Warrior of the Light

Paulo Coelho, one of my favorite authors, wrote a companion guide to his book The Alchemist called Warrior of the Light, a Manuel.  I read a page or two from it every few days.  Today's entry was particularly fitting:

"One day, for no apparent reason, the Warrior realizes that he does not feel the same enthusiasm for the fight that he used to. He continues to do what he has always done, but every gesture seems meaningless. At such a time, he has only one choice: to continue fighting the Good Fight. He says his prayers out of duty or fear or whatever, but he does not abandon the path. He knows the angel of the One who inspires him has simply wandered off somewhere. The Warrior keeps his attention focused on the battle and he perseveres, even when everything seems utterly pointless. The angel will soon return and the merest flutter of his wings will restore the Warrior's joy to him."

I have to admit that this perfectly describes how I've been feeling lately about my writing. I'm pushing myself forward, but can't feel the enthusiasm for either the project or the goal. The victory marker seems so distant as to appear unobtainable.

But I also know this: only those who persist (or POR) succeed. And so, I'll continue to work and just keep hoping for the return of that angel!

A brief note on politics:

I had to listen to Tom Coburn of Oklahoma talk about how his ridiculous amendment to allow loaded guns in national parks was about individual freedom - an individual's right to decide for himself. Why can't the Republicans see the hypocrisy in supporting the individual's right to decide for himself to carry a loaded weapon in a public place, but not the individual's right to decide for himself who he wants to marry. Seriously. Nothing good can come from a loaded weapon in a national park. And nothing bad can come from allowing all US citizens the right to marry the person they love.

And I must agree with the journalists out there who call the Democrats in Congress "feckless." They are. While I am thankful every day that our president is Barack Obama, I sincerely wish the Democrats in Congress had a modicum of courage.

And finally:

So much for the blooming beauty of pregnancy. I, myself, am a burping blob with heavy boobs. In fact, my boobs are now so weighty, I think they are deflating my lungs. At any rate, it's harder to breath with those beasts sitting on top of my chest. Ya - I can see why so many women have gone through this process.

But on the upside, just 8 days till we find out if the tadpole is pink or blue!

THE QUERY: MAVORNIA RESURRECTED

Over time, I will be be posting excerpts from Mavornia Resurrected.  I will also be composing little stories about my past and future (possibly including descriptions of the ripping, pulling, tearing, pushing and stretching currently going on in my abdomen - enjoy!).  But for now - here's a summary of the work that has been my focus for a long...long...long...time.

Hook and Summary: MAVORNIA RESURRECTED

Hours before her wedding, Princess Lockrey loses both her fiancé and her father.  Alone for the first time, she discovers she is at the center of a battle for the world of Mavornia that may require her to sacrifice more than just her life…

Intelligent and brash, Lockrey Margathom wants a life of adventure and the respect of her people; as a woman, though, she thinks her only choice is to marry well and accept a limited role in the kingdom.  But on the eve of her wedding, the princess is framed for her fiancé’s murder just hours before her father, the king, succumbs to battle wounds.  After escaping from prison, Lockrey has no alternative but to obey her father’s last command: to recover stolen artifacts – ancient keys – from the warlords of the North.  The keys will unlock the mystical Book of Glionnacht, which could unleash demon spirits bent on destroying the world.  As Lockrey journeys across Mavornia, she comes to understand that it was never her fate to be a queen; she is meant to be a savior.  But to fulfill her destiny, Lockrey will be asked to make a choice – one that puts at risk not only her own life, but all life in her world.

What a difference...

two years can make...

It's been exactly 23 months since the last time I wrote anything.  I'm not exactly sure why I stopped, but I'm back.  Reviewing my last few posts, it looks to me like I had some anger issues back then!  Ah, the sweet relief of a national election.  Not a day goes by when I don't thank the fates in heaven for Obama's victory.  I had one of those moments on Sunday with his response to the anti-abortion protesters at Notre Dame.  I wish I could respond as coolly and intelligently as he does.  My hero...

But moving on... 

When we last saw our heroine, she was living in a small apartment on the Upper West Side of New York with her boyfriend.  She had recently quit her job at RLM, though she was freelancing fairly regularly.  Life was a bit on the brink.  Since then, she's:

gotten married

moved to England

fulfilled her lifelong dream to go on safari in Africa

finished rewriting her book

started building a baby (harder work than she thought).

So, it's been an eventful 23 months.  

Life is, at last, a settled thing.  The love of a good man has brought some peace to my vacillating spirit.  My only trouble is fighting off the gloom that comes from the uphill struggle to fulfill my dream of publishing my book.  Daily I repeat my father's mantra: POR (Press On Regardless).

It is my intent to tell stories here and share lessons I've learned in the first third of my life.  So, while I make no promises, I do hope for more interesting posts ahead.

and