A Ghostly Moon

It's wasn't quite 5p.m., yesterday afternoon, when I got up from my desk to take a much-needed break. Before I head down the stairs, though, I always take a look out of the window to check on the birds and the sky. And this time of year the trees, especially.
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More than half of the trees, in this old growth tree neighborhood, have yet to let loose of their leaves. And I love the stark contrast between the autumnal colorings and the dark bared branches.
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The dappled greying sky held both puffy white and ominous dark storm clouds. But what caught me by surprise, was seeing the moon already well above the eastern horizon. It appeared more as an ethereal ghost--awakened mid-sleep--not quite knowing exactly what time it was.
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I shared the following post on Facebook.

A three quarter moon is risen and looks as a ghost amid the clouds in a
threatening Autumn sky.

Blessings

The Friday Five Favorites of May 1st

I pulled these from my Soul Echoes Mood Music YouTube Channel. Unfortunately, since Google took over, I can no longer get into my account to add to, or make changes in the playlists. When I log on, using my Google account info, it does give me the opportunity to access an existing account. But when I say yes, it simply will not load. If anyone has the secret to making it work, please let me know.
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That aside, many writers, depending on what they're working on, have some form of music in the background playing to their Muse. And many do not want to be distracted by voices or lyrics.
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So, here's this week's five favorite non vocal soundtracks--courtesy of the YouTube phenomena.
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No. 1— ANCIENT WAY from Earth Drum ~David & Steve Gordon
The video opens with the rise of the sun in the American Southwest. And after a wonderful tour of images, it closes with the setting of the sun. It's easy to become entranced by this piece
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No. 2— NARA from Unearthed ~E.S. Posthumus
Though the video is visually-stunning, to say the very least, this is one of my favorite instrumentals. It's intensity stirs the very Soul of imaginings! This is also a piece I would love to crank up to full volume.

Another version ~ with images of Fantasy both Dark and Ethereal

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No. 3— ADAGIO FOR STRINGS ~Samuel Barber
Need to be brought to tears? This one does it for me. Everytime! I have wondered what it was that touched Barber so, while he composed this piece.
Though it's not exactly my favorite video, it's one of the cleanest audio tracks. The live orchestral versions out there have too much audience interaction, coughing, etc.
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No. 4— MOONLIGHT SONATA ~ Ludwig van Beethoven
Nothing embodies Melancholy more than Beethoven’s sonata. .

Here's another version with various images of the Moon that would inspire any writer of Urban Fantasy.

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No. 5— THE SUN from Point of Origin ~Yanni
"And so the First One, the Primal Element of Creation, hurled an orb of flame out into the Great Void, and the marvel of Light shone and pierced the veil of the vast Dark."

~Dellasseea N’Syis, the FirstBorn Daughter of the Primal Elements,

after being granted the memory of the First Light.

From The Forbidden World Chronicles ~L.L. Abbott

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Enjoy! And may you all have a wonderful weekend.
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Blessings

Side Bar Add Ons

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This is just a quick update to let you know there are a few new features on my side bar.

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I added an inspirational Quote of the Month. There's also a Word of the Day widget from http://www.dictionary.com/. Plus, if you scroll down past the Writing Tip of the Day, you'll find that RESOURCES list I mentioned a few posts back.

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[ADDED/UPDATED 12-31-2008] Buy way of an invitation to be a Friend, I opened up a FaceBook account today. Just click here and view my fledgling profile. I don't know all the ins and outs of FaceBooking, so be patient with me while it grows. It will blossom in its own time. Whilst the seed doeth germinate, stop by and say a writerly hello.

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Scroll down a little farther and you can enjoy my YouTube Playlist of Music to Inspire Your Muse. There are currently 40 songs in my Soul Echoes Mood Music Channel; a companion to this blog. You'll find several videos in the playlist from both David and Diane Arkenstone, and almost as many from Loreena McKennitt. There are also the Adagio for Strings, Agnus Dei, and Moonlight Sonata. And, a few vocals from Josh Groban, Peter Gabriel, Enrique Iglesias, and Jon Secada.

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So, you can take a gander below and see what might inspire, or simply scroll through, find a song you like, and partake in a little background music while you visit my blog. If you click on the arrow on the left, that will take you to the Adagio, a couple versions of the Sonata, and to the vocals. Clicking on the arrow to the right starts you off with the Arkenstones, followed by Loreena McKennitt.

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My list of favorites will grow with time, and I'll no doubt create more mood-specific playlists, i.e., native drums and flutes, vocals separate from instrumentals, etc.; but, for now~~ .. I offer the current list purely for enjoyment! Okay-- I'd like to inspire as well.

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More soon.

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Blessings

Shooting for the Moon

Got Wolf?
Black Rose Writing Contest
If you've got a hot hero/heroine that also happens to

turn furry at least once a month,

then Black Rose is looking for your story.

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I bowed out of this initially; even while the makings of a storyline swirled and began to pique my interest. With much grace and honesty, though, I responded [to Faith's post] that I just didn't believe I could get that kind of word count to a presentable stage by August 30th. To which she promptly replied with a rudimentary 'thanks for stopping by' that left me properly dejected. I felt I'd just delivered an excuse she hadn't expected.

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That same day, I read the VW#7 Writing Life, post found at Paperback Writer. First off, I couldn't believe she wasn't talking directed to me [This I intend to make clearer in an upcoming post.]; and second, about midway through, I shamefully realized I'd quit before even starting. Yes! It stung. And after a much needed moment of reflection, I returned to the Writing Exercise Board to share my epiphany. Faith explained that a recent publishing contract came to her via a contest where, though she did not win, was invited to rework and submit it again. I appreciated her confidence and direction and didn't want to dissappoint her. So, I sucked it up and went for it.

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Enter Conall Rheese Fergus and Sophie Lahey, in the work titled: Walks With The Moon. The story just poured out, and I discovered Conall's grandfather, Calvin. I had Radio Rivendell playing in the background, but foucsed on Loreena McKinnett for certain scenes. For one toward the end I had Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata set to play in a loop.

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And no. My entry did not make the August 30 deadline. I got stuck on a plot point and simply couldn't figure it out in time. I also failed to include another pertinent contest rule: "All stories must have at least one HOT consummated love scene..." Fair enough. It was, after all, an exercise in Romance.

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Unfortunately, [though not intentionally] I skipped out on that one lock, stock and barrel. Because of how one of my rules played out there wasn't going to be a consummation. This and any emotion of love has been long repressed. And since my revisit of said contest rules happened at the eleventh hour, I had no time for the rewrite of such an integral point in the story. Sorry Faith! I had hoped to make you proud.

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But. I'm rather heavily invested in this piece now and want to see it through. I really like the characters and one particular twist I'm sure will surprise a few readers. Potential though they may be. So, since I registered for the 2008 Muse Online Writer's Confernence, I'm shooting for October in hopes of having something ready to submit.

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That's it for now.

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