I haven’t felt like doing much of anything for a while now.”

“Yeah, I know. That’s my point.” Kristen took a couple of steps toward Cammi and put her hand on Cammi’s cheek. “You need to take some time for you.” The gentleness of her voice was followed by a tear rolling down Cammi’s face. Kristen wiped it away.

Cammi smelled her sister’s perfume. A Shade of Purple was also what their mom wore. “How am I going to tell Mom and Dad?” She whispered and her shoulders fell forward. Her tears fell to the floor.

“They will understand more than you think, kid. They know you’ve been miserable at the library. They recognized you didn’t care for the people, but you loved the job. But you know something, Cam? You’ve learned all kinds of valuable lessons there and they can be applied to running a bookstore, so it wasn’t a complete waste of time. We thought it was only a matter of time.”

“So, I take it you’ve had long talks with the folks about my situation.” Was she that obvious? How could they know she was so miserable even though she loved the work?

“We knew you were unhappy and wished you had better.” Kristen shrugged like it was no big deal. Cammi sighed and opened her mouth to retort. Her face became flushed and her forehead wrinkled. “Easy, Cam. We want you to pursue your dream. They’ve done you a favor. You may not think so, but in time you’ll see it in a different light.”

“Krissy, my heart’s breaking. I gave the library my heart and soul for almost a decade.” Her sister pushed her a little too much.

Escapism and Speculative Fiction: Reading and Writing

Why do I like to read and write speculative fiction? It's because of the escapism it brings.

This world is full of darkness and life is full of difficulties. Therefore, I like to get away from it all for a while. Or, I like to read and write about overcoming these obstacles. Speculative fiction definitely offers this ability.

Furthermore, it allows my imagination to soar. How wonderful is that? The imagination is remarkable and is definitely a gift.

So, read on. Enjoy.

Spec fiction, or spec lit, is definitely weird. But, in the times we live, it's a bizarre blessing.

Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

The Hunt for Tanpres #6

How was he supposed to explain to her what she was about to face once they got to the Northern Kingdom? He practiced this speech a million times before, however, now that the time was here, words seemed to minimize the reality of it and her experience. Hence, he calculated what would be most appropriate.

Before he could say anything, she added, “How long of a flight do we have, pilot?”

He turned his face toward her for a second as his massive wings expanded across the crystal blue sky. “As long as we desire.” Was he coy or serious? She wasn’t sure. She shivered. It was January in Denver and that typically meant cold. This year was no exception. “Queen Megan, are you chilled?”

She was frigid, but had too much fun at the same time. “Yes.” Her teeth chattered.

“I’m sorry about that. I wasn’t thinking. I was too excited to have you with me again. You should have hollered. I can produce fire and can warm my skin for you. Let me know if I need to warm up more or cool off, please, ma’am. I’m your heater or air conditioner.”

She felt warmth under her legs and hindquarters like bun warmers in a car. She felt better almost instantly. “Thank you. That’s much better. It’s a good temperature.” She tried to pay him a compliment since he seemed to care for her and adore her. She didn’t want to be rude if he wanted to take care of her.

“I’ve saved the hardest conversation for now, while we were in the air so that it would be harder for you to get upset, which I know you will.” Bakari warned her. “Just remember that what I’m about to tell you wasn’t my choice, but it’s a matter of tradition.”

Uh-oh. From her experience, tradition usually meant something unpleasant that a person was forced to endure whether they cared for it or not. Thus, it didn’t sound good to her. What did he mean? “Then, tell it to me very quickly and forgive me if I scream. It wouldn’t be directed toward you, though.”

Yes. That was what he was afraid of. Would she accept things as they are? She had no other choice. But, the question in his mind was how hard she would make it on herself and everyone else involved. “You weren’t the only one that was voted on yesterday, my queen.”

Blog Queen (Or Blog Nut, depending on how you look at it.)

I am now finished adding blogs. I hope not to add any more because this is more than a full-time job keeping up with each of these. I want to touch on the topics most important to me, though, and help people to see life from a fresh perspective--and let people know they aren't the only one who... (You fill in the blank.)

Please check out whatever blog tickles your fancy.

My main blog is and will always be:

www.storiesbystacy.blogspot.com/

My daily blogs are:
www.storiesbystacy.blogspot.com/
www.speclitstoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday Blogs:
www.sacredstoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/
www.writingstoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/

Mondays and Wednesdays Blog:
www.momstoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/

Tuesdays and Thursdays Blogs:
www.journalstoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/
www.marriagestoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/
www.usastoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/

From the Crazy Writer and Blogger,
Stacy Duplease

The Hunt for Tanpres #5

Chapter 2

BAKARI FELT WHOLE again having his girl with him. He had cared for her since the day she was conceived and the time apart was painful to him. Both her parents, King Carmi (Car-me) and Queen Elyda (El-lie-da) Astoria, had been killed in a terrorist attack from a quite large exploding fruit that killed 21 others. Therefore, the new generation of royals were voted upon and the King had already taken the throne and was anxiously awaiting her arrival. He lived in the Northern Kingdom and would help her to understand the way things work in the kingdom and in the Outer World.

King Dryden (Dry-din) Astoria of Saphir (Saff-ir) Philo (Fuh-eye-lo) was his full name. He took the name of Astoria because all the royals in the history of the Northern Kingdom took that as a last name. Dryden’s mother was Saphir and father was Philo. Hence, he’s Dryden Astoria of Saphir Philo. He was the husband of Queen Megan Astoria. The only problem was that she didn’t know it yet. It was an arranged marriage voted on by everyone in the kingdom that were eligible to vote, and they would have to find a way to make it work as a couple. It was how things were done here.

The children that were hidden away in the Other World never came home to parents that were alive. After all, the only time the new royals took office was when both parents had died. That’s why Bakari was assigned to be her guardian. He was to protect her and was always nearby.

The dragon watched her grow into the beautiful woman she was and that was what kept him going. She brought him joy. In many ways, it could be argued that he was far more of a parent to that darling girl than just a sage or a protector.

He spent his life watching her and studying up on the histories of both worlds for her. He didn’t want to get her too terribly confused and had learned everything that he could about both worlds. It was his job to do so. He was her teacher, a dragon of wisdom, her protector, and her watcher. He chronicled everything she had ever done and just enjoyed her to the depths of his heart, mind, and soul. She was his delight. It was a bond like between father and daughter. The only hard part was that it was one-sided. He hoped to win her and that she would bond to him.

Oh, yes. He had a great deal to get her acquainted with, whether she was ready or not. The timetable was given to her and wasn’t her choice to make.

Bakari couldn’t help but smile when he took off into the air. She screeched a shout of joy that showed her normally carefree nature. She felt a mixture of nervousness and excitement pour forth from her. She had just learned a new sense of freedom as she soared through the air across Denver and was mountain bound.

“We cannot be seen, by the way. I went invisible and you followed suit since you’re on my back.” He informed her. This was insightful and would help her to understand more than what she already did.

Good. That made her feel better. She had wondered about that, but since this wasn’t real, she decided it really didn’t matter. She was still curious, however, about the depths of her overactive imagination. “That’s probably a good thing. I can only imagine what Denver would have to say about a flying dragon with a journalist on his back traveling across the city to the Rocky Mountains along I-70 Westbound.”

How was he supposed to explain to her what she was about to face once they got to the Northern Kingdom? He practiced this speech a million times before, however, now that the time was here, words seemed to minimize the reality of it and her experience. Hence, he calculated what would be most appropriate.

Before he could say anything, she added, “How long of a flight do we have, pilot?”

The Hunt for Tanpres #4

He cut to the chase. "You were voted to be the new Queen, girl."

Megan's confusion grew. "Voted? How?"

This got a little more complicated. "Four of our people from different families and backgrounds from each of the kingdoms were carried here by their guardians and were watched by their guardians. There was a full account documented on each of you. The Northerners voted that you're the best fit for this generation. We're a democracy. There are 300,000 Northerners of the proper age to vote and be part of the army. They voted you into office. You got over 99% of the votes, I’ll have you know. That was the highest voting rate that we’ve ever had for one candidate.” Bakari took the liberty to explain some of the process to her. She might find it beneficial to know.

“Why did they vote on me? They don’t even know me and I surely didn’t put myself in for the office.” This sounded too strange to her, but she still found her hallucination interesting. She might learn something from all of this, or would at least be entertained. Thus, she went along with it.

Bakari ignored her and continued to inform her of useful things. “You just so happen to be of blood ties to the last three royals. That, too, is quite uncommon. Blood matters less than morals and wisdom. Shall we go?” He intentionally held some of her secrets close to his own chest and would wait until the time was right to release them to her.

That stopped her dead in her tracks. “Go? You don’t expect me to follow you, do you and go with you? You’re a stranger to me and you want to take me to a strange land? You’re even stranger being a dragon, but who’s keeping score?” Megan teased him and hoped that he would appreciate her humor.

Bakari’s huge dark brown eyes with eyelashes that were two inches long looked into hers and he shook his head in disbelief. She was going to be a tricky student and he hoped to teach her everything he knew and more. He bowed toward her. “Come, my queen. Get on my back. I’ll be careful not to cut you with my scales.” His eyes showed humor then.

She chuckled to herself. “You want me to ride on your back? I always thought that it would be an adventure to drive 120 miles per hour in my car, but I never had the nerve to do that. What makes you think that this would make me feel any less uneasy?” She would love to fly, though, truth be known. She had always dreamt of it when she was a little girl. Wait a minute. “Bakari?” Her tone showed that she wasn’t pleased.

“Yes, ma’am?”

She had triggered a memory. “When did I come here?”

“When you were six months old.”

“Then, how do I recall flying before?” She couldn’t help but wonder.

Bakari laughed at her question and his face beamed. “You remember? You weren’t supposed to remember.” She had a memory of him even after all this time. “I came to visit you up until you were five years old. It’s at that age that you’re supposed to fail to remember everything well, so I thought it was safe to visit you up until then. Well, I guess I goofed.” He gazed up toward the heavens and spoke aloud. “Forgive me, Sir.”

“Who are you talking with, dragon?” She had a feeling that she already knew the answer even before she asked the question. She just wanted to be told just in case she was wrong.

“The Infinite.”

Megan smiled as the knowledge had come to her. She had no doubt. “Oh. God.” She put her own label on him.

“That’s what you Other Worlders call him. We call him the Infinite in the Outer World. He’s one in the same.” He explained to her as he bent at his knees in order to give her easier access to his back. “Come on. I guarantee that you’ll have the ride of your life.” He smiled at her and his eyes turned playful as his bushy eyebrows moved in expression.

“By the way, however long you’re in the Outer World, Megan, you’ll be gone only one second here in Denver. Then, when you’re gone from the Outer World, and are in the Other World, no matter how long, it’s one second in time there that has passed as well. Thus, you’ll never lose time as you travel back and forth, except for one second. You’ll age the same in each and will feel like you live two entire lifetimes, but will only age one lifetime, don’t worry. You’re just going to live out of two different worlds. Thus, I guess that you could say that you’ll have the best of both worlds.” It was his turn to show her his humor. It made her smile and chuckle.

“Very well, then. Let’s get out of here.” She climbed onto Bakari’s back and felt both regal and on top of the world. She knew that he would keep her safe. Even though she had clearly lost her mind, she couldn’t help but feel curious as to where her dream might take her and was glad to have such a joyful and knowledgeable companion for the journey.

I'm Back from Vacation & Movies

Greetings! How is everyone. I'm back from vacation and am ready to start to blog again. I will do more tomorrow.

Until then...

Movies:
Has anyone seen the new Star Trek movie and the new Terminator? What about Angels & Demons? What do you think? I saw all three while on vacation and enjoyed all of them. I have to admit, I dreaded seeing the new Terminator movie as I wondered how good it could possibly be, but quickly discovered it was no mistake. The movie was fantastic. It was probably my most favorite of all three. Star Trek is almost a tie, however. I thought it was excellent and look forward to seeing what the franchise does with it.

Stacy Duplease

When I Return

Reminder of Vacations:

I'm going to be out of touch from Wednesday, May 13 to Tuesday, June 2nd and will start to check email and get back into the swing of things on June 3rd. I'm going to the Colorado Christian Writing Conference (CCWC) in Estes Park and then going on a road trip with my husband.

When I Return:

When I get back, I will be able to devote more time to this blog, and writing blogs about The Hunt for Tanpres and Cammi's Story. I'll also start to write the second book of each.

Take care.

Stacy Duplease

What I'm Reading

I'm on a fantasy kick at the moment and just finished reading James Patterson's Angel Experiment: Book 1 of the Maximum Ride series. It was fantastic. I'll wait a bit before I purchase book two. I have other reading to do. Are there any fans of this author or series?

Now, I've started to re-read:
A Game of Thrones/A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

It's been so long since I read it I forget most of it. Therefore, I might as well say this is my first time (again). Are there any fans of this author or series?

Don't forget to check out my other blogs at: www.storiesbystacy.blogspot.com and www.momstoreisbystacy.blogspot.com.

I'm also on Twitter at: Storiesbystacy

Getting ready to add my new installment of The Hunt for Tanpres.

What I

The Hunt for Tanpres #3

Chapter 1 Cont.

Why was it that she felt more at ease now. He did seem to be friendly and was almost cute. His face was playful and endearing; although, she assumed that when he was angry, he would be formidable. He was an animal in appearance, but he took on human qualities. "Are you real? If so, how can you be? Dragons are a myth and can’t speak because they are only myth. What I’m experiencing is a hallucination that makes me think you’re real. You can’t be. Great! That means I’m hearing voices, too. This is not good. I don’t have time for a nervous breakdown or to develop schizophrenia. So I guess I don't need to ask the question in the first place." She tried to take some deep breaths and re-center herself.

"You doubt." The huge dragon face about 2-1/2 feet up and down and 1-1/2 feet side to side frowned.

How was that possible? How can a dragon express emotion? She couldn't help but notice how he was displeased. Gulp. She just upset what could be a man-eating fire-breathing dragon. Clearly, she was out of her mind.

Bakari shrugged his shoulders. "That's fine. You won't have any other choice shortly." He had no doubt whatsoever about that. The truth would be seen square on and she would have to face it.

Megan could tell that he was almost hurt by her doubt. She took a step closer as she felt the desire to comfort him. Her reaction was odd, she thought. He moved his long neck and brought his face a little closer to her. She wanted to touch him and see if he was solid in form. He looked it, but he had appeared, disappeared, and reappeared, after all. When she took another step toward him, she held out her hand to touch his face.

"It's okay." He bat his eyes at her and moved his head closer to her after he offered her reassurance. She cupped what would be his cheek with her palm and he swung his head into it like a cat and let out a loud rumble that showed pleasure and was almost like a purr. His skin had ripples from the scales, yet was soft. She felt a bond with him. That was strange. Why did she?

"I can change my coloring and skin. I make my skin hard like this in battle or in danger." Megan felt that happen underneath her palm. "Now, please remove your hand. I'm going to sharpen my scales. Carefully touch them and see for yourself. Don't be cut, though."

She saw silver blades outline each of the scales, but as she felt them, they were even harder skin with rough areas that could slice whoever touched him. She observed that the armor would keep him safe. She was absolutely intrigued. "Wow!" Then, Bakari made his skin soft once again.

He was glad to see her amazement. It did his heart good. Soon, she'd learn that he would do anything for her and would risk his life for her. She was his queen. He had known her for a long time. "Megan?" His voice was soft.
"Yes?" What did he want?

The dragon would slowly explain things to her. "Have you ever had the impression that you had more of a story than you could ever put your finger on? Like there was more to you than you knew or understood? Like there was something different about you?"

"Yes." She didn't have to think about it. She already knew.

"You were an orphan from day one, here in this world. We took you in a basket as a baby and put you in a police car where you were safe from the elements and where we knew he'd find you." Bakari the dragon started to fill in the gaps for her.

Megan knew that she was adopted, but not much else. Her parents wanted her to remember that they chose her and chose to keep her and make her part of their family. "Yes. My father, Jonah. He's a cop. My mama is Daphne. They adopted me. How did you know?"

"We chose them. They couldn't have children and wanted them so desperately, but couldn't afford it because of your mother's cancer treatments. They paid $100 for court costs and raised you with the values we hold dear." Bakari knew that she would feel confused and would need to rectify her uneasiness.

"Huh." She was intrigued and still wondered how he knew these things. "Where are you going with this?"

"You live in the Other World here on earth and you are known as an Other. We live in the Outlands in the Outer World, which we call the Outer or the Outlands. We have five kingdoms: the Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western, and Middler. You're the chosen queen of the Northern Kingdom."

She felt like an alien or like she was in a science fiction type of time warp or something. This kept growing more strange by the second. She felt as though it were true somehow and couldn't help but wonder what it meant exactly. "Why do you say chosen?" She realized that making this remark inferred that she believed in any portion of his story. She hoped he knew better.

He cut to the chase. "You were voted to be the new Queen, girl."

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms. May it be a blessed one. Enjoy.

Tanpres #2

Here's the next installment:

The dragon sighed and disappeared from sight the moment she drew near. She heard the whirling whoosh again and she was pleased with herself for conquering her inner demon. She just needed to get a good night's sleep; although, that couldn't happen for a day or two. Work kept her busy right now since the President upped the amount of troops in Afghanistan. Megan felt better when she got to her loft and locked the front door with four deadbolts. She felt instant relief. She had made it home safe--paranoia and inner demons aside.

She turned around to walk to the bathroom to take a bath and ready herself for bed. The dragon reappeared in front of her just as she started to head in that direction and she let out a huge, "Yikes!" She tempered it with, "Who are you, what are you, and what do you want?" She challenged as she tried to figure out how to make it further into her home rather than pinned against her door with the dragon was in her way. She was now pretty convinced that she had indeed put too much time and of herself into her work lately, she needed a break, and she was clearly not necessarily of sound mind. She would make an appointment with her general practitioner tomorrow. She clearly needed a physical at least and her health checked. She rubbed her temples as she felt a headache start to burn from the stress.

The dragon cocked his head. "Are you all right, my Queen?" His deep voice showed his concern. He stepped forward to move closer to her and check her condition, but she took five steps backward until she ran into her front door.

That did it. Between his declaration and apparition, she found that she was quite anxious. She clearly had lost it. She closed her eyes and told herself to awaken from her bizarre dream. Then, she opened her eyes. The giant monster was still there. So, she pinched herself. That didn't wake her either. Hence, she decided to confront him.

"Again, who are you and what precisely do you want from me?" She pointed her finger and nudged it at his chest. That was a mistake. He was a fire-breathing dragon, she assumed anyway, in her home and could burn her body and loft into a crisp like either a marshmallow or a steak. He felt solid underneath her touch and that allowed her to distinguish that he just might be real. But, how could he be? There was no such thing as a dragon, except in any decent children’s book or fantasy novel.

He studied her closely as she appeared more and more uneasy. She was not well. It was quite obvious. "Again, Queen Megan Astoria, you have no reason to fear. I will be with you. I will show you the way."

“That’s part of the problem.” She spoke to herself, she justified, because dragons were a myth and hardly real for any sane human being. However, his voice soothed her down deep in her innermost being. She felt peace surround her and it took her over rather than the edginess. "Do you have a name? And, please don't call me queen. I'm an American military and war journalist, am Middle Class, and am hardly royalty."

The multicolored dragon sat down like a dog. "Hmm." He appeared reflective and he cocked his head as he looked her in the eye. "I’m Bakari. You’re indeed what I say. I’m here to tell you your destiny and will be with you along your journey."

Why was it that she felt more at ease now. He did seem to be friendly and was almost cute. His face was playful and endearing; although, she assumed that when he was angry, he would be formidable. He was an animal in appearance, but he took on human qualities. "Are you real? If so, how can you be? Dragons are a myth and can’t speak because they are only myth. What I’m experiencing is a hallucination that makes me think you’re real. You can’t be. Great! That means I’m hearing voices, too. This is not good. I don’t have time for a nervous breakdown or to develop schizophrenia. So I guess I don't need to ask the question in the first place." She tried to take some deep breaths and re-center herself.

Check List for Conference

Wow. Four days and counting for the Colo. Christian Writers Conference (CCWC). Yikes! My heart begins to race in excitement and nervousness. Presenting five novels to publishers is a little--overwhelming. Will I be able to keep them straight in my mind? I've decided to bring a one-page proposal to help me with this endeavor.

I need to:
A. Finish editing Tanpres (and come up with a new name for it).
B. Re-read Cammi's Story
C. Print out my proposals
D. Print out the first 50 pages of each times three copies.
E. Work on my pitches.
F. Do some housecleaning.
G. Bathe the beagle. (Lord, help him. Anything with grooming, he despises. Claws, bath, and brushing. He prefers to be an old smelly dog.)
H. Pack for conference.
I. Get some writing and blogging done, too.
J. I'll take lots of pictures while I'm at the conference and will share them with you.
K. Call my mom and grandmother on Mom's day.
L. Drink more coffee.
M. Pray a lot about the CCWC. Not just for myself, but for fellow writers and everyone involved in the conference.

Huh. Better get to the list and Tanpres.

Shackled in Dungeon

I've shackled myself in my dungeon and won't see the light of day until next Wednesday. I kept getting too sidetracked upstairs with the sunshine, blue skies, trees, birds, flowers, and grass. Beagle is still snuggled at my feet, but the lack of windows only add to my focus. There are times you have to admit to your limitations and Spring appears to be mine. I'm having to wear a jacket since it's 20 degrees cooler, but the sacrifices we have to make for writing...

I will try to hurry and get some editing done and do a real blog. But, for now, know that I'm freezing and shackled to my chair at my computer and desk. It's self-preservation really as I try to ready myself for the Colorado Christian Writers Conference. At least Beagle is sacrificing with me, so I'm not too lonely (still a little sidetracked, but not as much).

Have a great day!

Writings of Stacy

Here's what I have written in the spec lit genre and am presenting at the writers conference in Estes Park next week:
* Cammi's Story
* Tanpres
Both are fantasy.

What I'm writing now:
*Zeagar (Sci-Fi)

What I will work on soon:
* Ramey's Story (Cammi's Story book 2)
* Book 2 of Tanpres
* Book 2 of Zeagar

I will start to give you each book from page one to the end over the period of the next year. I'll start that in June.

Tanpres #1

Here's the first portion of my book, "Tanpres." I'll give you more of it later. I hope this is a good teaser. Grab a cup of coffee or tea. Then, read and I hope you enjoy.

(I'm still working on title of this book and series, by the way.)

TANPRES

Chapter 1

MEGAN ASTORIA WALKED THROUGH THE dark Downtown Denver streets of LoDo as she realized her foolishness. She worked later than she intended at her newspaper, The Denver Patriot. She was a columnist and her specialty was war and the war on terror in particular. Her heels clanked on the concrete as she heard a noise behind her.

She reprimanded herself for not spending the extra money on a taxi rather than taking the light rail so particulary late in the evening. She kept her ears peeled for that noise in back of her. It sounded as though she was being followed. Wearing a three-piece skirt suit, trench coat, and heels didn't exactly make her feel safe.

Megan couldn't help but wonder if she was paranoid or if her hair standing on end was an accurate assessment of the situation. It could easily go either way for her right now. Her breath was erratic as she tried to keep it under control so she could listen. She held her pepper spray in one hand and had her keys extended in her coat's pocket just in case. They were her woman’s weapons of choice. She knew a few self-defense moves, but figured a heel to the shin or stomach might give her the best chance to escape unharmed. She just hoped that she deceived herself. She didn't know how she'd really hold up if she had to fight off an attack. Her nice set of lungs could scream loud if nothing else.

She heard a whirl in the air or a whoosh. It was something she couldn't identify. She kept her forward momentum and increased the pace as she heard it again and looked over her shoulder. Nothing. She turned her attention homebound. One block to go. She felt victorious and lucky.

It was premature, however. The footsteps behind her made four thuds on the concrete and that was all it took. Megan started to run as fast as she could--heels, skirt, and all as she prayed that she could get away and not make a face plant into the concrete sidewalk.

Immediately, her heart beat as fast as it could and she felt sweat bead on her back and across her forehead. She didn't want to be caught or imagine what unspeakable act might happen to her if she was. Therefore, she took care in every fast paced step.

The whirl sound swooshed by her left ear and she felt her hair move from a force like wind that rushed by her. "Megan," a voice called her name. "Stop running. I wish you no harm." It was a deep masculine voice that boomed. If she were to give God a voice, it would be that voice. Who was it and what did they want? Then, she got angry. How dare they follow her and scare her to death. She ignored it until she heard a pop.

After the pop noise, a dragon of all things, appeared from nowhere in front of her. She watched his mouth move and he said, "Don't be afraid. I wish you no harm and am quite real. I'm not a figment of your imagination. I need to talk with you."

The top of his head was even with hers and the top of his back was about chest level for her. He was roughly six feet long and was overall a dark forest green color, but he had metallic periwinkle and plum coloring on the bottom of each scale over his entire body. His tail added another four feet to his size. He was both the most beautiful creature she had ever seen as well as the most frightening. His teeth looked like large daggers and were numerous. He had a few wild curly and coarse hairs that came out of the top of his head and looked almost like a Mohawk. His eyes were the size of baseballs and his mouth was as large as a trash can lid or a tire of a car.

She did a double-take. Surely, it was a dream or a hallucination. She had kept a horrendous work schedule for a while now, so wasn't surprised. She ignored it and pretended like she didn't see it. If she ignored it, it would hopefully go far, far away.

The dragon sighed and disappeared from sight the moment she drew near. She heard the whirling whoosh again and she was pleased with herself for conquering her inner demon. She just needed to get a good night's sleep; although, that couldn't happen for a day or two. Work kept her busy right now since the President upped the amount of troops in Afghanistan. Megan felt better when she got to her loft and locked the front door with four deadbolts. She felt instant relief. She had made it home safe--paranoia and inner demons aside.

Question on Blogs

I am still debating on doing another blog... On journaling.

But, I'm also debating one on patriotism.

Would any of you read either one of them? Let me know. Drop me an email or leave a comment, please.

Thanks!

Walking Amongst the Stars

Thought for the day: Have you ever wondered what it was like to walk amongst the stars?

Cammi's Story and Tanpres Editing

I'm going to the Colorado Christian Writers Conference next week and am presenting two books from this blog: Cammi's Story and Tanpres. Then, I'm going on a two week vacation.

Therefore, I'm in the middle of editing each. Please bear with me while I am a busy woman and will make it up to you when I'm on the other side of this time.

What speculative fiction books are you reading? Which do you prefer: fantasy or sci-fi or either?

What television shows or movies do you watch in these genres?

Talk with you soon.

Prayer and Support

I hope that this blog can also be a way to help people connect and pray for one another and to support one another. Do you have any prayer requests? Let me know.

Writers

Does anyone want to form an online writing group? Let me know. I would love to start one of our own where it's all led by one another. What do you think?

Editing, Editing, Editing

My blog will be updated later today. I'm in the middle of trying to get editing done in preparation for the CCWC next Wednesday. Thanks for your patience. I hope you had a great weekend!

Thought for the day for Christians: Matthew 6:33

For others: What do you seek? Rest? Happiness? Peace? Seek it with all of your heart.

I hope you were able to escape for a while this weekend.

Blessings,

Stacy Duplease

Carefully Orchestrated

With Speculative Fiction, it's very easy to write an overly done, trite, and cliche story. Therefore, it's essential to avoid the pitfalls and to know when to get rid of scenes or chapters. I've decided to start Zeagar over again because it started to have that feel for me. I've adjusted the plot and have some new ideas. I'll share them with you later today.

Zeagar Chapter 1 Rough Draft

Here's the start of my latest book. Let me know what you think. I'm still working on the title. This is rough, but it gives you an idea as to how it's starting...

Chapter 1:

DAPHNE FOUND THE AGE OF seventeen a difficult one at best. It was an awkward year because she was not a kid, but she wasn't considered an adult yet. Then, there was the whole figuring out where to go to college and what to be when she was out in the world on her own.

Yes, the pressure got to her. She was glad it was her junior year of high school. One more year was what she had before she applied for college. However, she was busy now as she wrote her two columns for the school paper. Actually, the paper had its own website and she had two blogs. One of her columns was a book review blog and her second was her science fiction column where she worked on her novel.

Her blog of her sci-fi novel was a major success. Other high schools actually kept up with her blog and she had a loyal following of 826 and the number grew daily.

Her guidance counselor told her that it would help her to be published and would help her beef up her college applications. It was a pleasure for her because it gave her the opportunity to live her dream.

She wanted to write novels.

"Pardon me. Are you Daphne?" A deeper masculine voice asked from her back.

She pivoted in her seat so she could see him. She guessed he was college age or so. Cute. "I am. You are?"

He handed her a business card. He was from a company called ZET, whatever that was. His name was Michael. Just Michael. There was no last name listed. The card gave a website address, an email address, and his cell number, however. "I'm Michael and my business card is rather non-descript for a reason. May I join you, please, for a few moments?"

"Go ahead." She gestured toward the chair across from her at the table.

He sat beside her instead. "I'm sorry to be rude and ignore your preference, but this is a library. I need to talk to you and don't want to speak loudly to do so. Furthermore, what I have to say is to be held with the strictest confidence. You can't tell anyone about our conversation, regardless of how simple or unimportant you might think. Do I have your agreement?"

Daphne wondered what in the world he had to say to her that might require such secrecy. She actually laughed it off and dismissed it in her mind. Nothing was that serious, after all. "Sure." What else was she supposed to say?

Michael grinned and looked her in the eye. "I've read your blog."

Oh. So, that's what this was about. Good to know. "Yes?" She stared at him and tried to get him to hurry and tell her what he wanted.

"You like to get straight to the point." He stated it as a fact and pulled out his Smartphone from his pocket. He pressed a couple of buttons. "You also love almonds, guacamole, Stargate, Star Trek, Star Wars, running, swimming, Harry Potter, Twilight, and country music. Those are the surface things. I also know you've never been kissed, have written eight novels if you include Katt, and secretly want to be an astronaut, if it wasn't for physics or calculus." Michael mentioned a could of facts not even her mother knew.

"How do you know those things?" Daphne stared at him. Then again, it was probably a glare and not just a stare.

Michael grinned and asked, "Do I have your attention now?"

"Naturally."

"The company I work for wants to hire you." He explained to her and studied her facial expression.

"I'm going to college after graduation and don't want to skip college. Thank you, though." She shut him down before he wasted more of their time, his or hers.

"The job would start immediately and would pay you half a million dollars per year because of the danger involved. But, there's another catch." Michael warned her.

Did he really say half a million? "I would think so with that kind of money. What's the catch?"

"The catch is that you have to leave home. Your parents will think you're accepted to go to a private arts school and your blog and novel earned you a full-ride scholarship this year and next. Furthermore, it's a thirty-five year commitment." He gave her the cover story.

"Why would I agree to any of this? Why would I give up my life my life for you and for ZET?" Daphne didn't see any reason to agree to go with him anywhere.

Michael cocked his head and said to her, "What would you think if I told you your imagination and writing are a great deal more accurate than you might realize."

The way he said it told her he was serious...

Stacy Duplease

SLSBS Vol. 4

Cammi's Story Book Proposal

Book Proposal

WORKING TITLE: Cammi’s Story (Book 1 of the Lethana Series)

THEMES: Escapism, War, Avoidance of War, The Lost Volumes, Friendship, Exploration, Death, Discovery, and Love.

LENGTH: Approx. 113,000 words * 41 chapters

HOW DIFFERS: Cammi’s Story is not like any other book in which you’ll be hard-pressed to find characters you can identify with to such depth, or lose yourself in. It’s escapism at its purist sense and can help you to get away from it all for a while.

MARKET: Church, chapel, and internet (including two blogs and Twitter).

BIO: Married without 2-legged children to my best friend, but have a Beagle. Work full-time as a novelist. Have two blogs that I try to keep up with daily. Addicted to coffee, tea, counting-calories, and exercise. Avid reader.

AVAILABILITY: Available immediately via disc or emailed in Word 97-2003 or Word 2007.

SUMMARY: Ever feel like running away or getting away? Cammi and Ramey did, but they sure didn’t expect to be sucked into a wooden treasure box and waking up in another world where they’re told they need to find the Lost Volumes in order to prevent a war of epic proportions. Neither did they expect to awaken to talking horses, and other animals, or lead native Lethanans on a journey when they just arrived to the land. The other aspect they didn’t know to be aware of were the evil Penumbrae and the dark leader, Jaiger. They also learn about the MOLE, the Mystery of Life Epic. Lethana is a land you’ll want to explore and get to know, along with all of its characters. It’s escapism at its best. Cammi is a combination of vulnerable and strong. She has sustained some hard times in life, but learns to overcome them. Furthermore, for the longest time, she wants to return home, but in time, Lethana grows on her. King Brinn and Prince Makani are allegories of God and His Son.

Stacy Duplease

Blog Vol. 3 SLSBS

A Beginning

Cammi's Story:

I have one book that I'm presenting at a writer's conference in mid-May at the Colorado Christian Writer's Conference (CCWC). It's called Cammi's Story and it's book one of the Lethana Series. It will be a series of 12 books (at least). Whether I get them published with a reputable publisher, self-publish, or start to tell you the story on this blog, they will be written. It's a series I feel passionate about and have fallen in love with and cannot wait to share it with you.

In the next couple of days, I'll share a one-page book proposal with you. For now, here's what you need to know about it:

Cammi and Ramey find themselves in a strange fantastical world called Lethana while they're asked to recover the Lost Volumes.

Did I hook you yet?

Don't worry. I will work on that aspect. Let me know.

Tanpres:

I also have a series about a dragon, which I will share with you. I need to get back into it after working on other projects.

Zeagar:

This is a new series I'm working on at the moment and just came up with the idea two days ago. Here's the tease:

Five teens are asked by the U.S. government to explore other planets within the Zeagar Galaxy and to write up reports/blogs about their experiences.

James Patterson's Maximum Ride Series:

Two nights ago, I started to read book one of this series, "The Angel Experiment." Have any of you read it? What do you think? I've barely started it, but seem to have fallen for it already.

It's a speculative fiction book about five human teenagers who have 2% avian DNA in their gene makeup.

A Christian Loves Harry Potter and Twilight:

I'm diving into tricky waters with this first blog. However, I figure it's better to face something head-on than to ignore it or tippy-toe around the issue. (You'll learn this about me.) Let's get this discussion out of the way.

I am a major fan of both series.

There's something you need to know. I was a witch at one time. A Wiccan. I know what magick is and I know what it's not. I also know what can destroy my faith and what cannot. I know the difference between right and wrong, good and evil, light and dark. I know what the Bible says and what it does not. I also know what threatens my faith and what does not; what causes me to stumble and what does not. My God is bigger.

Neither book teaches someone how to get into the dark side. Neither teach you how to conduct spells or magic. I can read a story and know that it's FICTION. Not real. Imaginary. Look at "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Chronicles of Narnia." Hence, for me, I read them. For others, I understand if you do not. However, as a write, I think there's a great deal I can learn from both writers with both series.

I'm not saying children should read either series without constant parental supervision and discussion. But, for me, an adult, I think it's acceptable for me to read because I guard my heart and mind and will refer to these series from time to time. I will put their titles in the part of the blog so you can avoid it if you so choose.

Please don't turn away from this blog because I read these and like them. We can agree to disagree on this subject.

For those who like these books, let me know. I LOVE to talk about them.

Fellow Writers:

Sign up as a follower and send me an email and I'll add your blog link to my blog. That way, we can all get more traffic on our blogs. We're in this together.

Share:

What are your favorite fantasy or sci-fi series or books and why? Let me know. I'll share the list on this blog.

Good Day,

Stacy Duplease

Please check out my other blog at: www.storiesbystacy.blogspot.com

Blog Vol. 2 SLSBS

The Future Blog

This is an upcoming site of my fantasy and sci-fi books. Please go to www.storiesbystacy.blogspot.com/ and follow that one while you wait for this one.

Thank you and have a great day.

Stacy D.