Sorry about your book, Bill. It makes me wonder how many books are pirated in general, especially of self-published ones where the author has little or no recourse due to the cost of lawsuits.
1,152 2020-04-16 18:33:19
Re: Savior of the Damned (the Connor series) by Dirk B. (1,461 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
I definitely prefer their experiences to be similar if possible. I'll try playing with the wording of both healings to see if I can do more to reconcile the two.
1,153 2020-04-16 00:04:41
Re: Savior of the Damned (the Connor series) by Dirk B. (1,461 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Bit of a plot hole in three of my scenes that I'd like to address, although I'm not sure how. Scene 1.1 (the healing of Alessandro's epilepsy) has Alessandro clearly know what happened during the seizure, although epileptics normally don't remember anything. In scene 1.3 he discusses it with Connor at breakfast as having felt the Holy Spirit bathe him in healing energy. Scene 2.1 has Connor kiss Cardinal Nnamani's ring on the cardinal's paralyzed arm, which leads to tingling in the fingers by the end of the scene and a full recovery within a day.
Question is, how come Alessandro felt himself being healed even while unconscious, while Nnamani felt no such rush through his body? The best answer I can come up with is that Connor was pouring healing energy directly into Alessandro's brain (he was holding Alessandro's head at the time), whereas he only held the cardinal's arm and kissed his ring. Seems like an asspull, though, since the entire right side of the cardinal's body is healed within 24 hours, which in theory ought to include his brain. Another possible answer is that the cardinal didn't feel it right away because his right side is paralyzed, including damage to the relevant part of his brain. Both options seem lame.
Or, I can just say screw it and ignore the problem. No reviewers have brought it up, although that could be because they're reading my scenes weeks apart and it doesn't stand out.
Thoughts?
Dirk
1,154 2020-04-14 23:20:46
Re: Microsoft now flagging two spaces after period an error (19 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
someone could ask a printer
I asked my Epson but it just looked at me as if I was stupid.
1,155 2020-04-14 04:08:06
Re: Microsoft now flagging two spaces after period an error (19 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
That brings my previous novel to mind, John, because it was crap. I only admit this to see how long we can keep a thread about white space going.
1,156 2020-04-13 21:35:36
Re: Microsoft now flagging two spaces after period an error (19 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
It was a tongue-in-cheek post, dagny, although I am fascinated by how much activity those two little space characters have generated in this thread. Please, all, do continue. This is a welcome break from Netflix's V Wars, my dwindling investments and toilet paper supply, and round-the-clock coronavirus news.
1,157 2020-04-13 02:45:42
Topic: Microsoft now flagging two spaces after period an error (19 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
A giant new hole in the northern ozone. A killer pandemic. And now this.
The age of Homo Sapiens is coming to an end.
1,158 2020-04-07 20:22:26
Re: Song list for John Hamler (22 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
https://mobile.twitter.com/martingeorge … 6119816192
You may have to reload to make it work.
This was really good. A couple of them actually sounded like they belong on Broadway.
1,159 2020-04-03 05:54:47
Re: Savior of the Damned (the Connor series) by Dirk B. (1,461 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Got it: red-winged blackbirds. Not very big, but the bright red markings are reminiscent of fresh blood. Plus, they'll seem like a harmless curiosity at first.
1,160 2020-04-03 05:47:54
Re: Savior of the Damned (the Connor series) by Dirk B. (1,461 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Nuts. Ravens feature prominently in Omen 2. They act on behalf of teenaged Damien's subconscious to kill three of his potential enemies. Given the other similarities between my story and the Omen, I'll probably avoid ravens. Crows, perhaps?
1,161 2020-04-03 03:30:35
Re: Savior of the Damned (the Connor series) by Dirk B. (1,461 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Yeah, they're big in Norse mythology. They also act as psychopomps between the real and spirit worlds. They're considered bad luck in some cultures. I wouldn't want to piss one off.
1,162 2020-04-03 02:30:33
Re: Savior of the Damned (the Connor series) by Dirk B. (1,461 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Lynn suggested having ravens appear in my chapter where Campagna first meets Connor (at the soccer game). I like that so much I'm going to use that everywhere that the two inspectors go in pursuit of the Antichrist. There'll always be a raven somewhere in the scene, culminating in a mass assault by a flock of them. Ravens don't actually flock, which will add to the mystery. I just need to re-watch the Omen to avoid duplicating what they did.
1,163 2020-03-31 22:08:56
Re: Savior of the Damned (the Connor series) by Dirk B. (1,461 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Almost had a heart attack after rechecking my research about Satan fathering the Antichrist. Folks on my Catholic forum say angels and demons can't reproduce. Fortunately, I eventually (re)stumbled on Genesis 6:1-4. It clearly distinguishes sons of God from men. The former are generally understood to be angels according to the NABRE, the most commonly used Catholic Bible in the US. Also, Wikipedia has an article about sex with demons, although it's not as clear as the Bible verses.
1,164 2020-03-30 22:37:10
Re: Outbreak, 1995 (15 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Better yet, I recommend Pride & Prejudice with Keira Knightly (no zombies). Currently on Netflix. A stellar cast and soundtrack. Much better than the book, and the only virus is a common cold.
1,165 2020-03-30 20:45:16
Re: Covid-19 - A Warning. (14 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
I now know two people in the US who have it, and it's broken out in my mother's care home, even though the total confirmed cases in Canada is just 7300. Alberta Health Services has yet to mandate masks for people working in care homes. Morons.
1,166 2020-03-30 20:34:09
Re: Outbreak, 1995 (15 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Boo! Prime won't let me rent/view it from Canada. They just lost $4 in sales.
1,167 2020-03-30 17:57:56
Re: Outbreak, 1995 (15 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
I need to look for the Andromeda Strain online. I remember I really liked it, although I no longer remember the plot.
1,168 2020-03-30 13:15:38
Re: Outbreak, 1995 (15 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
If the current situation doesn't have you worried enough, check out Contagion as well. It's uncanny how much the movie mirrors the current pandemic, except with a much higher mortality rate (25%). The film has a great cast and is available on multiple streaming platforms, including Netflix. I originally thought they shouldn't have run the film, but the beach goers in Florida need to see it.
1,169 2020-03-29 17:34:08
Re: The Sorcerer's Progress (1,528 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Amateurs. I'm always in the doldrums. Add four tax returns (mine and family) and I'll be out of commission for a month.
1,170 2020-03-28 16:47:22
Re: Covid-19 - A Warning. (14 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Glad you're on the mend, Ray.
1,171 2020-03-28 04:07:44
Re: Song list for John Hamler (22 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Mercy sakes alive, looks like we got us a Convoy!
CW McCall
1,172 2020-03-21 02:53:46
Re: Savior of the Damned (the Connor series) by Dirk B. (1,461 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
I decided to stick with the Baldacchino collapsing for now. It's really just four bronze pillars and a top. Connor tells Father Romano that it was an attempt on Connor's life. Connor reports an evil presence at the site of the collapse, which his godfather (a police inspector) thinks is the Antichrist. However, I can't leave any proof of the AC's involvement so that the Pope's Council only has Connor's word on the matter. Romano suggests that Connor may be the forerunner to Christ's second coming, like John the Baptist was in the first century. There's a well-documented private revelation about an 'Angelic Pope', who comes before the End Times. One member of the council (a bit of a heretic) even suggests Connor may actually be Christ, and may simply not know it yet. All that gets hashed out in Connor's next chapter.
1,173 2020-03-17 17:53:30
Re: Savior of the Damned (the Connor series) by Dirk B. (1,461 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
I'm playing loosely with reality, since the Baldacchino actually weighs 90 tons. That thing falling would cause so much noise and destruction, it would resemble a mini-911. The underground burial vaults would collapse, kicking up thick debris. I decided not to use those details for story reasons, so I left out the weight of the structure. I'm still mulling over what else I might tip over that is more realistic than the Baldacchino collapsing.
1,174 2020-03-17 17:40:38
Re: Savior of the Damned (the Connor series) by Dirk B. (1,461 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Thanks, njc. I'll add some of those elements.
1,175 2020-03-17 01:42:22
Re: Savior of the Damned (the Connor series) by Dirk B. (1,461 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Seabrass-inspired change to the tour of St. Peter's Basilica:
They continued their tour, passing quietly by the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament.
...
Connor looked all around him, then addressed Romano and Luca. “Something’s not right.”
“What do you mean?” Romano asked.
“There’s evil here,” he whispered. “Inside the church.”
“Can you tell where?” Luca asked.
Connor closed his eyes and knitted his brow. After a few moments, he shook his head. “No.”
“Is it near you?”
“Not yet.”
“Should we leave?” Luca asked Romano.
“Connor?” Romano asked.
“I’d like to stay. Try to draw it out. I need to know more about my enemies.”
“Very well. Let us know if you sense anything else.”
Quick recap: the Baldacchino is the towering bronze canopy over the Papal Altar.
The sound of splitting concrete emanated from below the Baldacchino and it began to tilt toward Connor.
“Look out!” Romano yelled. He grabbed Connor and yanked him out of the way, just in time.
The Baldacchino toppled. Everyone covered their ears as the massive structure crashed to the ground with reverberating ear-splitting booms. The Papal Altar was crushed. Tourists fled.
Connor stared at the rubble and swallowed hard. “Thank you, Father Romano!”
Romano walked to where the Baldacchino had stood. “It looks like the concrete holding the four pillars upright gave way. I guess after four hundred years you have to expect something like this.”
Onlookers gathered.
Connor took a deep breath. “This was no accident.”
Luca asked, “What do you mean?”
“The evil I sensed earlier was here. I can still feel it.”
“You think a demon might have done this?”
“I doubt an ordinary demon would be strong enough, especially inside Vatican walls. My godfather thinks the Antichrist is stalking me.”
Romano said, “I think we should leave the church.”
Besides toppling the above monstrosity, I also have Beneventi still stalking Romano, and the baby-over-the-bridge moment in this chapter. Ten pages, but I don't care.