Death's Door - Where Right and Glory Lead, can now be purchased at Preston NewsStand, located at Tower III, Preston Square (347 Preston Street in Ottawa).
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
An Evening With William DeSouza
Join me at the Ottawa Public Library - Hazeldean Branch in Kanata on Thursday, 05 November 2009 from 7pm to 8:30pm.
I will be discussing my Sci-Fi novel Death's Door - Where Right and Glory Lead. I will also speak about the research, writing and publishing process.
Registration is required - Please visit the Ottawa Public Library website by CLICKING HERE or phoning 613.836.1900
- Ottawa Public Library - Hazeldean Branch is located at 50 Castlefrank Road in Kanata
Monday, October 12, 2009
Excerpt of 'Home World'
Damage alarms would cycle on and off as smoke and sparks lit up the darkened bridge of the Starlight. Captain Knox held her right arm close to her body with her left, trying to protect the broken limb while a medic put a ring bandage around a piece of bone that was protruding at an angle. At first she thought the bone was hers but the medic quickly realized, and pointed out to her that it was from the leg of a crew member that was scattered around the bridge.
She couldn’t remove it however as there was too much bleeding and this would at least control the flow until she could get to sick bay where the doctor would remove the bone and repair the artery and wound. Knox winced from the pain as the medic completed the bandage, applied a pain killer patch on her neck and then moved on to the next casualty. There were many casualties as the Starlight took several direct hits from an unknown energy weapons before it managed to limp behind a large planetoid.
Knox slowly reached down and after picking up a piece of conduit that had fallen into her chair threw it aside but out of the way. Half her bridge crew was dead or injured and replacements were slow in arriving, everyone having to deal with their own catastrophe.
She coughed and said, “Damage report!”
No one answered at first, but an older Ensign, coughing and spiting blood on the decking spoke up from the tactical console. “Auxiliary bridge is cut off from ship access – no comm traffic in or out. Damage control crews are swamped and only twenty file percent have reported in. The repair robots have been assigned to vital sections only but progress is slow. Medical is spread throughout the ship – casualties on every deck. Starboard missile tubes four through ten are open to space, port side tubes all report faulty outer doors or no launch computer access and unable to fire. It leaves us only three workable tubes and they are loaded, but have to fire using manual guidance and programming. Laser turrets on the belly are operational but targeting computers are down – top side batteries are all gone.” He took several breaths and found it hard to breath, the smoke becoming chocking as the venation system struggled to clean the air.
A medic reached the Ensign and gave in a needle with a breathing compound in an effort to help oxygen reach vital organs. He continued, “Engineering reports jump engines are gone and we only have minimal propulsion with maneuvering thrusters.”
Knox was an optimist but it was hard to see a bright side to what was happening. The decoys had worked but it didn’t take the Horde ships long to figure out what was real and what wasn’t. The final sensor data confirmed that the attacking ships were of Horde design so it was pretty much safe to assume it was the Horde.
Knox was shaken from her chair and she fell to the ground when an explosion somewhere on the ship rocked it. What the fuck was that she swore to herself.
“Report!” she winced in pain as she picked herself up off the deck.
“Secondary explosion in starboard missile tube fifteen – one of the repair robots cut through the containment bottle trying to get to trapped crew. Three tubes on either side of fifteen is now open to space – all crew lost in that section.” The Ensign was a professional but he had a hard time holding back his emotion.
“Fuck!” Knox swore out loud as she tried to take in the death of her ship. “Do we have access to the sensor buoys?”
“Yes sir, they were on the belly section not touched by the attack. Status lights are green but we have no way to confirm that.” The tech was a bit confused as to why the captain was asking about the buoys.
“We’re not in position, but launch the remainder and send them on their way. Their internal AI will take over without input from the ship. We came out here to do a job and we may as well finish it. Besides, we can use the network once it’s up to see what the hell is going on outside, assuming we can even tap into the network with all this damage.” Knox coughed. “Comm, load a message packet, flash status. Drop all our logs into it and send to command.”
She took her good arm and wiped back the sweat that had built up on her forehead, running her fingers through her hair. Her eyes were burning as she blinked. Turning to see the ship status board, she noted that the fires reported earlier were slowing coming under control and the surviving crew was safe for now. She also realized that there was still a lot of work left for the damaged control crews as they worked overtime in a feverously pitch to contain the ship wide damages. She took in a deep gulp of air and almost suffocated on the sulfur like smell that resulted when so much of the protective covering on the damaged power and optical conduits burned away.
At once the sensor technician spoke up, breaking the silence, “Captain! Limited external sensors are online.” The young tech checked her board and confirmed the readings before continuing. “We have short range sensors only but we can get a good read of our immediate area out to five hundred kilometers.”
Knox smiled and walked over to a working monitor, “Send the feed to the A-six monitor.” She studied the screen as it came to life with the data. The Starlight was on the far side of a planetoid that was part of a series of asteroids and other small bodies that could have been from a collision of to two or more large asteroids. Either way it was helping to mask the big but damaged ship. Knox said to the officer on watch, “shout down all non-critical emissions and use passive sensors only. No active energy signatures – go to silent running.”
The order was repeated and carried out amongst the ciaos that was taking place on the bridge. Knox didn’t know at this point if the missiles they fired had any effective results or if the enemy ships were still out there. If they were still out there and out of sensor range they only had to wait the Starlight out and as soon as they showed their heads, come in for the kill and finish them off. It wouldn’t take them much at this point thought Knox. The air scrubbers began to kick in and clean the foul air chocking the bridge as the recovery crew removed the dead and injured. Damage control was working on repairing damaged systems at the same time. To Knox, the bridge looked as it did during initial construction as she remembered the confusion on the ship when she made her initial inspection tour.
“Auxiliary bridge is reporting sir, there’re using text only – internal communications is still out in that section and no video feed is available. They report two dead and only one injury.”
“What about the XO?” asked Knox as she peered down at the communication station officer.
“It was the XO that reported in sir.”
Knox was relived to hear her executive officer was alive as she had grown fond of the Commander over time. Any other emotion other than relief however at this time would have to wait. Knox pulled over one of her screens and called up a schematic of available resources, including offensive missiles. She wanted to be sure that there was enough of a punch left in case she had to fight off another Horde attack. In the back of her mind she knew any gesture of confrontation would be futile and that they were dead. She was determined to go down fighting if it came to that.
Most of the port missile launch rails were still locked out with launch doors unable to open. Crews were trying to space walk and open the doors from the outside but it was doubtful at this time if this would work. Knox had a thought however, “Missile control – relay to port tubes to rig demo charges on the door slides and blow them off. I want those tubes open and ready to fire in one hour.”
She couldn’t remove it however as there was too much bleeding and this would at least control the flow until she could get to sick bay where the doctor would remove the bone and repair the artery and wound. Knox winced from the pain as the medic completed the bandage, applied a pain killer patch on her neck and then moved on to the next casualty. There were many casualties as the Starlight took several direct hits from an unknown energy weapons before it managed to limp behind a large planetoid.
Knox slowly reached down and after picking up a piece of conduit that had fallen into her chair threw it aside but out of the way. Half her bridge crew was dead or injured and replacements were slow in arriving, everyone having to deal with their own catastrophe.
She coughed and said, “Damage report!”
No one answered at first, but an older Ensign, coughing and spiting blood on the decking spoke up from the tactical console. “Auxiliary bridge is cut off from ship access – no comm traffic in or out. Damage control crews are swamped and only twenty file percent have reported in. The repair robots have been assigned to vital sections only but progress is slow. Medical is spread throughout the ship – casualties on every deck. Starboard missile tubes four through ten are open to space, port side tubes all report faulty outer doors or no launch computer access and unable to fire. It leaves us only three workable tubes and they are loaded, but have to fire using manual guidance and programming. Laser turrets on the belly are operational but targeting computers are down – top side batteries are all gone.” He took several breaths and found it hard to breath, the smoke becoming chocking as the venation system struggled to clean the air.
A medic reached the Ensign and gave in a needle with a breathing compound in an effort to help oxygen reach vital organs. He continued, “Engineering reports jump engines are gone and we only have minimal propulsion with maneuvering thrusters.”
Knox was an optimist but it was hard to see a bright side to what was happening. The decoys had worked but it didn’t take the Horde ships long to figure out what was real and what wasn’t. The final sensor data confirmed that the attacking ships were of Horde design so it was pretty much safe to assume it was the Horde.
Knox was shaken from her chair and she fell to the ground when an explosion somewhere on the ship rocked it. What the fuck was that she swore to herself.
“Report!” she winced in pain as she picked herself up off the deck.
“Secondary explosion in starboard missile tube fifteen – one of the repair robots cut through the containment bottle trying to get to trapped crew. Three tubes on either side of fifteen is now open to space – all crew lost in that section.” The Ensign was a professional but he had a hard time holding back his emotion.
“Fuck!” Knox swore out loud as she tried to take in the death of her ship. “Do we have access to the sensor buoys?”
“Yes sir, they were on the belly section not touched by the attack. Status lights are green but we have no way to confirm that.” The tech was a bit confused as to why the captain was asking about the buoys.
“We’re not in position, but launch the remainder and send them on their way. Their internal AI will take over without input from the ship. We came out here to do a job and we may as well finish it. Besides, we can use the network once it’s up to see what the hell is going on outside, assuming we can even tap into the network with all this damage.” Knox coughed. “Comm, load a message packet, flash status. Drop all our logs into it and send to command.”
She took her good arm and wiped back the sweat that had built up on her forehead, running her fingers through her hair. Her eyes were burning as she blinked. Turning to see the ship status board, she noted that the fires reported earlier were slowing coming under control and the surviving crew was safe for now. She also realized that there was still a lot of work left for the damaged control crews as they worked overtime in a feverously pitch to contain the ship wide damages. She took in a deep gulp of air and almost suffocated on the sulfur like smell that resulted when so much of the protective covering on the damaged power and optical conduits burned away.
At once the sensor technician spoke up, breaking the silence, “Captain! Limited external sensors are online.” The young tech checked her board and confirmed the readings before continuing. “We have short range sensors only but we can get a good read of our immediate area out to five hundred kilometers.”
Knox smiled and walked over to a working monitor, “Send the feed to the A-six monitor.” She studied the screen as it came to life with the data. The Starlight was on the far side of a planetoid that was part of a series of asteroids and other small bodies that could have been from a collision of to two or more large asteroids. Either way it was helping to mask the big but damaged ship. Knox said to the officer on watch, “shout down all non-critical emissions and use passive sensors only. No active energy signatures – go to silent running.”
The order was repeated and carried out amongst the ciaos that was taking place on the bridge. Knox didn’t know at this point if the missiles they fired had any effective results or if the enemy ships were still out there. If they were still out there and out of sensor range they only had to wait the Starlight out and as soon as they showed their heads, come in for the kill and finish them off. It wouldn’t take them much at this point thought Knox. The air scrubbers began to kick in and clean the foul air chocking the bridge as the recovery crew removed the dead and injured. Damage control was working on repairing damaged systems at the same time. To Knox, the bridge looked as it did during initial construction as she remembered the confusion on the ship when she made her initial inspection tour.
“Auxiliary bridge is reporting sir, there’re using text only – internal communications is still out in that section and no video feed is available. They report two dead and only one injury.”
“What about the XO?” asked Knox as she peered down at the communication station officer.
“It was the XO that reported in sir.”
Knox was relived to hear her executive officer was alive as she had grown fond of the Commander over time. Any other emotion other than relief however at this time would have to wait. Knox pulled over one of her screens and called up a schematic of available resources, including offensive missiles. She wanted to be sure that there was enough of a punch left in case she had to fight off another Horde attack. In the back of her mind she knew any gesture of confrontation would be futile and that they were dead. She was determined to go down fighting if it came to that.
Most of the port missile launch rails were still locked out with launch doors unable to open. Crews were trying to space walk and open the doors from the outside but it was doubtful at this time if this would work. Knox had a thought however, “Missile control – relay to port tubes to rig demo charges on the door slides and blow them off. I want those tubes open and ready to fire in one hour.”
My First Blog Rant......
I live in Ottawa; Canada's national capital. A nations capital is by any definition, a showcase city. It is that first city that the fabric of a nation can be based and it should be a world destination.
Ottawa is not that place; at lease not right now. Our city is plagued by municipal councilors and a mayor that is, quite frankly, inept in their ability to make coherent decisions. In our last elections, Larry O'Brien ran with a platform to get rid of the north south rail line that had been planned (and contracts signed). He didn't like the price tag, design, route, and just about anything else.
He made good on that election promise and once elected, promptly pushed council into scraping the contract. That decision cost the city in $38 Million Dollars in an out of court settlement. What does he come up with, an east west line that is four stops long and burred under the downtown core. In essence a four (that's 4) stop subway. This grand plan does not meet up with the existing 'O' Train line and will cost billions to build. Once built, thousand's of commuters will have to disembark their express busses just outside the downtown core, wait for a train and somehow pack themselves in to travel two or three (maybe even four) stops. In essence this will add 15 to 30 minutes onto their travels to and from work. Does this make any sense? I think not. There was a previous proposal for an east west line running downtown but that was scraped.
Now, pushing his agenda through, he's come up with (along with some city staffers and councilors) building the very same north south route that he wanted terminated (and paid $38 Million Dollars in tax payers money in a settlement).
Toping that, we have a just our of downtown core sports facility that could have been redeveloped into an area of pride for the city (Landsdown Park area). We could have opened up the design phase to a national or even global competition.
No, instead Mr. O'Brien however began secrete negotiations with one group of business people that wanted to bring back north American football to the park (the tired time - fast on the heals of two previous failed attempts). We're now, for some strange reason only known to him, enrolled into a sole-source bid with this same business group.
What's very odd is that he knew about and negotiated with this group even before anyone else knew that we had to do something about the area. While the stands and park needed some work, no one knew how much and what it would take to redevelop the lands.
This was a sole-source bid from the very start. He even went on the news from the beginning and made it very clear he was not interested in any design competition and did not want to solicit any other bids for the re-development. This will cost the city's tax payers billions in the end.
This smells so bad, its making this once great city the laughing stock of the country and the world. Its time for a change.
Ottawa is not that place; at lease not right now. Our city is plagued by municipal councilors and a mayor that is, quite frankly, inept in their ability to make coherent decisions. In our last elections, Larry O'Brien ran with a platform to get rid of the north south rail line that had been planned (and contracts signed). He didn't like the price tag, design, route, and just about anything else.
He made good on that election promise and once elected, promptly pushed council into scraping the contract. That decision cost the city in $38 Million Dollars in an out of court settlement. What does he come up with, an east west line that is four stops long and burred under the downtown core. In essence a four (that's 4) stop subway. This grand plan does not meet up with the existing 'O' Train line and will cost billions to build. Once built, thousand's of commuters will have to disembark their express busses just outside the downtown core, wait for a train and somehow pack themselves in to travel two or three (maybe even four) stops. In essence this will add 15 to 30 minutes onto their travels to and from work. Does this make any sense? I think not. There was a previous proposal for an east west line running downtown but that was scraped.
Now, pushing his agenda through, he's come up with (along with some city staffers and councilors) building the very same north south route that he wanted terminated (and paid $38 Million Dollars in tax payers money in a settlement).
Toping that, we have a just our of downtown core sports facility that could have been redeveloped into an area of pride for the city (Landsdown Park area). We could have opened up the design phase to a national or even global competition.
No, instead Mr. O'Brien however began secrete negotiations with one group of business people that wanted to bring back north American football to the park (the tired time - fast on the heals of two previous failed attempts). We're now, for some strange reason only known to him, enrolled into a sole-source bid with this same business group.
What's very odd is that he knew about and negotiated with this group even before anyone else knew that we had to do something about the area. While the stands and park needed some work, no one knew how much and what it would take to redevelop the lands.
This was a sole-source bid from the very start. He even went on the news from the beginning and made it very clear he was not interested in any design competition and did not want to solicit any other bids for the re-development. This will cost the city's tax payers billions in the end.
This smells so bad, its making this once great city the laughing stock of the country and the world. Its time for a change.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Home World update....
Good news everybody, I've updated and finalized the cover art for Home World. The novel is about 75% completed in draft and I'm very excited about the project.
Look for updates on Home World on this blog or on my website www.williamdesouza.ca. I'll post updated excerpts from time to time once I've gone through the first re-write.
Home World - life will never be the same again
The story follows humanity's struggle for survival from an unknown enemy feared by every sentient life in the galaxy.
Humans are just the latest to face the most terrifying species one can imagine. A species that strips worlds of all life in order to plunder its resources before moving on; leaving an empty and lifeless shell hanging in the quiet black of space.
We were driven from our Home World by what was thought to be a natural but untimely expansion and death of our sun. Forced to seek out a new home before our life giving sun went nova, we made our exodus with a fraction of the population in a desperate effort to survive. Earth was left behind with the unlucky billions, waiting to be engulfed by the sun as it expanded into a red giant.
Since then, we've grown and seeded humanity on a number of far off planets; finding and making friends with other space faring life forms. Life was good for four hundred years; then a signal was received...a signal that should not have been possible - a signal from Earth. This is the signal that drops us into a fight for our lives.
Humanity soon finds that we have more than one powerful enemy, we also have to fight ourselves as old ideas and fears surface just when unity is needed.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Special Pricing Extended for Death's Door - Where Right and Glory Lead
Lets face it, we all want to pay less for the things we buy today, myself included.
Due to popular demand, I'm keeping the price of Death's Door - Where Right and Glory Lead to $15.99 USD (plus shipping) when purchased online.
Visit our online Bookstore and complete the order form and Pay by PayPal ®
Due to popular demand, I'm keeping the price of Death's Door - Where Right and Glory Lead to $15.99 USD (plus shipping) when purchased online.
Visit our online Bookstore and complete the order form and Pay by PayPal ®
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Special Father's Day Pricing
Special Father's Day pricing for Death's Door - Where Right and Glory Lead.
Just in time of Father's Day, you can purchase Death's Door - Where Right and Glory Lead for $15.99 (plus shipping) online.
Visit our website (http://www.williamdesouza.ca/) and complete the order form on the bookstore page.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
New Fiction Novel In The Works!!!
I've begun another project (I know, what the hell am I thinking); a fictional story, not related to sci-fi in any way. Its set in another country and another time (I'm not giving anything away just yet). I will say however that I was hounded to write the story by a couple of co-workers. Its an interesting project and I'm going to have fun writing the story.
I will add that this is a love story about a love that can not continue. Its a drastic departure from science fiction and that's why I'm looking forward to writing it.
I'm in the outline / research phase right now and do not have a complete time line for completion just yet. I do have three projects on the go but hey, I love to write so this not only keeps my mind engaged, but keeps me off the streets.
I will add that this is a love story about a love that can not continue. Its a drastic departure from science fiction and that's why I'm looking forward to writing it.
I'm in the outline / research phase right now and do not have a complete time line for completion just yet. I do have three projects on the go but hey, I love to write so this not only keeps my mind engaged, but keeps me off the streets.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
X-Minus One - A 1950's Classic
I've always enjoyed listening to old time radio dramas. Mystery, Drama and of course Science Fiction from the 1930's through to the 1950's are full of hope, excitement and adventure.The writers, always under the watchful eye of the network censors, wrote incredible radio shows that excited and inspired listeners around North America every day.
I was listening to an episode of X-Minus One lately and was inspired to write a short story based on this episode. Of course I can't say which episode as yet, but it'll be a good one. I'm really excited by the project and look forward to posting the finished short soon.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Short Story - Daydream Believer (Enjoy)
Daydream Believer
a short Speculative Fiction story by William A. DeSouza
a short Speculative Fiction story by William A. DeSouza
© Copyright 2005 (unedited copy)
The phone rang with the sound of a police car bringing attention to itself. It always rang and today it seemed the ringing was constant. It hadn’t stopped all morning and Joel was already drained of strength and emotion.
Joel West worked as a client service representative for a large company, and on days like this, he wished for another province-wide power failure or ice storm. Something to make the phones and persistent complaints from clients stop.
Joel had to endure it all while remaining pleasant, calm and polite. It was unbearable at the best of times, but today, it just seemed to be even more dreadful.
Although he didn’t admit it out loud, his personal life suffered because of the stresses at work. Going home on days like this was not much fun as he brought home a piece of the fruitless frustration he felt at work.
He looked at the calendar, it was January 28 and a Tuesday morning.
“Ah well.” He said to himself, his voice low enough that no one else would overhear.
He then checked his watch and compared the time with that of his computer screen. The digital clock showed seven minutes past eleven in the morning. Joel then stood, stretched his hands and neck, and turned around glancing over his cubical wall to see out the long rectangular window his co-worker had near her desk.
Lucky for her, he thought, disappointed he didn’t have a window. Although he couldn’t open it, it was still natural light. Mind you, after he saw the snow falling, and the wind whipping up gusts of already settled powder off the lower roof line, he was thankful that he didn’t have a window seat and that the windows couldn’t open. Snow fell in large clumps as the wind drove it downward, almost blinding anyone outside with its force. Joel couldn’t even see across to the next building.
“I have to get out of this place – a vacation in a warm and sunny place. With no phone or bitchy people complaining about some crap.” He sat and leaned back in this chair, it creaked as he did.
He had just pressed the red hang-up key on his phone after telling a client to wait for the mail before calling to say that the documents promised didn’t arrive.
How could it have arrived - you old fart, it wasn’t sent out yet. He fantasized about what he wanted to say to the client, although he knew deep down that he couldn’t bring himself to actually say it.
His thoughts drifted back to his last vacation as he leaned even further back, crossing his arms, embracing himself with a warm and comforting feeling of bliss and relief from the reality that was his life. His last real vacation was three years ago with his wife. The kids were at his brother-in-laws for the week and it was truly a week of relaxation. Joel and his wife drove down to Sandbanks and rented a room at a bed and breakfast. They did nothing constructive for the whole week, choosing to sun and swim, all the while resting not only body, but mind.
Joel closed his eyes and squeezed them tight as he tried to shut out the world. It didn’t work as other phones rang and client service staff answered in that oh so pleasant voice. It was enough to make Joel want to bring up his hasty breakfast of an egg on toast with ham.
Even my breakfasts are boring he thought.
He opened his eyes in time to see a picture on his computer screensaver. It was something that he downloaded, an image that gave him some hope for summer and the end of the snow and cold and slush. It was a warm and inviting picture of several thatched huts, large and round sitting on thick bamboo posts hammered into the sandy bottom of the Pacific Ocean. They had a long walking jetty leading out to and passing each hut with a short walkway. The water was crystal clear and even on the computer screen looked warm. It was clear enough to see the two or three meters to the bottom where the sand was a creamy white and small tropical fish swam amongst outcrops of coral.
Joel reached out and touched the screen, almost feeling the warm breeze he imagined blow on his fingers. The island oasis beckoned and he dreamed of being in that picture.
Oh to be there right now, he thought with wild abandonment as he shut out his work by closing his eyes. His coworkers, the phones, the angry and abusive clients disappeared and was replaced by more – tranquil images, smells and sounds.
The sound of the waves and tropical birds singing in the wind and riding magical and invisible waves in the sky, the breeze blowing gently, swaying the palm leaves and enticing the waves to lap gently against the white sand shores and the stilts of the huts, it was a tropical feast and it was all for him.
“Joel? Joel! You in there or what?”
“What? Oh, sorry, I must have been thinking.” Joel tried to cover up his drifting off and opened his eyes.
Sandra Oxford, one of his co-workers from the other team, interrupted him. “What’s up?” he asked quickly, hoping he didn't sound upset for being disturbed.
“My PC just went down and I need to send an email to systems. Can I get you to email them for me?” Sandra asked, her tone was soft and almost seductive as she smiled, daring him to say ‘no, go away and bug someone else’.
“Sure, no problem.” He answered, almost stammering as he smiled back.
She thanked him and turned to leave, but not before looking back over her shoulder at a confused looking Joel.
There was concern in that second glance, he hadn't realized Sandra was trying to get his attention for two minutes before he snapped back to reality. This wasn't the first time she'd seen him wig-out. At least that's what everyone in the office was calling it when Joel went on one of his little daydream trips.
The remainder of the day was uneventful and Joel went home as usual in a bland, unfulfilled mood.
The next day Joel was one of the first people to arrive at the office and it hadn’t started well. Stepping off the bus into ankle deep slush was the first of several incidents that set the tone for the day. As he was about to enter the building, a van drove through a large slush puddle and promptly splashed Joel from his waist down. The cold, wet and salty liquid coated his dress pants and coat. As he dealt with that insult, and as he searched for his pass, a flash of insight and recollection crossed his mind as he saw the pass he was seeking sitting on the hall table as he left the house.
"Just freaking marvelous." He said to himself in resigned disgust as he tried to brush off the clumps of slush and snow.
Joel did count himself lucky when he ran into another early arrival.
"Hey Joel, I didn't expect to see you this early," said Sara Armstrong, one of the local program managers.
"I'm making up some time from last week." replied Joel in a low but friendly voice.
Sara looked at the wet pants but didn’t say anything as she swiped her access card and pressed the elevator button. No more was said on the ride up, all the while Joel watched the floor indicators changing, looking intently in blank, resolute silence.
When he arrived at his desk, he tossed his lunch bag under it and plopped himself in his chair with a grand sigh. The open concept floor was empty at this time of day except for three other workers, but they were at the other end of the floor. He reached over, silently moaning, and switched on his computer.
There was that image on his screen, tranquil, clear, clean and peaceful, the tropical oasis that was his sanctuary.
It didn’t take long for him to feel the breeze, and hear the gentle ocean waves. It happened so fast it caught Joel off guard. As he stepped back he felt something different – sand, it was sand at his feet. He couldn’t explain what happened, what was happening, but the smell of the tropics and salt air continued to entice him to explore theses new feelings and senses for just a bit longer.
He turned around taking in the sites, a rich, green jungle with thatched palm huts lining the edge stood only meters from him. He could see off in the distance walking paths threading into the jungle. He bent and picked up a hand full of sand, letting it flow through his fingers, slowly at first then faster. It was warm to the touch and soft at the same time. The sun was high in the clear blue sky, with only wisps of white clouds to add to the beauty and majesty of the scene.
He blinked several times, thinking that this was too good to be true. He was after all, in his office - how could this be his paradise? It was a question that he couldn’t answer.
Joel walked slowly toward the water, it was clear and alluring. He increased his pace and as he approached, he realized dreams do come true, that there must be a god or gods to grant him this wish. Stopping at the edge of the water, he removed his socks and shoes, he didn’t want to get them wet, after all. He placed his socks neatly inside each shoe and waded into the surf. As his feet touched the water, he felt all warm and fuzzy inside, it was almost as good as sex he thought. Now he noticed his pants were getting soaked.
Looking around quickly, he saw no one, he was alone. “So why not take it all off?” he asked himself aloud. Hearing no dissenting argument, he stripped down to this shorts, throwing caution to the wind as he whipped off his jacket, shirt and pants, he tossed them on the sandy beach, landing just beside his shoes.
Joel ran into the warm water, crashing against a wave coming onto the beach. He screamed in joy and delight at the feeling. He looked up and waved at the birds flying overhead, cawing out to him as if to say welcome home Joel.
He dove under the next wave tasting the salt and feeling the sand and water wash over his body. It gave him goose pimples to think that this was all for him.
As he swam and dived a feeling of dread suddenly crept into his mind, he felt that he was being watched. He stood quickly, shaking off the water from his hair and wiping around his eyes as he scanned the horizon. He didn’t see any boats in the water or people on the beach, and the thatched huts on the tree line were still empty.
“Just my over active imagination.” he said to himself as the feeling of impending doom drifted away.
He smiled content in his feeling of tranquility. He let himself fall backward into the next wave and it felt good. It was like being embraced by a long lost lover that only wants to hold you tight.
After swimming around a bit longer, he walked back toward the shore and when he reached the drier sand, he fell to his knees and rolled over onto this back. The sun, still high in the sky, felt welcoming as it baked the beach. It was ambrosia to his skin as rays of light and heat danced off the drops of water that loitered on his body from the swim.
I could get used to this he thought lightheartedly.
Nothing else mattered to him now and soon the life he had at the office was just a nightmare and a lie. This was reality, a reality that was as real as the sand he was lying on. He rejoiced in the fact that he was awake now, forever rid of that life that never happened and that the ringing of the phones and complaining clients would never again intrude into his truth.
As he closed his eyes again, he could hear the distant rustling of tree leaves as the warm breeze played with the birds above. He could also hear something else in the distance but he paid it no mind. He was starting to drift off and anything else right now was inconsequential.
The distant noise persisted however and with his eyes still shut tight, he began to think that he was imaging it.
“Whatever it is, it can wait.” he said and turned to his side, his head resting on his hands as he drew his knees up to get comfortable.
He thought after a while, this sand is not the easiest thing to sleep on he mused, but it’ll do. I do hope that police car drives by soon and shuts off that dam siren.
That feeling of dread began to creep back into his mind as he tried to shut out the sound of the police car; it was like the sound of phones in his nightmare.
All at once his mind crashed, his thoughts of bliss and serene calm were replaced with fear and dread. He heard sounds, strange but familiar sounds. These were sounds that could not have come from his paradise, his beach.
People talking in hush, mute conversations all around him began to invade is consciousness even as he tried desperately to keep them out. He heard his name whispered several times but dared not open his eyes for fear of evoking the nightmare again.
He was finally at peace, he was alone with his reality. What did he do to bring back the bad place he wished so much to leave?
Then a touch, a caress that was light and almost pleasing as it brushed across his brow as someone said his name, louder this time, asking him if he was alright.
Although he dared not, he had to see for himself. He opened his eyes slowly at first. Everything was a blur but it came into focus quickly enough as he saw people he recognized from his nightmare stand all around him. The sand he went to sleep on was replaced by a rough, smelly carpet and the sun was exchanged for dingy florescent lighting.
As he focused further, he noticed that there was a chill in the air. Joel looked down and realized he was naked except for his boxers, his clothes in a pile by his shoes.
He was back and he wanted to die as he screamed, “Make it stop! Make them go away!”
Book Signing On January 31st An Immeasurable Success
My book signing on January 31st at Coles Book Store in the Bayshore Shopping Centre was beyond doubt, an immeasurable success. While sales of Death's Door - Where Right and Glory Lead exceeded my expectations; it was not the highlight.
The the icing on the cake for me was the interest shown in the book, and my work. I was very pleased, and hope that the interest shown will generate in more 'fans' and readers of my work - its always nice to be appreciated.
Now, something else I noticed about the book signing (and yes, it may be off topic just a tad):
There are a lot more sci-fi fans out there than I realized; and the vast majority of individuals coming up to talk were women. Now, I know I'm good looking (well, I am...), it wouldn't be my looks that attracted the women. While unscientific, I have to say from numbers alone, more women seemed interested in reading science fiction books (at least in my little part of the universe).
Now that could be due to the fact that sci-fi guys are stuck in dark basement bedrooms (in their parents houses) playing on-line games and dressing up as their favorite Star Trek and Star Wars characters.
Sad, but this may be a truism that we have to live with. So my advice to female fans of science fiction, keep reading and enjoy it. To the male science fiction fans, get off the couch, get out of the parents basement, turn on the lights and get a life. Read a book or two or three. The women have you outnumbered and you're living up to the stereotype.
The the icing on the cake for me was the interest shown in the book, and my work. I was very pleased, and hope that the interest shown will generate in more 'fans' and readers of my work - its always nice to be appreciated.
Now, something else I noticed about the book signing (and yes, it may be off topic just a tad):
There are a lot more sci-fi fans out there than I realized; and the vast majority of individuals coming up to talk were women. Now, I know I'm good looking (well, I am...), it wouldn't be my looks that attracted the women. While unscientific, I have to say from numbers alone, more women seemed interested in reading science fiction books (at least in my little part of the universe).
Now that could be due to the fact that sci-fi guys are stuck in dark basement bedrooms (in their parents houses) playing on-line games and dressing up as their favorite Star Trek and Star Wars characters.
Sad, but this may be a truism that we have to live with. So my advice to female fans of science fiction, keep reading and enjoy it. To the male science fiction fans, get off the couch, get out of the parents basement, turn on the lights and get a life. Read a book or two or three. The women have you outnumbered and you're living up to the stereotype.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Death's Door - Where Right and Glory Lead is available at the Ottawa Public Library
Death's Door - Where Right and Glory Lead, is now available for loan at the Ottawa Public Library (you can search under the title or author section)
Monday, January 19, 2009
Book Signing - Saturday, January 31st
I am holding a book signing at Coles Book Store in Bayshore Shopping Centre on Saturday, January 31st from 11am to 3pm. The mall is located at 100 Bayshore Drive in Nepean (Phone number 613.829.6055).
I will be there from 11am to 3pm and I'm inviting everyone (that can make it) to come on out.
Cheers & Thanks....
Saturday, January 17, 2009
For Sale at Coles Book Store - Bayshore Mall
Death's Door - Where Right and Glory Lead, is now for sale at Coles - Bayshore Shopping Centre (100 Bayshore Drive in Nepean; phone number 613.829.6055).
You'll need to ask for it in the Local Author's and in the Science Fiction sections.
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