15 Feb 2014

Author2Author BC Welcomes Author M.E Lorde...




Author2Author Blog Chat welcomes; 
Author, M.E Lorde to the sofa!


Images provided by M.E.L. Graphics by @2014 Danni (Ellie) Williams. All Rights Reserved.



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Ellie

Tell us who you are…


M.E

I am M.E. Lorde, otherwise known as Michael Lorde, I am from Canandaigua, New York. I have four children.  I love kids. I was raised with two sisters.  We usually had a pet or two in the house.


{Ellie smiles}

Ellie

And what was it like growing up? 


M.E

I was athletic and my older sister was a musician, my younger sister took karate.  We had a pretty well rounded education in a rural home town.  Pretty average upbringing I imagine, but my parents were very much artists who had at some point in life been told not to follow those silly dreams of art.  Me?  I choose too.


{Ellie smiles again}

Ellie

Beautiful hun, and how do you think your family  would describe your work? 


M.E

My father, unfortunately passed away a year and a half ago.

{Ellie saddens}

Ellie

I’m so sorry hun.


{M.E smiles and continues}

M.E

My mother is very supportive.  She’s told me numerous times she doesn’t know where I get my creativity from.  Well, I do.  I get it mainly from her. My youngest daughter is my greatest fan.


{Ellie brightens}

Ellie

And how do you find the time to balance your work life with family life?


M.E

I think most authors will say that it can sometimes be difficult.  After all, unlike in many professions we cannot get away from our work... as we carry it around in our heads.


Ellie

I suppose we just do our best in that situation.


{Ellie sighs deeply}

Ellie

Sorry, a bit of a morbid question now but; say hypothetically speaking and for whatever reason you only had 2 minutes to live…
What would be your last words and to whom?


{M.E pauses for a moment before she continues}

M.E

My last words would more than likely be to myself, saying “Well this sucks.  I had more to do.”

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Ellie

Are you into Astrology?

M.E

I’m really not, but I do have to say, I’m a Sagittarius and the descriptions of the sign does seem to fit me.  Also, Sagittarius are apparently supposed to get along well with other Sagittarius.  I have never met a Sagittarius I did not like a whole lot.  That’s about the extent of my following astrology. 

Ellie

It always amazes me of how alive we all truly are but on certain views.


{They chuckled together}

Ellie

Do you believe we’ll be able to accomplish ‘Time-Travel’ one day?

M.E

Of course we will.  Tarron will develop the Pool of Light and save all of humanity by sending Tolomay through it.  All problems solved.


{M.E winks at Ellie and she chuckles}

Ellie

Bit of a bummer we won’t be around when that happens huh?

M.E

Most defiantly

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Ellie

What advice would you give your 18 year old self if you could go back in time for only 30 seconds?


M.E

While you’re too young and busy to know this now, but keep your loved ones sufficatingly close. You will have less time with them in years to come and you will miss them dearly.

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Ellie

What is your favourite music/ Movies/Tv andActor/Actress?


M.E

Music I enjoy all kinds, but one favorite is Van Morrison, Movies The Terminator, TV I don’t watch television, and Actors/Actresses?  I don’t have a favorite.

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Ellie

What inspired you to be a writer? 

M.E

It was more of a need that I stuffed for years until I finally published.  Now I realize I should have been doing this my entire life. 


Ellie

How long have you been writing? 


M.E

I can’t remember not writing stories, even as a child.



Ellie

Are there any other relatives who have been bitten by the literary wand? 

M.E

         Not yet, though I’m hoping my son will start up sometime.  He wrote wonderful stories as a kid.

Ellie

         Do you have any other talents other than writing? 

M.E

          Well, I’m an artist, but I don’t do it as a career.  I do it for pleasure. 

Ellie

         Do you believe you’ll continue to write for the rest of your life, and do you ever run dry of ideas? 

M.E

Yes! Absolutely and No!  In fact, my daughter thinks it’s perfectly normal for someone to stop what they’re doing in the middle of it to go to the laptop, open it up, write a few sentences or more and then go back and finish the dishes or whatever else they might have been doing.  I’ve never been as happy at work as I am now. I get about 5 new book ideas a week.   

{Ellie laughs}

Ellie

It can get annoying  tho’ cant’ it?

{They chuckled together}

Ellie

How would you feel if one day, you suddenly discovered you had lost your ability to write? 
How would it affect your life?  

M.E

Wow, I have no idea. I guess I would be able to go out in public without constant observations and thoughts like, ‘Wow, okay, I’m going to implement that lady’s mannerism into that character in my book’, or ‘Gee, how the heck can I get man ‘A’ to knock off man ‘B’ without man ‘C’ noticing it?’ (all while standing in line at Starbucks while waiting to order.)

{They laughed together}

M.E

Yeah, I’m sure I would be a little easier to be around if I wasn’t an author, but not nearly as amusing to everyone else, I’m sure.

Ellie

If you could have written any book in the world, by any author; what would it be and why? 

M.E

It would be my own.  I rather like my characters in Tolomay’s World series. 

Ellie

And do you write anything else like; poetry, Music, Songs, Scripts?

M.E

I have wrote poetry, but not currently. I wrote song lyrics that were performed years ago, but never music. And scripts, yes, I have written scripts and I’m working on some now.

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Ellie

What are your hobbies? 

M.E

Like I said I’m an artist so I enjoy creating.  It doesn’t matter what, but I think my newest project will be one I’ll post on my fb wall.  It’ll be useful in my kitchen.

{Ellie chuckles}

Ellie

Oh, oh wow! I’m privileged to be your friend on FB, I can’t miss it now haha

{M.E Laughs}

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Ellie

What is your favourite genre to read?

M.E

Fantasy.  But, I’m picky there. 

Ellie

What about favorite genre to write? 

M.E

Fantasy will always be my chosen genre for writing.  However, I am having a great time with this romance comedy I’ve started.

Ellie


What are you reading now?

M.E

I have three friend’s books in queue to read, but it will be a couple of weeks before I get to them.

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Ellie

Who are some of your favourite authors?

M.E

Lately I’ve read more Indie books than those published by traditional means.  I think it’s because there seem to be less restrictions on the writing itself.  Almost like the reins are hanging free and so the horse can run at will.  I’ve enjoyed many bestselling author’s works, but lately I’ve been choosing Indies it seems. There are a number of well written and cleanly edited Indie authors whose work is out there and I enjoy those books.  Some of my recent reads are books that are in this event (Fantastical Reads Event). 


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Ellie

What is your favorite food(s)?

M.E

I like food.  I will have an occasional pizza, but otherwise usually try to stick with home-cooked and as organic as I can get.  I like real food.  I pretty much like it all.  The only exceptions I can think of are anchovies and beets.  Yeah, not really a fan of those two foods.

{They chuckled together}

Ellie

What is your favourite food(s) to cook?

M.E

Pasta; all types.  I really love making lasagna.  My daughter isn’t a fan as I’ve made it often. 

{Michael smiles}

Ellie

Something you’d like to cook but haven’t yet?

M.E

Lamb shank with white sauce.

Ellie

And if you eat out, what cuisine would you normally go for? 

M.E

Believe it or not, I usually let my daughter choose.

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Ellie

Cool. Congratulations we’ve not moved on to the question stage about your work.




{Michael smiles}

Ellie

Okay so let’s do this! Tell us  about your books…

M.E
Tolomay’s World Novels- the first three of the seven book series;

vTolomay’s World and The Pool of Light
vTolomay’s World and The Mountain of Tegi
vTolomay’s World and The Splitting of The Trunk.

Ellie

And are you self-published/ published with these books?

M.E

Yes, both. 

Ellie

And what was it like for you, to publish your first book?

M.E

I was excited, but very unprepared for the world of online marketing.

Ellie

You and me both hun, frustrating isn’t the word

 {They both laugh together}

Ellie

So what inspired you to write your first book?

M.E

I was ten years old when I wrote my first book.  It was about a bird named Bably (I have no idea why- apparently I was a weird kid?)  I wrote it, did the artwork and stitched and bound the book.  Too bad it’s been lost along the way all these years.  I would have loved to read my old thoughts.  I wonder what I would have found in them.

Ellie

           I did similar. I was such a weird kid

{They laugh}

Ellie

I still have all my school work since 5th form! My drawing was cool for a child and my handwriting was appalling! And my stories were as strange and as wonderful  as Terry Giliam. Not quote the genius he is but I had potential {Laughs} It’s awesome to see how far you come.

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Ellie

So how would you describe your books and the nature in which you’ve written them?


M.E

Well, I can only view them through my own biased eyes, and I think most people like our own versions of things.  So perhaps I can refer you to one of my reader’s thoughts on the first book.  ‘Lyrically written’, I think, was the term used.  This series is unique in that all my other books came to me in normal, everyday language, but this series has a tone and voice all its own.  I’m kind of partial to that tone. 

Ellie

And what genre is your work mainly ventured in?

M.E

Fantasy and psychological thrillers are what I work in most.  I am working on a fun comedy romance.  That’s definitely new to me, and is a bit emotionally charged, so it will be fun to write.

Elie

Forever learning we are aren’t we {smiles}. And have you ever or do you ever find yourself a struggling writer? 

M.E

It’s always a struggle to find enough time.  So I stopped trying and now I do more outside of writing than I did, say a year ago.  It’s a better balance, but took a little bit to work it out.

Ellie

Is it hard to come up with ideas and plots?  

M.E

Not at all.  They come to me all the time. 

Ellie

How about characters? Are they easily born and developed in your world of creativity? 

M.E

My characters are pretty much ready-made before my fingers hit a keystroke.

{Ellie giggles}

Ellie

So we said earlier about how you can’t really go out without having so much on your mind to begin with, hiding from our thoughts, ideas and epic story-lines of fiction, which is normal {laughs} for all us as writers; is so damn hard. That we observe people, and we ponder on the thought of placing them as characters in our books. So this question to me doesn’t seem like a hard one to answer since you already answered it in some small way in a similar previous question. But I’ll ask it anyway {laughs again}. I mean you can elaborate on it more here.
So do you ever get random moments when you suddenly get ideas flying at you in all directs? 

{M.E Laughs}

M.E

Constantly.  It can be very aggravating when I’m in the middle of writing a book and other plots are urging me to write them.  I usually juggle about three books at once, but one is at center stage.  It works fine for me. 

Ellie

So who was/is the easiest Character to write?

M.E

It’s easy to write a character if you let them take their own shape.  If I try to form the character, nothing in the character or plot works at all.  Then it’s a mess.

Ellie

And are any of your characters based on real people?

 M.E

No.  They’re all ficticious.

Ellie

Do you have a favourite character(s)? 

M.E

Tolomay. 

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Ellie

Without giving anything away from your books too much!
What is/are your favourite scene(s) in one of your books? 

M.E

The third to the last chapter in the third Tolomay’s World (The Splitting of The Trunk) gets to me every time.  I’d say it’s close to being my favorite.

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Ellie

Does anyone beta reads your work before you publish? 

M.E

Many readers put eyes on it before I send it to my editor.

 Ellie

Have you ever trashed a piece or complete piece of work before someone read it?
Feeling it wasn’t good enough? 

M.E

Pieces of it, yes, but never a whole works.

Ellie

Never after someone’s read it?

M.E

Pieces, yes. But again, never the whole thing.

Ellie

          And do you have a ritual before writing?

M.E

Not really, though coffee is always welcome.

{Ellie laughs

Ellie

Coooofffffeeee!!

{M.E Laughs}

Ellie

And do you have a special place or time to write?

M.E

I enjoy writing at home more than any other place, though I do have an office I write in as well.  At home it’s usually night writes though and I’m very much a night person, so I suspect that’s why.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(*)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
M.E

Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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Ellie

How long does it take you to complete a book? 


M.E

Each book has been different.

Ellie

Okay so how much down-time do you have in between projects? 

M.E

I usually work multiple projects at once.

Ellie

Who or what has been your biggest literary influence? 

M.E

I’d have to say those who wrote the books I read as a small child.  I learned to love reading because of them, learned to love writing.

Ellie

If your book(s) had a soundtrack, who would create your Soundtrack for you?

M.E

I’m not sure, but I would want involvement.  I have a very clear definition of what music would suit the storyline.

Ellie

And would it be Motion Picture or Score? 

M.E

Motion picture.

Ellie

Similar question about the movie side of things; what actors/actresses would you have to play your characters?

M.E

It would have to be an unknown.  Tolomay’s character would have to be seen by the movie viewers as an unknown, so they could get to know her from the get go.  Much like was done with the Hunger Games and Twilight.  It was brilliant and made a huge impact on viewers.  They did not use well-knowns, so nothing was preconceived.

Ellie

That’s the same idea I would have for my main character. I hate when Hollywood dampens the spirit of a character by placing well-known actor/actresses in their place. My main, Awen is Welsh, so she’d HAVE to be Welsh, end of. I won’t have anyone disrespecting or defecating her character, I want her to be fresh and real to the viewers. I completely agree with you Michael.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(*)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ellie

And which book would you like that to happen too and why? 

M.E

I’d like that to happen to all of them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(*)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ellie

So what’s up next for you, Michael? 

M.E

Tolomay’s World (4th book) and a psychological thriller - very dark, and a romance comedy.  
Two of the three will be released this year, possibly the third one as well, but that’s still tentative.

Ellie

And of all the books/ stories you have written, which is your favourite? 

M.E

Tolomay’s World and The Splitting of The Trunk.

Ellie

Well thank you so much for this Michael, it’s been amazing hun, and such a pleasure. If I couyld ask you to do one last thing…

M.E

Of course. And Thank you also.

{Smiles are reciprocated}

Ellie

Can you just take a moment to chat freely to your readers and potential new readers, anything you like.

M.E

I’m an author who waited many years to follow my dreams of writing.  I love what I do with a passion.  I want to share my stories with the world.  For those who are readers, I hope you enjoy my books.  I hope my stories will somehow impact your life, how you think about others and the world around you.  I’m a deep thinker and I try to portray that in my works.  For those who are readers and want to become authors... just do it.  Don’t make it hard by listening to anyone who would try to squash your dreams.  Not much was ever accomplished in this world by listening to the diminishing words of others.  It is not their decision to make.  It’s yours.  Decide it.  Learn the craft.  Do it.  It’s that simple. If you need encouragement, join a few facebook author pages.  You’ll get encouragement there.



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Images provided by M.E.L. Graphics Design by @2014 Danni (Ellie) Williams. All Rights Reserved.


Michael has given us a little Excerpt of each book from the Tolomay’s World Series!
(8 Jan 2014)
 ‘Tolomay’s World and the Pool of Light’
“Peace of life,” said the chideman as he poured the blue water from the glass urn into the pool.  It was surreal.
“Peace of life.” My response was automatic.
My heart pounded.  For thirteen years I’d trained for this.  Still I was not ready.  The machine’s copper pipes gave off a warm smell that drifted to my nostrils as if precious biscuits were baking in the eating room.  The calming scent only made it worse.  I was leaving.
On display before every citizen in the community, my bare feet stepped the few inches further to the edge of the pool.  Fear haunted my mind.  Shivering from head to toe caused my short golden dress to tickle at the tops of my thighs.  I brushed away the itch.  Goose bumps peppered my arms and legs.  I was freezing.  For a moment, the massive musics and sounds on the stage overwhelmed me.  I was small in comparison to everything here, all present and to this wondrous event.  Through dazed thoughts, my focus returned and I remembered to count to three before placing my foot in the shallow liquid.
With eyes watering, my every heartbeat echoed in my ears.  Never again would my father’s eyes look upon me.  Never again would I feel his warm embrace.  I would so miss his gentle, loving voice.  How would I bear it?  I fought my great desire to turn and dart to him, or steal a look as he sat in his chair upon the stage.  Instead, I kept my step.
There would not be another last goodbye.  We already said it, and he wanted just the one.  It would be my greatest honor to him to leave with the dignity, respect, and position he bestowed upon me, to act older than my meager thirteen years.  I had to be brave and pave the way for the others, as he had instructed.
The tears nearly choked me as I quietly sniffed them back.  I could scarcely see, but chose not to rub the wet away.  Everyone would notice.  More would only follow and my eyes would be closed soon enough.  The time had arrived.  This was no longer wholly my choice.  I was being led by my duty and so had to control my emotions for these last few seconds.
The immaculate stage held static, causing the miniscule hairs on my head to stand on end.  They reached toward the beautiful colored glass of the cathedral roof in the pod community’s grandest room, as if they too wanted to stay.  The urge to run, to escape, consumed me, yet I betrayed my heart, followed my learned directions, and kept my course.
No matter the logic and knowledge in my head, nothing had prepared me for this feeling of claws tearing me apart from the inside out.  I fought off the nausea.  I could not be ill, not in front of the community while representing my father.
The crystal and copper Pool of Light lay before the five of us, with solar panels running from floor to ceiling as the toner’s chorus continued to sing behind us.  The brilliant round majesty beneath my feet, only six inches deep, held the key to our futures and to what would become the whole of humanity.  We were taking these steps for everyone.  Once we left, we could never return home.
Tarron had ordered that we space ourselves just two paces separated, one behind the next.  The four older candidates followed behind me, the taste of anticipation mingling with the hum of energy that filled the great room.  My mind whirled.
‘Keep walking forward… do not turn around,’ father’s words echoed in my head.
I was horrified.  Chills took residence up and down my spine, causing me to shake further.  How would my days unfold without him by my side?  How could I leave him alone?  My heart was dying.
‘The coming light can blind, if you lose protection of your eyelids,’ he had warned.
Think only of your training and the swim, I reprimanded myself against my inert weakness. Focus.  You are leading the others.
I squeezed my eyes closed.
“Your eyes… don’t forget,” I choked out the words, reminding the four following me to keep theirs closed as well.
The desire to see where my feet landed was nearly more than I could endure as I took my next step.  Blindly, trembling as I’d never thought possible, I walked on until a humming of energy engulfed me.  Then a wall of water, warm and flowing, caressed my face and arms and legs until I was drenched in it.  It unnerved me.  I imagined my skin would feel this way if covered with a million tiny insects. That vision sent more shivers.  I rubbed away the feeling.  Fear controlled me.  I was holding my breath. ‘Do not forget to breathe, Tolomay,’ I remembered father’s training. ‘Or you may lose consciousness.’
Barely able to manage my thoughts, I took back my air and continued forward.
A light penetrated the liquid as if they were one and the same.  Much too bright, even with eyes closed, it rained down upon my body as if it were the sun and had no limits.  The burning lasted only a moment and rid me of my chills.  Then I was struck hard in the back by a force that seemed more as power than matter.  It propelled me through the air so fast I almost opened my eyes, but instead fell into a somersault, ending in a stand as I had been trained.
The grasses felt soft beneath my bare feet.  The air smelled completely different...
Image provided by M.E.L
(3 Jan 2014)
Tolomay’s World and The Mountain of Tegi
Kenter stared at the deflated Juper.  He was thinking on it since they left the well.  Still, no answer.  He racked his brain for what memories might help, but only information for the use of a Juper was shared with candidates.  No training told them how to activate one. 
How would the science team have done it?  It would have taken a strong natural energy to fill it.  What would they have used... the sun perhaps? 
He held it open in his hand to allow full sunlight to enter, twisting and turning it to allow light to all sides, but it did not change in the least.  Then he recognized the mistake in that choice.  There were no windows at the pod community.  The elders could not have used the sun, not with active solar flares. 
It was biological energy, for certainty; else their juper from the pod would not have passed through.  What would fill it?  Did they convert solar energy by use of old solar panels?  If so, he could not replicate the process.  Did they capture electricity from a lightening rod?  That would be impossible for him as well.
The thought came from nowhere and he stopped his feet before they neared their hill.  Urging his sister to the bank of the stream, he dropped the Juper into the water. 
The ground shook and the section of stream rose several feet into the air, in the form of a whirlpool.  At its center lay the dark device.  The energy of the water brought it to life until it grew to the size of an activated Juper. 
When the water subsided the Juper sunk to the bottom of the stream.  Kenter waded in and retrieved it.  It was full and lighter in color, but not by much.  His heart sank at his sister’s next words.  
“Why is it still red?”
He examined it further.  It looked perfectly alive, but Lethia was correct.  It should be clear.  He rubbed his wet fingers over his brow.
“I thought it they are translucent and only change color to glow at night, and only to green,” she continued.  “That’s what Mize taught you, right?  Clear as the other one...and green at night?  This one looks angry.”
“I know, Leth,” he answered, even more frustrated at her words.  
He never heard of a blood red Juper.  He must have filled it wrong.  His hands gripped it tightly to see if the energy would release itself back to the water.  It didn’t.  It already settled.  Had he ruined a precious Juper left to him to help the clean world?
“Maybe its age has changed it.  Or the radiation ruined its function,” he said.  “I have destroyed it.”
“No, Kenter.  You will find a means to fix it.  If anyone can figure it correctly, you can,” said Lethia.  “I believe that.  Those who left it would have known.”
She set her arm around his shoulder and the two started their last steps to home, the seemingly useless Juper clasped tightly in his hand.
Image provided by M.E.L
28 Nov 2013)
Tolomay’s World- The Splitting of The Trunk

I dreamed in memories, Tarron’s dark knowing eyes pondering my thoughts as I sat, hands folded, in the room adjacent to the chamber hall.  Through the walls, solar panels could be heard being positioned, the Pool of Light ready and awaiting its great gift to us all. 
Trembling, I listened to the crowd gathering in the background, trying to logic my father’s words.  The distraction of our final lesson did not help.  My heart was frantic, the chills in my toes nipping and biting like tiny metal teeth inside my feet.  Still, I tried to busy my mind.
“Intellect?” I answered, mind dazed.
“Do you believe intellect to be the answer?” he replied.
I was obviously wrong, and very ashamed.  In my last lesson, I should excel with insight, but I’d lost focus.  Where was my focus?  I could think only to today’s impending swim. 
“Duty?” I tried at it again. 
Tarron’s bottom lip straightened slightly.  I had missed the mark, once again incorrect, but rightfully so.  Nervousness can muddle the mind.
“Shall I repeat the question?”
I nodded, watching my fingers shaking like a storm pulling at autumn leaves, my heart flooded in sadness.
“Think deeper, my child.  You must feel the answer you seek, not reply with what you believe I desire to hear.  What divides us?  What makes us the individuals we each are, stronger or weaker, giving or selfish, respected by others or disregarded, standing apart from the next citizen in a way that all recognize?  What one thing about each of us is mighty enough to do all these things?”
I immediately thought of my skin and hair, those differences separated me from everyone here, but I knew those were not the words he desired.   I did not understand his question.  Pod mindset was directed toward the good of all, always for what was best for each citizen, but more so as part of the whole community.  He had never spoken words such as this in this manner, words of division, of individuality.  His eyes bore seriousness into me.  This was important to him, that I learn this lesson.  I wrestled for an answer, concentrated with all my might.
As always, he was patient, breathing quietly as I reasoned out my response.  It came suddenly, like a storm, as I raised my eyes to meet his.  This was right.  I knew it.  I’d logicked it out in my brief moment of focus.
“Choices,” I replied.
Tarron smiled and my heart pounded with joy.
“Yes, Tolomay.  Choices are what rule all of humanity, each one sifting to and through, stroking those around us without us knowing quite how.  And you were partially correct in your other answers.  One’s intellect and duty play a part in who one is, as does life’s experience, but it is always our choices that define who we really are, and lead us toward who we will become. 
“Remember this, though, I speak not of the mouth, or mind, but choices of action.  For thoughts and words can rarely change a thing.  Ideas must be played out, like a note to a song on the page.  For it does little to think of a note, and not draw it into the great symphony of life, doesn’t it?   Some fail to choose because of fear of the unknown.  Some fear weakness, or that they will make wrong decisions.  Heartfelt choices are the most precious of things.  They are powerful gifts, ones to treasure.  So do not be afraid.  Your spirit and heart will lead.”
I sat for a moment realizing that today was no longer my choice.
“Father.”
Tarron’s eyes set themselves upon mine as I continued.
“I do not want to leave you.  I am afraid.”
Without faltering, his gentle answer came as he touched my shoulder with a guiding hand.
“Child of my heart, I do not wish to see the pain in your eyes regarding this.  We must all grow, each of us able to hold our own weight, or humanity is indeed doomed.  You are ready.  You are more than ready for this.  Do not doubt yourself.”
It was not doubt that haunted me.  I loved my father.  I needed him.  The tear ran its course down my cheek.
“There will be no reason for your eyes to visit me upon the stage, Tolomay.  We will say our goodbyes, here in this room, and only this once.”
His reply startled me, horrified me to my core as I stared back at him with desperate eyes.  He would desert me at the end?  I was not to look upon his face once I left this room? 
“It is my desire,” he insisted, his voice barely wavering.  “And will be easiest for all involved.”
I cried into his chest, his strong arms carrying the burden of my weight as he knelt before me.
“Hush your pain, now.  Leaders need dry eyes.  Oh child, what wonders your beautiful eyes will view on the other side.”
I settled my heart as best I could.  After many moments, Tarron rose to step to where a box lay on the floor near the door, a single sprig of rosemary adorning its flat square top.  He handed it to me.  I smelled the glorious herb, rubbing the scent upon my cheek to keep me strong, then gave the precious stalk to my father.     
In spite of my grief, my heart leapt when I pulled opened the lid.  The garment was born of my own precious DNA, the golden dress, made of my hair, that which he had saved throughout my life to weave into this very fabric.  Tarron wiped my tears that couldn’t help themselves as they streamed down my cheeks, even as he helped me slip the garb on.
“Yes,” he continued his teachings while he tied my waist string.  “We all make choices, some more difficult than others.  Still, we can choose them each, one at a time.  Even difficult choices must be made, my wonderful child of spirit and light. 
So do not avoid them.  Do not overlook them.  They are great gifts, indeed.”
Image provided by M.E.L
Blind Veil by Michael Lorde, Brooke Kelley, Beverley Lousbury and Persis Sopariwala (31 Oct 2011)
Book Blurb:
What does an unreported crime that occurred decades earlier have to do with a NYC cop? Everything!

Nothing the old scientist told him could possibly be true…or so the decorated New York Cop and former Marine tries to tell himself.

But as the evidence mounts, he faces the terrifying question -- is the Blind Veil lifting?

In a race for his life, he must decide if he is losing his mind or is the world he thought he knew merely an illusion?

Image provided by M.E.L

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