2015 EVIE Awards

And the winners are...

If you have known me for very long, you know I love my Year End Best lists. I've dwindled it down from previous years to highlight the big categories. So here you go! Enjoy!
 

Top 5 movies of 2015
1) Antman
2) Avengers: Age of Ultron
3) Jurassic World
4) Star Wars: The Force Awakens
5) Pitch Perfect 2

* apologies to Spectre, Mockingjay part 2, and Terminator: Genysis because I have not seen them yet...and I know I will love them.

Top 5 television shows of 2015
1) Supernatural
2) Castle
3) Game of Thrones
4) Modern Family
5) tie: Dancing with the Stars/Sleepy Hollow

Farewell to Forever, and Blood and Oil we barely got to know you.

Top 5 songs of 2015
1) Crash and Burn by Thomas Rhett
2) Lose my Mind by Brett Elderidge
3) Girl Crush by Little Big Town
4) John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16 by Keith Urban
5) Save it for a Rainy Day by Kenny Chesney
* not a single pop/rock song made my top 5 this year…sad.

 

Best books I've read in 2015 (other than my own :) ) and not necessarily released in 2015
1) The Girl on a Train by Paula Hawkins
2) The Boys in a Boat by Daniel James Brown
3) You by Caroline Kepnes
4) The Traitor's Wife by Allison Pataki
5) All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Worst book read...ever = Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Swords and Shields

       A few months ago my grandsons, Jacob and Jamison, and I were playing with a pretty cool tic-tac-toe board themed appropriately for my wife's beach décor.

      After a few games, Jacob decided to try something different. He put the lighthouses on each corner, and the sailboats in between them. The object was to take turns moving one piece at a time until somebody could no longer make a move, trapping them. 

      Above - you will see the original game (with me being trapped (I'm the lighthouses)) and below is my very rough drawing of a medieval board game, named "Swords and Shields.

 

 

 

 

Look for the game to make its first appearance in book 3, "Revelation."

 

Backstory to the name, Swords and Shields:

 

Once Upon a time, my brother, David (readers will recognize him as I loosely based Darius off of him), my best friend, Willie (readers, may I present William from my series), and I created our own superheroes and supervillains.

 

David had a group of villains named Killer Clowns, who were like a gang of crazed Jokers. Willie had a villain, The Bull, who was like Spiderman's villain, The Rhino. He also had a hero named the Black Panther, pretty much like Marvel's Black Panther.

 

I had heroes named Leopard, my version of Spiderman; Green Tiger (Wolverine); Cardinal (Green Arrow); and The Hawk (Falcon). I needed a group of heroes to combat David's Clowns, so I came up with a group called Swords and Shields, in part due to my love of Captain America, and in part, my love of the movie "Jason and the Argonauts."

 

So when it came time to name my game I pulled out the old Sword and Shield name, dusted it off, and put it to good use.

 

- side note: Argos in my series "The Heart of Seras," is named for the Argonauts.



Poetry Time

Someday I will have the time to blog more often, or at least have cool things that people want to read. So Wednesday night the moon was full, and it illuminated the sky with a golden hue.

This started a series of poetic thoughts and ideas swirling through my head. Though I am no Poe or Lord Byron, I'm pretty happy with them.

I hope you enjoy :)

Oh Playful Muse

Oh my playful muse, what stories have I dreamt?

Cherubs blush at the nocturnal eves I have spent.

I sing praises of your beauty as my silent soul cries.

The hunter’s moon reflects from your viridian eyes.

Like two oceans sparkling with deviltry delight.

Surrender my doubt with trembled voice in the night.

A bees temporal visit to flower sweet bliss.

Come melt me with the sweet honey from your lips.

Carnal Serenade

A carnal serenade tangled in silk and skin

Sighs whispered from candied lips begin

Vigorous passion radiates essence craved

Limbs linger, sparks ignite, lovers saved   

Wisps falling on petite, creamy skin glistened from above

Two are entwined with poetic pulsating rhythm of love.


Amidst Darkened Skies

Amidst darkened skies

dancing candle light reflect

as heaving breasts rise

Inch by inch, my flesh traces yours

Taking me in, enveloping my love.

Look at the stars. Are they the cause of my strangled cry?

No, it is you, my jewel, my flower, my dove