Daryl Devore's Blog

Daryl Devore's Blog

Wednesday 31 October 2018

A creepy Halloween Short by Daryl Devore - The Slice of a Blade #MFRWHooks #Halloween #shortstory #DarylDevore




Book Hooks is a weekly meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog. It's a chance each week for you the reader to discover current WIP or previously published book by possibly new to you authors.

Today, I am showcasing a creepy Halloween short - The Slice of a Blade






I wrote this piece for a local writers' group. It is meant to be read aloud.

The Slice of a Blade


Trembling with giddiness and feverish with anticipation, I wrap my fingers around the drawer handle. The metal is cool to my touch. The drawer glides open. An army of razor edged stainless steel lies before me. Smallest paring knives on the left up to the sleek chef’s knife and the king of the drawer – the butcher knife  - on the right. My fingers hover over the butcher knife’s handle.

No, tonight is not the night for you. Must restrain myself.
I grasp the 30 cm French-style chef’s knife’s handle and lift it. Honed and sharpened to exquisite exactness, it is not heavy, but well-balanced and rests in my palm with my fingers curled around the ebony black grip. Experimentation has taught me a longer blade will allow a longer single stroke. A longer single slice.
Longer.
Single.
Slice.
No more beautiful words exist.
Longer.
Single.
Slice.
I close my eyes and picture it sliding – s-l-o-w-l-y  t-h-r-o-u-g-h. Perfection.
Casting a critical gaze over the blade, I check for the slightest of imperfections which would dull the edge therefore marring sharpness and the moment. A ray of light reflects off the sleek steel. Memories flit through my mind of this knife’s edge effortlessly slipping through it’s prey. It is the perfect choice. The event will be sublime.
I rip the knife through the air, imagining the smooth gashes through It. My heart pulses in my chest. I spin and slash, spin and slash, spin and slash. A high giggle bursts from my lips. Such joy.
Stop.
Restraint.
Respect the moment.
Respect the act.
Lowering my head, I close my eyes. A small bow to the performance that is about to begin. I lift the knife, gripping with both hands. Holding it before me, I press a small kiss on the bolster. A homage to the beauty of this piece.
I glance back at It. Lying on the table, waiting. Waiting for it’s moment to become the star of my performance. A concerto of cutting, slashing and gouging. Screams would enhance the decadence of the moment. But the walls are thin. Nosey ears listen.
I must remain calm. Savour the moment. That first slice. A shiver slithers down my spine. I inhale, close my eyes and revel in the thrill of anticipation. I pause. Forcing myself to wait. To enjoy. Don’t rush. Ease into each action. Savour the sensations. Writhe in the bliss this act will give.
The moment has come. I step closer to It then lift the blade to my left and in one swift move slash across. The sensation of the knife ripping through It filters up through my handle to my arm and to my brain. A jolt of dopamine is released. Strength – confidence – joy – lust - power - surge through me. I release the knife from where it lays buried in It - lift and slash again.
And again.
And again.
Again.
Again.
It lays gutted. Open and exposed. I reach inside and grab at the entrails. With wild abandon, I rip out handfuls. Grab. Rip. Toss. Grab. Rip. Toss. Grabrip. Toss. Grabriptoss. Grabriptoss. Grabriptoss. Grabriptoss.
Sweat drips down my cheek. Loud gasps fill the void between the heavings of my chest.
The entrails drip from my fingers, the chair, the table and the edges of It.
It is beautiful. A masterpiece. My masterpiece.
It is so perfect.
It is perfection.
Trembles ripple through me. They build. The room sways. Hysterical laughing erupts.
With reverence, I place the blade on a towel, knowing it will be lovingly cleaned after It has been properly looked after.
I turn, once more to look at my masterpiece. Tears of joy stream down my cheeks at the beauty. I am struck numb by it. I know not how long I will stay here gazing at It. I want this moment never to end.
But it must.

The freezer lid drops with a solid thud. Orgasmic relief floods through me. Another carving. A smile hints at the corner of my mouth as I walk back upstairs.

No one knows.

No one suspects.


Happy Halloween




What's happening in November on Romance - Sweet to Heat
1- Thursday #Yoga
2- Fridays in Space
3- SPOTLIGHT – Dark Chocolate and Strawberries
4- Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday
5- Author Spotlight –CeeRee Fields - GRAVEDIGGER
6- Author Spotlight – Meghan O’Flynn - Shadow’s Keep
7- Book Hooks #MFRWhooks #MFRWAuthor
8 – Thursday #Yoga
9 - Fridays in Space
10 - SPOTLIGHT – Dark Chocolate and Strawberries
11- Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday
12- NEBT - Author Spotlight – BJ Wane – Theirs to Master
13- Author Spotlight –
14- Book Hooks #MFRWhooks #MFRWAuthor
15- Thursday #Yoga
16 – Fridays in Space
17 – Thanksgiving Party
18-  Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday
19 – Author Spotlight –
20 – Author Spotlight –
21 – Book Hooks #MFRWhooks #MFRWAuthor
22 - Thursday #Yoga
23 – Fridays in Space
24 – SPOTLIGHT – Dark Chocolate and Strawberries
25 - Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday
26 – Author Spotlight –
27 – Author Spotlight –
28 - Book Hooks #MFRWhooks #MFRWAuthor
29 - Thursday #Yoga
30 – Fridays in Space

Thursday 25 October 2018

My thoughts on the power of words and the fragility of a writer's ego. #mythoughts

The power of words and the fragility of a writer's ego.


And as it turns out - that criticism from a friend can smack you down even harder.  A few weeks ago I had a rough week - in the real world - daughter and a close friend had some huge issues that were basically unsolvable, but they needed to vent.

Suddenly the limited 140 characters of a tweet was really appealing. Say it in 140 characters and move on. Not a 3 page email or a 2 hr phone call. So while I'm dealing with that I received a criticism which knocked me for a loop. 

The words came at me from 2 directions - 1 an agent I was submitting to and 2 - a person - though not a friend - a colleague.  A few simple words  and my day went to "hell in a hand basket".

That's the power of words - a writer can chose a few, string them together and create a line that lives in a reader's heart.  Think back to your favourite book - is there a line from it that catches your breath. Or if you're not a book reader, think back to your favourite movie - a line from it. A writer still wrote the line ;-)

A powerful thing words and written one way can crush a writer or written the other can lift a spirit. Here are 6 words a friend sent me to cheer me out of my funk. It made me smile. That's the power of words.






What's happening in October on Romance - Sweet to Heat
26 – SPOOKAPALOZZA Party
27 – SPOTLIGHT – Dark Chocolate and Strawberries
28 - Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday
29 – NEBT - Author Spotlight –
30 – Author Spotlight –
31 - Book Hooks #MFRWhooks #MFRWAuthor

Friday 19 October 2018

A Behind the Scenes Look at an experimental new wing #NASA #Space #FridaysinSpace


  • NASA ID: AFRC2018-0091-707
  • Center: AFRC
  • Secondary Creator Credit: Monroe Conner
  • Date Created: 2018-09-14
  • Visit AFRC Website
This broad view of the Flight Loads Laboratory at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in California shows the test set up for the high-aspect ratio Passive Aeroelastic Tailored wing.




What's happening in October on Romance - Sweet to Heat
4- Thursday #Yoga
5- Fridays in Space
6- SPOTLIGHT – Dark Chocolate and Strawberries
7- Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday
8- NEBT - Author Spotlight –
9- Author Spotlight –
10- Book Hooks #MFRWhooks #MFRWAuthor
11 – Thursday #Yoga
12 - Fridays in Space
13- SPOTLIGHT – Dark Chocolate and Strawberries
14- Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday
15- NEBT - Author Spotlight – Kryssie Fortune – His Innocent Bride
16- Author Spotlight – Liza O’Connor – Easy Love
17- Book Hooks #MFRWhooks #MFRWAuthor
18- Thursday #Yoga
19 – Fridays in Space
20 – SPOTLIGHT – Dark Chocolate and Strawberries
21-  Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday
22 – NEBT - Author Spotlight –
23 – Author Spotlight –
24 – Book Hooks #MFRWhooks #MFRWAuthor
25 - Thursday #Yoga
26 – SPOOKAPALOZZA Party
27 – SPOTLIGHT – Dark Chocolate and Strawberries
28 - Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday
29 – NEBT - Author Spotlight –
30 – Author Spotlight –
31 - Book Hooks #MFRWhooks #MFRWAuthor

Thursday 18 October 2018

3 reason why I "heart" Yoga #yoga #fun


Me in wall yoga class


I take several yoga classes a week and I love every single one of them. If I miss a class - it's for a really good reason - like I'm not even in the country! I take  Hatha classes, Yin, Restorative and Wall.
 Life is filled with ying and yan - that's my yoga schedule -
Hatha - physical
Yin - calmer
Wall - physical
Restorative - calmer
Hatha - physical

What drives me to yoga so often?  (I'm snickering thinking - what drives me to yoga is my car...) 3 reasons

First - I love the feeling of bliss when I leave class. I have started a class feeling blue after a bad day - feeling black after a really bad day - feeling off - out of sorts - feeling achy - feeling blah, like a slug. And I have left class every single time with a smile on my face and spirit lifted up. That's almost as good a chocolate, but without the calories.

Second - I love the physicality. I taught dance for a long time and my flexibility was good. But life and age got in the way and I've stiffened up. (Fun fact - I'm not 22 anymore - when the hell did that happen!?!?!?!) Yoga gently challenges me to push my body, but not too hard. Do what your body is capable of today. Today I can get my palms to the floor, no problem. Tomorrow after working in the yard for four hours - bending over a little bit is probably going to be sore. So with the lack of competition in yoga class, I don't have to push through the pain and suck it up. I can respect my body and do what I can - when I can. Yes, there are days when I am lazy about it - I am human. And yoga accepts that. Today is today.

 Third - I LOVE Savasana.  The statement below defines my yoga training.
http://wellchickproject.com/confessions-of-a-yoga-mat-snob-when-cheaper-is-better/
http://wholehearter.blogspot.com/2012/06/6-tips-for-savoring-savasana.html
Savasana is the pose done at the end of practise. It's what gets me to the end. Classes where I feel my body is fighting me on every move, I just remind myself Savasana is coming - 15 more minutes - 8 more minutes - and sometimes - 59 more minutes. So do I love yoga because I'm super lazy and all I have to do is lay there? Truthfully - yes - but only a little bit. I love the peace of the moment. The room is quiet. Soft music in the background. No one talks. You breathe out and let go of the day. You allow yourself that time to do nothing. Don't even think. Resist the urge to run over your never ending to do  list. Let your mind go silent. It does take a while to achieve this. But it is so worth it Those are the top 3 reasons why.

What are your reasons for going to yoga?

What are your reasons for not going???
http://www.cafepress.com/+i_heart_yoga_20x12_oval_wall_peel,494778944


What's happening in October on Romance - Sweet to Heat
19 – Fridays in Space
20 – SPOTLIGHT – Dark Chocolate and Strawberries
21-  Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday
22 – NEBT - Author Spotlight –
23 – Author Spotlight –
24 – Book Hooks #MFRWhooks #MFRWAuthor
25 - Thursday #Yoga
26 – SPOOKAPALOZZA Party
27 – SPOTLIGHT – Dark Chocolate and Strawberries
28 - Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday
29 – NEBT - Author Spotlight –
30 – Author Spotlight –
31 - Book Hooks #MFRWhooks #MFRWAuthor

Friday 12 October 2018

Canadarm2 robotic arm moves in to capture the resupply ship. #space #NASA #Canadarm2 #FridaysinSpace



  (Sept. 27, 2018) --- The H-II Transfer Vehicle-7 (HTV-7) from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) is pictured as the Canadarm2 robotic arm moves in to capture the resupply ship. The Canadarm2 was operated by Expedition 56 Commander Drew Feustel as Flight Engineer Serena Auñón-Chancellor backed him up inside the cupola. The HTV-7 took a four and a half day trip to the space station after launching Sept. 22, 2018, from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan.


What's happening in October on Romance - Sweet to Heat
13- SPOTLIGHT – Dark Chocolate and Strawberries
14- Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday
15- NEBT - Author Spotlight – Kryssie Fortune – His Innocent Bride
16- Author Spotlight – Liza O’Connor – Easy Love
17- Book Hooks #MFRWhooks #MFRWAuthor
18- Thursday #Yoga
19 – Fridays in Space
20 – SPOTLIGHT – Dark Chocolate and Strawberries
21-  Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday
22 – NEBT - Author Spotlight –
23 – Author Spotlight –
24 – Book Hooks #MFRWhooks #MFRWAuthor
25 - Thursday #Yoga
26 – SPOOKAPALOZZA Party
27 – SPOTLIGHT – Dark Chocolate and Strawberries
28 - Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday
29 – NEBT - Author Spotlight –
30 – Author Spotlight –
31 - Book Hooks #MFRWhooks #MFRWAuthor