Showing posts with label Michael Parkes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michael Parkes. Show all posts

Sunday, September 16, 2018

An Image a Day Keep the Doctor Away

Michael Cheval  -  The Twelfth Caprice of Casanova
I made an amazing discovery while researching my current novel. I wasn't looking for a scientific paper on the benefits of viewing art. Not at all. I was looking for inspiration for a character response.

Dragon Sun by Stephani Pui-Mun Law
My hero, faced with multiple threats from every side, needed to keep her cool, her elegance, her composure. I wanted to 'see' the confidence in preparation to write it (because personally, if it were me in those shoes, I'd pick up my skirts and run).

Night Circus by Oleg Tchoubakov
So, as I searched through some of my favourite art pages, Pinterest,  Behance, 500px, Inspiration Grid, I expanded out and found the Michael Cheval and Nina Y, both perfect for my character who doesn't face trouble so much as she feeds off it.

Digital Art by Nina Y
But, I also found this study, the gist being, that viewing art has a positive impact on our health.  It doesn't just lower anxiety and depression,  improving our immunity, it actually boosts critical thinking skills and inspires creativity.

Gabriel Pacheco
Talk about filling your tanks - a tip from Josh Whedon I learned years ago. He said, "My vacation from Buffy was two weeks every year, and in that time I read at least 10 books. My wife and I saw like nine plays, and that’s all we did. We just filled the tanks."

Angel Affair by Michael Parkes
I love that! On top of it all, viewing artwork that we find beautiful causes us to experience joys similar to those associated with falling in love. Do we need any other excuses?

Inspiration, anti-depressant, anxiety relief, immune strengthener, brain booster, and the ecstasy of falling love. So much for Pinterest being a guilty pleasure.

What about you? Fav art site? Museum? Gallery? Style? I'd love to hear about it.

See you in the comments.
xxKim

* * *
Kim Falconer's latest novel is out now - The Blood in the Beginning - and Ava Sykes Novel.

Kim also runs GoodVibeAstrology.com where she teaches the law of attraction and astrology. 

Kim posts here at the Supernatural Underground on the 16th of every month, hosts Save the Day Writer's Community on FB and posts a daily astrology weather report on Facebook. 

Monday, October 16, 2017

Five Reasons Why YA

Mermaid's Secret by Michael Parkes
Show of hands, how many of you adult readers enjoy YA (Young Adult) books?

STATS

It surprised me to learn that over 55% of YA readers are over eighteen. Of that 55%, most are actually over thirty. There are good reasons for this, which I'll get to in a moment, but to start, you might like to watch a brief history of how the YA genre got started.



Epic Reads - A Brief History of Young Adult Books

Why Adults Love YA

#1 Rapid Pace

YA books are page turners. The genre is know for high readability, the unputdownable quality that keeps readers engaged, pages flying.

#2 Quality Control

YA books tend to have rigorous editing. Most published are immersive stories with powerful characters and plots. The personal, and global stakes are high, themes deep and complex.

#3 Addressing  Issues

No matter if the YA is contemporary, fiction, Dystopia, SF, Fantasy or Romance, you can bet the author won't shy away from issues of life, death, sex, drugs, gender, bullying, self-worth, suicide, rape, physical and mental health. For the most part, these topics are handled honestly, without judgment or ulterior motives (preaching).

#4 Emotions switched on

Most YA have some elements of romance, or awareness of feelings. The language tends to be visceral, allowing readers to feel what the characters are experiencing. Less "He felt scared," and more, "His heart pounded ..." Frequently, YA is written in the first person making the connection to the main character more intimate.

#5 Pushing the Edge


YA books can bend the rules of genre, formatting and POV (point of view). We see them embracing genre-crossovers like contemporary fantasy, SF thrillers, SF Fantasy, LGBT Historical, you name it. There are also YA books coming out in verse, diaries, social media instant messaging. I'm reading a YA series right now with multiple point of view characters. The main protagonist is in the first person: "I woke up with a knife to my throat." All other POVs are in the third person: "He waited for the right moment to speak."

There are other perks to YA, including the price. Most YA books are priced below their Adult fiction cousins.

How about you? Are you reading YA for any of the above reasons, or perhaps ones outside the box.

Is it something you feel a little awkward about in public, or is that stigma finally dead? With the number of adults reading YA, I certainly hope so!

xxxKim

Kim Falconer's latest release is out now - The Blood in the Beginning - and Ava Sykes Novel.

Learn more about Kim on Facebook and chat with her on Twitter. Check out her pen name, @a.k.wilder on Instagram, or visit AKWilder on FB and website.

Kim also runs GoodVibeAstrology.com where she teaches the law of attraction and astrology. 

Kim posts here at the Supernatural Underground on the 16th of every month, hosts Save the Day Writer's Community on FB and posts a daily astrology weather report on Facebook. 


Sunday, August 16, 2015

New Moon and Books of Bast

The Lion Returns by Michael Parkes
Hi Everyone,

The Leo New Moon is upon us!

Time to celebrate heartfelt feelings, creative expression, individuality, artistry and performance, play, fun, romance and kids!

NOTE: This new moon is in a 'critical degree' meaning you can expect things to 'come to a critical point' over the next few weeks. This can manifest in you dropping a toleration, speaking out when need be, or even having a bit of a hissy-fit to clear the air. You may not velvet your claws, but expect things to move forward more evenly once you express.

The Leo Lunar energy increases courage, healthy aggression (no doormats!) and heightens creative powers. You're more apt to be impetuous and quick to act and right now, that's a good thing.
Think: generous, flamboyant, companionable and independence.

The main way to align with this energy is to mimic the Sun—be bold, commanding, animated and Bast, goddess of all felines, elegant, noble, patient.

Don't just be in the spotlight, BE the spotlight!

Here is a quick 'to do' list with actions to spark energy, enthusiasm and fun.
  • Play
  • Dance
  • Laugh
  • Sleep in
  • Individuate
  • Finger paint
  • Adopt a kitten
  • Get creative
  • Enjoy the drama
  • Go out to a romantic dinner
  • Practice more self-love and nurturing
  • Play music, sing, draw, sketch, write, perform
Book lists with amazing cat characters on Goodreads
Suggestions for what to read next?

Support the feline energy in you by reading Spec Fic books featuring sentient cats.

Have a favorite to share? Let me know and I'll add it to my Goodreads List - Books of Bast - or pop over and vote for it yourself.

Happy New Moon in Leo, everyone!

xxxKim

Kim Falconer is a Supernatural Underground author writing paranormal romance, urban fantasy, YA and epic science fantasy novels.

You can find out more about Kim at the 11th House Blog, and on FaceBook and Twitter.

She posts here at the Supernatural Underground on the 16th of every month.

Her latest release is "Blood and Water" in Supernatural Underground: Vampires Gone Wild. 

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Things to Do on a Gemini New Moon

Ex Libris by Michael Parkes
The New Moon is in Gemini this month, a time to light up the mind, communicate, learn and circulate ideas! One of the best ways to do this, of course, is read, read read! And write!

Gemini is a symbol central to connecting via the written or spoken word —in Gemini we ask, "What is this like? What does this mean? Where can I learn more?"

The answers will be different for all of us, but honoring our thoughts, curiosity and ideas is a way to begin.

The energy of each new moon carries us up until the full. Gemini New Moon begins:

NEW MOON in GEMINI June 16/17th

LA – Tuesday – 7:06 am
NY – Tuesday – 10:06 am
LON – Tuesday – 3:06 pm
SYD – Wednesday – 00:06

Things to do on the Gemini New Moon

 

Read

Dance

Start a blog

Join Goodreads 

Start a book club

Read a new genre

Write a letter to a friend

Start a Pray Rain Journal

Write an email to a friend 

Play with manifesting magic

Research, study, contemplate

Contact a sibling and clear the air

Have a dinner party and play word games

Multitask, communicate, enjoy the complexity of you mind

More Tips for the New Moon: 

Set an intention (state what you want aloud or write it down) on the new moon. Your desires have more power than at any other time. Sign by sign suggestions here.

Gemini Reminds us that Thoughts are Things – Tune in to what you are thinking! 

Have a wonderful New Moon, everyone!
xxxKim


Kim Falconer is a Supernatural Underground author writing paranormal romance, urban fantasy, YA and epic science fantasy novels.

You can find out more about Kim at the 11th House Blog, and on FaceBook and Twitter.

She posts here at the Supernatural Underground on the 16th of every month.

Her latest release is "Blood and Water" in Supernatural Underground: Vampires Gone Wild. 


Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Venus in Taurus Guide to Abundance

La Naissance de Venus by Eugene Duval
Venus glides into Taurus, one of the two signs she rules, and all is right in the world . . . as long as we honor this transit. That means, show some reverence. Respect. When we do, our hearts light up and relationships go smoother, finances become more abundant and creativity pours forth in passionate waves of originality.

All we need do is place a bouquet of appreciation on her alter, metaphorically, or literally. Tangible displays count double. We want to make this real!

Taurus is an earthy, fixed and sensual sign, ultra potent when it comes to the physical and sensual responses to our emotions and feelings. When we become aware of our 'affections' (know what we love, be it food, art, relationships, pets, the environment, health and fitness, creative goals or intellectual abstractions) and demonstrate them in some way, the goddess of love smiles - meaning, we touch a core value, express it and feel more whole, more complete, in the process.

Taurus wants to brings things 'down to earth' so this is our chance to:

1) identify our desires
2) appreciate them
3) live them out

It doesn't have to be a huge production, this 'living them out.' Baby steps work fine. For example, if you're really into health and fitness, and want to work toward a renewed goal, doing one fresh thing in the name of your core value can start the snowball rolling. You might adjust your eating habits, or renew a commitment to the exercise that you love, appreciating your body as it is, in this red hot moment. If you have a core value around gardening and want to live in the midst of a botanical paradise, pot a fern, start a herb garden, plant one tree. If one of your core values is creativity but you 'don't have the time' you can honor Venus in Taurus by making Fridays (the day of Venus) your 'creation day'. Even if it's just for an hour, you commit to getting out the clay, sketch pad, guitar or word processor and let your artistry come alive.

Maybe relationship is the area of life that feels neglected. Venus is here to support your authentic goals in tangible ways, so if you want more from a partner (or more free time away from them, or maybe an actual partner to start with) get clear on what you want, relax and follow Venus's lead because the goddess of love knows just how to make your life more sumptuous when it comes to love, and of course, sex.  

Taurus is the #1 sign of love making. Keep that in mind :)

You might find that treating yourself the way you want 'them' to treat you is your most powerful tool. So have a candle bath, enjoy fine foods, settle in with a favorite film, novel or audio book. Treat yourself like gold! It's the fast track to improving all your relationships!

If you aren't sure how you want to leverage this energy to make your life more enriched, go to where Taurus is in your chart and track Venus's transits there. What area of life is activated? That's your playground. Go mix it up! (see a key word list for the houses below) If you need help, see 'creating your chart online' or ask for support in the comments!

From Swiss Ephemeris - The positions of Venus for the next 25 days
  Date          |    Venus    |
----------------------------
15 Apr 2013  | 29 ar 37   
The Venus by Michael Parkes
16 Apr 2013  |  0 ta 51   
17 Apr 2013  |  2 ta  5   
18 Apr 2013  |  3 ta 19   
19 Apr 2013  |  4 ta 33   
20 Apr 2013  |  5 ta 48   
21 Apr 2013  |  7 ta  2   
22 Apr 2013  |  8 ta 16   
23 Apr 2013  |  9 ta 30   
24 Apr 2013  | 10 ta 44   
25 Apr 2013  | 11 ta 58   
26 Apr 2013  | 13 ta 12   
27 Apr 2013  | 14 ta 26  
28 Apr 2013  | 15 ta 40   
29 Apr 2013  | 16 ta 54   
30 Apr 2013  | 18 ta  8   
01 May 2013  | 19 ta 22   
02 May 2013  | 20 ta 36   
03 May 2013  | 21 ta 50   
04 May 2013  | 23 ta  4  
05 May 2013  | 24 ta 18   
06 May 2013  | 25 ta 32   
07 May 2013  | 26 ta 46   
08 May 2013  | 27 ta 59   
09 May 2013  | 29 ta 13   
10 May 2013  |  0 ge 27   


Venus in Taurus is also our connection to Mother Earth. It's a time when we can take a moment an show reverence our for all life. There is so much to appreciate on this beautiful planet Earth. Pour forth some love, and respect, out into the world, and all living things.

Have a wonderful transit of Venus through Taurus,  Everyone!

* Reference for the houses*

The meanings of the houses are deep and rich with metaphorical and literal content but here is a quick list to get you started.

1st house – Appearance, personality traits, outlook on life
2nd house - $$$, resources, talents, peace of mind
3rd house – Teaching, learning, writing, talking, connecting
4th house – Home, family, ancestors, emotional ground
5th house – Creative expression, offspring (books/kids etc), romance
6th house – Health, pets, daily routine, employment, magic
7th house – Socially significant relationships, contracts
8th house – Sex, death, taxes, shared resources, trust
9th house – New horizons, travel, beliefs, WWW
10th house – Career, mission, profession, public relations
11th house – Friends, goals for the future, groups
12th house – Unconscious, dreams, giving and receiving, meditative states

Remember, if you need help, see 'creating your chart online' and go to where Taurus is in your chart, or just ask for help in the comments! Easy done!


Kim Falconer is a Supernatural Underground author writing paranormal romance, urban fantasy, YA and epic science fantasy novels. She also co-directs Good Vibe Astrology, an astrology and law of attraction school.

You can find out more about Kim at kimfalconer.com or on the 11th House Blog. She posts here at the Supernatural Underground on the 16th of every month. Her latest release is Supernatural Underground: Vampires Gone Wild.