ISWG & A-Z Challenge: D is for Sea Dragons

Today I'm posting for IWSG & also the A-Z Challenge. Now that Spring Break and Easter are in the past, I'm back into work-mode which for me is fantastic.

Before I begin with my IWSG insecurity, I'd like to recognize it's founder, Alex J. Cavanaugh and this month's helpers or co-hosts Olga Godim,Chemist Ken, Renee Scattergood, and Tamara Narayan! Thanks, guys!

To learn more about the IWSG program and how it can help your insecurities, visit the website here.

IWSG April

April 4 question - When your writing life is a bit cloudy or filled with rain, what do you do to dig down and keep on writing?

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Guilt is an effective tool to push me. I talk to myself incessantly and give myself a guilt trip. I guess I should do something a bit more positive, but alas no. Whatever works, right? Another thing I do which may sound crazy, but I often have my characters talk to me. It's pretty annoying sometimes and usually stops when I'm done writing the story. Does anyone else have this problem?

A-Z Challenge: D is for Sea Dragons

The AtoZ Challenge continues with the letter D! My theme is Under the Sea Myths & Legends and I'm featuring another sea creature. These marvelous beasts are known to fly, breathe fire and massacre fictional worlds. This time, however, they hang out in the sea. My sea monster myth is....

Sea Dragon

Also known as the Sea Serpent or from Norse Mythology, Jörmungandr, this creature is in short...awesome.  Now many people may think about the Loch Ness Monster, but we're way past that. The legend of Jörmungandr is beyond cool. This sea dragon is said to be one of Loki's three children and is pure evil. He's massive with snake-like skin mixed with dragon scales, wings, fins and barbed tale. I didn't see anything that mentioned fire-breathing but with the submerged mostly in water bit, fire might not be feasible.

Are sea dragons a myth or real? Well, there have been centureis of stories about dragons in general, some of which mention sea dragons, like Norse Mythology. Probably the closest evidence in real life of a sea dragon is a Ichthyosaur  or Plesiosauria, which lived over 200 million years ago. Were they as exciting as the sea dragon depicted below? Definiely not as cool, but still monsterous.

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Do you think sea dragons are real? The bodies of water on earth are so enormous, it's like their a whole other planet. And frankly, quite possible.

Mina B.

A-Z Challenge: C is for Cecaelia

Day 3 of the AtoZ Challenge brings us to the letter C! For my theme Under the Sea Myths & Legends, I'm now shifting to creatures with the letter C and posting a freakish-type of water creature known as....

Cecaelia or Octopus People

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These sea beasts look half-human and half-octopus and are part of a myth originated from Native American and Asian mythology. The most notable Cecaelia is a character I've blogged about before, Ursula from Disney's Little Mermaid. In short, she was bad ass! But what do we really know about these mythological creatures? Well, they are also referred to as sea demons or sea witches. Not to be confused with other underwater creatures because their distinguishing feature is their tentacles! Not fins or fish scales but real leg tangles of sea flesh that will suck the living out of you.

According to some myth sources, the original tale from Native Americans is about a man from one tribe, meets a woman from another tribe digging for clams. The man pesters the woman, who's, in fact, a Cecaelia disguised as a woman. Whether it's lust or just annoyance, the man continues badgering the Cecaelia who in return becomes annoyed. She shifts, revealing her true idendity and drowns the man with her tentacles. But the man comes back to life and decides never to talk to an octopus again. The story has different versions but that was the most interesting.

Vilgax from Ben 10

Aside from Ursula and even Davy Jones from the Pirates of the Carribean, this sea monster has little notoriety other than some video game character references. Still I found one monster I thought was closely related. One of my favorite characters from this series is Ben 10's nemeis, Vilgax. He, like the Cecaelia, is shaped like a man with octopus and alien parts. He's said to be based on the Greek Mythology's Chimera, but I think he's more Cecaelia than Chimera.  Just say'n...

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That's it for Cecaelia or Octopus People. Have you ever heard of them? Do you think it's possible this myth is real?

Mina Burrows

A-Z Challenge: B is for Bermuda Triangle

Day 2 of the AtoZ Challenge and we're on the letter B. My theme this year is about Under the Sea Myths & Legends and for the letter B, I'm posting about what else but the freakish ...

Bermuda Triangle

The Bermuda Triangle is a natural segway from my previous post on Atlantis. Also known as the Devil's Triangle, this legend seems to be more fact than fiction. It's a well-known fact that ships, planes cargo, and people too have been disappearing in the area years. Even as far back as Columbus writings mentioned disappearing ships and strange happenings.

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According to the History Channel, the area which is located near my neck of the sea, is from "Miami, Bermuda and Puerto Rico." Between the strange electric fog reference, the spinning compass, time warps or even wormholes, the myths seem endless.  Do I think it's real? Well, it's hard to say.  There's something to be said for missing ships like the USS Cyclops which dissappeared over one hundred years ago with over 300 passengers on board. And that's just one of several disappearances, including one as recent as last year when a private plane went down in the area. Despite all the strange occurrences, the truth is there are plenty of areas that have disappearances much like the triangle. It's said that the Bermuda Triangle didn't have notoriety until some creative writers came along.  In the 1960's, Vincent Gaddis wrote a story called "The Deadly Bermuda Triangle" which was published in Argosy Magazine. Some ten years later,  Charles Berlitz published THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE which was a best seller. These creative writings most likely spawned decades of paranormal theories which feed our lust for the Bermuda Triangle today. If you'e interested in reading more about the Bermuda triangle visit here.

Do you have a favorite book on the triangle? Have you read Berlitz's Bermuda Triangle? Are you writing or have you written a story about this myth?

Mina Burrows

A-Z Challenge: A is for Atlantis

Today marks day one of the AtoZ Challenge and we're starting with the letter A. This year my theme is Under the Sea Myths & Legends and for the letter A, I'm posting about what else but the mysterious legend of...

Atlantis!

What is it about this legend that intrigues us? By all accounts, this Under the Sea myth started from Plato's writings some 2,400 years ago.  According to the History Channel, Plato wrote that the island of Atlantis was located in the "Atlantic Ocean, beyond the Pillars of Hercules," but other sources say it's located in Ireland or as far as Antartica. There are many theories about Atlantis, including that the lost city sunk into the sea or was even swallowed whole by the Bermuda Triangle. According to the National Geographic, the Atlantis's legend started as a dreamlike sort of world, where "half-human and half god" beings lived together and there was an abundance of gold, precious metals, wondrous creatures and more.  It is said to be protected by Posidean who crowned his son, the Atlas King to oversee the advanced society. Many scholars think Plato created the fictitious tale, trying to teach his beliefs through his storytelling. There are so many depictions of what Atlantis is or was, that its legendary status lends itself to significant debates on whether it's fact or fiction.

What I find fascinating which is indeed a fact is that all these years later, people are still mesmerized by it.

Books, Books & More Books on Atlantis

There have been so many books written about Atlantis, that it's possible you've probably read a novel with an Atlantis connection. I've read many books that have a link to the lost world. Novels in the sci-fi genre to the paranormal romance genre. The list of books available on the subject seems neverending and from the video above, it stated there are more books written about Atlantis than any other topic. How's that for legendary?

One of my favorite books I read recently was A.G. Riddle's book, THE ATLANTIS GENE. I'm curious what your favorite books on the subject? Have you ever written a novel that included the mysterious world?

That's it for the letter A. Have a fantastic week!

Mina Burrows

A-Z Challenge: Theme Reveal * Drum Roll*

Today is the theme reveal day for this year's A-Z Challenge. It's been some time since I've participated in this challenge, but I'm going to give it a go this year. My theme inspiration started with a simple movie trailer I saw last year. It wasn't showing in many theaters in my area until it started to gain popularity and then, of course, viewers demanded to see it across the globe. What's the movie you ask? Guillermo del Toro's Shape of Water. It won all sorts of awards including an Oscar for Best Picture. Anyway, this film and it's mystical vibe sweep me up in a fury of longing to learn more about the mysterious life under the sea.

My theme for the AtoZ Challenge this year is....

Under the Sea Myths & Legends

During the next month, join me as I explore the depth of all things bizarre, mystical and legendary in our planet's watery abyss.  You'll read about legendary voids and mythical creatures from all cultures. Sound like fun? Well, hopefully, it will be.  

What about you?  What theme did you choose?  Are you exciting for A-Z this year?

Have an awesome week.

Mina Burrows

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Release Day! - Blue Sludge Blues & Other Abominations by Shannon Lawrence

Last month I featured Shannon Lawrence's bookcover, Blue Sludge Blues & Other Abominations and guess what folks? It's out today. Woot!

Blue Sludge Blues & Other Abominations
by Shannon Lawrence

Release Date: March 15, 2018

Horror short story collection

A collection of frights, from the psychological to the monstrous. These tales are a reminder of how much we have to fear: A creature lurking in the blue, sludgy depths of a rest area toilet; a friendly neighbor with a dark secret hidden in his basement; a woman with nothing more to lose hellbent on vengeance; a hike gone terribly wrong for three friends; a man cursed to clean up the bodies left behind by an inhuman force. These and other stories prowl the pages of this short story collection.

Blue Sludge Blues & Other Abominations Excerpt

From Cravings:

"Face pale, she clutched her belly. Ted watched it ripple from the inside, like a large fish moving beneath the surface of a pond.

The baby is hungry.

This thought sent a chill up his spine."

Buy the Book

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | Amazon Australia | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Also available from Apple and other countries through Amazon

About the Author

A fan of all things fantastical and frightening, Shannon Lawrence writes mostly fantasy and horror. Her stories can be found in magazines and anthologies, including Space and Time Magazine, Dark Moon Digest, and Ember: A Journal of Luminous Things. When she's not writing, she's hiking the wilds of Colorado and photographing her magnificent surroundings, where, coincidentally, there's always a place to hide a body or birth a monster.

Social Media Links

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page | 

Smashwords Author Page

Giveaway!

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Congratulations, Shannon!

Now for all of the readers who love horror stories,  go out and get the book! Buy it, read it, review it and tell your friends!

Mina Burrows

Lucky Leprechaun Book Giveaway Hop

With Saint Patrick's Day around the corner, I wanted to send all my friends best wishes for a happy, healthy and safe Saint Patrick's Day. May the luck of the Irish descend upon you and grant you all the wishes you can think of -- all in one day.  May you achieve that impossible goal, chaise the rainbow to untold fortunes and or win that neverending pot of gold. It can happen, I swear it.  Whatever you're wishes are, you're bound to have incredible luck in the near future because St. Patty will see to it. Just you wait!

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And since we're talking about luck, why don't you try you're luck first here. It's that time again. Only this time it's with Leprechauns. Today marks the start of the annual Lucky Leprechaun Book Giveaway Hop hosted by Mary from Bookhounds. I believe we'll have about 50 blogs participating so you might get a chance to chase your pot of gold with this giveaway.

I'm giving away one (1) FREE $10 Amazon Gift Card. See the details below on how to enter.

Enter To Win!

+2 Subscribe via email
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The giveaway runs from 12:01 AM on Mar 14th - Feb 27th, midnight. The contest is open to International participants.

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See who else is participating.


Mina Burrows