Looney Dragons for She Said What?! Bloghop

Elise Fallson and Michelle Wallace are celebrating their Blogoversary with a very original bloghop. Instructions are: "Below are 3 comic strips you guys get to copy and paste into your post. All you have to do is caption the strips and post by Wednesday. Michelle and I will announce winners on Friday. And that's it! Oh, and don't forget, Michelle has bonus words for you to try and fit into your dialogue for an added challenge. Remember guys, this is supposed to be fun. So slip into your silly slippers and feel free to make this as ridiculous and  nutty as you like."

Ridiculous and nutty. There are many here at the cave who believe those are my secret names. Anyway, there are bonus words included. Twist, cheek, buzz, honour, gray, champagne, tango and vomit.

Here's my try:

The Daily Dragon - Issue #4

I am here again, your hot reporter, wishing you an excellent productive healthy week. I am going to start with some bloghops announcements. They might not be so new to you but I just ran into them, so they apply as news.

Dani is hosting Express Yourself Meme at Entertaining Interests. In her own words: "It's a goal to help our fellow bloggers get to know one another, to help motivate one another, laugh (or cry) together, in other words - stalk."

Check her site for more information and to sign up! It's scheduled for Mondays, but she says one can post any day if Mondays are just too difficult. She has three different banners and they are all great. This is just one of them.

Nick Wilford is hosting The "Overcoming Adversity" bloghop at his site Scattergun Scribblings. Dates are February 4th and 5th. He is set to create a special anthology to put on sale via Amazon. This is an admirable effort to raise money for the college fund of Nick's stepson, Andrew, who has cerebral palsy.

Theme is: Overcoming adversity for something you believe in. It can be a flash fiction piece, or an episode of your real life. Poetry is accepted as well.

Rules are:

Sign up on the list.
Please keep your entry to 500 words.
Please post on the appointed days.
Keep it family friendly

For more information, please click on the link and visit Nick's site.

Dragons don't use hats, but my Mini-Me does, so *hats off* to Nick and I hope many can join this bloghop and spread the word through the web.

Reminding you (and self) of Annalisa Crawford's Imaginary Friend Bloghop this coming Friday. There is still chance to join and tell about your imaginary friends, if you have one (or one hundred and fifty something) of your childhood (or dragonhoo...err, adulthood).

Father Dragon did the unthinkable and now the A to Z Challenge bagde is actually hanging on the left wall of the Dragon Cave. Still wondering why am I doing this to myself but I will tell you why later. 

In anycase, Sign Up List will be available tomorrow. I have never been in this challenge but I have heard they expect more people than a store door in a Black Friday. (I hope they don't push, but just in case I'm sending Pancholin to sign in my behalf.) For more information about the challenge and the lists click here.

HELP WANTED...

to find a post. Yes, dragon did it again and I misplaced a post. I am nearly sure (or probably  just half-way sure) that I saw it in Shannon's The Warrior Muse but memories are all foggy, and when I went back there, I couldn't find it.

Anyway, it was a post about how the heck one could include the share little buttons on the blog. You know, the +g, twitter, facebook, TNT, CBS, my pretty face stuff. I don't even remember all the buttons but they were more than 5... and square. As a matter of fact, I am not sure what half of them are for, but my dwarf media advisor (Tassin) says we should have them, at least to pretend we actually know what we're doing so...

Any information on the matter will be appreciated and rewarded with dwarf hugs and a table dance by Mini-Me.

I found this ad, and I'm including it just so you note people can come to agreements with red dragons but clarify that I'm not the one referred here.

Any other news you have and want to share, I'll be happy to include it in the next Issue or send me a mail.... or smoke signals if you know the Fire Dragon Code, the MX9000 version, not the 15B.C. That's outdated. 

The Next Big Thing Bloghop

Dragon friendly Jeff Hargett tagged me in his post. He  has convinced me that I am writing  

Rules for this bloghop are to answer ten questions about my WIP (story, manuscript, blog post, etc.) and then pass the honor to others (writers or bloggers) so we can reveal the Next Big Thing together.

Ten Interview Questions for The Next Big Thing:

1. What is the working title of your book?

Agni Path or Path of Fire, shall take votes.

2. Where did the idea come from for the book?

I am an impulsive creature. Emotions ruled my life and provoked disaster. I thought this struggle to control low emotions was worth a story as it involves both physical and esoteric aspects of a person's life.

3. What genre does your book fall under?

You kill me with genres. I don't think I understand them good enough to say my book belongs to one in specific. I think it is Urban Fantasy, but I would need someone who knows about genres to read my story and confirm it.

4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

As a matter of fact, Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan was the inspiration to bring Aryan Janardhan to life.

Salman Khan (younger version) as Rohan Janardhan, (older version) as Darshan Janardhan.

Barbara Mori as Kathy Shahani and Suneri Singh

Kabir Bedi as The Seer for the Guardians of Agni

And Brad Pitt as Bryce Ballmer

5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Revenge wears the mask of justice; time has come for Aryan to confront inner demons and secret terrors, and decide whether his flaws quicken his victory or his doom, for there are worse things than death for those who travel the Path of Fire.

6. If you plan to publish, will your books be self-published or published traditionally?

I do plan to publish it, either way works for me.

7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Two months. It's the rewriting and editing that's taking a while.

8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I haven't read anything similar to my book. There are bits that remind me of James Clavell's Noble House, though.

9. Who or What inspired you to write this book?

First, Father Dragon (me). A quest to attain self-control is not easy and the clashing between one's good and bad side can take epic proportions inside one's head and heart.

Second, Hrithik's style and the title of his last movie 'Agneepath' (which has no similarity with my story whatsoever, except in the title.) Yet, I thought it was evocative enough. Agni is the Indian God of Fire. My first and greatest challenge is anger. It's an emotion often related to fire. Fire is vital for life; it can purify but it can also bring destruction.

Third, the stories about the Thuggy sect. They inspired me for a war between secret societies and also between business giants.

And last, as unbelievable as it may sound, I also found inspiration in the history of Mexico. I believe there is no greater source of plots, intrigues, treason and fights for power, ambition and glory than in human History. I got addicted to a radio show that's called '19th Century' and covers from Mexico's Independence to the Revolution. Their point of view is nearly novelistic but keeping historical accuracy. My idea for the Janardhan family was initially inspired on the tragic story of Maximilian of Hapsburg.

10. What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?

It starts with tragedy and intrigue. There is romance impaired by issues of principles. Several secrets ripened in dark cellars by professional liars who compete to fool each other. A taste of India's mysticism and powers rendered by Hindu gods. The premise that flaws are neither good nor bad; it's the way a man lets them act upon his life that qualifies them. (Just found that out, surprise for me!) One thing is certain, who is the good guy and who is the villain in this story will depend on your point of view.

Did I mention two secret societies trying to destroy each other? :)

Alright, since Jeff read the bones I guess I must do the Rite of Summoning and ask the spirits of the Ancestors for a vision. Nobody answering? Oh, it's Wednesday. The spirits of the Ancestors went to the Heavenly Dragon Races, but I think a vision is taking shape in my mind. The Next Big Thing is with...S.G. Super Girl? Ah, no! It's Sarah Grimm of Naturally Grimm!