Saturday, March 26, 2011

MICHAEL AND CHRISTY SITTING AT A PIANO BAR - THE NATURE OF MAGIC BLOGFEST ... AMBER'S RETURN.

Hello everyone. Yesterday was quite the exciting day for me. I spent most of the day at the MAGIC KINGDOM in Disney World. Although that was wonderful, it wasn't the highlight of my day. Last night at approximately 8:00 pm I met Christy from erica and chrisy's blog in front of Jellyrolls piano bar on the Disney Boardwalk.

Of course, she knew me from my pic, but I didn't know what she looked like until Erica came to the rescue and sent me a pic of her and her husband, Nathan.

I saw them both walking toward me and I knew her instantly and waved. I felt like I was meeting a dear friend. We have chatted on the blog and through emails for months, and know we wetre meeting face to face. How cool is that!

We hugged and Christy introduced me to her hubby. Such a sweet guy. He was prepared for the constant writing chatter. While we talked endlessly, he bopped to the dueling piano music. A great time was had by all.

By Midnight we were both hoarse and stepped outside into the cool breezes skipping across the lake. Another hug and a bit more talk and I was on my way back to my hotel. This was such a magical evening.

To tired to shoot Erica an email last night(she introduced me to Christy), the first thing I found this morning in my inbox was from Erica and I quote, "So??" Why isn't anyone telling me if you guys met or not? :)" The first thing I did was write Erica an email. LOL.

Bloggers, if you ever get the chance to meet, do it! You will forge and even stronger friendship when you can place a face and a voice with you blogger buddy.

Since I am all magical and in Disney World, how appropriate for me to enter into yet another blogfest. This one hosted by Tessa and Laura. "The Nature of Magic Blogfest." Be sure to hop over to their blogs for the other entries. Mine is from an excerpt from my first novel, Amber and the Whispering Willows.

Nine years later, on the outskirts of Helmsdale, a short distance away from NYC, a young girl  lay in a meadow edged by a willow tree grove. 
Her home, a little white house with evergreen shutters, was located not too far away from Helmsdale’s finest mansions.
Gazing at her beloved willows, a wave of tranquility washed over her. The graceful curves of the cascading yellow-green tendrils stroked the earth. The arch that formed between them beckoned her.
Spring flowers soaked up the sun as she stepped toward the willow trees. 
Streamer-like leaves tickled her as she passed through the entrance. The filtered sun created dancing shadows across the path that lead deeper into the Willows. Amber beamed. 
She strolled toward her usual spot and arrived just steps away from a quiet pond; her favorite place on earth. She picked a purple coneflower, one of thousands of wildflowers that blanketed the pond’s edge. Sitting down upon a flat rock, she noticed the subtle shades of lavender and purple surrounding the dark iridescent orangey-red center of the cone. 
The glistening pond looked just like emerald green glass. She gazed into the pond’s depths as several monarch butterflies landed on her shoulder. How beautiful! Even in the reflection she couldn’t help but notice the bright orange and black colors printed on their wings. 
Another joined their little group; its electric blue markings flashed brightly with each flutter of its wings. It inched its way closer to her before flying away. She sensed it wanted something, but couldn’t understand what it might be.     
The hummingbirds arrived a moment later, circled and landed on her outstretched arm. They twittered with delight as she spoke to them. This young girl had a special gift; she could communicate with the creatures of the Willows. 
She waited for her favorite to arrive.  
As if by magic, a large, shiny, pitch-black rabbit with oversized ears appeared from the patch of wildflowers just to the left of the rock. This was no ordinary rabbit, not only because of his unusual size and color, but because of his eyes of black opalescence.     
“Hi, Jasper!”  
He hopped next to her. She reached down and played with his silky fur between her fingers. All her frustrations melted away as she told him her inner most feelings. 
With each glimmer of his eyes, she knew he understood. 
The sun sank low in the western sky. Sadly, she waved goodbye to her friends.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a great blogfest Tessa and Laura are hosting. The entries I've read so far have been awesome!

Glad you enjoyed your visit with Christy in the magical land to the south!

-Vicki

Kittie Howard said...

Wow, what a magical evening you had! It's really, really nice how blogging enriches lives. Thanks for sharing. I hope to meet a blogging friend next month and am excited at the opportunity.

Margo Benson said...

Meeting blogging friends is special indeed. Sounds like you guys had a great time!

I loved your excerpt, Michael, so beautifully descriptive. Those 'cascading yellow-green tendrils' are out now here in Devon...bliss.

Raquel Byrnes said...

How fun. The jet black rabbit and hummingbirds all landing around her. I see the Disney influence on you right now. =)

Roland D. Yeomans said...

I'm so glad you finally got to meet Christy. You've been looking forward to it for so long that I am glad it turned out well.

Loved your magical scene from Amber's world. Yes, Raquel, is right -- I could see this as a Disney film, live action or animation.

Have a beautiful day, Roland

Unknown said...

I almost managed to meet up with Katie Mills but then it didn't work out... *sigh*

Thank you for joining our magical blogfest! Your entry makes me think of fairy-tales and pixies flittering about at the corner of your eye, there but not quite seen nonetheless. A magical moment, captured on paper, and yet, it made me a little sad. Why is she saying good-bye? What's up with her and Jasper? Who/what is Jasper, exactly?

You have me captivated!

T.xx

ps. don't forget to pop in on the 30th March for the finalists - you can then vote on your favourite!

Mara Nash said...

Very Disney and very sweet. The scene is very captivating. Makes me want to know what comes next!

stu said...

An interesting little scene, though you possibly didn't need to tell us about the girl's ability when you then go on to show it in action.

N. R. Williams said...

Loved your entry Michael. The hummingbirds landed on her arm, so cool. And to get to meet a blogging friend, I would love that.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrium.

T.D. McFrost said...

You have to to be the coolest grown p ever! You're always doing something fun!

I've never been to Disney World, but someday I'm hoping to, and since you're there so often I'm bound to bump into you. :D

I can't wait!

Keep the Blogfest coming, I enjoy them.

Laura said...

What a lovely evening you had! It must have been great. I loved your excerpt - reading it was like watching a vivid picture. Have a special weekend
LX

Dawn Embers said...

Magic and willow trees, always a good combination. It was very serene and calm but a great, fresh showing of the nature of magic. She almost had a snow white feel to her with the animals all approaching her. I think I will like this character more though. ;-)

dolorah said...

Enchanting. Wow, I could feel my cares drifting away on her thoughts. Her serenety.

I hope you're still writing on this story. Its beautiful.

And thats so exciting you got to meet Christy :) Magic does seem to surround you Michael.

......dhole

Denise Covey said...

How wonderful to meet up with a long-time blogger friend. It sounds like you had the best of times. What fun you must have had chatting away in person.

Your story is gorgeous. I love the imagery. You have created a magically-peaceful scene, yet it sparkled with life.

Denise<3

erica and christy said...

*will not be jealous that Michael met christy before I did* *will not be jealous that Michael met christy before I did* *will not be jealous that Michael met christy before I did* *will not be jealous that Michael met christy before I did*
erica
:)

pat said...

I really enjoyed the setting of your entry, and it was reminiscent of the best of Disney. I have a few nitpicks: at the beginning she is lying down, but then she's walking through the willows with no transition, and the purple coneflower does not bloom in spring!

More troubling to me was that the scene seemed so finished. She entered, greeted her friends, and said goodbye to them. I didn't feel the tension or excitement of what was to come. Would it be a good idea to tweak the scene to foreshadow what the story will be about, giving it a bit more tension and a bigger 'hook'?

Abby Minard said...

Yay! So cool you guys got to meet! I met Colene a couple months ago, and it was so much fun. Did you guys get pics together?

Elena Solodow said...

That's so great you got to meet!

Nas said...

So true, if we get the chance to connect with fellow bloggers, it would be so awesome!

Great set up for your story. I loved your excerpt!

erica and christy said...

I'm home! (so sad, so cccccold) Thanks SO much for meeting us out! I loved meeting and chatting! I love hummingbirds so I'm glad you included them in Amber! christy

Olivia J. Herrell, writing as O.J. Barré said...

Hi Michael, nice to meet you! I'm clicking over from the blogfest and love your magical setting. How sweet that you are at Disney, the Magic Kingdom! I can't wait to meet my blogger friends. So glad you got to do that.

~ that rebel, Olivia

Theresa Milstein said...

How cool you got to meet Christy.

I like your blogfest entry. I'm curious as to where this little slice of paradise is so close to New York City. I grew up around there, so I'm trying to choose a direction.

You painted a nice picture.

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

I so need to go to Florida. Maybe I too can meet some bloggers there. It'd be so much fun.

Unknown said...

It's so cool that you got to meet a blogger friend in real life :-)

Anonymous said...

I love the imagery in this piece--really sets the tone and sets the reader up for a magical ride. Thanks for participating!