Marble Freedoms

Seeing the state capitol for the first time was unforgettable.

Every piece of stone dripped with artistrty and careful craftsmanship. Every detail -- the bronze fixtures, the frosted glass, the Tiffany lighting, the paint -- had been planned and thought out with the utmost attention to the final product. It was blatantly obvious: beautiful work like this comes only out of love.

The craftsmen who labored for years on this beautiful building did it because they believed in the principles of our great nation. They believed in honor, freedom, and justice for all. They believed in the basic tenets of life, liberty, free speech, freedom to defend one's self and property, and the pursuit of one's own destiny. And they believed in our country and what it could be, so much that they built this vast monument so future generations would not forget what our forefathers gave their lives to create.

I strongly urge you; if you have the chance, visit your state capitol. Read the constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Internalize the Declaration of Independence. Remember where you come from. Understand how we got here. Treasure what you have.

Hold it close and give it up for no one.

~*~

Heather S. Ingemar has loved to play with words since she was little, and it wasn’t long until she started writing her own stories. Termed “a little odd” by her peers, she took great delight in exploring tales with a gothic flair, and to this day, Edgar Allan Poe continues to be her literary hero. To learn more, please visit: http://ingemarwrites.wordpress.com/ or follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/heatheringemar

Buy a story (or two or three): http://amzn.to/dlAKwt

Ban This Book - I Dare You!

Being one who talks a lot, I can't fathom anything beyond free speech. And book banning? Yes, while some books have no useful purpose other than to cause anarchy, harm others, or create chaos, it's the other books I'm more concerned with - one person's banned book may be someone else's fun read.

Take The Witch Tree, a perfect little Halloween read. It's a dark little tale. A story of man vs. nature, good vs. evil. There're some yucky parts, too, perfect for a horror tale. Definitely not some people's cup of tea. I like to read scary stuff. I grew up with Stephen King. I like scary movies. I like to write scary stories sometimes too.

So, maybe it's not your cup of tea or coffee. I understand, but I hope it is! If you want to ban it, however, go ahead. It'll only make it more desirable. So, someone ban it, please! (Hint-hint!)

Excerpt from THE WITCH TREE by C.A. Verstraete:

What he noticed first was the sound.

Jimmy Grayson lifted his head from the grimy pillow, stared at the open window, and cringed. The onslaught seemed to come from every direction. He placed a hand over his ear to try to block it out. No such luck. High-pitched screeches, nonstop chattering, the endless wall of freaking sound was making him crazy.

In one swift motion, he threw off the dingy, worn quilt, catapulted from the bed, and rushed to the window. "Shut up!" he screamed, not caring how unhinged he sounded. "Shut the hell up!"

It stopped.

Ahhh. A deep sigh escaped him; an appreciation for the quiet filled him. He exhaled in a soft whoosh of air. The muscles in his neck relaxed as the tension left. His eyes closed almost of themselves-then popped open as the cacophony started up again.
The endless, unendurable shrieks, chirps, and chatters surrounded him from all sides like a blanket. With each passing second, the sound from hundreds of blackbirds increased in volume.

** I dare you to read on! Turn the lights low, or fire up the laptop and read THE WITCH TREE. Oh, don’t forget to lock the door!

* Buy THE WITCH TREE at Fictionwise