Old Soul

May 19, 2013June 3, 2013 / WriterlySam / 37 Comments

Wisteria
Biltmore Estate

My 8 sentence excerpt for Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday. Click on over to these talented writers and preview some amazing stories!

Inspiring Soundtrack: Hans Zimmer – Inception – Time

I first met Frederick under the fragrant canopy of a lone wisteria tree that thrived with wild abandon amidst the ruins of a sprawling country estate. He was the grand architect of its gardens, long before the landscape was suddenly, irreparably erased.

Through his stories, I can picture the vibrant colors of the roses, inhale the sweet aroma of azaleas, feel the velvety lambs ears and taste the tangy wild raspberries nestled in earthy greens. I can almost hear the chatter of squirrels in phantom trees and the echoes of songbirds in ashen skies, losing myself in a time when life thrived here in abundance…now, all that remains is the memory.

He has built me a new world, a better world, from the remnants of his.

Through him, I’ve learned to coax new life out of the reluctant soil – an endangered survival skill lost over a century ago. Though I’ve shared this knowledge with the others, I dare not speak of him, not when his name and likeness haunts the ancient, crumbling halls of our new home.

The closest I’ve come to living is through the words of a ghost.

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I appreciate feedback, so comment, critique or just banter to your heart’s content! Should you leave a really awesome comment, I may share my fair-trade, shade-grown, bird-sanctuary, organic coffee with you:) Or, if you leave a link to your site, I can just pop in and say something witty after polishing off a cup or two!

Wings of Icarus

May 12, 2013June 3, 2013 / WriterlySam / 27 Comments

Steampunk Icarus Wings
by Thin Gypsy Thief Studios

The ancient Greek myth of Icarus with a Wild West Steampunk twist – My first Steampunk attempt!

Dirty Goggles Blog Hop * Fan Favorite Winner!
Title: Wings of Icarus
Word Count: 696
Author: Samantha Redstreake Geary
Category: Wild West Steampunk

Inspiring Soundtrack: In Time – Choral Theme

I am trapped inside the belly of the beast as it claws its way through the desolate deserts of the Diné, a home I can no longer see through the smoldering breath of this iron horse. The greedy goliath devours the steel tracks with unparalleled speed, the distance between me and everything I’ve ever known, growing with each relentless bite.

Several days have passed since I was ripped from my people by the mad architect of this monstrosity. My father, Captain Daedalus, staked his claim over me following the death of my mother. His reasons remain a mystery.

Once a Navajo slave of General Minos, mother had fallen under the spell of the Captain, who promised a life of freedom to her and their unborn child. But freedom came with a price he was unwilling to pay. She escaped, shortly after I was born, and found solace within her tribe, but remained as unforgiving as the desert heat.

In the years that followed, Mother had grown weary with fear. She had visions that haunted her dreams and plagued her days. It was written in the stars, she said, that he would charge into my life on a seething steed and steal me away from the spirit of this serene land.

I was to be trained, by the fiercest of our clan, to be a warrior.

After completing my spirit path, the seer presented me with a new name, Icarus, “guardian of the sky”. Mother fashioned me an eagle fetish, a great honor among our people. A symbol of both healing and hunting, eagles are the messengers to the Gods, harboring great power while maintaining balance. It was intricately carved from translucent chrysocolla, the vivid blue-green swirls representing the skies. A cerulean azurite stone, sharpened into an arrowhead, was secured to its wings with copper wire.

The eagle was a talisman of protection, a reminder of my heritage and the only thing left of my mother.

Loss and rage bite into my palm as their grip tightens.

Imprisoned within the Labyrinth, a fearsome structure of cold metal designed by an even colder heart, I stare at my captor with barely concealed contempt as we wait outside the General’s chambers.

“Come now child, it can’t be all bad! I’ve rescued you from squalor, put a shiny roof over your head and decent food in your belly and all I get for my troubles is the evil eye,” the Captain huffs, clearly put-out that I’m not grovelling at his feet.

“You kidnapped me from my family, stripped me of my freedom and locked me up like one of your dogs!” I spit.

“You have your mother’s spirit, no doubt about that!” he sneers, “but take care to keep your tone more civilized, lest you find yourself sharing quarters with the swine.”

An intimidating guard opens the door to a lavish apartment, “The General is ready to see you now. Leave the savage here,” he glares in my direction. A cloud of tobacco wafts through the cracked door into the hall, carrying their voices on a spicy scent that stings my nose.

“Captain, we took a very expensive detour to collect your, err, property. I hope, for your sake, the native rat is as valuable as you claim,” General Minos warns, “I’ve gone to great lengths to fund this contraption – I expect you to deliver what was agreed upon!”

“The Labyrinth is the technological achievement of the age, sir. This modern steam engine is impervious to attack and the weapon I’ve secured within its bowels holds the key to our domination. We need her to control the Minotaurs, General. I assure you, she is worth every penny,” the Captain boasts.

I strike both guards down with the venom-tipped cactus spines concealed in my fetish. Instinct urges me to grab a set of wooden wings off the wall and secure it to my back, unsure of the complicated mechanism. I push through the tiny window and climb out, grabbing hold of the bars leading to the top of the speeding behemoth.

The metal cylinder between my shoulder blades hums to life as I flip the switch.

I spread my wings and jump.
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Eve

May 12, 2013June 3, 2013 / WriterlySam / 11 Comments

Daedalus

My Weekend Writing Warriors excerpt. Click on over to these talented writers and preview some amazing stories!

Beauty meets the Beast in a dystopian future.

Inspiring Soundtrack:M83 – Undimmed By Time, Unbound By Death – Oblivion Soundtrack

After the biochemical devastation our planet endured centuries ago, those of us who survived have been searching for a way to turn back the harsh hands of time. The burden weighs heavily upon us – to reintroduce our species, now endangered, back into its natural environment.

A world that has learned to heal itself.

We scoured the scorched earth to find her, our Eve, the last of mankind found untainted.

A single strand of hair harboring a helix of human hope.

I watch as her eyes flutter open for the first time, this beautiful creature whose curious gaze finds me and does not falter.

What must she think of me, this shell of a man who survived the end of the world yet bears the scars of its battles – I am barely human anymore.

I reach my hand out and gently grasp her flawless fingers in mine, “Welcome to Eden.”
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Surviving the A to Z

May 6, 2013May 24, 2013 / WriterlySam / 16 Comments

RayRay and Lucy

For those of you who are interested in reading the novel excerpts that were revealed during the A-Z, you can find a handy list on The Essence of Memory Series page.

First off, many thanks to those who helped host this challenge, I wish I could send all of you bottles of celebratory wine!

I started this WP site at the tail end of February, without the slightest idea about blogging. I simply wanted a central location for my writing and novel updates. I never imagined I’d enter a month-long posting challenge. But, I have to say, it was an awesome experience! The best part of the whole crazy mess was meeting tons of new bloggers, many of whom are extremely talented, unique, hilarious and inspiring *you know who you are*. I will be following many of you beyond the finish line and for those on the list I didn’t get to visit, I’ll be stopping by whenever time allows.

Aside from consuming well beyond the daily recommended allowance of coffee and scrambling for spare time, the month of April was a success. The ancient Greek serial I posted for the challenge became a strong foundation for my YA novel series! Looking back, however, I should of planned the posts beforehand and saved myself a great deal of procrastinating-induced stress *shakes head at lack of forethought*. Writing new scenes daily, mere moments before they were due, may not have been the best approach. Not to mention linking a soundtrack and seeking out cover art that reflected the emotion of each tale, again, at the last minute. And somehow, during the chaos that ensued, I was able to visit those who commented and those patiently waiting on the linky list.

I plan on planning ahead for next year. This being my first A to Z Challenge , I’ve learned a few things that might come in handy for the next go around. First, coffee does not replace sleep *sleep deprivation can lead to zombie-like symptoms* Second, locking oneself in the bathroom to avoid offspring interruptions is not a sure-fire way to make progress *must leave the house* Third, under no circumstances should you get a puppy in the middle of the challenge when you’re barely treading water *shakes fist at the impenetrable cuteness puppies possess* That would be my youngest offspring picking out her border collie puppy from a local farm. Now that we have a farm dog, I’m guessing we need a farm *keeps looking for sheep under the couch*

Now that I’ve grown accustomed to this crazy schedule of writing nightly till the crack a$$ of dawn, I’m going to stick with it *well, maybe every other night* and finish my novel before the puppy eats my power cord!

Cheers! Sam

Rising (Part 5 of Kore)

March 20, 2013 / WriterlySam / 6 Comments

Hermes enlists the help of Aphrodite to resurrect Kore.

Aphrodite entered the apartment at Vanderbilt’s School of Medicine in the dead of night.
“I just left the social event of the year to placate your ego Hermes. Someone better be dying!” Aphrodite snaps.
“Someone already has,” Hermes whispers, stepping aside to reveal the ravaged remains of Kore. “Aides sent Cerberus to hunt her down for betraying their arrangement. I believe you know Asclepius.”
“Why haven’t you brought her back?” Aphrodite accuses, horrified.
“The damage is beyond even my healing ability. Kore needs regeneration,” Asclepius replies, defeated. “If you don’t save her, Aphrodite, she’ll be a prisoner of Aides’ underworld forever. He’ll own her soul.”
“Why the concern for Kore’s spirit?” Aphrodite asks, suspicious.
“She left Aides to be with me…I intended to save her. Now, she’s beyond my reach,” Asclepius cries.
“I love her, Aphrodite. Isn’t that enough?” Asclepius pleads.
“You can ask her that yourself, when she rises.”

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Harbinger (Part 4 of Kore)

March 15, 2013 / WriterlySam / 1 Comment

Zeus sends Hermes to call off Cerberus’ attack on Kore before it’s too late.

Hermes was not looking forward to calling off this particular dog.

Aides’ tri-headed mutt, Cerberus, was stubborn at best, a glutton at worst.

He tracked the hungry beast to Vanderbilt’s School of Medicine in Nashville. A hellhound set loose in the middle of campus was a logistics nightmare, not to mention the tricky business of finding its intended prey in time.

Then he heard it.

An unearthly growl.

Hermes tore down the sidewalk, praying to Zeus he was not too late.

But his sister, Kore, was already torn between three sets of razor-edged teeth, covered in crimson gore.

Hermes shouted a furious command, banishing the monster back to its lair.

Kore’s injured lover cradled her broken form to his blood-stained chest, his wrenching sobs pierced with agony.

Hermes recognized him as the God of Medicine, Asclepius – ancient enemy of Aides for stealing his souls from the brink of death.

Asclepius can raise the dead.

There’s still hope.

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Elixir of the Gods (Part 3 of Kore)

March 14, 2013December 5, 2013 / WriterlySam / 3 Comments

Zeus reluctantly agrees to intervene in Aides’ quest for vengeance.

Figment’s The Goddess Inheritance Flash-Fiction Contest WINNER selected by Figment and author Aimée Carter!

“The tension in this piece leaps off the page, and the conflict feels so real and modern. Love Demeter’s strength and their back-and-forth!” –Aimée Carter

Zeus walks into the cafe, the air thick with fried bacon and coffee. He scans the crowd, shaking his head at the meals drowning in meaningless chatter. He spots Demeter near the window, her head bent over a stack of worn books, her hand stirring the contents of a steaming cup.

Zeus slides into the empty seat across from her. “Why do you waste your time reading that drivel?” he sighs.

Without so much as a glance, Demeter casually folds the pages on either side of the book inward, forming the shape of a heart. “I’m fond of Greek tragedies, they amuse me. This one’s about us, dear.”

“Skip the theatrics Demeter, why am I here?” Zeus asks, pinning an unsuspecting waiter with a disapproving glare.

“It’s the best coffee house in Nashville,” Demeter banters, “You’ll need a clear head if you’re to meet my demands before your precious mortals slowly starve to death.”

“If you’re referring to my brother’s recent domestic dispute with your conniving daughter, I can’t say it’s any of my business.” Zeus rises from his chair.

Demeter seizes his wrist. “OUR daughter is being hunted by your barbaric brother’s wretched beast!” she cries. “Kore could be killed by Aides’ pride and you’re just going to sit back and do nothing?”

If he intervened, Zeus would incur Aides wrath. If he sat idly by, Demeter would make good on her threat and destroy mankind’s prime sustenance.

Zeus concedes with a sharp nod, inwardly cursing Aides.

“Good,” Demeter grins, “You’re buying me coffee.”

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Cerberus (Part 2 of Kore)

March 14, 2013 / WriterlySam / 1 Comment

Cover by Popcorn Pictures

A wrathful Aides sends his loyal hellhound to fetch the defiant Kore and drag her back to his realm.

“Kore has defied me for the last time!” Aides spits angrily.

Winter has seized the dying earth in its icy grasp, and yet, Kore has not returned.

In over a millennia, she has never failed to take her place by his side in the underworld.

Now, he stands in a desolate parking lot in Nashville watching Kore escape through the glacial tempest with her lover. The irony of her fleeing past Athena’s temple only feeds the hungry beast of jealousy ripping its way through his core.

For thousands of years he has loved her, agonized over her, fought for her.

But he never found a way to win her love in return.

Her growing hatred has left no room for forgiveness.

And he will not forgive her transgression.

”Bring me Cerberus!” Aides orders his minion, “Kore’s consort should satisfy my hellhound’s appetite for live meat.”

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Kore

March 13, 2013 / WriterlySam / 3 Comments

Cover Art: no_regrets_Exper Giovanni Rubaltelli

Winter beckons Kore to return to the underworld, but she has other plans.

The biting wind tore through her, pushing and pulling, like a living thing. Kore knew Hades himself had sent it from the depths of hell to fetch her.
The sudden drop in temperature was a warning.
If she failed to return, all hell would break loose.
But this time, Kore had a reason to defy the possessive, thieving tyrant.

And what a handsome reason he was, the charming youth who stole her heart without resorting to brute force.

She was meeting him in Nashville, near the Parthenon entrance. The massive replica of her past towered over his slender form. He was pacing between the illuminated columns, anxiously waiting for her.

For the first time in a millennia, she felt true happiness.

And Kore was willing to fight whatever hell unleashed to keep it.

Flakes of snow began to drift between them, dusting the empty parking lot.

Time to run.

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