There are times in life when we come across the gift of being in the presence of individuals that will inspire one to either take on a challenge, follow our dreams or reignite a previous passion. We usually don’t have the forethought that we will have these uniquely distinct encounters and often we may not even recognise the beauty and deeply rich experience that they offer us in the moment or even shortly thereafter. However, if we take the time to truly embrace the gift that they are in the moment, we can glean from these brief encounters a deep re-enlivening of our psyche. And whilst these moments are often coupled with the painful rupture of their end it is all too common to get caught up in our sadness of their loss rather than the gratitude of their occurrence.
I have been graced with several of these moments, and at different times in life, have like many, been whisked away by the tears of their parting. However, I have always tried to remain bonded to the initial inspiration that they stirred within me and acknowledge the value of the experience they have given me. I am very fortunate to have had such powerful experiences that were an unexpected gift; a wonderful wealth of inspiration that have reignited my own creative passions in life. As I delve back into my stories over the summer holiday I remember the initial catalyst that inspired me to write Beautiful Creatures. Today, as I read through the first draft of my novel, I am equally reminded of all the hardships and comforts that have guided me along my own creative journeys. Each character molded from the knowledge of my own travels through the journeys of life make me eager to re-embark on my quest! I am ever so grateful to have the luxury to embrace this wonderful adventure. Aware of how fortunate I am to have come across those rare individuals that truly support, guide or inspire by the simply beautiful souls that they are themselves, I thank you all. Whether near or far, you live on in my heart and soul and I am eternally grateful for the honour of being inspired by you…
Lives of the wild to wild lives; what can we learn from the beings that surround us?
Saturday 5 July 2014
Tuesday 24 June 2014
Sharing a breath
When their eyes met in that moment it was hard to maintain her calmness… Their reunification slowly materialised after years apart. She had traveled an unfathomable journey through vast landscapes hoof upon the ground one day to the next and along the paths made from the scars on her heart.
She had not imagined that this would be her initial response, an apprehension, but so much had happened along her travels in life to bring her to this point. It was like she was still within the dream that had kept her alive along the journey that brought her to this final moment. Now side by side, Amore was at peace, and every painful wound of her past fell away with that first moment when they shared a breath. The slow nickering of her excitement of the being reunited with Amado was hard to contain but the flood of her emotions overtook her that first moment that she realised she was home…
That memory would now be one that would forever haunt her.
Sunday 15 June 2014
This is no Dragon!
Here is just a little blurb from one of the new Beautiful Creatures characters…
It seemed only fitting to share him on Father’s Day!
He was an unusual fellow. His upper body like that of a stone statue kept him cloaked within his ocean habitat as he watched carefully with his eyes that independently investigated his surroundings. The static curvature of his head and body were divergent to the graceful mouvement of his tail as he gently wrapped it around the swaying sea grass.
There were three different herds of his particular kind the Knysna, Swartvlei and Keurbooms. Knysna was the native home of all these herds whereas the Swartvlei and Keurbooms herds were newer settlements. It was the beginning of the summer breeding season and his partner had just transferred her eggs to his pouch. He would carry them for the next three weeks before giving birth to several young. During his pregnancy he would become quite sedentary for weeks at a time. However, his mate would make daily visits to be with him. He loved and looked forward to these circadian encounters which helped to reinforce their bond. Her visits would also ensure that they were reproductively in harmony during the summer months. The diurnal sacred dance with his lifelong mate was his favourite part of the day. They would come together entwining their tails in a gentle union as she would tell him of her happenings since last they had danced together…
It seemed only fitting to share him on Father’s Day!
He was an unusual fellow. His upper body like that of a stone statue kept him cloaked within his ocean habitat as he watched carefully with his eyes that independently investigated his surroundings. The static curvature of his head and body were divergent to the graceful mouvement of his tail as he gently wrapped it around the swaying sea grass.
There were three different herds of his particular kind the Knysna, Swartvlei and Keurbooms. Knysna was the native home of all these herds whereas the Swartvlei and Keurbooms herds were newer settlements. It was the beginning of the summer breeding season and his partner had just transferred her eggs to his pouch. He would carry them for the next three weeks before giving birth to several young. During his pregnancy he would become quite sedentary for weeks at a time. However, his mate would make daily visits to be with him. He loved and looked forward to these circadian encounters which helped to reinforce their bond. Her visits would also ensure that they were reproductively in harmony during the summer months. The diurnal sacred dance with his lifelong mate was his favourite part of the day. They would come together entwining their tails in a gentle union as she would tell him of her happenings since last they had danced together…
Sunday 8 June 2014
Sunday 1 June 2014
The Talented Miss Mariska
Her freedom was thanks to her stable mate Mariska. Amore’s
spirit was broken when she had been placed in the confines of her stall. Her
spirit had been battered to the point that she accepted her imprisoned fate
without a struggle. A few years had passed devoid of the companionship of
another and she grew accustomed to the routine of the day in the barn. The door
would open with the rising sun. A sudden flash of light would blind her as she
slowly felt the warm air spill in with the sun’s rays. The clank of the gate
was a signal that she would soon have the weight of the saddle upon her and the
tightening of the straps before the stirrups felt to her sides. She enjoyed the
preparation that happened prior to the discomfort of the gear that made her
feel even more trapped, like the hard cold bit that pulled unpleasantly at her
jaw.
Today was different… With the clank of the gate she edged
forward in anticipation for the grooming that always came before the placement
of the riding gear only to be greeted by another horse being escorted into her
stall. This new horse was smaller in stature than Amore but far livelier. It
was not long before Mariska’s mischievous behaviour had Amore intrigued and
reignited her passion for adventure!
Sunday 18 May 2014
Polar Bear
It happened
at the end of March
And
finished with a mighty crunch
The
drowning of many thousand bears
Their
melted homes vanished into air
And if you
stood within a hundred miles
You might
hear something from the wild
A wind
would carry the mournful growl
And prick
your ears like something foul
It took
days and days and days and days
Until they
started washing up on the edge of bays
Their heavy
coats and tasseled fur
And when
time had passed in slow repose
Their
carcasses indefinable and decomposed
They fed
the earth with surreptitious zeal
Their
collective wrath would be revealed
It wasn’t
until three years had passed
Where bears
were but a ghost behind glass
Their image
iconic and a reminder of
The
ignorance that hadn’t budged
The Arctic
White and Ursine Sprite
Worked on
potions throughout the night
With tooth
of wolf and tail of seal
He crushed
and mixed the pasty meal
At last the
magical dough rose higher
And he
placed it over the open fire
It bubbled
and hissed and sighed and wheezed
Until all
animation seized
The Sprite
cradled the cake in his wiry arms
You could
hear him whisper something warm
An eerie
melody mixed with a lamenting cry
Some
ancient enchanting lullaby
He off-ed his rugged moccasins
Revealing corkscrewed toe-like limbs
And bore them through the icy ground
Offering the cake to the depths beyond
The next morning came like a slap in the face
The day would be filled with our disgrace
As it would every three years
And eventually be penned the ‘Ursine Fear’
And into water the souls retreated
The vengeance came without a notice
And water was the bear’s new hostess
And what will follow may seem implausible
But we all know that nothing’s impossible
Where water lived and flowed and dripped
A darkness lurked and skulked and sipped
The events that unfold in no particular succession
Are true accounts or near impressions
Of what some people may have witnessed
They may appear grisly, startling and twisted
A rainy day, buckets to say the least
And puddles appeared as large as the beasts
That resided in the mirrored fluid
Who could have guessed what had ensued
Claws came crashing through the miniature tarns
The hirsute trunks and stiffened arms
Transporting them to the ‘other side’
In baths and sinks and old skating rinks
Where water ruled and things could sink
From seas and lochs and ponds and streams
One could hear the shrieks and screams
The bears return was no good tiding
In every droplet they were hiding
And if you looked in the waters’ eye
You would see the bear alive with ire
You would not have a second chance
Even if you looked
askance
They’d take you in a giant hug
And flatten you into a rug
No remorse was ever given
To the elderly, the sick, the children
In droves the bears would seek revenge
And as quickly as it began it ended
Thousands of bodies taken by force
An antithesis of Nature’s course
And every three years forever more
The Bear would return to settle the score
By: Antoine Boissonneault
As we near World Environmental Day I wanted to share a poem written by my wildly talented brother Antoine which highlights the polar bear, a
Beautiful Creature that most of us will never see in their natural habitat.
Sunday 11 May 2014
Saturday 3 May 2014
Her curiousity was both a gift and in the end a curse…
“Your mother was a daredevil” was how Seymour introduced
William to the story of his parents.
When Neo and Mandisa first arrived at Bluegate they were
completely out of their element. Neo quickly connected with some of the local
dragonflies but the wild stories of adventurous migrations segregated them both from the others. Neo was a great storyteller, much like Tom,
but it was hard to believe that a mere dragonfly could make of such fantastic
journey. Just their own adventure to the pond stirred disbelief among the
Bluegate community…
Neo and Mandisa both remained motionless among the shipment
of bananas when the blast of light cut through the darkness of the crate. They had
been imprisoned for two days. The air was different in this new environment. Neo flicked his
wings and was the first to emerge. There was a lot of hustle and bustle in this
shiny metallic milieu where a whole new breed of slow-movers populated the
space. Cautiously, Mandisa followed Neo’s lead. Flashes of light gleaned off
the shiny triangles wielded by the slow-movers as large vividly colourful
shapes were transformed into little multi-coloured squares. The broader
surroundings of the room were similar to the packing shed where Mandisa and Neo
had raced a few days back. But the atmosphere was thick. Neo noticed the light
at the one side of the room and the current of air that flowed in from that
direction aerating the room ever so slightly.
Neo and Mandisa darted through the reflective room until they breached
the threshold into the sunlight. They were face to face with a brick wall
that dripped with foliage.
Neo darted toward the sky and hovered above Mandisa.
Nothing but greenery and what seemed like multiple packing sheds. Where had
they ended up?
Sunday 27 April 2014
Saturday 25 May 2013
Results from the Polling Station...
On April 6, 2013, I sent out a link to a poll to find out what types of animals the public would like to read about in the novel. This week I have decided to share some of the results. The poll will remain open for those that may still like to participate. I always love hearing your feedback!
So far, the majority falls into land-based animals (58.49%) with an even split (20.75%) between aquatic and species in the air...
There have been some interesting suggestions for species to include in the stories. Equines were the most popular choice for land-based animals. Cetaceans for any aquatic species, and corvids for species in the air… There have also been some great suggestions for topics to address in the series which equally fall into my own vision for Beautiful Creatures.
Here are a few samples of the comments.
Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013
“I've just returned from a camping trip … and watched a talk on raptors. As evil and dangerous as they are to rabbits, mice, cats, and small dogs, they are also victims of their own environment: desert = struggle for survival. I think a tale featuring different perspectives of what it takes to survive in the world would be interesting. What is a danger and villain to one is doing all it can stay in the game...”
Thursday, April 18th, 2013
“Reptiles - snakes specifically. No hands/arms (try eating without such aids) - try relying on your ribcage for traction/mobility. So vulnerable to damage by larger species. Yet they survive and thrive. Beautiful.”
Wednesday, April 17th, 2013
“A land animal is more likely to have a human-animal bond, but this is a very difficult question, and hard to restrict because all creatures have great purpose on earth to balance it that are not directly involved with mankind specifically. So hard question, but if it is for kids, they like to hold things that are huggable, and in my opinion, this would be the best place to start, with something they can really hug!”
Wednesday, April 17th, 2013
“No species in particular but the idea of existing in a place that I cannot is exciting. I love the idea of soaring, of seeing the world from a bird's eye view and relishing in those descriptions. Therefore Aquatic would be my second choice!”
Tuesday, April 16th, 2013
“Barracuda and or Whale specifically, while the Whale would be the nicer of the two. Like what you've done thus far.”
Monday, April 15th, 2013
“something with mythological connections perhaps”
I want to thank all the people that have participated in the poll so far. It's wonderful to read your ideas and to be able to incorporate them into the series. I have only included a handful of all the brilliant ideas and comments that you have shared with me. I look forward to reading more along the way… Together we can make Beautiful Creatures a series that will speak to all.
If you have not had a chance to cast your own vote, click the link below to voice your opinion!
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