Peek into a Young Writer

For the past week I’ve been doing some serious cleaning. In my family we have what I affectionately refer to as packratitis. If I don’t do seasonal cleaning in my apartment I swear I’ll end up being buried beneath a stack of only Goddess knows what. 🙂

During the course of rooting through the closet from Hell, I came across a box of odds and ends. Among those bits of the past I found a great number of things including some small journals. For as long as I can remember I’ve kept some type of journal or diary. The first journal I clearly remember was a small red diary with a lock and a tiny gold key. I was in the third grade and the extent of it was about how much I hated my younger brother, who was a huge butt munch, and how much of a crush I had on Tim Ceplina. Of course the butt munch brother found my diary, broke the lock, and proceeded to tell everyone at school that I was crushing on said boy. I wailed and screamed about how my life was over and I would never be able to show my face at school again.

Oh, for the good old days when my biggest concern was how to get even with the butt munch for ruining my 9 year old life.

As I got older the subject matter didn’t change much other than to become more soaked with teen angst. I was still crushing on Tim Ceplina and wishing I was dead. The dead part mainly because Tim didn’t even know I was alive. LOL

Entering into my twenties I’d started a new life in a new city and the journals which had once been rife with angst over why my latest crush ignored me transformed. No longer did I ramble on for pages about how I should just jump off a cliff because no one would notice anyway. Instead I decided to become a poet. Yes, a poet. *head desk*

Now there were volumes of dark, broody poems that involved darkness, blood, moonlight, yada, yada, etc. A few years ago I would have been embarrassed to admit this much less allow anyone to see it. Last night as I sat flipping through these small journals of “poetry” I thought about how much I’d grown in the past twenty years. I also realized that I had always written even if I hadn’t realized it.

So despite my horror at doing so (somewhere deep inside the 21 year old version of me is screaming bloody murder at my betrayal) I’ve decided to give you a peek into a young writer. Below is a sample of the broody poetry that eventually led to story writing and becoming a published writer. Yes, I’m blushing as I type this, but that’s okay. As they used to say in those old Virginia Slim cigarette ads “You’ve come a long way, Baby.”

Untitled Poem

Night falls

Darkling mist

On gossamer wings they come

Dancing on tiny inhuman feet

Music plays

Mystical notes

Tiny voices to enthrall

Calling to us–children all

Dancing feet

Complex steps

From beyond swirling forms

Through the veil they cross

Full moon rising

Clouds departing

To come to them is forbidden

Yet what sweet music they sing

Okay, let the laughing commence. 😉

December: Pagan Artist of the Month : Tom Brown

Something new here at The Pagan and the Pen is the Pagan Artist of the Month. We have been planning this for sometime and I am pleased to announce that our first is Tom Brown, a very creative artist that I personally dig.

To kick this whole thing off, I wanted to interview him and I have to tell you, after researching some past interviews on the net, and well, some posted here by Bryn Colvin, I knew that I was dealing with someone with a deep mind and intense talent. But don’t let me convince you…read and see for yourself….

I give to you, Tom Brown…

CH Scarlett : Tell us about the Pagan that lives inside of Tom Brown and do those beliefs inspire your fabulous art?

Tom Brown: Paganism is not as much about belief for me, as it is about experience and perception.Probably dating back to feelings I had in certain landscapes and situations as a child. The woods tended to wake something in me particularly. I’m currently on the druid path. (studying and exploring with Brynneth Nimue) The draw here is the sense of tradition, celebration and honor , mixed with a very non-dogmatic desire for exploration. Like Brynneth, I would describe myself as an agnostic with suspicions.

CH Scarlett : When did you first discover your talent?

Tom Brown: Oh. Difficult to say. I’ve been drawing as far back as I can remember, and as soon as I was able to write, the art was part of stories. Most of my early efforts were sequential. I studied comic books, fiction and illustration rabidly, and practiced for hours and hours – frequently when I was supposed to be doing other things like, paying attention in math class. Most of my homework was..erm..illuminated.

CH Scarlett : And I would have been the mindless twit sitting behind you in math class, peeking over your shoulder, sighing heavily over everything your pen drew.

Now with that admitted, what is the process behind most of your art? What mediums do you use?

Tom Brown: The technique I’m using now is a fairly recent development. I had been using watercolor and charcoal and pen quite a bit. Now it’s almost entirely reliant on pencil with some augmentation in Photoshop. There is something about working in graphite on Bristol board…very time consuming but you can get a range, depth and subtlety this way that’s nearly impossible otherwise (in my experience at least). I’m playing with combining other visual sources and bringing the digital painting and compositing in more recently. Sometimes I miss the impact and drama of black and white, so may return to ink some day.

The current process goes something like this.
1 Sketch lightly on Bristol board.
2. Rub and soften the sketch lines.

3. Redefine lines sharply (where appropriate) and begin shading.

4. Rub again and start picking out highlights with eraser.
5. Find and establish the darkest areas and boldest lines, work them until they are sharp.

6. Using very sharp drafting pencil pick out fine details (tree branches/twigs, bits of architectural detail etc).

7. Scan and put a layer of color over all in Photoshop.
8. Erase color layer to define lighting and emphasize highlights.
9. Digitally paint opaque elements (Magic, glows, eye color, sharp highlights and so on).

10. (If it is a page) add balloons and text.

CH Scarlett : *sighs* SORRY, I was slobbering-eh-um-daydreaming over one of your art pieces! Told ya, I just dig your creations!

Knowing now my dark chocolate, I have to say that I am often moved by certain artists. When I’m writing, sometimes I will find a piece of art by an artist, place it on my desktop and use it when I need inspiration for the world I am about to create. I do the same thing with music. What artists and or musicians–and songs– if any, inspire you and why?

Tom Brown: I used to have music on constantly, while working but over the last year have been working without. No real idea why.  I do love and enjoy music. It’s certainly a source of inspiration. I seem to be in an between place with what music in particular just now though. My taste in music is…eclectic, to say the least.

For inspiration I have on my desktop, a photo of my partner, Brynneth. Her writing is also a major source of inspiration.

Visual artists who inspire me are myriad. I spend a lot of time on deviantart.com. The sheer amount of collective talent and skill represented there is overwhelming. Constantly inspired and frequently humbled by what I find there. Some of my all time favorites would be Bosch, Hayao Miyazaki, and Mike Mignola. Any attempt at a complete list though, would take hours (and be incomplete).

CH Scarlett : Well I have to admit, you and Brynneth working together (Copper Age) is absolutely explosive.  Her writing, your art—*sighs*

There I go again, so let me focus! lol

After exploration of a web site of yours, and seeing first hand a picture of you, I have to say my mind began to spontaneously combust with curiosity concerning the man behind the brush.

It made me think of  a movie I watched long ago called In the Mouth of Madness. I’m not sure if you have ever seen that, but in the movie, an author named Sutter Cane ends up creating a world of Horror that becomes reality. This happens because of all of the readers that come to believe in it. So I began to compare you with that storyline. If Tom Brown had the power of Sutter Cane, what would the world look like tomorrow when we woke up to see it with new eyes?

Tom Brown: Wow…! What a question! It would look very much the same as it does now most likely. It’s all about which parts you choose to pay attention to. (And which possibilities you are willing to explore and accept.)

I could go on here..but it would very likely turn into a story. The real answer is probably in the art as it is. Some things need to be set in the dark to shine properly.
Again, brilliant question!

CH Scarlett : Judging by the picture above, that is so true.

Quote:

Some things need to be set in the dark to shine properly.

Thank you Tom for doing this interview, for kicking off our Pagan Artist of the Month, and for letting us decorate our posts here and there (for the month) with your fabulous creations. If someone would like to commission your talent, where can they find you? What are you open for—Book covers, Graphic Novels… what?

Tom Brown: It’s my pleasure, and thanks very much for the opportunity! Time permitting I’m open to nearly anything. I can be contacted at hopelessmaine@gmail.com & check out http://www.itisacircle.com/

Now remember everyone, I’ll be making posts here and or there showing off Tom’s art throughout the month of December. And believe me , no one will have to twist my arm to do it. There’s just something about the worlds he creates that keeps a dash of Goth girl such as me like a moth to flame. And mark my words when I say this…keep your eyes on Tom’s masterpieces because it doesn’t take a crystal ball to know that he will go far…very, very far!

*sighs* I am drooling again. I can’t help it! I just want to live in his pictures!!!!!

Enslaved by an Incubus

You are welcome my lover,

Dark Master and tormentor,

You satisfy my body,

But will destroy my mind.

I have missed you these last evenings,

Though all sense speaks against you,

I am tainted by your poison.

I can feel you in my blood.

With the darkness like a death shroud,

That grants no final sleep,

A whispered breath across my skin,

Sends a shiver running down my spine.

You are within me and around me,

Possessing me completely,

I am too weak to resist you,

Bound to serve your every whim.

Mist condensed to manhood,

What was cold, now hot with blood,

You feed upon my life force,

In return you give your love.

A relentless addiction,

I cannot give you up.

Fiery through my senses,

Thrusts that make me gasp.

Long nights of twisted passion,

When I barely stay alive,

Your form so often changing,

Through the hours of the night.

Hallucinogenic spiralling,

Drowning me with light,

Dizzy constant tumbling,

Sweet kisses taste of pain,

Bloodstains on my body,

As I pray you’ll come again.

You give me pain and pleasure,

Until I cannot tell between them,

Smouldering at your touches,

Bitten deep and to the core.

I tremble at your mercy,

Begging for your favours,

Mad for want of sweet release,

Master, this slave is yours.

I might curse you for this torture,

And mourn over my weakness,

But as soon as you have left me,

I will long for your return,

My monster and my madness,

My fate and sweet corruption,

You have seduced my mind and body,

I am dying for your love.

Announcements: What’s coming in December for our Readers!

I decided that on the 1st of every month, I’d do an announcement of what’s coming in December for The Pagan & the Pen Readers. Now I can’t possibly list everything that we will have in December since much of what we do is spur of the moment type stuff…but if its already planned, well I will be sure to scream about it here.

December Themes!!!!!!!

Bryn Colvin suggested a theme for this month so that we wouldn’t be predictable with the usual cheer and Christmas whatever…

So the theme for this month is….

A Paranormal December!

We will still have various information and articles concerning Yule, and whatever else our Authors decide to announce or post, but some of our fabulous Pagans wielding a Pen will be posting things on the Paranormal–whether it be their own personal experiences, or information pertaining to the field and phenomena itself!

Don’t forget to grab your

Free Christmas Calendar for the Kids!

Contests…

Win a Free Copy of Bound by Blood: The Awakening by C.H. Scarlett

Remember all Book reviews will be posted on the 20th of each month. We also have new reviewers too.

Erin Sinclair kicked off her Dear Spirit this past week so go check out the Dear Spirit page, grab her email, and send her a couple of questions.

If you have sent questions and are uncertain if she got them, then shout out at me.

She was having troubles with email when we launched it, grabbed her a new email, and away she went.

Again…this is FREE! You’re not going to send questions and then get some email saying, oh, by the way, give me a gazillion dollars for your reading lol. No, we don’t work that way here. If your questions are picked and answered, if you are thrilled, if you want to do something for Erin, then check out her books. Believe me, to a writer that’s the best thing in the world.

~

We also launched out very first Pagan Artist of the Month

Pagan Artist of the Month

Well that’s it for now…I THINK. As I said, anymore surprises we think of, will be posted on the spur of a moment!

Below, the following pages have been updated.

About Us

Our Authors

Books & Trailers

We also have our very own Video showing off some of our Authors:

Our Authors

You can find it on that page.

Some new things to our blog—

Dear Spirit

Pagan Months, Days, & Holidays