Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Forsaken


Thought about suicide. Again.

Not of my own . . . not that the thought's never crossed my mind, but no. I got news that my short story, Forsaken, was accepted by Untreed Reads Publishing. Naturally, I beamed but then recalled the story's subject and again, I remembered the suicide of a young man barely out of his teenage years. When this youth's untimely death came back to me all these years later, I fashioned a story from the memories. This was months ago.

The incident, actually, happened eleven and a half years ago. Such terrible loss . . .

Couldn't help but think, maybe all it would've taken to change the course of history, to talk that boy off that high-rise ledge, to even know he was heading up there in the first place, may have been as simple as picking up the phone when you recognized the young man's number on the caller I. D. Maybe. What ifs suck, sometimes.

Sadly, suicide is one of the most common issues GLBT youth deal with. I have a friend who, as a tender youth, discovered she was Lesbian . . . Being raised Southern Baptist and being Lesbian didn't play out in her mind. Out came the pills, the razor blades, and the booze. If I recall correctly, she was stopped only by a vision of her younger sister crying in agony. Unfortunately, the young man, who I also knew, didn't have anyone or anything to stop him from carrying out his most desperate plea.

He tried to reach out, seek help, seek some sort of comfort, after realizing he was gay. But he was shunned by family, friends, and even a few in the GLBT community he approached. "I-I thought he was coming on to--I didn't realize, he just needed someone to listen, affirm. . ." That was the reasoning, I was told.

Would've, should've, could've--not trying to push the blame on anyone. Hell, I'm probably just as guilty for I too didn't recognize the signs, when around him. We can't change what's done.

Wouldn't it be awesome though, if each one of us had someone there, a guardian angel perhaps, to help us in such a time of need? But that's wishful thinking. Though times have changed and people are far more accepting of the GLBT community, still, more often than not, GLBT youth succumb to suicidal thoughts. And more often than not, it is because they are forsaken by everyone around them . . . or at least, they feel as if they are.

In fiction, well, that's a whole different story. Literally. Having the incident come back to me during the Winter holidays, I chose to tackle the issue . . . but from a different angle, through the eyes of a guardian angel; and as with fiction, I gave my story a fairytale ending. Forsaken will be out this month at Untreed Reads Publishing. I invite you to check it out.


Bryl R. Tyne is a wrangler by nature and a writer by choice, published with Noble Romance Publishing, Ravenous Romance, Dreamspinner Press, STARbooks Press, and Untreed Reads Publishing. You can find out more about Bryl at: bryltyne.com

This post is X-posted to The Rainbow Studio, Bryl R Tyne's Blog, and Defying Description.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

DRAQUAL Vampyres

COMING SOON TO YOUR NEAREST BOOKSTORE
From THE VAMPYRE, VLAD DRAQUAL (writing as William Maltese),
AND MLR PRESS —

BLOOD ON THE BIAS
Vampyres in Fashion
Second Book of the Draqual Vampyre Chronicles

A LOVE PROFANE …

…unnatural … obscene … taboo … forbidden … condemned …

… between Vlad Draqual, vampyre, and Roman Bonton, vampire killer ….

…convention defied! Blood shed! Disaster and heart-break in the making?

—From the Journal of Vlad Draqual, February 2010.

My Darkness Walks the Light moment is a long time in coming. I’ve beenkept from it twice. Once in being held captive by the vampire-hunters Familia Polinsturau in their mountain-crest citadel at Bolungova. Once by the Vampire Stephen Maru who wished to extract from me the secret of Ecstaçē Melange.

Therefore,I’ve had sufficient time to prepare and make sure all the necessary pieces are in place to make this happen, now, according to prescribed formulae.

I’ve commissioned from the wax artisan Jfay the Darkness Walks the Light candle, scented with chocolate, vanilla, amber, and with the other “secret” ingredients given her from my long-gathered cache.

I have Montezuma’s golden goblet stolen from Spain’s Prado museum andused in the Darkness Walks the Light incantation by Taxtla Draqual, during the Great Conflict that required the Trogolodyte be summoned from his deep and light-starved cave to slay the conquistador Romero Candiz.

I have the estate-bottled DRAQUAL 2005BV Cabernet Sauvignon whose grapes, in that year, were of just the right acidity and have been jealously hoarded by Family Draqual for just such a moment.

I have the chocolate wafers, easier made these days with Xoçai® than they were in other times when I would have had to traipse South American jungles and slow-cook the cocao on my own.

I have Guardellico Guardellian’s text, Astron/Astrol Primo Factoro, which confirms that all the planets and constellations are properly aligned.

Finally, from the bookshelf, I have the all-important last-but-not-least Grimoire Xylenona, its pages opened to the Darkness Walks the Light ritual recitation.

I begin the incantation: “Nosferatu illume…”

I eat the chocolate wafer; my sudden ability to retain solids not to be sustained beyond the ceremony.

I drink the wine; my sudden ability to imbibe liquid, other than blood, not to be retained beyond the ceremony.

I light the wick of the candle.

And, as a result, I, Vlad Draqual, vampyre, after many centuries of existing only within the darkness, am finally able, at least for awhile, to stalk the daylight hours without the usual disastrous consequences.

DARKNESS WALKS THE LIGHT CANDLE

Created by Candle Artist Jfay as per the specific instructions given to her
from Vlad Draqul as written in the Grimoire of Xlyenona, the DARKNESS
WALKS THE LIGHT CANDLE is a spell-binding vision to behold. Layered in
Red, Black, White, and Brown waxes with the inside filled with pieces
in White, the candle must be burned in order for the light to escape
and for the Vampyre to be able to walk in the light of day.

The Scent is also a spell from the Grimoire of Xlyenona, called NOSFERATU
ILLUME, and is a special blend of Chocolate, Vanilla, Amber and other
Secret Essential Oils and Spices.

You too can have your very own DARKNESS WALKS THE LIGHT CANDLE, which can
only be made by Jfay with permission from the Vampyres DRAQUAL.


XOCAI CHOCOLATE ~ CHOCOLATE OF THE GODS

Used by Vlad Draqual in his DARKNESS WALKS THE LIGHT Secret Ritual


Xoçai™ X Power Squares™

The Xoçai™ X Power Squares use cacao that is blanched, unfermented,
sun-dried, non-roasted and cold-pressed, which means it boasts eight
times the levels of epicatechins and catechins, and four times the
levels of procyandins than cacao produced with standard processing. X
Power Squares are loaded with antioxidants and have an unparalleled
ORAC Value of 3,582 per 6g Square. The Xoçai™ X Power Squares are the
most powerful, health-promoting, decadent chocolate ever produced.

Exotic Xocai Chocolates Available Directly From Author William Maltese:

Don’t miss reading SUCKS! BOOK #1 OF THE DRAQUAL VAMPYRE CHRONICLES by William Maltese now in bookstores everywhere, and online at bn.com


Draqual SUCK! Boxers!

Get a pair for yourself, directly from the author, William Maltese!