A brittle map from 1859, found clutched in the bony grip of the long dead, sends three young boys on a dangerous adventure where an unsolved murder, modern crime, lost ancestors and ancient Chinese dragons reveal the true meaning of treasure.
C. Lee McKenzie is a 4 & 5 star reviewed author. Her greatest passion is writing for young readers. Sign of the Green Dragon is her third Middle Grade novel. Alligators Overhead and the sequel, The Great Time Lock Disaster were her first two. She has traditionally published four young adult novels: Sliding on the Edge, The Princess of Las Pulgas, Double Negative and Sudden Secrets.
What if the government tried to create the perfect utopia? Could a society linked to a supercomputer survive on its own? Do our reflections control secret lives on the other side of the mirror? Can one moment split a person’s world forever?
Exploring the fantastic, ten authors offer incredible visions and captivating tales of diverse reality. Featuring the talents of L. G. Keltner, Crystal Collier, Hart Johnson, Cherie Reich, Sandra Cox, Yolanda Renee, Melanie Schulz, Sylvia Ney, Michael Abayomi, and Tamara Narayan.
Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these ten tales will expand your imagination and twist the tropes of science fiction. Step through the portal and enter another dimension!
After wrapping up an ambitious AtoZ tour through my Solarpunk short story, EOS, I’m moving full throttle into edits for Architects of Illusion, a young adult fantasy novel series inspired by the land and legacy of Biltmore Estate, where Greek mythology meets Night at the Museum, Harry Potter and Downton Abbey. A novel that’s evolved into a six book series and a daunting product to deliver. This will be my greatest challenge yet! I tend to juggle multiple media projects at once, but screaming deadlines will force me to focus on this ONE project. Here’s hoping I have enough discipline/kale in stock!!
EOS Review Contest
Post a REVIEW of EOS, a Solarpunk short story available onAMAZON for $0.99, byMAY 31stand you’ll be entered to WIN a signed copy of RSM’s Battle Angel and signed limited edition print from painter, Jenny Vyas!
Stay tuned for a groundbreaking music video for EOS this May and companion album from Really Slow Motion launching Summer 2016!
IWSG, a community of brilliant writers led by Alex J. Cavanaugh, meets the first Wednesday of every month. Visit the Insecure Writer’s Support Group website and database! You’ll find everything from writing to marketing, along with encouragement and support!
A new dawn is on the horizon, where boundaries are broken, diversity is embraced, and an optimistic, creative vision of our future on Earth takes center stage.
EOS is a powerful solarpunk story narrated by FEAR, who tackles real-world issues concerning terrorism, prejudice, and diversity, to near-future technology surrounding sustainable energy that restores the balance between humanity and nature. This isn’t a defeatist tale. It is a look through the lens of positive futurism that showcases the courage, compassion and capabilities of humanity as equal partners in building a bridge to a better tomorrow.
Welcome to the International Viridis Summit
In the center of the mountain oasis, surrounding a thousand foot waterfall, the world’s greatest minds assemble to meet their mysterious host.
“Welcome amigos, colegas,“ Rafael Soñador smiles warmly. “Many of you know me. We have a past, you and I, yes? We’ve shared dreams over meals, ideas over drinks. Some of you shared the stage with me after too many drinks. You know who you are.” Laughter ripples through the crowd.
Behind the Scenes – Starring AtoZ rockstars –
Fond memories of channeling her inner-diva tugged at Amy Willoughby-Burle‘s lips, her cheeks blushing a shade darker than the fiery hair flowing down her back. Rafael had taken her out to celebrate A Soft and Thunderous Noise‘s debut on the international bestseller list. Five rounds of mojitos later, Amy had stormed the stage and delivered a memorable rendition of La Bamba with drinking partners, C. Lee McKenzie, Guilie Castillo, andYolanda Renee, that rivaled the original.
C. Lee McKenzie, nursing a steaming cup of caffeine and a traveling hangover, winked at Amy from across the aisle. Lee, having recently returned from Cuba, was discussing Hemingway’s Hotel Ambos Mundos museum with Guilie. From the corner of her eye, she caught a flash of black and white in the algae-coated canal that cut through the floor near her feet. She wondered what other creatures lurked in its depths. An alligator perhaps?
Guilie Castillo sipped her coffee and stroked the fur of her four-legged travel companion, whose attention was drawn to the swimming jewels that winked from the water’s edge. He couldn’t believe his luck, really. He had spent the first empty years of his life hungry and heartbroken in a dingy back alley. Now, he had a warm home with regular meals, six siblings, and adoring parents. And as much as he yearned to dip a paw into that tempting pool, he would resist, for his mother’s sake.
Sitting behindGuilie, in the shade of a massive tree, Yolanda Renee made mental notes of the extraordinary surroundings. She was working feverishly on the sequel to her global smash hit, Murder & Obsession, and found the summit location an appealing setting for a thriller. Yolanda sensed a deeper mystery running through the veins of Viridis, and she would make every effort to uncover it.
EOS Commenting Contest
Swing by and leave us a comment for a chance to WIN a digital copy of RSM’s latest public album, Battle Angel!
Each Comment = One Entry
EOS Review Contest
Starting April 1st, I’ll reveal sensory-rich sneak peeks into the world of EOS, a futuristic sci fi solarpunk short story available on AMAZON for $0.99. Post a REVIEW of EOS on AMAZON by May 31st and you’ll be entered to WIN a signed copy of RSM’s Battle Angel and signed limited edition print from painter, Jenny Vyas!
Welcome to “The Bridge Between Lost and Found”, starring the winners of our commenting contest, Alex J. Cavanaugh, Crystal Collier, Yolanda Renee, Lisa Shambrook, C. Lee McKenzie, Roland Yeomans, Djinnia (Mandy), Denise Covey, Michelle Wallace, Arlee Bird and Mikkel Heimbürger.
Colossal Trailer Music – Headless Body in Topless Bar – Snow Angels – Benjamin Zecker
In a sleepy little town nuzzled in the North Carolina mountains, down a yawning stretch of tree-lined gravel, leaning precariously over the embrace of two rushing rivers, was a peculiar place where lost things went to be found…
It was rumored that the rivers themselves reunited the patrons of Mik’s ‘Lost and Found Bar & Grill’ with what they sought. The legend, birthed around a twenty-first century campfire, ran through the waters into the gullible ears of those caught in its currents. It was a tragic tale of a young schoolteacher who was fatally afflicted, and the damaged soldier who loved her. The boy, determined to discover a way to save her, had stumbled upon a hidden shelter where they could live their remaining days in peace. She was to meet him on the bridge beneath the full snow moon. Sheets of ice had coated the planks, and the waters below grew restless. Before he could reach her, his traitorous leg buckled, sending him into the foaming mouth of a waterfall that swallowed him whole. The bridge bore the weight of the girl’s spirit ever since, her fiery hair seen trailing in phantom winds as she mourned the love she had lost that fateful fourteenth of February.
Colossal Trailer Music – Headless Body in Topless Bar – Chaplin Walking – Oli Jogvansson
The locals suspected the sorcery was more likely in Arlee’s white bean chili. A spry chef with an enviable mustache and a mean bottle of moonshine, Arlee safeguarded his recipes as if they were the culinary equivalent to the holy grail.
Mik, the playful proprietor with a penchant for fixing things, and his wife, Yolanda, an amiable force with a fondness for matchmaking, welcomed customers every day of the year for nearly nine decades without divulging a single secret. But that did little to deter anyone within a hundred mile radius from lining up at their door. Valentine’s Day became especially popular, as folks were eager to feed upon riverside favorites that came with a side of spooky star-crossed love.
Colossal Trailer Music – Headless Body in Topless Bar – Skeletons Dance – Claudie Mackula
There was no sense in asking their staff, of course, for they were even more eccentric than their employers. For starters, their busboy refused to wear a shirt. Unsuspecting diners would get an earful of fire prevention tips while Roland, tall and topless, cleared nearby tables.
The waitresses, Michelle and Mandy, were a pair of charming identical twin teens who were reportedly adopted by the owners back in 2066, and refused to grow up. Mandy continuously serenaded customers with random song lyrics, while Michelle broke into dance routines at irregular intervals to the delight of the dinner crowd. During the lunch hour, the resident poet laureate, Lisa, would deliver a passionate helping of lyrical prose whether they ordered it or not. Breakfast was often a dicey affair when Denise served up sweet potato pancakes with stinging psych evaluations. Diners either had a breakthrough by the time they finished their hash browns, or they left with a doggy bag of egg salad and shame.
Their cashier, Lee, was also a bit bizarre. She shared heated opinions regarding one’s dietary decisions, often leaving patrons with a customized health plan highlighted beside their bill if they consumed anything deep fried.
Colossal Trailer Music – Headless Body in Topless Bar – Hansel and Pretzel – Snorre Tidemand
But the most curious character of them all was Crystal. A striking, red-headed girl who, despite the sixty years spent hostessing, never looked a day over twenty. A wealth of knowledge, she knew even the most obscure historical details. And there was the small matter of her head tilting at odd angles.
The public was more than willing to overlook any peculiarities the minute their food arrived.
“How many?” Crystal asked, marking off names in the holoscreen.
“Two,” a boy squeaked.
“Some crazy bloke is on the bridge,” a voice snickered from the doorway.
Her fingers froze in midair. She squinted out the window and shook her head. It wasn’t safe on the bridge this time of year. She knew better than most. She brushed past the line of bundled customers and stepped into the bitter cold that clouded their breaths.
“Hello?” she called out. The vexing wind whipped around her head, tempting it loose. “The bridge is closed!” she warned, though truthfully, she made a habit of strolling across it every night.
The man came closer, something about his gait seemed…familiar. He stepped off the bridge with a lopsided smile.
Colossal Trailer Music – Headless Body in Topless Bar – Moon Spell – Alexandros Nikolaidis
“Alex!?” she shouted, darting towards him, hope surging through her, but the momentum caught her head off guard. It toppled from her shoulders onto the snow, where it rolled across the space between them and landed at his feet.
He bent down and gingerly picked up her head, carried it back to her empty shoulders, and secured it as best he could, considering.
“I see you’re still head over heels for me.”
Crystal wrapped her arms around him. “How…how are you…here?”
“Some kids found me a few months ago while they were camping. Took them awhile to restore my basic functions. After sixty years stuck under a rock, it was no easy task,” he whispered into her hair. “I’m relieved to see you’re safe.”
“It’s everything you said it would be.” She leaned into him.
Alex held her face between his hands. “So they’re not quick to disassemble you for having a screw loose?” he asked with a grin.
“They encourage it,” she smiled. “And there’s more of us, Alex. From all over the country. Entertainers, a nurse and psychologist, a literature professor, even a fireman. All of them damaged…like us.”
“Damaged or not, you’re worth more than a hundred new droids.” Alex reached into his pocket and pulled out a small metal object. “I was planning on giving you this gift before I went for a swim.” He placed the object in her hand.
It was a replacement titanium screw for her head. Something impossible to find in a world that considered her obsolete. In that moment, she felt the power of connection. Of acceptance. Of love. And for the first time in her existence, she understood why humans celebrated it.
Share your thoughts on our bizarre Tim Burton-inspired love story and Danny Elfmanesque music in the comments section below by February 24th for a chance to WIN a digital copy of Colossal’s enchanting album, Headless Body in Topless Bar!
Congrats to our album winners and many thanks to our composers, writerly cohorts and readers for joining our quirky adventure!
Winners
Roland Yeomans Crystal Hicken Collier Denise Covey
The biggest Epic Music event of the year is coming to a close this Saturday, August 9th! In celebration of YouTube powerhouse, EpicMusicVn‘s 2 year anniversary, we gathered leaders of the epic music industry, Two Steps From Hell, audiomachine,Really Slow Motion Music, Epic North Music, & graphic designer, Koke Núñez Gómez, for an unprecedented, global collaboration, where writers, artists, video editors and visionaries have the chance to create something amazing! IMAGINE the possibilities HERE!
It’s been a VERY busy summer, with exciting events and projects coming to a close and many more hovering on the horizon. A major shift in the realm of responsibility happened this week, when my two little girls (1st & 4th graders, previously homeschooled) were accepted into a brand new Charters school, named IMAGINE — I took this as a major sign that we’re traveling down the right path!
Though I’ll miss my kiddos, my days are now FREE for WRITING and freelance film industry projects! I’ve issued a strict final draft deadline this fall for my YA fantasy novel series, Architects of Illusion (Echoes of Olympus, #1). This semester is already booked with collaborations and another round of epic writing, where I’ll mentor gifted teens as they learn to embrace this year’s theme of COURAGE!
First, they conquered Outer Space….
Now, they bring destruction to the promised land…
The Viking Warriors are coming to ARCADIA!
Welcome to THE CONQUERORS, a Steampunk Viking flash fiction challenge for the industry release, ARCADIA (produced & published by Really Slow Motion). Pulling inspiration from the exclusive industry track, “The Song of the World Tree”, by brilliant composer, Tapsa Kuusniemi, and the stunning album cover, by gifted graphic designer & composer, Koke Núñez Gómez, FORGE an epic tale (under 500 words) that conquers the imagination! Submit your entries in the comments section of theContest Pageby August 9th, midnight EST!
Sixteen-year-old Hutchinson McQueen is trapped in a dysfunctional family. Shackled by poor vision and poor reading skills, he squeaks through classes with his talent for eavesdropping and memorizing what he hears. After another suspension from school and suffering through one of his mother’s violent attacks, he escapes to a friend’s house that turns out to be a meth lab. The lab is raided and Hutch lands in juvenile detention. When the court sentences him to six months in a new juvenile program, he meets a teacher with Alzheimer’s who will change his life and hers.
IWSG, a community of brilliant writers led by Alex J. Cavanaugh, meets the first Wednesday of every month. Visit the Insecure Writer’s Support Group website and database! You’ll find everything from writing to marketing, along with encouragement and support!
Heroes of PHENOMENA is a global, cross-industry collaborative campaign encouraging the next generation of authors, artists & musicians!
Epic motion picture advertising music production house, audiomachine, will make a donation to the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra with every download of the PHENOMENA album companion collection.
A dedicated youth section showcases talented aspiring artists and authors fromElevate’s Life & Art Studios, alongside an amazing cast of inspiring industry professionals and the winning entries of PHENOMENA’s Epic Heroes Event!
I’m thrilled to announce the ebook anthology is FREE on Smashwords & Kobo! Available for $0.99 on Amazon *help us push Amazon to price-match by reporting the FREE listings*. Coming soon to iTunes & B&N!
My Epic Writing students from Elevate Life & Art Studios created a really cool book trailer that blends the music of PHENOMENA with the boundless creativity of the next generation—inspiring their peers in a humorous tribute to authors, musicians, artists and dreamers! Special thanks to Braelyn Whiteside (9th Grade) for her brilliant filming & editing skills!
IWSG meets the first Wednesday of every month. A community of brilliant writers led by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Visit the Insecure Writer’s Support Group website and database! You’ll find everything from writing to marketing, along with encouragement and support!
It’s fitting that today is IWSG. Seeing as how Alex has been an unfailing supporter since my online debut back in March of 2013, it’s no surprise that he’s a winner of a Biltmore-themed commenter prize!
And many composer collaborations later, I’ve finally cajoled Alex into joining my latest EPIC event with audiomachine! More details on the PHENOMENA project will be announced this FRIDAY! We’re accepting writing & art entries for audiomachine’s “Epic Heroes” contest through May 15th, so tap into your imaginations and join the fun!
I want to send out my heartfelt thanks to everyone who stopped by during the crazy month that is April’sA to Z Challenge to take a peek at my upcoming Biltmore-inspired YA novel “Architects of Illusion“! This novel series is my biggest, most ambitious project to date. Needless to say, I was anxious to hear feedback. I truly value your comments and the time you spent in my world. The show of encouragement from gracious readers & inspiring composers alike have bolstered my passion for this story and will continue to push me towards achieving my DREAM!
Special thanks to my additional commenting winners–you guys rock! (Shoot me an email with your address to receive your Biltmore-goodies:)
To say April was a busy month would be the understatement of the year. Between novel edits, running an international album promotion for PHENOMENA, teaching an AMAZING group of gifted teens through Elevate Life & Art, planning a big book trailer, in collaboration with audiomachine, for Grammarly’s groundbreaking GrammoWriMo Novel, “The Lonely Wish-Giver” (which I also contributed to), AND juggling commenting/minion duties for the incredible #TeamDamyanti (muwah!)–I was ready to drown myself in a barrel of Biltmore wine!
With well over 2K participants, the Challenge was a huge success! There were so many awesome posts I enjoyed, and many more I didn’t have the chance to read. I hope to catch up on what I missed over the next few months. I loved meeting new folks and exchanging witty fun with familiar “faces”. You’re all welcome here anytime, where the bar, the banter, and the imagination, are always open.
In the spirit of art influencing art, we joined forces in an epic collaboration where writers were given the opportunity to set their words to film composer, Michael Maas‘, inspiring music!
The winners will be awarded mp3 files of the five selected tracks from the exclusive film industry release “Piano and Strings Edition” as well as Michael’s new album, Illumination.
Congratulations to the winners and to all the incredible writers who participated in this collaborative challenge! Winners—send me your email address to receive your music!
I believe in the power of music to inspire and guide our Muse. Music evokes emotions in their purest form, the seed of every story planted firmly in the soul of the notes. As the tale takes root, it bends and bows to every ear.
What started as an idea, born of music, grew into an epic journey–each branch a different voice, each leaf, a different song. Each of these gifted writers, empowered with imagination and the passion to create, went above and beyond the call of music…for this, I thank you. You took us on a magical journey, one we shall not soon forget…
It is with great enthusiasm that audiomachine and I present the winners of the Tree of Life: Branching Out collaborative writing challenge.
Welcome to the TREE OF LIFE: Branching Out collaborative writing challenge, where creative minds meet epic movie music. To read the collective story in its entirety as it unfolds and for more details on this groundbreaking collaboration with Audiomachine click HERE.
Today’s featured guest author, C. Lee McKenzie, captures the pulse of great storytelling. If your searching for The Write Game, look no further.
* Listen to the inspiring track from Audiomachine’s Tree of Life album featured in the sidebar music player
Inspiring Soundtrack: Audiomachine – Tree of Life
________________________________
And this stillness spread until there was no sound except her heartbeat. Her breath.
She faced the wizened woman, the woman called Sophia that she knew as Gaia, Mother of all Earth.
“What does this mean?” Zoe asked, and her voice shattered the silence.
Gaia held out a single leaf.
“Speak to me,” Zoe said. “Tell me. What is this about?” She’d flown with dragons, she’d been strong against the serpent, but this silence frightened her. Gaia frightened her. “Is this the final transition?”
Gaia placed one finger against Zoe’s lips, and then took both her hands in hers.
Within Gaia’s grasp, Zoe remembered the story: the pain of giving life and dying, the joy and sadness of change, the ecstasy of love and the misery of loss. And when Gaia released her, Zoe pressed the one leaf to her heart in gratitude. Gratitude for Gaia’s gift of truth and the silence to recall it. The silence to hear her heartbeat. Her breath.
A tear trickled from her cheek to her chin and fell onto the earth. She let go the leaf and it flittered to a place just beyond where she stood. It fell onto that one small damp spot of tear stained earth. And then the tree she had thought was lost forever, was once more.
It stood before her in the dawn light.
It became the silhouette against the sky at dusk.
And the music of the Tree of Life sprang forth from everywhere, banishing the silence.
ATTENTION FANS: You can WIN an autographed TREE OF LIFE Audiomachine album by LEAVING COMMENTS! On August 17th, two lucky readers will be chosen at random from the comments section of the story excerpts. The more you comment–the better your chances are of winning a piece of cinematic history! We want to hear from YOU!
TREE OF LIFE is available NOW! Click on the following links:
IWSG meets the first Wednesday of every month. A community of brilliant writers led by Alex J. Cavanaugh.
Inspiring Soundtrack: Audiomachine – Tree of Life
For this month’s post, I want to send my heartfelt thanks to the talented group of writers that exceeded the Tree of Life: Branching Out challenge I set out before them in a way I never would have dreamed.
Each of these writers possess a unique gift for the written word. They collectively merged their storytelling skills to create an overwhelmingly beautiful saga, wrought with meaning and woven with the essence of music.
With each new voice, the epic tale grew, branching out in unique ways that reflected the individual while honoring the whole.
I am in awe of their abilities, their strength, their enthusiasm and their support.
I may have planted the seed, but it is you who breathed life into it. Rooted in passion, it thrived on your imagination.
You are the branches of this, the Tree of Life.
It is an honor to have worked with you, and on behalf of audiomachine and myself, I cannot thank you enough for the incredible journey…
Amy Willoughby-Burle, John Wiswell, M. Pax, Al Diaz, Gary Philip Pennick, DL Hammons, Susan Scott, Ruth Long, Djinnia, Daniel Swensen, KC Hunter, Shannon Kenoyer Lawrence, Tina Downey, Beverly Fox, Michelle Wallace, Mina Lobo, Gwen Gardner, Angela Brown, Lisa Shambrook, Sarah Wesson, Leighton Williams, Elise Fallson, Vidya Sury, Damyanti Biswas and C. Lee McKenzie
Tree of Life Composers: Paul Dinletir Kevin Rix Danail Getz Jeff Marsh Steffan Michael Koch John A. Graves
Special thanks to:
Marc D’Amour of audiomachine, for his continued support of this project!
Launching August 2016
IWSG, a community of brilliant writers led by Alex J. Cavanaugh, meets the first Wednesday of every month. Visit the Insecure Writer’s Support Group website and database! You’ll find everything from writing to marketing, along with encouragement and support!
![A-to-Z Reflection [2014]](https://writerlysam.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/a-to-z-reflection-2014.jpg?w=300&h=142)
WriterlySam 