A Carpet of Purple Flowers - Early Book Reviews

Early Book Reviews

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Thank you for visting - really appreciated.

love and light

Trace

xoxo

Sergei Polunin - Ballet

Sergei Polunin

The Magic of Dance

I wrote about a play called -  The Alptraum of Alithia -

meaning Nightmare/Elf Dream of Alithia, in 'A Carpet of Purple Flowers' novel.

When I discovered Sergei Polunin, via the video above, I found the actor to picture in my mind for the role of the male lover in play, bounding across the stage. 

I wanted to share his brilliance with you :o) 

'The body form is a piece of moving art'

Sergei Polunin is a Ukrainian ballet dancer who was formerly a principal dancer with the British Royal Ballet and is currently a principal dancer with Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre and the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre.

 From the age of 4 to 8, he trained at a gymnastics academy and then spent another four years at the Kyiv State Choreographic Institute

In 2014 Polunin started his collaboration with a famed American photographer and music director David LaChapelle and took part in his new projects including dancing video "Take Me to Church", music by Hozier presented in February, 2015. (Video at the top of post).

I love combining the arts (when I can) in non-conventional ways. I think perhaps, because so many people avoid these areas due to feeling a lack of communication/not connecting/social spheres. What we must always try to remember, is that each one of us has creative talents and needs. A place for our souls to play. Maybe, we've forgotten this part or something was lacking via education. A harsh word, not meant as such, can bruise deep when young. Whatever the reason, creativity is a form of healing/expression and understanding.  Art takes many forms and writers/artists/dancers/etc, all need to experiment with ideas, breaking boundaries, so that creativity reaches everyone.

Visual Sources: Photography by David LaChapelle, Bryan Adams - Zoo Magazine,  Jacob Sutton - Numéro Homme - AW14 issue.

love and light

Trace

xoxo

Behind storytelling.

What's behind a story?

Everything you are, that you know, and intrigues, 

combine, helping to tell a story.

Questions to ponder prior to writing. 

What stirs your heart?

Why does it stir that 'something' inside you?

What would you like to see more of in the world?

How can you transform what you know in a different way?

What has hurt you?

What has made you want to sing?

What are your dreams?

What are your weaknesses/strengths?

How did you emotionally grow/transform into who you are now?

What battles still fight silently inside?

What displeases you? Why?

What music do you listen to?  Is it at certain times?

Get those juices flowing. Jot a few lines down, pause on the answers. Different feelings will stir - write those down, too. When we begin to understand ourselves and our reactions to situations/people, we can draw on this knowledge while writing. 

Put yourself in someone else's shoes. What do you think makes them act/say things a certain way? Especially, the things you don't understand. Imagine the reason behind it and create a character, a sort of fuzzy template that you, as a writer, are going to define.

Analyze your environment. Observe the wind, how it bites or gently caresses your face, depending on the time of year/where you are. What can you smell? Fumes of a big city? Damp soil/freshly cut grass? Strong floral perfume? Woody aftershave? Try to use all your senses. Most often, we get accustomed to our surroundings and have to remember to look at things as if it were our first time. It's quite astonishing what we take for granted on a day-to-day basis, like smells. 

Study the movement of people in different environments: on the underground, bus, park, high street, pub, cafe, club. Strangers/lovers/friendships. What does their body language say about them? When they talk, how do they move? When you've had an argument, how did you move? Did the other person mirror you? This processing will help with the small descriptive passages in dialogue.

They say 'write what you know'. If you have a passion, a hobby, an interest that ignites the soul, or possibly something that frightens you - develop these in a character. It's incredible what inspiration derives from a simple starting point. Characters will start to come alive, letting you know where they want to go and the magic begins.

Reality or Fantasy Setting?

My imagination always keeps me mentally active. Okay, mainly researching/daydreaming. For as long as I can remember, I'd cross reference myths/folklore. It was important to create a story with a touch of ancient mystery in a modern day setting, something I could believe. So, I blended both worlds. I wasn't sure how much of each would mingle, wanting nothing overly dramatic, but not too 'normal' either. With my brain all fired up, using the old to create something new, that felt true to me, I set to work. Yup! A feel thing, quite difficult to explain. It's a strange natural buzz. A surging flow of energy that excites - all stemming from one source. A quiet tide becomes a raging storm of ideas emerging from the original spark, and in an instant, you just know it's right for you. A belief in that magical connection, that only a creative muse brings.

Whatever inspires that magical surge in you - follow. 

Scribble down, what may at first seem trivial bits of info. One or more of those ideas, at some point, will take hold and grow. Sparking something inside, refusing to be ignored. Before you know it, a story and characters will appear, and you'll have started your journey in the blink of an eye. :o) 

Love and light,

Trace

xoxo

A Carpet of Purple Flowers - Haiku

Haiku

~1~

In Calageata

The Sindria 'well of souls'

Hides in purple haze

~2~

He, The 'Heaven Stone' 

Wearing a black hooded shroud

Quiet observer

~3~

A scent fills the breeze

On hills of purple flowers

Brings him to his knees

~4~

The moon upon us

as we lay on purple buds

Hearts open to love

love and light

Trace

xoxo

Haiku play

It's been a while since I placed words together in Haiku fashion. 

Haiku is one of the most important form of traditional Japanese poetry. 

 17-syllable verse form consisting of three metrical units of 5, 7, and 5 syllables.

Japanese haiku are traditionally printed in a single vertical line, while haiku in English often appear in three lines to parallel the three phrases of Japanese haiku.

Previously called hokku, haiku was given its current name by the Japanese writer Masaoka Shiki at the end of the 19th century.

Below are a few pieces I put together with the book in mind.

~1~

Sleeping thoughts guide me

In the darkness I find home

Is it you waiting?

~2~

His shadow haunts him

The darkness follows his light

Me...his salvation

~3~

One heart torn in two

Sorrow is my confusion

A world full of illusion

~4~

What is it they say?

What goes around comes around

Karma, a strange tale

~5~

Red-haired vixen bites

Talons of hatred claw scars

Spite with all her might

~6~

He swore no more lies

A smile his silent disguise

The farse beyond eyes

~7~

Soul as glass, a mask

Treading carefully, don't break

Piece of heart I skate

Love and light

Trace

xoxo

Book Cover Reveal (March) - Autumn 2015 Release

BOOK COVER REVEAL

AUTUMN 2015 RELEASE

URBANE PUBLICATIONS

The young lady in the photos is my daughter - Charlotte-anne. 

The cover shown via a PDF format - the print version will be much clearer with UV highlighting.

Hope you like it folks :o) 

Love and light,

Trace

xoxo

Photographer's Magic!

Capturing Magic 

Aliza Razell

               Mixed Media Paintings

Young female artist, Aliza Razell, Massachusetts-based, experiments with different mediums to create her mesmerizing artworks. She combines two of her great passions; photography and watercolors. As she states, Aliza Razell has a burning need to create.


The pictures are created in series. Such as, Anesidora , involves the story of Pandora’s Box, inspired by the magic of confronting – and ultimately collaborating with – something entirely foreign and otherworldly. Some of her work is inspired by the Finnish word 'Ikävä', meaning the feeling of missing someone or something. Below are a few of her wonderful creations.

Flickr Link

Love and light

Trace

xoxo