Beware of the Dragon! (Laugh with me or Ignore me)

I have plenty of reasons to feel insecure lately. My year didn't start so well. First, this family problem that fractured my confidence. Then a relapsing old issue with my scales, the doctor prescribed an antibiotic that was extremely aggressive, but I didn't know it until all side-effects kicked in. While my scales improved, I was suffering kidney and liver pain, headache, nausea, tachycardia, intestinal problems, and a maddening anxiety. Needless to say I was not in a bad mood. I was in the worst mood EVER.

Now, a dragon in the foulest of moods is VERY dangerous. Chemical induced anxiety is hard to control with breathing and willpower. I try not to bite but I've growled quite a few people away. I want to hug those around me breathless and I also want to chomp their heads off, just not sure on what order. Although I'm not taking the freaking antibiotic anymore, my kidneys and liver were already fragile from past ailments so they are now giving me hell for it. And I feel mad about feeling bad. Some say I'm venting my anger on myself because suddenly I've become amazingly prone to home accidents. I've also accidentally dropped and  broken a few things I liked a lot.

Yet I can't let this spiral down go on indefinitely, regardless what started it. (I just had to interrupt typing this post due to the heck of a liver pain that made me sweat.) But I've seen enough doctors in my life to learn to fear them. In my experience, they don't seem to be able to fix one thing without screwing another.  My right side screams about it right now.

Anyway, this is NOT about my insecurity regarding hospitals and my unwillingness to go see another doctor but it's related.  I am not quite myself. I am unbalanced. That's why I chose to retreat from the spotlight and let the dwarves run the Cave for now. Plenty of insecurity in many levels. First, Father Dragon claims temporary madness. Second, dwarves are not writers or sages. They are silly little creatures created with the sole purpose to amuse me and make me laugh. Third... did I mention I was volatile?

But as I've always said; when everything else fails, seek for laughter. Natural painkiller with lots of benefits  and no side-effects to regret. Soooo.... that's why the philosophic dissertations are replaced with comic strips. It was either laugh or be silent until further notice.

Now, I am not any Marvel's artist but I am studying to get there. The Dwarf Cheering Squad's project gives purpose to my practices and make homework fun, plus it keeps my mind focused on a healthy, constructive, positive goal. Besides, my dwarves are dragon proof. Absolutely nothing happens to them if I suddenly yell at them, bite them, drop them, throw them, burn them, or sit on them. As long as I don't ignore them, they're okay. I'll be okay too if I don't take things or myself seriously for a while. In case you're wondering, Alex Cavanaugh and Mark Koopmans -the finest gentlemen who agreed to take active roles in this nonsense- will be okay also because their clones are made with State-of-the-Art technology and resilient material for this project.

I'm terribly insecure about this but you can either laugh with me or ignore me. I will leave you talking to the dwarves and watching an amateur's practices towards professional graphic novel.  I am not following any particular writing law for the script because I don't want to distress myself further with writer's "holy commandments". Actually, I think I chomped part of them in a recent outburst. I am not seeking to steal Stan Lee's audience -yet. I'm just trying to keep the humor in my life (and hopefully in yours). I am trying to  channel my energy while I balance my Zen into the nice cuddling dragon I used to be not so long ago. It's still there somewhere, it's just that dragons (like all indomitable beings) also bare teeth when they're caught on their bad side.  Eventually, I'll find my way back to a reasonable balance. I always do. Then, I'll resume my philosophic dissertations about life wisdom. Right now I'm too busy keeping it in force.

This post is part of Insecure Writer's Support Group, the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanugh. Visit the group's website.

Talking about Alex Cavanaugh, this is a reminder that his Epic Giveaway is still on-going. He wants to reach 2000 followers and he's very close now. Only 20 to go. If you already follow him, help spread the word!

Prizes are: First place – Signed copy of one book, $10 iTunes card, and one book donated to the library (middle school, high school, public) of your choice.

Grand prize – Signed copy of all three books, $10 iTunes card, t-shirt of your choice from Neat-O-Rama, designed by Retro Jeremy Hawkins, and three books donated to the library of your choice. Click on the link above to learn more about it.


$.99 special!
CassaFire by Alex J. Cavanaugh – Amazon Best Seller! 

Science fiction - space opera/adventure

EBook ISBN 978-0-9827139-6-9 

Book Trailer  

Purchase: Amazon Kindle, Amazon UK  

CassaStar was only the beginning…

The Vindicarn War is a distant memory and Byron’s days of piloting Cosbolt fighters are over. He has kept the promise he made to his fallen mentor and friend - to probe space on an exploration vessel. Shuttle work is dull, but it’s a free and solitary existence. The senior officer is content with his life aboard the Rennather.

The detection of alien ruins sends the exploration ship to the distant planet of Tgren. If their scientists can decipher the language, they can unlock the secrets of this device. Is it a key to the Tgren's civilization or a weapon of unimaginable power? Tensions mount as their new allies are suspicious of the Cassan's technology and strange mental abilities.

To complicate matters, the Tgrens are showing signs of mental powers themselves, the strongest of which belongs to a pilot named Athee, a woman whose skills rival Byron’s unique abilities. Forced to train her mind and further develop her flying aptitude, he finds his patience strained. Add a reluctant friendship with a young scientist, and he feels invaded on every level. All Byron wanted was his privacy…

“This sequel to Cavanaugh's first novel, CassaStar, delivers on the promise of its predecessor, combining military action sequences and political intrigue with strong, memorable characters. Reminiscent of the action-driven stories of Robert A. Heinlein's early fiction…” - Library Journal

Back in December I had the honor to be involved in this wonderful project called Composers for Relief. I contributed with a story called The Power of Will.

Today, I am excited to be part of....

BEYOND THE BINDING COVER REVEAL 

Blurb

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Embark on an exciting journey “Beyond the Binding” of the imagination with 29 authors from across the globe, in a groundbreaking collaboration where music meets fiction. Surrender to soaring compositions as they surge through the veins of every story, capturing the triumphant pulse of the notes in heart pounding sci fi, enchanting fantasy and gripping slices of realism.  

All proceeds of the Composers for Relief  album and Companion Collection ebook will go to Gawad Kalinga (“give care”) and GVSP (Gualandi Volunteer Service Programme), to support the relief efforts for victims of the deadliest natural disaster in Philippines’ history, Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

Ebook will be available on Amazon, Amazon UK, iTunes, B&N, Kobo, Sony, Diesel & Smashwords.

Composers for Relief album available on ITunes, Amazon, CDBaby & Spotify

**Thanks for visiting and thanks to all those brave, most loyal souls who armored themselves in order to give this dragon a much needed hug. You're worth more than Smaug's treasure!