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*****What's New*****
**6/16/08
Well, I have been
updating behind the scenes, and it will be finished...I can't
guarantee when, but it will. but this bit of news couldn't wait.
I have decided to run a bit of
a contest. It is only open to those who help with some research.
so you have to work for this. Aren't I evil? I hope it is worth
it though. So here is the announcement that I have been putting
up in places...
Hi!
I need some help with some research for one of the two book
series I am currently writing. It is a unique look at the Greek
Pantheon of gods, starring two demi-god twins that are sent to
Earth as humans as punishment for the crime of Hubris. And these
two take quite some time to begin to learn their lesson, through
many lifetimes, they continue their behavior, and they end up
having to be punished over and over again for the same main
crime, but dfifferent reasons/punishments.
What I need help with is two specific things. non-killing
tortures, especially device-free (hopefully ancient, or midieval),
and pranks. many different kinds of pranks.
Here is a list of the possibly non-killing punishments that I
have found...
-
non-killing ancient torture. I have plenty of
midieval torture that is killing, especially by devices...I
think. but I don't have many non-killing torture. The ones
that I have are: brandings. mutilations, blindings, wooden
(or metal...most common wooden during dark ages) mallet to
break bones, Boiling Oil (did result in death more often
than not, but in small doses, the victim did survive),
hitting and punching, pulling out of finger-/toe-nails,
stoning (could use rotten fruits and vegetables just for
humiliation purposes, but the stoning again depends on how
severe the punishment was to determine if death was
broughton or not), slapping of the bottom of the feet,
Coffin torture (the person was placed in a slightly larger
metal cage that resembled a coffin for a certain length of
time to create discomfort and/or death, or in the case of
obese people, the cage would be smaller if death was
wanted), The Rack, water torture, whipping/flaggelation,
foot roasting (similar to slapping the bottom of the feet,
except the feet were heated up and chrred, sometimes to the
bone, or past the bone, depending on the chrime),
thumbscrews, The Brank (used for women, a cage that was worn
around the head to stop gossiping and nagging, sometimes
with spikes under the chin to punchure the underjaw if the
mouth was opened.)
hmmm....had more possibly non-killing tortures than I
realized...but if you can help me think of others that are not
listed here, I would appreciate it.
also, if you can name more tortures that are killing without
devices that would be a great help too.
the other part I need, and this is the more critical part,
is:
-
pranks that would qualify for these
punishments, for the crime of Hubris against the Gods,
especially the Greek Gods. I have some ideas, but I need
more to draw from. I may use the full idea, I may use part
of the idea, or I may combine ideas. but if I use any or
part of the idea, you will be mentioned in the
acknowledgements of the book. I need things that are both
harmless, and things that would get someone into deep
trouble. for example, one thing I am using is a
energy-"snowball" fight....where my characters are going to
be in the Hall of Mount Olympus while the pntheon is in
there having a meeting and Ries and Iakona, my twins, are
going to sneak in...they are not allowed in thee, being only
demi-gods, and they are going to start hurling energy
snowballs at the gods and goddesses, and...well, I won't
finish, it will be a surprise. some other ideas are
spreading rumors among the gods, planting (true or untrue)
evidence for one god's lover to find out about another lover
(for example, for Aphrodite to find out about Ares having an
affair with someone else, even though Aphrodite is married
to Hephaestus...), or for the twins to steal something
from one of the gods and to plant it on another god.
-
Then I need just normal pranks, things that
humans pull on one another. I am not too good at this part.
I can come up with either BIG schemes, or little tiny
things, like fake gifts, but I am not good at normal sized
pranks.
anyway, if any of you can help me do this, I would appreciate
it. Please contact me off list at
phoenix_fire @ enchantmentofthemind.com
(no spaces)
Those that help me, I am going to enter into a
informal contest, only for those that help me with the research,
for a chance to win a signed copy of my book "Judgment at
Witches Court", a crystal "wand" and also those that help with
the research will be named on the acknowledgement page if this
particular book is published. The contest will run until July
31st, and the winner will be announced August 15th.
Thanks!
Cherry Dumas
Judgment at Witches Court - "Witches, a psychic, and a
lawyer...who else can save the Witches Realm?" available through
Mundania Press and other retailers
The Elementals of Celayone series - "It takes more
than evil to defeat the natural oder of the universe."
Hubris - "Can twins redeem themselves in the face of
gods?"
www.enchantmentofthemind.com
www.enchantmentofthemind.com/blog
So, as you can tell, email me
with either the pranks and/or the torture/punishments that you
can find, and you just may win the book and crystal "wand."
Cherry
1/20/07
Wow!
I didn't realize how long it has been since I have been able to
update this site. Where has the time gone? I swear I must live in
another dimension where time doesn't mean anything ;-) Well, since
the last update, a lot has changed in my life, yet so much has
stayed the same...In July of '06, I moved to Washington State,
just North of Seattle as a matter of fact, but my time in
Washington is drawing to a close...I am moving back to Utah this
month to be with my family again. So that aspect of my life has
changed, yet is remaining the same...I may have moved, but I am
going back...LOL.
Judgment At Witches Court is being
released the end of this month, January 31st to be exact...it
should be available in bookstores mid-February. it will also be
available through the major online book stores and through my
publisher, Mundania Press, and will
soon be available through this website (as soon as I figure out
the particulars of what needs to be done to offer them) the nice
thing about that, is when I do have the books available through
here, you will have the option of having it signed by me. I am
also looking into some promotional items available at that time
that you will receive if you purchase direct from me. I am
planning some major changes to the website soon, but I will be
without internet connection for the next little while, hopefully
it won't be too long though. So don't expect the changes too soon,
but expect them to be coming ;-). For now... ... ... ... ...'Til
the next time, take care of yourself.**
Welcome to my site!
I
am sitting in my favorite chair when Cedric flies through the open
window. The smell of cinnamon and the warmth of his feathers fill
the room
"Visitor's come, Cherry." He tells me as he perches on his
favorite stand.
"Oh
good." I reply, closing my book and standing. "How far away are
they?"
"Close. almost to the door."
The bells on the door ring, announcing the arrivals into the
library.
I
turn to greet you.
"Welcome! Welcome to my library!"
You stare around at the collection lining all of the walls. Tall
ladders leading to the highest books, those that tower three
stories above your head.
"Can
I get you anything?" I rush to the little kitchenette and fetch
refreshments. "Here, please. this is the best chair in the
library. Please, have a seat." I place the refreshments on the
table before the chair, where you sit. Cedric stares at you,
warmth glittering in his eyes as he watches you begin to read,
settling in comfortable, preparing to stay as long as you can...
***
Writing…why do we do it?
Writing…why do we do it? What drive us to put the pen to the paper
to write down our thoughts, the stories, and the poems? What
drives us to share with others what we have written?
Every person has different motives for writing, but if you look
deep enough, everyone wants to teach when they write. It may not
be evident on the surface or even close to the surface, but it is
there…the lessons that they want to pass on. Some writers will
deny vehemently that they are trying to impart a lesson, and
others you can tell that is one of their goals.
So regardless of the other reasons why we write…we are, on one
level or another, teaching something.
Does this lesson have to be practical? Oh no…the lessons do not
have to be practical in the least. In fact, what one person sees
as practical, another will find very different. No, the lessons
are just that…passing on knowledge and hoping that
someone…anyone…will pick up that lesson that you have imparted and
bring an idea to their own minds.
Some will say that we humans are nuts to want to write everything
down. That may be true…words can be used as a weapon as well as a
lesson…some think that the written word cannot teach as much as
the spoken word…and in a way this is true, but at the same time,
the written word can teach more than the spoken word can.
For example, stories that have been passed down through the
ages…if they are passed down by the spoken word…oh what incredible
lessons that can be taught, but at the same time, each telling the
story changes. The same can be said for the written word, that
each time it is told it can be changed…each person puts different
interpretations and so each telling by different people/writer’s,
the different parts of the story will be highlighted, dimmed or
completely changed. However, with the written word, many different
people can tell it in many different ways, but somewhere, there is
a version that is of the original, told in the original way. The
spoken stories, it is much harder to find an original version that
is told in the original way.
Therefore, the lessons that we pass down through writing can stand
the test of time. If you look hard enough, you can find the voices
of the distant past.
Therefore, that brings us back to the “what drives us to write.”
Lessons…and immortality…are just two of the reasons we write. As
long as the book exists with your name on it in your words, people
will remember your name long after you are gone.
If you look hard enough at your own reasons why you write, such as
having to write because so many stories pound in your mind, you
will find many different layers of which you are not aware.
Just as onions and ogre’s have many layers, so do writers...okay I
just couldn’t resist that last line! |
