Mandy Eve-Barnett's Blog for Readers & Writers

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Mother Nature’s Fury..?

December 20, 2013
mandyevebarnett


Fury – definition: 1. unrestrained or violent anger, rage, passion, or the like; 2. sudden violent power or force

 

Is it me or have there been an exceptional number of volcanic eruptions in 2013? That is not including earthquakes and tsunamis, which have also increased.

Could this be Mother Nature’s fury?

Has she had enough and is showing us how insignificant we really are? There is no human force that can resist or conquer a volcanic eruption or earthquake. We are at her mercy.

I follow a face book page by Gerri Bowen – https://www.facebook.com/gerri.bowen not just for her wonderful books but also because she finds the most interesting facts about seismic events around the world. This year has been extraordinary full of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes globally.

As you can see from these links – the globe has numerous active volcanoes and some have erupted this year after being dormant for a long time.

http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/erupting_volcanoes.html

http://www.activistpost.com/2013/11/seven-volcanoes-in-six-different.html

When you actually see the fault lines crisscrossing and moving under the earth’s crust, it is a wonder there are not more. Volcanoes have links to each other many miles underground so it is not surprising when one erupts, others follow.

map_plate_tectonics_world

If you have not seen the movies, The Impossible, I highly recommend it. Not only is it a true story, which has every parent agonizing with the mother but the sheer enormity of the family’s situation and those of the people around them is mind numbing. You ask yourself, ‘how would I cope?’, ‘could I survive?’ ‘would I be able to save my family?’. It is a powerful story of an event that devastated a vast area of South Asia.

So as not to spoil the movie for you I will not divulge more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake_and_tsunami

Have you used a natural or man-made disaster in a novel or story?

I refer to a past World War in my novel, Life in Slake Patch, which resulted in the formation of a matriarchal ruled world. Excerpt:

“Surely these are pictures are wild imaging’s of a possessed person, Jacob?”

“Somewhat my thoughts at first, my young friend, but on closer inspection I have discovered this book was compiled as some sort of historic and societal recording.”

“But – men and women living together, it’s…?”

“Yes, inconceivable to our present way of life but obviously prior to the Grand War life was lived very differently.”

“Can such change have come about in three hundred years, do you think, Jacob?”

“It may seem difficult to your young ideals, Evan, but some change can evolve slowly and others quite quickly. Drastic events can mean extreme measures have to be made. Upon reflection I can see The Grand War was reason enough to change society in such a fundamental way.”

This novel is open to representation.

LifeinSlakePatch 002

Who, or What, Built the Pyramids..?

October 24, 2013
mandyevebarnett


Ziggurat – definition : an ancient structure built by the peoples of Mesopotamia in the form of a pyramidal tower.

Stepped ziggurant

Why is it that these ancient relics are all the same basic shape? A pyramid. As you can see from the list below, they are found all over the globe. Built by ancient civilizations, who were mainly unaware of the others existence, whether because of time period or geographical distance. So who, or what, influenced the shape? Of course there are as many theories as pyramids and you are free to investigate for yourselves. Although, I would love the instigators to be visitors from outer space, I don’t really think that is what happened. I would like to share my own theory (such as it is).

Saqqara, Egypt – Pyramid of Djoser, Giza, EgyptGreat Pyramid of Khufu and Pyramid of Khafre, Chavin de Huantar, Peru – Chavin Temple Complex, Teotihuacan, Mexico – The Pyramid of the Sun, Meroe, Sudan – The Nubian Pyramids, Puebla, Mexico – Great Pyramid of Cholula, Ur, Irag – Ziggurat of Ur, Peten, Guatemala – Mayan Pyramids of Tikal and Rome, Italy -Pyramid of Cestius.

Each civilization wanted to be closer to their gods in the sky, so what is the easiest way to do that? Build a structure that many people can ascend and reach toward the sky. Cube or tower shaped structures would be too difficult to ascend but a gradually tapering shape would be the simplest. Thus a pyramid.

What are your thoughts on the instigators?

Have you ever visited a pyramid?

Pyramide von Hellinikon

Pyramide von Hellinikon (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziggurat

http://www.toplessrobot.com/2011/08/6_ancient_things_that_were_probably_built_by_alien.php

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Another year…another AGM…

September 16, 2012
mandyevebarnett


This Saturday marked another year for my Writers Foundation and as I attended the AGM, I thought of our past year. Our foundation is very involved in its members and the local community and at times we are spread quite thin. However, the camaraderie at each event makes for a wonderful time for all those involved and brings us closer to each other. I usually volunteer for most of the events – not because I’m trying to be a ‘goodie too shoes’ but because they are so much fun.  It isn’t until the annual review at the AGM is read through do I realize actually how many events. There are the annual events like our Conference, Culture Days, Words in the Park and Arts Expo as well as author readings, meetings for our board and other organizations we are members of. Newer events like our Night Writers, which is mini workshops, have been successful as we endeavor to give our membership every opportunity to participate and share. Obviously not everyone can commit to so many events and that is absolutely fine – if they can attend for a few hours at one or two events that helps tremendously.

As we go into our next year with new board members, we are excited at our growth as a writer’s resource and community. We welcome local and virtual members and hope to expand our presence whether it is in our community or globally through the web site. www.wfscsherwoodpark.com

Do you participate in a group that makes life joyful?

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