Lily & Luke

A pale light streamed in through the single window, giving sight to the particles of dust in the air. Lily sat still atop a desk, looking at her feet, dangling freely. Her dark hair fell over her face, hiding her grey eyes. Across the room, Luke said nothing, and only stared blankly back at her.

“I bet you’re thinking about what I’m thinking, aren’t you?” She said still looking at Luke through narrow eyes. “Try and guess.” She lifted her head and blew her bangs back over her forehead. “No matter what you say, I won’t let you go,” she said looking straight into his eyes.

He said nothing.

“We’ve been through so much,” she continued. “I know you say I may be too controlling. Too much for you to to manage. But you know what Luke? I love you. Don’t you understand that?” Her eyes stayed on his but he still had yet to speak. He didn’t even blink.

“I’m the one that taught you to be this way. I’m the one who showed you how to be strong. I’m the one, who showed you how to stand up for yourself! When we met…you were…how can I say this? You were pretty weak.”

He glanced at her.

“A pushover. Now? Now it’s as if nothing can harm you.”

She squinted her eyes in frustration.

“What’s that look? Luke?”

She walked over to him, her arms folded.

Will you Hate Me Forever, If I Told You The Truth?

Mm ba ba de
Um bum ba de
Um bu bu bum da de
Pressure pushing down on me
Pressing down on you no man ask for
Under pressure – that burns a building down
Splits a family in two
Puts people on streets
Um ba ba be
Um ba ba be
De day da
Ee day da – that’s o.k.
It’s the terror of knowing
What this world is about
Watching some good friends
Screaming ‘Let me out’
Pray tomorrow – gets me higher
Pressure on people – people on streets
Day day de mm hm
Da da da ba ba
O.k.
Chippin’ around – kick my brains around the floor
These are the days it never rains but it pours
Ee do ba be
Ee da ba ba ba
Um bo bo
Be lap
People on streets – ee da de da de
People on streets – ee da de da de da de da
It’s the terror of knowing
What this world is about
Watching some good friends
Screaming ‘Let me out’
Pray tomorrow – gets me higher high high
Pressure on people – people on streets
Turned away from it all like a blind man
Sat on a fence but it don’t work
Keep coming up with love
but it’s so slashed and torn
Why – why – why ?
Love love love love love
Insanity laughs under pressure we’re cracking
Can’t we give ourselves one more chance
Why can’t we give love that one more chance
Why can’t we give love give love give love give love
give love give love give love give love give love
‘Cause love’s such an old fashioned word
And love dares you to care for
The people on the edge of the light
And love dares you to change our way of
Caring about ourselves
This is our last dance
This is our last dance
This is ourselves
Under pressure
Under pressure
Pressure.

Word.

Tis’ the season of love is it not?  I wrote a status a while ago. Then recently I wrote another similar to the first:

I really don’t care if you’re gay or straight. 

I don’t even care of you’re slim or overweight. 
If you’re white or Latino, black or Filipino, you know none of that stuff really matters to me. 
Only thing worth knowing is God’s love, is free.

Then…I saw this and I had to share.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re atheist or Christian, Hindu or Muslim, straight, gay, transsexual, black or white, or anything and everything between. I love you. I care about you as people, as individuals. You are not targets to convert. You are people that I love and people I want to invest in. I want to love you in the best way I know how – and that’s loving you how Jesus does. Unconditionally. ♥”–Julianna Pardue

Many say I am an inspiration. I cannot claim that without feeling humbled greatly. But I will say love is indeed my greatest inspiration. And is the reason I do what I do. God’s Love. This is no preaching. Far from it.

Sometimes the very quote that you’re seeking out for inspiration…is in your very own heart.

Merry Christmas.

 

 

the title of this blog post was written by my wife Jennifer for a song we are writing.

Perception Of Intent

Many of you know what the title of this post refers to. It is the name of a band of a few dudes who got together and created some epic music.

But that’s the simplified story.

Yes, it’s the name of the band. when I was halfway through with my ms, The Stories, a dark take on fairy tale mythos, well, of course I listened to a lot of music. One of the bands that I played non-stop was Times Of Grace with Jesse Leach, first vocalist for Killswitch Engage and Adam Dutkiewicz, shredder and vox, also for Killswitch Engage. Needless to say Times Of Grace is one of my all-time favorite bands. Ever. Of all time.

Through Times Of Grace I found a video of one Joe Dragich a.k.a. Shredder Joe. He was covering a Times Of Grace song. Well, in the info there was a link for his band. Music lover/supporter I am I clicked it. The rest is history. But the future looks so bright.

The Sky Burns Red or Seeing Red Again

The title of this post refers to two, well, three things.

The first one is the title of a song by the epic band Perception Of Intent, which is also the official theme song to my book, The Stories. POI’s debut A Distant Voice, album drops 11.11.11

Seeing Red is the “name” of the e p i c piece below and is also a line in the song The Red by Chevelle…and also the first words in the song Seein’ Red by Unwritten Law.

 

Point, other than the fact that I remind you that red is my favorite color and is in my last name?

Well, this is all getting so very exciting for me as a writer and I would like to share with you all this piece of red brilliance by Crystal Ord, artist and writer.

 

I call it L’orrah Is Pissed with a little excerpt from the book.

♦

“In your years of loneliness, you gave no power to circumstance. The strengthening of your mind, your body…your very soul…you chose to be more! Now who will you be? Now what will you choose?”

“To be more.” -L’orrah, The Stories.

 

 

Also, here are the songs noted above. Anything with red I embrace-almost. And it so happens the latter two songs I’ve loved for a very time.

♦

♦

♦

“It’s all or nothing, nowhere left to run, are you ready for the last fight?
Get ready with the war cry!
Let me hear you scream like you want it!
Let me hear you yell like you mean it!
If you gotta, GO DOWN! GO LOUD! GO STRONG! GO PROUD! GO ON! GO HARD OR GO HOME!

Let me hear you SCREAM!”–Ozz

Dedicated to all those who have something to say, something to write, something to pray and something to fight.

#letmehearyou

 

In The Stories, you will see red…and legends will be reborn.

 

Word.

Let It Go. (I’m Alright.)

Years and years ago…I was blessed. I was blessed to be able to find my literal voice and I began singing in the church I was going to. I was 16. Man…memories of singing for God. My friends and I always played music together and had dreams of starting a band. Then we said, “Dream? Let’s do it.” Then? God moved and I met a brother in Christ who led us to an opportunity to record a “demo.”

We had written an entire set and played around town in churches, then we were blessed to play to bigger audiences. 400 is none to shabby. ;}.

Back to recording. The first time we “wrote” and played the track here was literally the night before. A jam session turned into this and the next day it was what it was. I am tremendously honored and blessed to have been able to do this back then. I am a writer and I am also a singer at heart.

The song is called Let It Go. Final scream courtesy of your friendly neighborhood writer-man.

 

 

Some go through lifes various changes, learn from them become stronger…and somehow deep inside we are still unsure if and how we will make it.
I’ts called doubt.
It’s called anxiety.

Don’t worry.
You are stronger than you yourself know.
He knows.
You will make it.
You already know what has been said…
What doesn’t kill you…

…had better run as fast as hell!
Chase that mother down, go after it, climb that mountain..
Make it your *ahem* bit%h!!!

You were destined to have a hope and a purpose. He said so…and I trust Him.

 

 

• Aspire. 
• No. 
• More.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Is For You

“Believe your voice can mean something.”

When you have love for the music, it only matters when some of it dies.

I wrote this a while back…in memorium of all who’ve gone before us.
A Sound
He writes his words…
then out comes a sound.

it stirs my soul, pierces my heart,
this have I, found.

When you have love for the Music,
it only matters when a part of it dies.

So, until the next gifted soul
comes forward and tries…

…to change how we will feel
how we see, how we love.

we will drop everything!
right now, we will kneel…

…in a prayer for those who have left us.

We will move on,
make a change…profound,

from our hearts,
and continue…

…that awesome rock sound.

Profound.

Never will we silence our thoughts,

for we are

tuned to the wavelengths of the idea

that we believe our voices can mean something.

More Writing! #FollowFriday

It’s #FollowFriday!!!

Tweet your Writers, Homies, Sisters, Brothers. Live in Love.

Also check out my interview by the most cool Twitter Friend Amy Beth Fredricksen.

Who are the “stories”…?

The tales you heard as a child? Only rumors of what really happened.

“The ability to convert ideas to things is the secret to outward success.”
— Henry Ward Beecher Via my Friend and sis in Christ, Christin Mowery

Also I like to share music on Fridays. Here’s a great song. Inspiring to say the least song. It played often while I wrote major scenes in Book One.

Guestie: Allie Burke!

Allie Burke a Cali born Writer is the Author of The Enchanters Series. Allie writes with passion. With a vigor that compels you to keep reading. Every writer has doubts at one point or another but Allie listened to her heart and continued writing. I’m sure she realizes just how great a choice she made. Allie and I “met” via Friend and Writer Christin Mowery when I Guested on Christins blog.  I have not only come to know her as a Writer but as a Friend. In the era of Twitter and Facebook a virtual friendship is what some would call it. I disagree. Show your support and #WriterLove and Like her fan page and read more about her here.

With this post she allows us into her mind and heart. I for one can say…music is perhaps the greatest muse for me as a writer. As a person. I can not be one day without it.

I look forward to sharing more of Allie’s work with you all and as we join in future projects, you will see what #epic truly is.

Without further ramblings by me here is Allie.

The choice between music and writing is… nothing.

A “passionate” Guestie by Allie Burke.

Music. It is… me.

It is my life. My muse. Inspiration. My love. It is… me.

When I say that, for approximately sixteen hours a day, music shadows my existence, I do not exaggerate. My iPod is within reach when I wake up in the morning. As I speak to my customers throughout the day, pressing the phone against my ear, I embrace the music through the other side of my head. Before embarking upon the journey that is my short walk from the office to the car, and the even shorter walk from the car to my apartment, I whip out that slim piece of equipment with an apple etched onto the back. It’s as if, I cannot survive those two minutes without the tunes. I don’t know if I can. I have no desire to try.

My taste for music is… vast. It is extensive and, does not discriminate.

I kindly ask you not to quote me on the following, as this statement which is a fact today, could be, tomorrow, merely a memory.

Rise Against is my favorite band.

Rise Against is my favorite band, today. Yesterday, it was Foo Fighters. Last week, it was Rise Against.

I have a special admiration for Tim McIlrath. Not only do I melt beneath the voice of Tim McIlrath, lead vocalist for Rise Against, but it is the person, Tim McIlrath, which I love.

I shall not sit here and label myself Allie Burke: The Anarchist. I will not claim that I agree with everything Tim McIlrath sings of, or of which he speaks. I will not lie.

I will, however, assert my belief that the passion this man has for his music, is deeper than any I, in twenty-years of life, I, a lover of everything music, have ever encountered.

Passion. It’s why we write, isn’t it?

Oh. You write because it’s “just another job”. Ha. Yeah, okay. Whatever.

Alright. Now that THAT GUY is gone. We write because we love it. Because we crave it. Because it is our destiny, because writing is a passion, and we can’t live without it.

But, I can’t live without music. And neither can Tim McIlrath. Listen to one song. Any song. Whether or not you like the genre of music, even if you couldn’t care less about music. Listen to his voice for two minutes, listen and then gaze directly in my eyes and tell me that you can’t understand why Rise Against has been the sole inspiration for my WIP.

You can’t, can you?

Yes, that’s right. (One of the) projects I’m working on at the moment, was, and is, in its entirety, inspired by Rise Against. And when it is done, you can be sure that novel will be, in its entirety, dedicated, to Rise Against. It will be dedicated to their music, their talent, their… passion for the art that has so effectively inspired me.

I love Rise Against. I do. They are my favorite band. Today.

But, while I’ve been known to bow to the sounds of A Wilhelm Scream, of Ignite (which inspired the character Daniel Linden, that whose voice opens my latest published venture, Emerald Destiny), I do not label myself a “Grunge” or “Punk” junkie.

I recently interviewed metal-core band Perception of Intent, which was an awe-inspiring experience. I was honored. The guys from Perception of Intent are widely talented, decidedly hilarious, and… you guessed it. Passionate for their music. They are one of the best out there right now.

 ForthAngel. Whooo these guys are amazing. Newly discovered, like, what, Tym? Couple days ago? Lol.

There is a special quality to this Rock/Metal/Hardcore band from Minnesota. A special quality that is… just that. They. Rock. On the surface they are metal-ish, and beneath the hardcore voices, entwined into the pitched shredding, is a passionate, melodic beauty that has the power to inspire the imagination, to embed in the mind that vivid imagery that every writer dreams of.

My taste for music is… vast. It is extensive and, does not discriminate.

Right now, I’m listening to The Black Keys. Their sound is mellow, and… I’m writing.

As you may or may not have heard, I don’t do the playlist thing.

I know. I’m sorry.

I don’t do playlists. I don’t like them. I have thousands of songs on my computer. Thousands. How on earth do you expect me to…

Never mind. Bottom line is, in the time it takes to compile ninety-two playlists, I could be writing WAY more than ninety-two words. Aside from work, husband, reading, and just, workin’ that Indie angle, my writing time is cut short as is. No playlists for me.

So, The Black Keys. (Thank your lucky stars I stopped when I did. That little playlist madness had the potential to grow into a very exhausting rant.) Mellow. No, I don’t listen to them just because they’re mellow. I listen to them because their sound is unique. Because in my head I can give myself to the beat as my eyes flutter closed. Because I like them. They’re good.

I do listen to them, while I’m writing, because they’re mellow.

The whole, pretty music during a love scene or, the scary song while writing of the epic fight? Yeah, I don’t do that either. If you do, I think that’s great. Truly. But, I just… don’t.

I’ve listened to Rise Against while writing. To Ignite. A Wilhelm Scream. Megadeth. Dio. A Day to Remember. Perception of Intent and beyond.

But, most of the time, as I write, I go mellow.

The Black Keys. The Temper Trap. 311. (I met Tim Mahoney and P-Nut once, and I’ve seen them like, four times). Bill Joel. (Seen him, too.) Florence and the Machine. Coldplay. Dave Matthews. Jack Johnson. John Mayer. Mumford and Sons. Alice in Chains.

I listen to Taylor Swift, too.

Wait. What?

Yes. I listen to Rise Against. And… Taylor Swift. I’m sorry if you think that’s ridiculous. If you will judge me as a person with a taste for music that is no taste at all. But, I love Taylor Swift. I can pin her as one of my favorites. She is beautiful. Her music… is beautiful.

“I was enchanted to meet you…”

Um. Hello. Allie Burke, here. Enchanted? Oh, yeah. You better believe I’m all over that.

Taylor Swift is a Writer. Not a Songwriter, but a Writer, Writer. I don’t know if she is aware. Probably not, or she would have written like, six books, by now. Listen to her. Her words. Google her lyrics. Taylor Swift is a Writer! I’m telling you. And when she realizes it, I’ll be the first one in line to buy her book. The first one to devour her story, and to embrace her words.

The mellow stuff. Why?

Cuz.

The music is neutral. Mellow harmonies that set the mood of my writing, but are not so overbearing that they will choose to spin the words and throw them back in my face. A middle ground. Gentle sounds and voices that inspire, that warm the heart and comfort the soul, but are… obedient. Music that is willing to stand down, retire to the background, surrender to the influence of the storytellers. The imaginary friends. The voices inside my head. (I’m aware of how crazy I sound most of the time, yes. But if you write, you know what I’m talkin’ about. Back me up here, mah people.)

But, mellow, grungy, punky or metal-ish, music is… music. It is passion. Love. I can’t write in silence. I can’t live in silence. Does this mean music is more important to me, than writing? Would I choose music?

Nope.

I wouldn’t choose writing either.

The choice between music and writing is… nothing.

Music is writing. I’m a writer. And music… is me.

Violet Midnight is currently available on paperback at Amazon & Lulu, on Kindle and on Nook. Get it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Go read more about Allie here in this grrreat interview: http://wrenemerson.wordpress.com/

YEAH! Your Blog Is On Fii-ir!

New post up at The New Authors Fellowship Music Is My Muse. Go over and have a read. Should be interesting.

Also I have been awarded the very prestigious and epic Blog On Fire Award!

Aspire No more is on FIRE!

Thank you, very very much SycamoreMeadows you are a great support and a great Writer as well. Visit her blog!

Every Monday a new post and Fridays you can read her Flash Fiction!

I pay it forward:

Thomas Amo

Allie Burke

Melissa Dalton

Nicholas Denmon

Enamored Soul

Paul Joseph

Jess Kristie

Tiffany King

Dawn Kirby

Lanie Leigh

Christin Mowery

Shelly Picarella

Keven Newsome

Danielle Raver

Christy Trujillo

L.A. Shaw

Sammy Spencer

Morgan Wylie

This is not even scratching the Epic Writer surface. There is more. In a new feature called I Am Writer. #Word.

Be blessed!

It’s Friday. ‘Nuff Said.

Press play. I Super Sloppy Double-Dare With Marc Summers you!

You remember Friday Night Videos, right?

Aspire No More doesn’t really have a format…Thursday’s are filled for Unbridled Talent, but other than that, free reign.

Chromeo performing “Hot Mess” on Conan.

The music soothes even the savage beast.

Trailer Part Duex

Watch the new Trailer for The Stories:Book One-Genesis.

Lazy Sunday

Life IS good.

That’s left unsaid.

Question is, are we good to it?

Be blessed!

The Stories:Book One

The beats that inspire. That set the tone. That quicken my fingers to the keys.

It was a great night.

The Wife and I were tremendously blessed and further reminded of our destiny tonight as we enjoyed the company of MercyMe, Jars Of Clay, Matt Maher, Lecrae, The Afters and The Anthem Lights. They all were great and over 10,000 people tonight would agree. Wow. WoW. God is good.

I will be adding all the guys info here.

Dan Haseltine, Singer/SongWriter of Jars Of clay.

It was to say the least a JOY.

Live In Love-Times Of Grace

I simply can not get enough of this song and it’s message. Not to mention I have been a supporter of Jesse Leach since his days in KillSwitch Engage. I am all for original post’s…but props are due.

In my life I have seen all the ways they tried (to destroy mankind)
Break societies system, change the mercy, there’s no compromise
Don’t mistake kindness and compassion for weakness
It takes so much more strength to be selfless and live in love

I trust you live in selflessness and live in love

Through all the days, just live in love
Through all the pain, believe in love

(I change to think you not, it tries to function if this world..)
Take the time to think about your life, live righteous

I trust you live in selflessness and live in love

Through all the days, just live in love
Through all the pain, believe in love
The words we speak, the ones we don’t say
Power you don’t know you could say
Through all the days, believe in love

Don’t you see, we are off
Don’t you see, we are off
Brothers and sisters, we are one
Brothers and sisters, we are one
WE ARE ONE

And I pray this is not in vain, all that you know about, all you can hide
All that you feel inside (Live in love)
All that you know about, all you can hide
All that you feel inside (Live in love)
All that you know about, all you can hide (Through all the days)
All that you feel inside (Live in love)
All that you know about, all you can hide (Through all the pain)
All that you feel inside (Live in love)