Saturday, March 30, 2013

Pine Trees and Paper

Carpe Diem
March 30th, Onitsura's Special#29, voice of the pine

my childhood pine tree
still burdened with snow in March
waiting Blessed Easter

dim pine tree fragrance
through all day open window -
I can smell young spring

 
NaHaiWriMo
March 30th, writing ustensiles
 
gazing at the moon;
through a thin sheet of paper
I feel its poem

I use trees to write
my poems about spring nights
inspired by owls

Friday, March 29, 2013

Dandelion Smiles

Carpe Diem
March 29th - dandelion

dandelion smiles -
late at night, under full moon
two lovers embraced


NaHaiWriMo
March 29th - hook

thin willow branches
streatching towards the clear lake 
as hooks for my dreams



Thursday, March 28, 2013

Kites and Dreams

Carpe Diem 
March 28th - kite

all children clapping
waiting for favorable wind -
I release the ropes


NaHaiWriMo
March 28th - sleep

 no sleep without dreams...
while late March snow is falling
I dream without sleep



Wednesday, March 27, 2013

March Moon

NaHaiWriMo
March 27th - full moon

full moon
hidden by clouds -
I look at the stars
 
Carpe Diem 
March 27th - haze moon

moon in haze  -
the sparkling snow
lightens my path

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Stopping by my blog today, Carmen Stefanescu

 Teaser Tuedays: Carmen Stefanescu - Shadows of the Past
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my teaser:
Had his folks talked him into giving her up, made him see reason? Helping her out of her predicament meant a huge risk for him - loosing his family, his friends and his position among his peers. 

 


 Shadows of the Past
Publish date: 4th December 2012
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing
Genre: paranormal/light romance/light horror.
 Blurb 
Anne's relationship with her boyfriend Neil has disintegrated. After a two-year separation, they pack for a week vacation in hopes of reconciling. But fate has other plans for them.
The discovery of a bejeweled cross and ancient human bones opens a door to a new and frightening world--one where the ghost of a medieval nun named Genevieve will not let Anne rest. This new world threatens not only to ruin Anne and Neil's vacation but to end all hopes of reconciliation as Anne feels compelled to help free Genevieve's soul from its torment.
Can Anne save her relationship and help Genevieve find her eternal rest?
The twists and turns in this paranormal tale keep the reader guessing up to the end and weave themselves together into a quest to rekindle love.

And... surprise, surprise... here is a short interview with the author of the book, Carmen Stefanescu, if you'd like to know more about her writing.

Share 3 teasers from your book, each consisting of 2 sentences.
            1.  Genevieve wrapped the dark mantle covering her shoulders more tightly around her and swallowed her fears as they began the cautious ride through the silent forest. They rode on through the silent night, enveloped by their own silent guilt.

2. "Oh, God. Please forgive me," Andrew muttered under his breath when he bowed his head to kiss her and their lips met in a passionate first kiss.
Genevieve's spirits fell and her heart skipped a beat when, a couple of seconds later, she opened her eyes and her gaze fell on a knot strangers.

3. Anne shivered; why the deep feeling of having seen this place, this forest before and the eerie sensation of being present here only in the body, while her mind was far away? Away from Neil, the man who'd betrayed her trust and her love.

 Share 3 pieces of advice for beginning writers like myself.
1. Follow your dream! Read, write. Read and write.
2. Be civil, good-mannered even towards editors who reject your manuscript. If they take the time to write you an explanation, be courteous and thank them.
3. Swallow the bitter tears of rejection and go on querying. Never give up! In the end your dream will come true. It's what happened to me!

Why historical fantasy?
 I have a fascination for Medieval Times.  As the events in Shadows of the Past take place during Medieval England, I read as much historical info as I could. Especially details regarding life in monasteries. I had to do a thorough research. I found out quite interesting things. The same I did for Wicca. What Wicca means and what do Wiccans do and what their view on existence is. My next novel Dracula's Mistress, you know the fascination this name creates, is again a historical novel. Historical paranormal. Medieval Romania/Walachia.
 
You started with poetry, like myself. Share a short poem.
Well, a difficult decision. I will give you the poem whose first lines are a motto for Shadows of the Past. By the way, I even have a poem with the same title.

ETERNITY

In the quiet solitude of a small, remote convent,
Only prayers seem alive on the lips of holy sisters.
Candles flicker in their hands like lost souls in search of light,
And the yellowish, faint glimmer makes a halo' round their whispers.

Era is eternity. Garments, litany unchanged.
Just a film of smoke on walls clings mute witness to new faces,
To the passing-by of time, to deathlessness of love and hope,
To this monolith of faith heaving over age and spaces!

TORPOR

I learned to love my empty days
While waiting for the sleep to come.
Old-fashioned, silly, paper flowers
      float above my head,
  flooding the stifling silence;
without questioning myself
I fall asleep in the moonlight.
  Plans, about tomorrow, are
        supremely
       unimportant !





Author bio:
            Carmen Stefanescu was born in Romania, the native country of the infamous vampire Count Dracula, but where, for about 50 years of communist dictatorship, just speaking about God, faith, reincarnation or paranormal phenomena could have led someone to great trouble - the psychiatric hospital if not to prison.
            Teacher of English and German in her native country and mother of two daughters, Carmen Stefanescu survived the grim years of oppression, by escaping in a parallel world, that of the books. 
            She has dreamed all her life to become a writer, but many of the things she wrote during those years remained just drawer projects. The fall of the Ceausescu’s regime in 1989 and the opening of the country to the world meant a new beginning for her. She started publishing. Poems first, and then prose. Both in English.

Find her on:
Amazon
Blog

Trailer: Shadows of the Past

And my haiku for today:
Carpe Diem 
March 26th, #154 - Spring Lanterns

after the sunset,
writing a spring night haiku -
just candle lanterns

after the sunset
inspiration rivalry:
spring lanterns or moon?


NaHaiWriMo
March 26th - key

spring lanterns turned on -
old man's key to happiness:
chess game with loved ones


Monday, March 25, 2013

Restless

Carpe Diem
March 24th, #153 - spring paddy fields
 
the restless calling
to new life from Mother Earth -
those paddy fields


NaHaiWriMo
March 24th - generation

budding trees in parks
just perfect for strolling
generating love


It's harder and harder to write haiku about spring when winter is fighting its way back to us! If someone had enough spring and wants to trade it for winter cold and snow, 
please, do not hesitate to contact me!

Sunday, March 24, 2013

And...

Carpe Diem Special #28 
Onitsura's Cherry Flowers

saku-karani miru-karani hana no chiru-karani

the cherry-flowers bloom;

we gaze at them;
they fall, and ...
(c) Onitsura


Inspired by Onitsura and Blyth's comment I've come up with:

cherry's lost petals
saying their last pray to God
returning to ground

through falling petals 
playful gusts of April wind -
open eyes see more

light urging me in -
leading to the House of Lord,
pink petals carpet


NaHaiWriMo
March 24th prompt - moisture

legs slipping on mud -
moisture from storm scented air
surprising my lungs

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Glass

Six Words Saturday

 
Finishing old project - happiness and nostalgia


NaHaiWriMo
March 23rd prompt - glass

grey clouds and lightnings
bringing raindrops to disturb
the glass of the lake

Friday, March 22, 2013

Fortitude and Weeping Cherries

Haiku Heights
March 22nd prompt - fortitude

smiling gardener -
blooming ahead of their time,
tulips' fortitude


Carpe Diem Imagination
March 22nd prompt - weeping cherry tree

after spring duty,
under weeping cherry trees,
the river resting


Carpe Diem
March 23rd prompt - Blossom haze

 enjoying the sun
and the smiles in children's play -
blossomed trees cascade


Picnic?

Carpe Diem
March 22nd prompt - #151, haru Fakashi (deep spring)

deep spring green mirrored 
in deep waters' clear surface -
perfect picnic time

NaHaiWriMo
March 22nd prompt - scale

in March afternoon,
the happiness of children
no scale can measure

Weekend is here! Have a good, relaxing time and enjoy this still shy sun of spring!

Thursday, March 21, 2013

A to Z Challenge , Theme Big Reveal

It's time for The Big Reveal Bloghop hosted by Mina Lobo and David Macaulay. This bloghop is for those who entered the A To Z challenge for April - which is almost here - and it means sharing the Theme for the April A To Z Challenge. So...

The Big Reveal (Hop-Within-A-Hop) 

So... here it comes: I'm going to use haibun (a classical Japanese writing form that combines text, haiku, tanka and sometimes photos) to write about a familiar place: my home town - Scornicesti, Romania. 

What's special about it? Well, the only thing remarcable about Scornicesti is the fact that Nicolae Ceausescu, Romania's dictator was born here.

This means I'm going to share photos, poems inspired by places and events that took place in Scornicesti or are related to it, also including my thoughts about the past ande present. I will also incorporate historical facts, geographic info, travel details and more.

Why did I chose this theme, you might ask. I did it because I wanted to improve the view on Scornicesti, which is unfairly presented as the gate of hell. I also think some people would like to see a great deal of pictures of Scornicesti, the hometown of Nicolae Ceausescu. It isn't a big city - actually, it barely is a city - but it has some ups, too.

The haibun was the best choice in what concerns the writing style because it allows me to switch freely between haiku, tanka, descriptive text, thoughts and pictures.

My tags for April A to Z will be:
Scornicesti, Romania, Ceausescu, Nicolae Ceausescu, history, travel, geography, photo, haibun, haiku, haiga, tanka, challence, A to Z challenge.
 
I must admit, I don't know and I'm curious how well known Scornicesti is outside Romania. feel free to tell me what and if you know about Romania, Scornicesti and Ceausescu.

PS: In April I'm also doing Haiku Heights April challenge which is designed for Ato Z Challenge, so I'll also be adding the haiku written for it in the same post.


Now that the reveal is over, my haiku for today:

Carpe Diem
March 21st, the first day of spring

Earth bowing to Sun,
same old passage ritual -
Moon and Sun - eguals.


NaHaaiWriMo
March 21st, learning, teaching

Buddha's teachings time,
ideas nurtured and grown -
shrine changed for a grove


 Have a beautiful spring!

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Equinox and weeds

Carpe Diem
March 20th prompt - Tsukushi (horsetail)

in my front garden
horsetail - survival lesson 
today, as always

NaHaiWriMo
March 20th prompt - first day of spring

day and night kissing 
with the same intensity
while winter says ”bye”

swarm of violets
pondering the day and night -
spring equinox time

Sensational Haiku Wednesday
March 20th prompt - Continuity

season changing rite,
winter says "bye" spring says "hi" -
continuity

Writer's Digest
March 20th prompt - walk

under the spring moon,
re-arranging my stray thoughts
while taking a walk

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

The Oracle and The Vampire Cover

Yesterday Christine Rains revealed the cover to her 5th book in "The 13th Floor" series, the first one featuring two of the tenants. And what a beautiful cover that is! If you like paranormal romance, give this series a chance. It's worth it: amazing characters, new approach, surprising writing style! 


By now, I've read the first book in the series,The Marquis - which by the way it's free, so go and get it!- and the second one, The Alpha.

If you want to know more about Christine's new book visit her blog or read the blurb:

Blurb: Having fallen for her gorgeous neighbor might not be so bad if Harriet McKay wasn't in her hideous banshee form every time Kiral saw her. Such is her curse. True, he's a vampire struggling with a drug addiction, but he's a good soul. Yet no one could love a cursed witch, especially one not even her cats respect.

After having a vision of Kiral's death, Harriet makes it her mission to save him. Never before has she attempted to change fate, but so strong is her love.

How can Harriet convince Kiral to see past her vile appearance and return her love? If only she can force him to listen to reason coming from a raving crone, perhaps she can save him from the demons hunting him and from himself.


Carpe Diem
March 19th prompt - green barley

the clear morning dew
washing the green barley fields -
a pheasant's first cry

NaHaiWriMo
 March 19th prompt - shoe

morning walk through parks,
not noticing the spring wind;
horse shoe on my path

* in Romania the horse shoe is supposed to bring good luck to those who find it. In March, in Romania women receive some traditional trinkets, called "Martisor" ([mərtsiʃor]) which are supposed to protect them from evil and bring good luck to the person who wears them. The horse shoe is very popular because of the superstitions around it. The read and white string accompanying a March trinket is supposed to bring strenght and health.

 

Monday, March 18, 2013

Top Ten Movies Countdown Blogfest

 Carpe Diem
Special #27 Onitsura's Valley Stream

a soft melody -
 caught between winter and spring,
 the shy valley stream 
 

NaHaiWriMo
March 18th prompt - crime

thinking of the past
while having future ahead -
crime against nature 


Top 10 Movies Countdown

This BlogFest is hosted by Alex J Cavanaugh. It was difficult for me to decide to only ten movies but here there are:


10 - Silver Linings

  An interesting movie presenting the transformation and addaptation process.
IMDB: After a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own.


9 - Upside Down



IMDB:  Adam and Eden fell in love as teens despite the fact that they live on twinned worlds with gravities that pull in opposite directions. Ten years after a forced separation, Adam sets out on a dangerous quest to reconnect with his love.


8 - Pretty Women


  Need I say more?
IMDB: Edward is a rich, ruthless businessman who specializes in taking over companies and then selling them off piece by piece. He travels to Los Angeles for a business trip and decides to hire a prostitute. They take a liking to each other and he offers her money if she'll stay with him for an entire week while he makes the "rich and famous" scene (since it doesn't do for a man of his stature to be alone at society parties and polo matches). Romantic comedy (and complications) ensue.


7 In Time 

  Great story! Great movie!
IMDB: In a future where people stop aging at 25, but are engineered to live only one more year, having the means to buy your way out of the situation is a shot at immortal youth. Here, Will Salas finds himself accused of murder and on the run with a hostage - a connection that becomes an important part of the way against the system.


6 - Knight And Day

 
IMDB:  June Havens finds her everyday life tangled with that of a secret agent who has realized he isn't supposed to survive his latest mission. As their campaign to stay alive stretches across the globe, they soon learn that all they can count on is each other.

5 - Pirates of the Cribbean


IMDB: This swash-buckling tale follows the quest of Captain Jack Sparrow, a savvy pirate, and Will Turner, a resourceful blacksmith, as they search for Elizabeth Swann. Elizabeth, the daughter of the governor and the love of Will's life, has been kidnapped by the feared Captain Barbossa. Little do they know, but the fierce and clever Barbossa has been cursed. He, along with his large crew, are under an ancient curse, doomed for eternity to neither live, nor die. That is, unless a blood sacrifice is made.
The trailer:

4. - Anna Karenina

 
IMBD: Set in late-19th-century Russia high-society, the aristocrat Anna Karenina enters into a life-changing affair with the affluent Count Vronsky

3 - The Dutchess
An intriguing love story about strenght, personality, decision and politics.
IMDB A chronicle of the life of 18th century aristocrat Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, who was reviled for her extravagant political and personal life.


2 - Stardust

  Based on Neil Gaiman's book, Stardust is a great fairy tale which gathers so many mythical, supernatural creatures in an amazing adventure while seaking true love. got to love it!

 IMDB:The passage from this world to the fantasy kingdom of Stormhold is through a breach in a wall beside an English village. In the 1800s, a boy becomes a man when he ventures through the breech in pursuit of a fallen star, to prove his love for the village beauty. The star is no lump of rock, it's a maiden, Yvaine. Tristan, the youth, is not the only one looking for her: three witches, led by Lamia, want her heart to make them young; and, the sons of the dead king of Stormhold want her because she holds a ruby that will give one of them title to the throne. Assisting Tristan are his mother, the victim of a spell, and a transvestite pirate of the skies. Will Tristan win his true love?

1 - Pride and Prejudice (2005)

This ecranization is my favorite: it's faithful to Jane Austen's novel and the actors are amazing. Though I doubt that there's someone who hasn't read the book yet I must add that's a Victorian love story with pleanty of emotion and life lessons. All girle secretely want to live such a love story and find a Mr. Darcy.

 IMBD: Sparks fly when spirited Elizabeth Bennet meets single, rich, and proud Mr. Darcy. But Mr. Darcy reluctantly finds himself falling in love with a woman beneath his class. Can each overcome their own pride and prejudice?

I've seen the movie at least 50 times and it's impossible to get bored of that beautiful love story. I think it's one of the few movies that are better than the book - book lovers out there, don't hate me, but it's true! The trailer and my favorite scene, the perfect ending, of course:




It wasn't easy to pick from so many beautiful movies, but I've finally made my mind. Can't wait to see your lists, guys!

Except from the haiga, none of the ics and videos belong to me - they've been borrowed from the internet.