tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10368438949997835332024-03-05T15:42:47.526-08:00Finding Kat HeckenbachKat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.comBlogger564125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-62461004121347837252023-05-10T18:57:00.000-07:002023-05-10T18:57:23.958-07:00Three Published Stories in Three Days!<p> Three anthologies released this past week with short stories of mine inside!</p><p>Another HAVOK anthology, <i>Vice & Virtue</i>, features my flash fiction "First Impression." This story goes along with "Dude" which you can read <a href="https://www.wattpad.com/850264829-part-1-dude" target="_blank">HERE</a> for free on Wattpad. You can purchase <i>Vice & Virtue</i> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Vice-Virtue-Havok-Season-Fiction-ebook/dp/B0BXFTWVVZ" target="_blank">on Amazon</a>.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaldpxaXWsemmVLLFRqVv-Gk6Fxghk3OulvRmqXuCUM5BQUqYMo-7lG_yx8W2xXM9KuPMOdK4m9KMMSYdHOVAhG9CJZfe8xiqvxpPU6l34TzlwabjZK7IiHgXVJXfzqswUpbMV4eeMrypXliqB1ZzlerUjh7XNkkm0YpsXUth3g1uxPlnxOvA37Od7JA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaldpxaXWsemmVLLFRqVv-Gk6Fxghk3OulvRmqXuCUM5BQUqYMo-7lG_yx8W2xXM9KuPMOdK4m9KMMSYdHOVAhG9CJZfe8xiqvxpPU6l34TzlwabjZK7IiHgXVJXfzqswUpbMV4eeMrypXliqB1ZzlerUjh7XNkkm0YpsXUth3g1uxPlnxOvA37Od7JA" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Ring of Fire</i> contains my story "Fire Wall" that was originally published in <i>The Absent Willow Review</i> (an online magazine that has since closed its doors). In "Fire Wall" a literal wall of fire has appeared, surrounding a city, and a mysterious stranger offers a means of escape.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can purchase <i>Ring of Fire</i> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ring-Fire-Various-Authors-ebook/dp/B0C3465RK5?ref_=ast_author_dp" target="_blank">on Amazon</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3nNA6N-TeUbe0xIXZyedcltvisX_RkttrOv_4BCRLZ2nj5XdcxODxpEJIzF5TwZqjDzkhAnT4BUBVZL-0hXZoJN3oNpbkrfiO8embl2EBhoYdq-9T5jk4wcqEqGNYCIhu29QAIEveQytGUSfwpcrQ5E97SYVs4jw7woBbI-bNaOpYV8KcXn5mpe_BYA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="338" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3nNA6N-TeUbe0xIXZyedcltvisX_RkttrOv_4BCRLZ2nj5XdcxODxpEJIzF5TwZqjDzkhAnT4BUBVZL-0hXZoJN3oNpbkrfiO8embl2EBhoYdq-9T5jk4wcqEqGNYCIhu29QAIEveQytGUSfwpcrQ5E97SYVs4jw7woBbI-bNaOpYV8KcXn5mpe_BYA" width="162" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And last but not least, my story "Darkness" (which originally appeared in <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Realmscapes-Realm-Makers-ebook/dp/B06XV7KDL2?ref_=ast_author_dp" target="_blank">Realmscapes</a></i>) is featured in <a href="https://www.fit.edu/" target="_blank">Florida Tech</a>'s latest issue of their literary magazine <i>Kaleidoscope</i>. This is a magazine that is given out on campus, so I don't know if/how you can get a copy, but you can read a few old issues for free <a href="https://issuu.com/kaleidoscopefit" target="_blank">here</a>. What is exciting for me about this one is that my story won their contest for best prose in this issue!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7TWoLzt27aHVuQ0JLZ09-vGiJXP4burG3HYmrCrVn8Z6XCUCE383ufMDjPbxaa2DtZYRV9uFu1kBdldvb8vzOQ0HHwDWGMk28G9wVcKTul3jn6OxPZ3h9HFKgxQWDecIUi1djtz0ctWhoWwC7Z9V63OW5ktSqf9vCw5FC6v8EezaW7tCaDW09sJNVSw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7TWoLzt27aHVuQ0JLZ09-vGiJXP4burG3HYmrCrVn8Z6XCUCE383ufMDjPbxaa2DtZYRV9uFu1kBdldvb8vzOQ0HHwDWGMk28G9wVcKTul3jn6OxPZ3h9HFKgxQWDecIUi1djtz0ctWhoWwC7Z9V63OW5ktSqf9vCw5FC6v8EezaW7tCaDW09sJNVSw" width="192" /></a></div><br /><br /></div>It was pretty fun this past week having three releases and receiving my author copies all within three days of each other. That doesn't happen often. Now, I've got to get to work finding homes for the next batch...<br /><br /></div><br /><p></p>Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-90234388147095971742023-01-17T06:35:00.000-08:002023-01-17T06:35:07.231-08:00New Published Short Stories<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWe4-raSkCvdSqQ5twuaYzqNPyunJPN-bvaM4C8U-yRTJnEWVI1Wfy-u2fb09zoOGZpMN3IxQ_lzNnyeW1f-8eP7dWsme0D6MMcyfRSuL24rl7uzMKU_kbqVk6fKpeVpN9LSauZmYSibEBvYPq_GVewswp7O2jRMwGh7sUHE7zsuy6ozUOypu3YAlBjw/s1046/Screenshot%20(28).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1046" data-original-width="688" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWe4-raSkCvdSqQ5twuaYzqNPyunJPN-bvaM4C8U-yRTJnEWVI1Wfy-u2fb09zoOGZpMN3IxQ_lzNnyeW1f-8eP7dWsme0D6MMcyfRSuL24rl7uzMKU_kbqVk6fKpeVpN9LSauZmYSibEBvYPq_GVewswp7O2jRMwGh7sUHE7zsuy6ozUOypu3YAlBjw/s320/Screenshot%20(28).png" width="210" /></a></div>The latest issue (Winter 2022) of <a href="https://sites.google.com/newmyths.com/newmyths-com-home" target="_blank">NewMyths</a> features my flash fiction story "<a href="https://sites.google.com/newmyths.com/newmyths-com-issue-61/issue-61-stories/more-than-skin-deep" target="_blank">More Than Skin Deep</a>." <p></p><p>Here's a taste:</p><p>Taela stood at the pond’s edge, watching her son swim, her bare toes sinking into the wet soil. Sand clung to her calves, and her sleeveless tunic whispered around her in the warm afternoon breeze. It was their private place, hidden deep in the forest where the other Elven never followed.</p><p>The barely rippling surface reflected her image in broken waves—an image cross-sectioned by the tattoos covering her skin like colored lace. Neither the water nor the tattoos did anything to hide the unusual paleness of her Elven skin. Her onyx eyes were a vivid contrast, and the points of her ears were all that identified her heritage. Maybe that was why she felt compelled to trim her hair so short—no one could deny her place when confronted with those Elvish peaks.</p><p>She lifted her gaze from her reflection to Calen a few yards in front of her. Taela smiled as she watched him splash in the shallow water. He looked like any other Elven child out there, where no one could see the frail legs beneath him, the narrow ribcage that held a heart beating with the passion of someone ten times his size.</p><p><a href="https://sites.google.com/newmyths.com/newmyths-com-issue-61/issue-61-stories/more-than-skin-deep" target="_blank">CONTINUE HERE</a> to read the rest for free. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://gohavok.com/" target="_blank">HAVOK</a>'s latest anthology, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Kingdom-Havok-Season-Fiction-ebook/dp/B0BHD7B9HR?ref_=ast_sto_dp" target="_blank">Animal Kingdom: Havok Season Seven</a></i>, released in October 2022, and it features my flash fiction story "The Placebo Effect." This sci-fi story will appeal to anyone creative, especially if you know what it's like to have a creative block. As usual, the cover art is lovely!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSortHAGgQUZwYxAreaDKwGiEG7ocE1HjZHwFvHsMkTNoQtrlbuPag5BtX56TVoJfBsETTztgsKlqlnst1bq5Ou7WqLKM29XdOXYU5SYQEybKrvI9OwIDmzEw05FZ4HVHwtZTtoMK8oq1PLBwXB2gYGPIWXQaRYv-wZC6v3-C4gxN6P7dhcf-NSfZ2Q/s500/51+PpZpo01L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSortHAGgQUZwYxAreaDKwGiEG7ocE1HjZHwFvHsMkTNoQtrlbuPag5BtX56TVoJfBsETTztgsKlqlnst1bq5Ou7WqLKM29XdOXYU5SYQEybKrvI9OwIDmzEw05FZ4HVHwtZTtoMK8oq1PLBwXB2gYGPIWXQaRYv-wZC6v3-C4gxN6P7dhcf-NSfZ2Q/s320/51+PpZpo01L.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />And the soon-to-release <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Soup-Soul-Lessons-Learned/dp/1611590981/ref=asc_df_1611590981/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=632095862333&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1538519058712405840&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9012090&hvtargid=pla-1678950298971&psc=1" target="_blank">Chicken Soup for the Soul: Lessons Learned from My Dog</a> </i>features my story "A Promise Kept." This is the story of how taking in a neighbor's dog temporarily guaranteed she ended up at the home she really needed, and that really needed her. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWam9pS8l4yXQTLqpFoSKxCa94WCvLyQDJ5O58QsSd4DtgNCjOk1pjv0fM07b6ibTo4YoKCNTdAJvDf8f7glL0kesvu-_tSQQ0U7VnRk_UHcy28qaB7lRC18iWxNY_jn_r5Ve0I_EB_nGoAPda5w6tTdEpgXhRZdfxQVy0nlJ5wq4CVzUu8suZloAqhQ/s499/41zX3nufyAL._SX321_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="323" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWam9pS8l4yXQTLqpFoSKxCa94WCvLyQDJ5O58QsSd4DtgNCjOk1pjv0fM07b6ibTo4YoKCNTdAJvDf8f7glL0kesvu-_tSQQ0U7VnRk_UHcy28qaB7lRC18iWxNY_jn_r5Ve0I_EB_nGoAPda5w6tTdEpgXhRZdfxQVy0nlJ5wq4CVzUu8suZloAqhQ/s320/41zX3nufyAL._SX321_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br /><p>Stay tuned, as I'll be announcing a couple more short story releases in the not too distant future. </p><p><br /></p>Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-2095537615150238662022-11-01T06:06:00.001-07:002022-11-01T06:06:37.201-07:00Cover Art: A Superhero for Christmas<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3vckXQDUfivsL6peUizFFtDvX7_bP25QLog6irYFZKeh6bgifcskStFSBTJ7g4epVlbV4OXKTU132Sh-HlhY-NNUXPW1TMS55fXSeXhB4XV_I7GKxEk264hNm--tRImeGlLVjlLbHXR4Cz6QvDnr8FzmlZIS_i9S3Ns2fHgnL_WtiEPvsFMBDIGv7Q/s900/Superhero-Christmas4-SMALLER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3vckXQDUfivsL6peUizFFtDvX7_bP25QLog6irYFZKeh6bgifcskStFSBTJ7g4epVlbV4OXKTU132Sh-HlhY-NNUXPW1TMS55fXSeXhB4XV_I7GKxEk264hNm--tRImeGlLVjlLbHXR4Cz6QvDnr8FzmlZIS_i9S3Ns2fHgnL_WtiEPvsFMBDIGv7Q/w266-h400/Superhero-Christmas4-SMALLER.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've asked author H.L. Burke to post today about the cover art for her upcoming release, <i>A Superhero for Christmas</i>, part of her Superhero Rehabilitation Project series. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's what she has to say:</div><br />I definitely know better than to attempt my own art. Both my daughters are (for their age) pretty good at drawing, but I have no attention to visual details, so generally speaking, I just give a vague idea to my cover artist and let them come up with something. I like to be surprised.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />For my superhero universe, however, I always knew I wanted artwork that could reasonably fit in a comic book page, so drawn figures of people instead of photo manipulation or graphic design-type work.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I’ve known K.M. Carroll (on Deviant Art as NetRaptor… you should check her out. She’s got her own webcomic too <a href="https://www.deviantart.com/netraptor">https://www.deviantart.com/netraptor</a>), and she’s done the artwork for this series ever since. I like the illustrated style because it feels comic-booky without looking like it<br />is for kids (except for maybe the YA series which IS arguably for kids).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Sometimes I’ll just give her a general list of traits, but for this one, I actually had casting in mind<br />for the characters. This is rare for me. Most actors or known people are too attractive to be my<br />characters who I generally imagine as everyday people, but with Glint, who is supposed to be<br />an overly charming, Superman stand-in with a sparkling smile and kind of a cheesy charisma, I<br />always felt he needed to be played by Nathan Fillion–and for the laughs, since this is a Hallmark<br />movie, I decided that the female lead would be Maggie Lawson (from Psych as well as some<br />Hallmark movies). I specifically asked for characters who looked a little like those actors but not<br />enough that I could be sued for using their likenesses without permission.<br />I love what she came up with.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>Marvel hero action collides with Hallmark Holiday goodness in this new superhero romantic<br />comedy by Award-Winning author H.L Burke. Launches November 5th, 2022!</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b><i>A Superhero for Christmas</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b>When superhero, Glint's, aka Henry Nichols's, powers go on the fritz after a supervillain attack,<br />he finds himself rethinking his priorities. Years of devotion to public service have left him with<br />little for himself, and with forty swiftly approaching, he finds himself longing for his youth on his<br />grandfather's farm. An incognito vacation is just what he needs.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Former reporter Lara Landis lost her career and her only long-term relationship all in one<br />humiliating blow. Broke and rudderless, she retreats to her parents' small town grocery store to<br />try and make one last career rally, but how is she going to get a big scoop living in the middle of<br /><div style="text-align: left;">nowhere? When a poorly disguised superhero lands in her neighborhood, insisting that he's just<br />a normal guy, she can't help but smell a story.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />As their chance encounters turn into a begrudging friendship, Lara is surprised to find a caring,<br />sincere human beneath Henry's press-conference-ready exterior. When the truth comes out,<br />though, her big story could turn into his worst nightmare.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>What readers are saying about A Superhero For Christmas:</b><br />Hallmark and Marvel got together to have a baby, Superhero for Christmas. An adorable<br />heart-warming cozy read for the reader looking for some superhero charm with their<br />rom-com.~Ticia</div></div><div style="text-align: left;">Christmas, romance, and superheroes...this story lifted my heart up, up, and away!~Ernie<br />Laurence, Jr, author of the Islands of Loar series.<br />A cozy Christmas rom-com with superheroes... it doesn’t get better than this! ~ Brianna<br />This story has all of the feels with, thankfully, not a thing that was sappy. This is how I have<br />always wished Hallmark holiday stories were written. ~ Veronica Lynn, AKA Mrs. Spellsmith</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">About the Author:<br />H. L. Burke has written more books than she can count—because she's written a lot of books,<br />not just because she can't count very high. Easily distracted by shinies, she has published in many subgenres including fantasy romance, Steampunk, and superhero, and always creates story worlds with snark, feels, and wonder. Married to her high school crush, she spends her time writing, spoiling her cat, and supervising her two supervillains in training (aka her precocious daughters). An Oregon native, she wilts without trees and doesn't mind the rain. She is a fan of delicious flavor, a follower of the Light, and a believer in happily ever after.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Amazon Pre-Order:<br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BFK45G8K">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BFK45G8K</a><br />Goodreads:<br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62611074-a-superhero-for-christmas">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62611074-a-superhero-for-christmas</a><br />Website:<br /><a href="https://www.hlburkeauthor.com/supervillain-rehabilitation-project">https://www.hlburkeauthor.com/supervillain-rehabilitation-project</a></div>Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-90447315403099944262022-10-16T06:38:00.000-07:002022-10-16T06:38:12.357-07:00Altered Additions -- My Newest Altered Thrift Paintings<p>Just popping on to share some of the newest art you can find on my Etsy shop. Prints (8x10) are available of all these.</p><p>My altered thrift painting featuring the most hard-working sponge on the bottom of the ocean. </p>I'll leave it up to you to decide if Gary is running for help, or running away...<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOh-_fFFlTSNoB6_DZvVpPIG_YxBGVvSJ1KpuA_OxuekeVLtkk3PqLKtUjDqvLfZzEmOmduVxD_4pohAfAXYnLVBitNT5g6AC8VVj-h1NMlJHt-nUcYth-cXKx0mfML8YOzUuROneUiz0Fje4CTcvFscsdlgSiRN2JHsXr_Tx9Wti0CUkLqIDH9jD_g/s4234/THRIFT%20-%20SpongeBob.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3387" data-original-width="4234" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOh-_fFFlTSNoB6_DZvVpPIG_YxBGVvSJ1KpuA_OxuekeVLtkk3PqLKtUjDqvLfZzEmOmduVxD_4pohAfAXYnLVBitNT5g6AC8VVj-h1NMlJHt-nUcYth-cXKx0mfML8YOzUuROneUiz0Fje4CTcvFscsdlgSiRN2JHsXr_Tx9Wti0CUkLqIDH9jD_g/s320/THRIFT%20-%20SpongeBob.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a painting I found that absolutely screamed for me to add Steampunk elements. I mean, look at that frame! (The original is not listed on Etsy, but I just had to show off the frame. 8x10 prints are available.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8ou5HtL-SwbGtfTf6MREYqgdP-r2d4ldCXov_Pe6PzpVQY42yZQlgBQ54jMe3Soj791K9UXz8VtM-OAutxAmQ5XeISnAP_Wtcgl16Epx3_JFT7eawy2rd1viGuMAvoCeyT8H6PgDrIVO7ld3NKyWHgDen0loOB9mokpExPfi8wp_Zyv6weljtsePkw/s1080/272458921_10220755009446538_5261875222062043842_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8ou5HtL-SwbGtfTf6MREYqgdP-r2d4ldCXov_Pe6PzpVQY42yZQlgBQ54jMe3Soj791K9UXz8VtM-OAutxAmQ5XeISnAP_Wtcgl16Epx3_JFT7eawy2rd1viGuMAvoCeyT8H6PgDrIVO7ld3NKyWHgDen0loOB9mokpExPfi8wp_Zyv6weljtsePkw/s320/272458921_10220755009446538_5261875222062043842_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>And another adventure for our little green alien.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjYFbI_r9YpBKp3BTI_tpX8nHYrlA9A9kU1wCgduUV3Ghkx_wXb99BCQqm6UN72vOfsoocwsPLYLzQDbiwCgDeOmZsSNBuKpIkrsyluWgixJfdh1btKlX0pdJ-h8emZKJm3aozE6oeKIwHRG2egYPPY98nSNusEBfxalfr5DpJvx2_l3pvDehzQCKxQ/s3991/THRIFT%20-%20Alien%20in%20Desert.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3192" data-original-width="3991" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjYFbI_r9YpBKp3BTI_tpX8nHYrlA9A9kU1wCgduUV3Ghkx_wXb99BCQqm6UN72vOfsoocwsPLYLzQDbiwCgDeOmZsSNBuKpIkrsyluWgixJfdh1btKlX0pdJ-h8emZKJm3aozE6oeKIwHRG2egYPPY98nSNusEBfxalfr5DpJvx2_l3pvDehzQCKxQ/s320/THRIFT%20-%20Alien%20in%20Desert.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To find prints of these and more, visit <a href="http://www.JumpingRails.etsy.com">www.JumpingRails.etsy.com</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-12840136927660306412022-07-11T05:33:00.001-07:002022-07-11T05:34:23.388-07:00Mark the Days on Mysterion<p>My short story "Mark the Days" is featured on Mysterion Magazine today! <br /><br />Here's a taste...</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;">Denver blinked against the sunlight blaring through his bedroom window, resisting the urge to pull the thick comforter over his face. Moments later, the sunlight shut off. He blinked more, seeing nothing but pitch black for several seconds. As his eyes adjusted to the dark, the furniture in his room appearing as deeper shadows, he noticed the hum of an engine coming from outside.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;">Blast it, Jerry</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;">. Denver groaned and flipped over on his stomach, scrunching his eyes shut again. Why could his housemate never remember to park on the other side when he came home at this time of morning? His headlights lined up exactly with Denver’s window, sending blinding light through the curtains.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;">The engine cut off, and soon the front lock clicked, followed by the slam of the door against the wall. Then the clomp of Jerry’s boots down the hardwood floor of the hallway that led to Jerry’s room on the other side of the house.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;">Denver lifted his head and glanced over at the clock. Three-thirty. He exhaled, glad he at least wouldn’t have to deal with Jerry in the morning. Jerry would sleep in, not rising until long after Denver headed to the office. Then he’d be gone again when Denver got home. Jerry working nights meant Denver had the house to himself most evenings. Simple blessings…</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;">The alarm blasted Denver from a heavy sleep, and he grunted as he slammed the off button. Shoving the comforter aside, he dragged himself over to the edge of the bed. When his feet hit the floor, he let out a sigh. Mornings sucked. Even more so with lack of sleep.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;">When he reached the kitchen, the barest hint of sunrise lit the window, enough to see the coffee maker. He switched it on, listening to the gurgle of heating water with anticipation. While he waited, he snagged a marker from the mug on the counter and marked off the day on the calendar.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;">Jerry’s snicker startled him, and he spun around to find Jerry slouched over the breakfast bar, coffee in hand. Denver’s own cup sat steaming on the countertop. The room was brighter than five-thirty would allow.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;">How—?</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;">Denver rubbed his forehead. Had he dozed off standing there?</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;">“Dude,” Jerry said, “you okay?” His blond hair flopped over one eye, and he brushed it back, only to have it flop again.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;">“What? Yeah. Fine.” But Denver didn’t feel fine. He looked at the calendar he’d just marked. May fifteenth. That wasn’t right. He’d skipped a day.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;">Jerry snickered again. “I know, I know. You’re fine as long as your little ritual is done. Mark each day, every day. Perfect little X over the number…” He shook his head, eye peeking intermittently from behind his swinging bangs.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;">Denver stared at the calendar, the number 14 clearly visible with no perfect little X. “You see everything marked through today?” he asked, hoping the alarm didn’t show in his voice.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;">“Of course.” Jerry slid from the barstool and dumped his mug into the sink. As he walked past, he elbowed Denver’s arm. “What’s wro—I mean…” His voice dropped. “Never mind.” He didn’t say anything more and ducked through the door that led from the kitchen to the back porch. Which would make sense if it were May fifteenth because the fifteenth was Wednesday, Jerry’s day off. He only slept in on the days he had to work.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;">How was it May fifteenth, though?<br /></span><br />To keep reading, visit <a href="https://www.mysteriononline.com/2022/07/mark-days.html#more">MysterionOnline.com</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-63490455385421178152022-04-20T11:37:00.000-07:002022-04-20T11:37:02.224-07:00Worth Re-reading: Jinx by Sage Blackwood<p>Have you ever re-read a book or series and discovered that the second time around it just didn't do as much for you? That's happened to me several times. I've bought a series and kept it on my shelf, only to re-read it later and end up donating the books to the library's used bookstore.</p><p><b>That's NOT the case for me with this series.</b> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihdkXmNI8tdA4lJNB2DhtbLAjaaQ9Co6cDkch123AJrOthIBz7_6rF466W8kyc4zuwtfJJOcvrggyhtf3CBjpcdoN5cObkM6k3tn6IGmfo-w2wqmW3S2uHd9PXjU39XNl2ZmFYRhPgV6nK83qwm3yLynp24QEyBskZsyr7Tvuwe2sb3HmUhfYHN0hn4Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="204" data-original-width="247" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihdkXmNI8tdA4lJNB2DhtbLAjaaQ9Co6cDkch123AJrOthIBz7_6rF466W8kyc4zuwtfJJOcvrggyhtf3CBjpcdoN5cObkM6k3tn6IGmfo-w2wqmW3S2uHd9PXjU39XNl2ZmFYRhPgV6nK83qwm3yLynp24QEyBskZsyr7Tvuwe2sb3HmUhfYHN0hn4Q" width="291" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>I originally got the first book, <i>Jinx</i>, way back when I was in the Amazon Vine program. I loved it so much, I bought the next two as they released. And recently, I dove back in, not sure if it would end for me the way it has with other series.</p><p>It only took a couple of chapters, though, for me to remember why I kept these books in the first place.</p><p>The story world is so cool -- the Urwald with its mystical trees and the Clearings where the people of the Urwald dwell. The "evil" magician Simon, smart but cursed Elfwyn, and of course Jinx, the unlikely hero who makes you want to take him under your wing as soon as you meet him.</p><p>This is a series I've recommended to many parents in the past when they're looking for books for middle schoolers and upper elementary kids. And now, well, I will be doing so even more emphatically!</p><p>Find the series on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jinx-3-book-series/dp/B074C64L8L" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.</p>Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-71406097903555002752022-02-18T05:20:00.002-08:002022-02-18T05:20:34.172-08:00Author Feature: H.L. Burke<p></p>I've decided I need to spend more time on here sharing about some of the books I've really enjoyed over the years. I'm starting with a few by the same author, H.L. Burke. Oh, and at the end I've got a few interview questions answered by Heidi.<div><br /></div><div>My favorite of hers so far is <i><b>Heart of the Curiosity</b></i>. Gotta be honest: about 90% of the reason I bought this book (and bought it in paperback rather than ebook) is because I am in love with the cover. That said, the story totally lived up to the expectations set by that beautiful art. Steampunk set in a theater, with ballet and fairy tale performances and automatons, cool magic, mystery, and a sweet romance. I loved everything about this story.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbIR3TfbquemhAU3GVOSBxxnb9ni73IlzugTDlqVTJ3f5cgENJco-o8h-OLvr6Ot6fyc8VFLKqPnxDWXGLi9NTvG7HrTmn9fIPFP8fu2BExTOIJ6nc_x82kzKm5ZixBqVzPFTvOIF4Q2w9WyvnS_LapSXFY-VNAH2aCm6ZImuCrJL3PYFpRvjcDS9x1Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img alt="" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="880" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbIR3TfbquemhAU3GVOSBxxnb9ni73IlzugTDlqVTJ3f5cgENJco-o8h-OLvr6Ot6fyc8VFLKqPnxDWXGLi9NTvG7HrTmn9fIPFP8fu2BExTOIJ6nc_x82kzKm5ZixBqVzPFTvOIF4Q2w9WyvnS_LapSXFY-VNAH2aCm6ZImuCrJL3PYFpRvjcDS9x1Q=w207-h320" width="207" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you want more steampunk, I recommend the <i><b>Spellsmith and Carver</b></i> series. It's simply a well-told tale with likable characters, and hands-down one of the coolest magic systems I've come across. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhl1s9k4ygidqcOSftlprCRBLHKhe5NZxKSombUbHAeOi5oAK3ieAw5v5fMtpDJ-cvXly6fFq7L8cPogkRRF4H9phjM4tnkdXaB7Kmx7F7hMOmo8J_iPtMDZg2SFVWNhZSmhLPtkkfGC-bKY-Ji2Y2VydYoJejs_Axopo3AZSMT3YAbD4U7k9qx8DswfA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhl1s9k4ygidqcOSftlprCRBLHKhe5NZxKSombUbHAeOi5oAK3ieAw5v5fMtpDJ-cvXly6fFq7L8cPogkRRF4H9phjM4tnkdXaB7Kmx7F7hMOmo8J_iPtMDZg2SFVWNhZSmhLPtkkfGC-bKY-Ji2Y2VydYoJejs_Axopo3AZSMT3YAbD4U7k9qx8DswfA=w213-h320" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">For something a bit different, and for the younger set, I highly recommend <b><i>Cora and the Nurse Dragon</i></b>. This is actually one of the first books I remember hearing about by H.L. Burke, but I put off reading it for some time. I could scold myself for not jumping on it, or I could say it was worth the wait. I suppose both are right! Just loved the main character and the unique take on dragon lore. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPiAE6I5ehtvGUGBWJ_kyQMO68reul9YrKHdEJTxiXAoMgsbbgEdsAq9YgYRQ1TaTUe9wViZ-Q6u0DUsvZgkX2xJsHxKDiT_-IQukImobu2ty82NGAUoBVSJfFhcMnIKDp39HQjoDRKeqznJiFcbmUWJhF0VLwTegGt5w9hMNjGzbWL9u_hAm9oU0FQw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="334" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPiAE6I5ehtvGUGBWJ_kyQMO68reul9YrKHdEJTxiXAoMgsbbgEdsAq9YgYRQ1TaTUe9wViZ-Q6u0DUsvZgkX2xJsHxKDiT_-IQukImobu2ty82NGAUoBVSJfFhcMnIKDp39HQjoDRKeqznJiFcbmUWJhF0VLwTegGt5w9hMNjGzbWL9u_hAm9oU0FQw=w213-h320" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Lastly, I want to at least share about the <i><b>Supervillain Rehabilitation Project</b></i> series that has been Heidi's latest focus. I haven't actually read any in this series yet. The key word here is "yet" because I have every intention of diving into these at some point. They just look way too fun to pass up. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigqt_7TCcjOaOfoiTZ4LpvjVTd1gnNt5O4HAxtyK7nO6TjAn_u0pCxy2YgMQnEUtHZVIuD0gEbHGy4NeVWu6MI26027qxeolaia2R85TgmmHj72iYk0CZ2JijvDQicjTrkqumrFmtPJUccMZ6spX0n-CRGZPcDmY2GZ4nS4RAb9p67QTOp-apUqqQ5zQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="366" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigqt_7TCcjOaOfoiTZ4LpvjVTd1gnNt5O4HAxtyK7nO6TjAn_u0pCxy2YgMQnEUtHZVIuD0gEbHGy4NeVWu6MI26027qxeolaia2R85TgmmHj72iYk0CZ2JijvDQicjTrkqumrFmtPJUccMZ6spX0n-CRGZPcDmY2GZ4nS4RAb9p67QTOp-apUqqQ5zQ" width="293" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And now for the questions I promised:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>OK, so I don't want to feel all traditional and boring asking a writer about her writing, but I would like to know, to add to my post, how it is that you are <i>so freaking prolific</i>.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I can’t seem to stop. Please send help … or coffee … actually, the coffee might be the problem.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Part of it is years of practice. I write pretty clean copy so it needs less rewriting/editing. I don’t write absurd amounts per day, but I can do a thousand words in a half hour, so I usually get at little more than that done a night, and if I have more time, I get more done, so it adds up pretty quickly. Plus I’ve learned a plotting method that works for me and I know my personal tricks and motivators, so unless I’m sick or there’s some sort of exceptional thing going on, I can usually get my words in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The second part is, I still really like writing. Sometimes there will be periods where it’s mildly frustrating, but I’d much rather be doing writing than almost anything else. Like there’s that meme that writers will clean their house and your house and all the houses to avoid writing … I will write and write and write to avoid vacuuming because cleaning is the worst. Makes me a very prolific writer. Not a great housekeeper, but … you know we can’t have it all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Also, you jump all over genre-wise. I can totally relate to this, because I write in a lot of different genres myself, and my art is all over the board (one of the reasons my Etsy shop is named Jumping Rails is because I feel like a train barreling in one direction, then suddenly changing tracks, all the time). Is there something that ties your writing all together? Some element of Heidi-ness that you think comes through in all your writing no matter the genre?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I do tend towards certain types of feelz and while I don’t like filler content, I also don’t do action packed stuff. I plot the emotional beats of my story first and work the story and action around it, so the story kind of frames the character relationships and development. I also have a fairly consistent sense of humor, though when I do contemporary stuff it gets a little more directly referential.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>And since you're writing a superhero series at present: What, other than prolific writing and cat wrangling, is your superpower?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Snarky, referential humor and flexibility. My family didn’t move around or change things much at all growing up, but when I got married to a Marine at 21, my life became constant changes and moves and adjustments, and I’ve learned how to roll with it. Occasionally some of it has been hard, but I feel I’ve learned to adapt pretty well overall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Plus I know how to work references into just about anything. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">***</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You can find all the amazing literary offerings by H.L. Burke on her <a href="https://www.amazon.com/H.-L.-Burke/e/B00EYQ1HLW?ref=dbs_mng_calw_a_0" target="_blank">Amazon Author Page</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And follow her on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=h.%20l.%20burke" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/hlburkewriter" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/burkesdragons/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> to keep up with, and sometimes participate in, her shenanigans. </div></div><br /><br /></div><br /></div></div>Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-36620012202710148842022-01-11T06:52:00.000-08:002022-01-11T06:52:03.304-08:00Do What You Do<p><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJjzV9yuUVhcqP-WZdgasbOggX7BFDM6CCPUoPSD1Hw1aYNdKnArlvgkrcxcxexr3W0UDGZt7g5pWZpyL-qCytiSNljln_FTU7il7yUg9Cunnl-55melgaw1F3k1vPXjreTVluMNgIUPJWqaLkj696J_9O2eWRJKC55OFdn05BWoq9vgG4uoZQP4oKgg=s322" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="251" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJjzV9yuUVhcqP-WZdgasbOggX7BFDM6CCPUoPSD1Hw1aYNdKnArlvgkrcxcxexr3W0UDGZt7g5pWZpyL-qCytiSNljln_FTU7il7yUg9Cunnl-55melgaw1F3k1vPXjreTVluMNgIUPJWqaLkj696J_9O2eWRJKC55OFdn05BWoq9vgG4uoZQP4oKgg=s320" width="249" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bad scan of photo of a drawing <br />I did in high school. The original<br />was sent in to a contest and not returned.<br />I didn't win, but<br />I'm still really proud of this one.</td></tr></tbody></table>When I was in school, I took as many art classes as I could. I particularly loved drawing. My favorite medium was charcoal. And my goal with pretty much every drawing was to make it look as realistic as possible. My ultimate goal was to someday draw so realistically my drawings would look like photographs. I never achieved that, partly because for years I put my art on hold altogether. And when I started drawing again, my goals had changed. </p><p>My new goals had more to do with being creative. One reason I started painting was to force myself to work with color, rather than the black and white of charcoal pencil drawing. I also wanted to loosen up and create art with more distinctive style rather than just trying to make an image that looks like a photograph.</p><p>I have a dear friend who draws with colored pencil and her drawings are almost indistinguishable from photographs. I am in absolute awe of her talent. (You can see her work <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vm20X7kaQs" target="_blank">here</a>.) And yes, there are even twinges of jealousy now and then, but I don't have her patience and dedication to the art of colored pencil drawing. I bring this up because the point of this blog post is: </p><p>That's okay. </p><p>It's okay to do art differently than someone else, even if you absolutely adore and are astounded by their work. </p><p>I recently registered to enter two pieces of art in the Florida State Fair Fine Arts Competition. I've entered a few times before, and always in the "whimsical" painting category. This year, without having actually completed, or even started, the paintings I intended to enter, I chose "whimsical" for one painting but "scene" for the other. My intention was to paint something more traditional and realistic for the "scene" entry. Think Bob Ross or a lovely sunset beach. </p><p>But I started working on that painting....and it was horrible. I got frustrated. And bored. Everything looked so stiff and emotionless, and not at all realistic. So I set it aside and started a different painting. Instead of focusing on trying to paint what I thought the judges expect for this category, I painted what I was in the mood to paint:<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1Ynu90-KavRjSEHekdTiptWT31QXY6wl5nUrWLmozkWLVZKlD1UCvqOguv1x1AeTbkxsfQQpsnvhiWjgn4nUpaQ15RyM5glMCkICuPMeuXU3ryq7H25f88NSkkVVelKRok0Atfes6fomZ2uaeculX5d4dsXgq123jGLMCNWKX1Ullh07ezsc7Wu_2xA=s4608" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1Ynu90-KavRjSEHekdTiptWT31QXY6wl5nUrWLmozkWLVZKlD1UCvqOguv1x1AeTbkxsfQQpsnvhiWjgn4nUpaQ15RyM5glMCkICuPMeuXU3ryq7H25f88NSkkVVelKRok0Atfes6fomZ2uaeculX5d4dsXgq123jGLMCNWKX1Ullh07ezsc7Wu_2xA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The judges are going to scoff, I'm sure. I'm already imagining their comments about not using color, about the overly simplistic composition. Blah, blah, blah. But I don't care. I painted what was in me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I told my husband about all this, about how frustrating it got trying to work on that other painting, and he said, "It isn't what you do."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes. That's exactly it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then, I went back to the other painting and began working on it for "whimsical" category, this time doing what I do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjIyNjLy_5WWbeZCVFj2lF-Bsj6dY760Yk9ZUiBa4jpuRB3txx_3uA0yWri_-_2Fb1BnkoOPife2wdad5Io2vZV8EqZT7bcO3zRwdyLDQcZ_IjfYCFoDab4ZEh2w-cOflXNVujrcQTLd8Dc1FG0ilcdsB0g2wqjI9R3X_JCA8z9sPSENiLeH3U-iGdjw=s4608" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjIyNjLy_5WWbeZCVFj2lF-Bsj6dY760Yk9ZUiBa4jpuRB3txx_3uA0yWri_-_2Fb1BnkoOPife2wdad5Io2vZV8EqZT7bcO3zRwdyLDQcZ_IjfYCFoDab4ZEh2w-cOflXNVujrcQTLd8Dc1FG0ilcdsB0g2wqjI9R3X_JCA8z9sPSENiLeH3U-iGdjw=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm not quite done with this. It needs a little more pop of color and my daughter who is also an artist has already given me some suggestions. But the important thing is that I now actually like this painting. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is what I do. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's fine to have goals and push yourself out of your comfort zone, and to be inspired by other artists. Necessary even. But remember that being an artist is being YOU as an artist, not someone else. Your job isn't to do exactly what someone else does -- your job is to do what you do. </div><br />Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-16295418068165758352021-08-18T07:09:00.002-07:002021-08-18T07:09:58.352-07:00Short Story, New Art, and Ebook Sale<p>My short story is in a magazine called <i>Youth Imagination</i>. "The Guitar" has been published in a couple of anthologies. Now is your chance to read it free online. </p><p>Here's a sneaky peek, including the cool image they chose to highlight my story:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyrTR_k1-IVKAt4j0GVk5OY-lWHn6wJIew4SM70fJs0_-dTZfW2R6XHT0S2EuQM5JdSZBydIP24AyJ0O5oCjCIo_AIugK1bvFFvHDVBP-asrHIp-O78pyShfdiFQLl98m9WSBF2EbJJ6U/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="386" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyrTR_k1-IVKAt4j0GVk5OY-lWHn6wJIew4SM70fJs0_-dTZfW2R6XHT0S2EuQM5JdSZBydIP24AyJ0O5oCjCIo_AIugK1bvFFvHDVBP-asrHIp-O78pyShfdiFQLl98m9WSBF2EbJJ6U/" width="192" /></a></div><p>“Dude, please, you gotta take me with you this time.”</p><p>Kalek perched on a low branch of a Platinum Oak, his Elven ears poking through a massive mound of ragged curls. I cringed at the way his onyx eyes gleamed. He’d convince me, I was sure, but I wouldn’t go down without a fight.</p><p>“No way,” I said, “I’m going camping. Alone. That means without you, so forget it.”</p><p>He jumped down from the tree, lithe as a panther, and stood in front of me. “C’mon. I’ve never been off the island. Just this once.”</p><p>“Your father will be furious.”</p><p>“I know, dude, all the more reason.”</p><p>I should have known he’d say that. He’d never admitted it, not outright anyway, but that was pretty much the reason he’d befriended me. There wasn’t a person on the island his old man hated more than me. Why he’d stayed friends with me, I’ll never know. Tattooed Elven rockers and homebody farm boys generally have little in common, but somehow we’d become brothers. My camping trips were the only times I insisted he stay away.</p><p>“Uh-uh. Nope. Not a chance,” I said, shaking my head and turning to leave the clearing. As I walked across the carpet of grass and leaves, the forest trees surrounding us began to sway like sentinels.</p><p>I suddenly felt trapped by my own will to stay.</p><p><a href="https://youthimagination.org/index.php/item/253-the-guitar-by-kat-heckenbach" target="_blank">CLICK TO CONTINUE</a></p><p><br /></p><p>I've listed several pieces of art on my Etsy shop over the past couple of months. Some altered thrift store paintings -- most of the originals have sold, but I've got prints of everything available -- and some original acrylic paintings, also with prints available.</p><p>A sampling:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyluxDDqVfLOWg1RBicAAHUBth02HDHwa5QPtfGZHBq-_QKpVZvsAEhKGgf9AfuVojtItOKTw1frGgQwwGMcZI8qgFqb39rZbKMYf7K98xYOGnBZTUj0yv2eo2ftGuVuR6lDocDddoP2t/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="340" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyluxDDqVfLOWg1RBicAAHUBth02HDHwa5QPtfGZHBq-_QKpVZvsAEhKGgf9AfuVojtItOKTw1frGgQwwGMcZI8qgFqb39rZbKMYf7K98xYOGnBZTUj0yv2eo2ftGuVuR6lDocDddoP2t/" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFBEqUWKGgHx1X5PMbxpXiFULbQS35AaJ6O1nAlTp4rNkjZj5o4GlvgPZxilbrusVVFf8Li4IXvtirsc5MrBzmMDIEoZS3KcJoDC8t9Ew4pQeRCGaqVbu_f-BoR9U4Hqn02iUo6RofPUz/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="340" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFBEqUWKGgHx1X5PMbxpXiFULbQS35AaJ6O1nAlTp4rNkjZj5o4GlvgPZxilbrusVVFf8Li4IXvtirsc5MrBzmMDIEoZS3KcJoDC8t9Ew4pQeRCGaqVbu_f-BoR9U4Hqn02iUo6RofPUz/" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrx137rylBMNRz1w0YFLejk_pjeomaQBxQdkDjZpIS9hPWUAXZMvOaY1n1mkCTmtYOTXTFD09xOKfOq2ew72TRcCJlfnajxBUwQX4T-LnCisRwLYcAh3UWOB6vjz0Ur4dFxDBmV9KJT7jc/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="340" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrx137rylBMNRz1w0YFLejk_pjeomaQBxQdkDjZpIS9hPWUAXZMvOaY1n1mkCTmtYOTXTFD09xOKfOq2ew72TRcCJlfnajxBUwQX4T-LnCisRwLYcAh3UWOB6vjz0Ur4dFxDBmV9KJT7jc/" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8z7nRC59h5KqJnFcAK4GAb14qdbgRy8ymLxS9PeZ5YZdbeDD2rMWGGCA_NkdQPVJQKKEdTuErcMOFA6JyhajM_7tkKOtfSlj6Hw3v4NkbWA1f102WSoivUHPEcqAw3KjE1zofmpTCW21u/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="340" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8z7nRC59h5KqJnFcAK4GAb14qdbgRy8ymLxS9PeZ5YZdbeDD2rMWGGCA_NkdQPVJQKKEdTuErcMOFA6JyhajM_7tkKOtfSlj6Hw3v4NkbWA1f102WSoivUHPEcqAw3KjE1zofmpTCW21u/" width="302" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2DGOd_9rVPyGsxDAN7jaHM34WsSho1xCBKKgoSBH7A-m61MdeJ62L1APycYw0Weuhic6q9zt7fV2QGKUUFIK2fCU5kxO-4PfNyqk36ZCxSt_hAlEBq0buwW3MaSr3wC-_O1n4uqN4EQZ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="340" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2DGOd_9rVPyGsxDAN7jaHM34WsSho1xCBKKgoSBH7A-m61MdeJ62L1APycYw0Weuhic6q9zt7fV2QGKUUFIK2fCU5kxO-4PfNyqk36ZCxSt_hAlEBq0buwW3MaSr3wC-_O1n4uqN4EQZ/" width="302" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">If you see anything that suits your fancy, hop over to my shop <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/JumpingRails" target="_blank">JUMPING RAILS</a>. Everything has free shipping.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Oh, and...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUiHK1AK6UWtJ-Q3IvXt8DkBhY9v2QJgLOVXMJ10xqStQs61pJ5EJgstFBMXR0TnHH_mI0MSXZAX1KZgykOwR7zHI4A2Svor6F9f8frhFMRm42AHF07UgruTOAnKuawn6Jun9tWUtK0QH/s1600/Toch+Island+Twitter+.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUiHK1AK6UWtJ-Q3IvXt8DkBhY9v2QJgLOVXMJ10xqStQs61pJ5EJgstFBMXR0TnHH_mI0MSXZAX1KZgykOwR7zHI4A2Svor6F9f8frhFMRm42AHF07UgruTOAnKuawn6Jun9tWUtK0QH/w400-h225/Toch+Island+Twitter+.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MYY69GK?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_tukn" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE EBOOKS</a>.</div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-66703681705912691722021-06-24T10:28:00.000-07:002021-06-24T10:28:12.375-07:00New Story in DreamForge Magazine: The Clock-Work Heart<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXYMFd_aqG_KV6k-VdExaikLjCJ1Jn6VxvXXtrTrOFcon3k6dpGxQlpsq1NtRlpfDH3ocSS9bwLrV1Fye4YxDhiUDXFsAWjjWA7MEXkifQdamWo-mrhwq-M2cKLxVApAuWavdxKcLviha/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXYMFd_aqG_KV6k-VdExaikLjCJ1Jn6VxvXXtrTrOFcon3k6dpGxQlpsq1NtRlpfDH3ocSS9bwLrV1Fye4YxDhiUDXFsAWjjWA7MEXkifQdamWo-mrhwq-M2cKLxVApAuWavdxKcLviha/w400-h209/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>My newest short story has released in DreamForge Anvil, a wonderful online magazine that publishes all sorts of science fiction and fantasy short stories -- and fortunately for me, they publish steampunk! </p><p>"A Clock-Work Heart" is a retelling of Edgar Allen Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" but with a twist.</p><p>Here's a bit to get you started: </p><div class="c6336" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; width: 828.667px; word-break: break-word !important;"></div>The automaton had served me well, but I refused to feel remorse about decommissioning him. It , not him . Automatons are things, not people. Everyone knows that. Everyone insists . And Oscar was no exception. He— I mean it was metal and gears, nuts and bolts, springs and wires, nothing more. I would not lose a single night's sleep over this.<div><br />The screw I'd been turning broke free of its hole and landed on the worktable with a soft tink . I lifted the corroded and warped plate covering the center of Oscar's chest and set it aside. Light from the sconces above the table reflected and shadowed the peaks and valleys of Oscar's form, amplifying the tarnished appearance and highlighting the numerous dents and scratches. The rest of the workshop remained in moonlit dimness.</div><div> <br />Just a thing. I'd built... it myself. Designed every feature, carefully placed every part down to the last rivet. I'd given Oscar eyes that could rotate, a hinged jaw, jointed fingers and opposable thumbs, but no one in their right mind could mistake him for human. No skin, no flesh of any kind. Brass plating. Glowing lights. Metal that creaked and clanged with every movement when I failed to keep it oiled properly, and then even with constant oiling— until movement became nearly impossible because of corrosion and other damage. It was imperative the body be obviously mechanical. Machines must be inferior to humans. They have their place. Nothing more than tools.</div><div><br />I had, however, put particular care into Oscar's heart. <div class="c6564" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; width: 828.667px; word-break: break-word !important;"></div><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">If you'd like to read the rest for free, just <a href="https://dreamforge.mywebportal.app/dreamforge/stories/show/the-clockwork-heart-kat-heckenbach?fbclid=IwAR3EwrKPZWjmdPWoULTZ2zSqZe8L87b4FFVd4jsG3FsWomV4p204NLTgBYc" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>. </span></b></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-14877693527508050982021-05-25T06:32:00.000-07:002021-05-25T06:32:19.548-07:00The Art You See<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8k-Z9wX9oyLns-w_MIKevwQQzK8y4NcjroGVduBye0TUm0p75S9qZsi9JyzPgrL-wMKSH6BNgDyw8tmJzm0OJdBJbCN9a3ZWnGiifwfMaO4_xsfQAdXaeS0SW5WeKNiCs9iuRBuzv0jEB/s500/Sensational.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8k-Z9wX9oyLns-w_MIKevwQQzK8y4NcjroGVduBye0TUm0p75S9qZsi9JyzPgrL-wMKSH6BNgDyw8tmJzm0OJdBJbCN9a3ZWnGiifwfMaO4_xsfQAdXaeS0SW5WeKNiCs9iuRBuzv0jEB/s320/Sensational.jpg" /></a></div><br />Quick post to share that my latest short story release can be found in Havok Publishing's new anthology. <i>Sensational: Havok Season Four</i> is full of flash fiction all inspired by the five senses, and by what could be termed "sixth sense." <p></p><p>Here's a little teaser from my story, "The Art You See":</p><p></p><blockquote><p>We've all heard the stories of tortured artists. Cutting off ears, attempting suicide, drugs, depression. We see their anguish in horrific images, harsh brushstrokes, deep shadows. </p><p>But those sweet cottages, sunshine-yellow flowers, and cherubic children are painted by happy people. Right?</p><p>I wish. </p><p>***</p><p>My sister walks into my apartment and scrunches her nose. "Really, Jace? Another one?"</p><p>I sigh as I shut the door behind her. "Hello to you, too, Teagan." I watch her as she looks my newest acquisition up and down. A creepy forest, filled with shadows. Blood-red tentacles snake from between twisted trees. Claw marks rake the pathway into the forest, as though something has been unwillingly dragged off and swallowed up.</p><p>Teagan turns to me, giving me that look. The one she gives me every time. Lips pressed flat, brows scrunched, eyes filled with sadness. "It's so dismal." What she means is, What's wrong with you?</p><p>I don't bother arguing. Teagan will never understand. </p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p>You can find <i>Sensational: Havok Season Four</i> on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0929FBD1G/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1" target="_blank">Amazon</a>. And to subscribe to Havok's online magazine, go to <a href="http://www.gohavok.com">www.gohavok.com</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8LL3298WJfOl0dg6nfIp3azMbzPkkANMMm_9twolDhGv6Qc3iEEE9N-UuZ8xprqDnJdGgah1DJqTOeByaUWZdKmw1YbzB2nKOHt2cBuotJ72j21AgvtVDrgysjEWP929s2tVKR8kjHR6/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="84" data-original-width="212" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8LL3298WJfOl0dg6nfIp3azMbzPkkANMMm_9twolDhGv6Qc3iEEE9N-UuZ8xprqDnJdGgah1DJqTOeByaUWZdKmw1YbzB2nKOHt2cBuotJ72j21AgvtVDrgysjEWP929s2tVKR8kjHR6/w320-h126/image.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p></p>Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-58132384217202399642021-03-21T09:01:00.000-07:002021-03-21T09:01:25.948-07:00Altered Art Aliens Among Us<p> When I first started doing altered thrift store paintings, I wanted to make sure I wasn't just copying the artists already doing them. If you aren't familiar with altered thrift store art, it's basically taking a painting from a thrift or antique store, something very basic like a landscape or flower arrangement, and adding things that obviously don't belong. Dragons and other mythological creatures, space ships, characters from TV shows and movies. Pretty much anything is up for grabs, but I didn't want to just do more of what is already out there.</p><p>I found two things that tend to be my favored areas: tentacles, because they are so fun to paint and can be worked in in such creative ways. And a little green alien guy, because, well, come on. He's just cute! </p><p>Here's the first alien one I did:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBhx08DC1znl9cvs8VwcQIYUx9I8qEOuvVkyEeAq-mXSi80RySwCEG4AnsN4lJw-pp7t2YDpKZPF73rNfrZt26jNWIKsBmwD3olC7eKzd_MPBW6dbfKRxnopzy1ny22L-O_MIRBhnqvUV/s2048/IMG_1417+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1647" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBhx08DC1znl9cvs8VwcQIYUx9I8qEOuvVkyEeAq-mXSi80RySwCEG4AnsN4lJw-pp7t2YDpKZPF73rNfrZt26jNWIKsBmwD3olC7eKzd_MPBW6dbfKRxnopzy1ny22L-O_MIRBhnqvUV/s320/IMG_1417+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I found the original landscape and could just see a spaceship crash landed in the water. Of course I had to make it tell more of a story.<br /><br />And that story-telling aspect is what led to more altered thrift paintings featuring this guy, this time with him landing on purpose:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOR7Ez9L8LeHajLWKGmA8GN6j4qvWF_Vq8m4WQyy05_gHY85oO6z90m6CEmmR0WZUFeCPt075OETqWeLz-Pfn24cIEGwqdmIewclD6_j-bM2VDe1YjnbeyliCxwaYjBABGf3DHYuK6x9M/s2048/IMG_1872+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1633" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOR7Ez9L8LeHajLWKGmA8GN6j4qvWF_Vq8m4WQyy05_gHY85oO6z90m6CEmmR0WZUFeCPt075OETqWeLz-Pfn24cIEGwqdmIewclD6_j-bM2VDe1YjnbeyliCxwaYjBABGf3DHYuK6x9M/s320/IMG_1872+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This original was black and white, so I had to get really creative:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtJuqaxLj-zCSR2efo0vbn-jhdF46Bfnc7T9AbqFlAgDNmUwmDwE45Wq-tg9pyZQ79P1t5iU89gcKqzxxTVW9hpMjmFnXTcb8EUuB6XVsSyf6OkGvtWiOiwPixceZ91SvTf4A0JCg0sZg/s2048/IMG_3238+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1675" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtJuqaxLj-zCSR2efo0vbn-jhdF46Bfnc7T9AbqFlAgDNmUwmDwE45Wq-tg9pyZQ79P1t5iU89gcKqzxxTVW9hpMjmFnXTcb8EUuB6XVsSyf6OkGvtWiOiwPixceZ91SvTf4A0JCg0sZg/s320/IMG_3238+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This past week, I added a couple more to the series:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSGVdakGM-XcsJPLs35-oYCzd-8Mxs8GzGUqXuJNkIqzpfus3aHY9M5RrujhPEFLyxEzsIdCFpyKnZjFxhVJUaH2nLKKp5jP6icSik_0K3XVLj-OyJ8IyIw3GL-3L4u1y8PETJtmjXTob/s2048/IMG_20210320_114026547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSGVdakGM-XcsJPLs35-oYCzd-8Mxs8GzGUqXuJNkIqzpfus3aHY9M5RrujhPEFLyxEzsIdCFpyKnZjFxhVJUaH2nLKKp5jP6icSik_0K3XVLj-OyJ8IyIw3GL-3L4u1y8PETJtmjXTob/s320/IMG_20210320_114026547.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6_ml9emGpMbh_-JldNYptlov17RiNpm6mkcmJ-OCbLyTJ9kTihhoJaS9fZyLPvgWSsrt6MrHmTrANVya1YHE8vxkYcEkIjotDdFfM79idvaujWryYeFv_Y7-o3VXOuPt5JKF8-Kr4YIB/s2048/IMG_20210321_111808910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6_ml9emGpMbh_-JldNYptlov17RiNpm6mkcmJ-OCbLyTJ9kTihhoJaS9fZyLPvgWSsrt6MrHmTrANVya1YHE8vxkYcEkIjotDdFfM79idvaujWryYeFv_Y7-o3VXOuPt5JKF8-Kr4YIB/s320/IMG_20210321_111808910.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I really just posted here today to have a place where all of the paintings in the series are in one place. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can buy prints of the first three -- and will soon find the originals and prints of the last two, as soon as the oil paint is dry enough for shipping -- on my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/JumpingRails/" target="_blank">Etsy shop JumpingRails</a>. (The first three originals are sold.) You can also find prints of the tentacle paintings and other altered thrift paintings there as well.</div><br /><div>For now, though, I just hope you've enjoyed peeking into the little green alien's world. Maybe someday I'll give him a name. </div>Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-18400677364926184652021-01-19T07:16:00.002-08:002021-01-19T07:16:52.859-08:00My 2021 Goals...er, Guidelines<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5L5uoWmDx6wkRx2ggufJT3eWhfXAOpI-JSfLQvulrJxW1-w9u-by1-EuowDQBnpCz3T7HNSu6ZzAk5LnFttTMIvd6aHXTu9AKC5jsWw4dMtP508PE2VJY67TyfFgzy021_7BVDY8erpD/s1200/pirates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5L5uoWmDx6wkRx2ggufJT3eWhfXAOpI-JSfLQvulrJxW1-w9u-by1-EuowDQBnpCz3T7HNSu6ZzAk5LnFttTMIvd6aHXTu9AKC5jsWw4dMtP508PE2VJY67TyfFgzy021_7BVDY8erpD/s320/pirates.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I've never really been a New Year's Resolution kind of person. Not that I don't believe in making goals, but I know all too well that life can derail you at a moment's notice, and sometimes you simply decide that the track you're on isn't working and you jump rails by choice. (Says the girl whose Etsy shop is named Jumping Rails. Now you know part of the reason why.) So, yeah, I set goals, but I have a very Pirates of the Caribbean attitude about them--they're more what you'd call "guidelines" than actual rules.<p></p><p>This year I've come to a realization, though, that has spurred a decision to change direction. I've been working on a novel off and on for several years. It's a middle grade book, a sort of ghost story. I've not shared much about it with anyone until recently because my work on it has been so sporadic. This year, though, come hell or high water, or continuing pandemic, I'm getting that manuscript edited and published one way or another. </p><p>And then, no more novels. For one, I have no real ideas for any. Sure, maybe a vague idea for a sequel to <i>Relent</i>, but since I have all of about 27 readers for that novel, there's not much of a motivation for me to tackle it. Other than that, nothing. Not to mention, marketing books sucks. At least, for me it does. </p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0q8vH5TiMgOAfNzTABB5mJmVtLgNSERP535gojDpSr4kOPI1VUk8W8iOtVAB-RXQx_9cJp6KdHKom2oS_yT16_MGD5ctVWCcsneDaptNU5mwPYbMlSFqi8qwCqAq7GQqZHSp5mDiuLm6/s2048/Longing+-+Kat+Heckenbach.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0q8vH5TiMgOAfNzTABB5mJmVtLgNSERP535gojDpSr4kOPI1VUk8W8iOtVAB-RXQx_9cJp6KdHKom2oS_yT16_MGD5ctVWCcsneDaptNU5mwPYbMlSFqi8qwCqAq7GQqZHSp5mDiuLm6/s320/Longing+-+Kat+Heckenbach.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my paintings, entitled <i>Longing</i>.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />My art has been my focus the past few years, and I'm finding myself so much more inspired in that area, and after losing my son in 2018, it became a source of healing for my grief. My Etsy shop has done 1000 times better since reopening than it did originally. I'm finding my niche, learning what my artistic voice is -- even though it too can be a little all-over-the-place like my writing is. (Another reason my Etsy shop is called Jumping Rails.) I love painting, love doing altered thrift store art, even still, now and again, making some mixed media pieces or the once-in-a-blue-moon wand. Doing all that makes it very hard for me to focus on writing longer works, but...</p><p>There are short stories.</p><p>Back when I first started writing, I pumped out short stories like crazy. My main goal (see, I do make goals) in doing so was to build an audience for my novels. I honestly don't know if it helped at all. Most of the short stories were very different from my YA fantasy <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_73%3AToch+Island+Chronicles&_encoding=UTF8&ref=series_rw_dp_labf" target="_blank"><i>Toch Island Chronicles</i> series</a>. I wrote all different genres, for all different ages. (And there's that Jumping Rails thing again.) But, see, that's one thing I loved about short story writing. I never had to limit myself. Didn't have to worry about my "brand" and whether my stories tied together. Publishers of magazines and anthologies don't really care if your stories are all consistent, they just care whether or not the story you've submitted fits the magazine/issue/anthology they're publishing at the moment. </p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKjKtvoHRI8ARZ2yhBk4q7SxBISUA2E0QS7JkQ1N_Zjtg6ozqI3bpdUp4FpqAFEP8vN7xrw5DHTW1uvI1VArQxau-11AKP5LVzVNDlA7YIe5J3WUOKxNSB4z2QKIxjWiMbGuplqYCQDoM/s500/Mythic+Orbits+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="301" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKjKtvoHRI8ARZ2yhBk4q7SxBISUA2E0QS7JkQ1N_Zjtg6ozqI3bpdUp4FpqAFEP8vN7xrw5DHTW1uvI1VArQxau-11AKP5LVzVNDlA7YIe5J3WUOKxNSB4z2QKIxjWiMbGuplqYCQDoM/s320/Mythic+Orbits+2.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the anthologies <br />I was asked to write for. <br />(This story is not on Wattpad,<br />but you can buy the antho<br />on Amazon.)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Anyway, I got away from short story writing. Over the past few years, the only short stories I've written were solicited ones--meaning, some small publishers came to me and requested I write stories for specific anthologies they were planning. That was an honor for me, and of course I agreed. But I had gotten away from just writing what popped into my head and shopping for markets. I think it was maybe the thing that had to give. I couldn't juggle novel writing and art and short stories, all while homeschooling, and definitely not after losing my son. </p><p>But I'm so close to having my middle grade novel done. I feel like, if I can just get it finished and published, I can let go and shift over to short stories, which I can balance with my art. </p><p>And folks, I'll tell you it's bizarre: I was kind of needing confirmation that this was the right decision, all while planning this blog post for the past few days. Then, today, when I was finally ready to sit down and type this, I noticed I was getting comments on some of my short stories on Wattpad, which hasn't happened in ages. So, yeah, here we go!</p><p>And if you are interested at all in my short story writing, you can check out some free stories on Wattpad for yourself (no membership needed to read them). <a href="https://www.wattpad.com/user/KatHeckenbach" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>. </p><p>Some of those stories have been published in anthologies that can be purchased on Amazon, and of course there are other anthologies on Amazon that have stories which are not on Wattpad--you can find them by going to my <a href="https://www.amazon.com/kat-heckenbach/e/B0042QM3YO" target="_blank">Amazon Author Page</a>. <br /><br />PS--I've turned off comments, and intend to continue keeping comments turned off on this blog. To be honest, for years (literally, I'm not exaggerating) the only comments I ever get on here have been spam. So, sorry. I will, as always, post links to these blogs on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KatHeckenbachAuthor" target="_blank">my Facebook Author Page</a>, so you can always follow me there and comment if you have something to say. <br /><br /></p><p><br /></p>Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-73199100905060454822020-07-20T08:37:00.000-07:002020-07-20T08:37:30.325-07:00Bringing the Focus in on Middle Grade Fiction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_U4H2wUA-xY6N84JFGnsxCVPtOGF5KFYEjlRbLULVN9b_iYL-X8keX_7ai6cx7TgzIEKGhDhWvM2Zy8HX_Ksca7NvxLkFr1QjrUIz427iJhckEs8kXa0DHVNmqjOQbwQ-_Lk20gBtrpcK/s1600/REFUGE.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1247" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_U4H2wUA-xY6N84JFGnsxCVPtOGF5KFYEjlRbLULVN9b_iYL-X8keX_7ai6cx7TgzIEKGhDhWvM2Zy8HX_Ksca7NvxLkFr1QjrUIz427iJhckEs8kXa0DHVNmqjOQbwQ-_Lk20gBtrpcK/s320/REFUGE.JPG" width="249" /></a></div>
It's been a long time since I've written about writing on here. But this past weekend I participated in the online <a href="https://realmmakers.net/" target="_blank">Realm Makers Conference</a> (The Pandemic Edition) and I watched a session on editing that focused a lot on Middle Grade fiction. The speaker, an editor named Brian Kohl, said something I wish more people understood.<br />
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Young readers, with every page of a book they read, want to know three things: who the main character is, what they are doing, and what they are feeling. Anything else doesn't belong in the story. (That's, I think, pretty close to his words, if not exact.)<br />
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This has been a stumbling block for me while writing my MG ghost story. Critique group members will point out that certain things are not explained. They're looking for more exposition. More details that show why things are the way they are. For example, I once asked, in a Facebook group for writers, a bunch of questions regarding body decomposition for a specific scene. I got soooooo much information. I put sooooooo little of it in the actual scene. I simply didn't want to get the facts wrong, but the truth is, the character is going to see what she sees, and only what she sees, and the reader doesn't need to know one jot more.<br />
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I've been stressing so much about other research I need to do for this book. Worried readers are going to find historical inaccuracies, worried they'll find things inconsistent and implausible. Worried I need to do lots of explaining to make sure it all ties together neatly. But the fact is, I don't. Yes, I need to do the research because I don't want misinformation in my story. But I do not need the reader to understand anything the main character either doesn't understand or doesn't concern herself with.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5HIUBAg2fGHqt7a8n0d5QkupDGvWhJPDjVGu3TRZWEhYrDpHdIDBuTpx-vTuXBB4OMr14vdMI8PTVmWPqBtmofZ9kfyVunHea06RcKye7Y9KF_drJdNzy-zuDIOo3kBVSBlDATG3FGBS/s1600/Home+Sweet+Home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1231" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5HIUBAg2fGHqt7a8n0d5QkupDGvWhJPDjVGu3TRZWEhYrDpHdIDBuTpx-vTuXBB4OMr14vdMI8PTVmWPqBtmofZ9kfyVunHea06RcKye7Y9KF_drJdNzy-zuDIOo3kBVSBlDATG3FGBS/s320/Home+Sweet+Home.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
Middle grade fiction is aimed at kids for whom the universe consists of what directly affects them, and no more. I'm not saying youngsters aren't smart--they are wicked smart. I'm not saying they're selfish--they are incredibly caring. I'm saying that developmentally they haven't reached a point where they're looking to find their place in the world. That's what being a teenager is about. That's the function of YA fiction--teens are finally looking outward, seeking footing in an ever-expanding universe, figuring out their positioning in relation to everything and everyone else. But middle graders want books that bring them in, books that connect with them where they are, stories that make them heroes in a universe of which they are the center.<br />
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I personally think that is part of the reason I love MG fiction even now. It allows me to let go of the rest of the world. Especially these days, with the world gone mad. Yes, it's kind of an escape, which makes my love of MG fiction a bit different from its function for actual middle graders, but we shouldn't put adult fiction expectations on MG fiction. It has nothing to do with dumbing things down -- it's all about a shift in perspective. It's not limiting the view, but seeing things through different eyes, reconnecting with the child inside us who doesn't have to filter everything through life experience.<br /><br />Anyway the session did what I had hoped it would: it got me motivated to get working on my manuscript again because I've been reminded what I knew all along, which is to stay focused on the story itself and keep telling it the way I've been doing so.<br /><br />Just a note: Yes, I know the images (of my original art) I added to this post seemingly have nothing to do with the topic. But, if you look closely, they actually illustrate what I'm talking about. A different perspective. Bringing the focus in. Seeing how someone's world may be big to them even though it looks small to you.Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-2389163707855239992020-07-09T10:00:00.003-07:002020-07-09T10:00:43.682-07:00Art and an Anthology...and More Art<br />
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My dad helped a friend clean out a rental property and found a box of unpainted ceramics. He brought the box over to see if I'd like to have them to paint. Some of the figurines were of no interest to me, but I did snag several and set to painting.</div>
<br />This one I kept for myself. Dragon, of course, so no way I could sell it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rHXr54JWis2w2qDrDYjbepSSz2o6g1AE28oykyGC0ENccypEZ7yRyCrHcUQ1poBCIC4UAvDUiA0EDh6SaMBBSdhAuuMbAmHDnDIf509ICYDsKf6bLeMv_jSmuu3NBYOuOESOXEtCdCQd/s1600/24130461_10210751803692646_5816535619763474108_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1533" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rHXr54JWis2w2qDrDYjbepSSz2o6g1AE28oykyGC0ENccypEZ7yRyCrHcUQ1poBCIC4UAvDUiA0EDh6SaMBBSdhAuuMbAmHDnDIf509ICYDsKf6bLeMv_jSmuu3NBYOuOESOXEtCdCQd/s320/24130461_10210751803692646_5816535619763474108_o.jpg" width="306" /></a></div>
<br /><br />And this one I painted and gave to my dad as a gift. What you see here is the top. It's actually a container.<br />
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But these....oh, I hate clowns. Always have. So I couldn't resist turning what was obviously meant to be something cute into something a bit more sinister. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pennywise, old and new.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poltergeist doll and the Joker. </td></tr>
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<b>The Poltergeist doll has been sold, but the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/791449006/clowns-horror-movie-ceramic?ref=shop_home_feat_4&frs=1" target="_blank">other three are still available on my Etsy store</a>. </b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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And just a little catching up:<br />
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The <b><i>Stories That Sing</i> anthology </b>I posted about last time has been out for a while. I got a cool write-up in a local paper (<i>The Osprey Observer</i>) about my contribution to the anthology cover art and my story inside.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcdeQ8lDO5ev068qN-ShH7xCTm4DbYasLJPJyo_huVh_0ugpJLQDJhtjsePFGhMXujyWDSTsJwW1Zdj4e-oEDyX8cOxmZulZbT7NoYETAgZBdcVmChB7Z8YxzjHahECZl4IOBc9KSNczB/s1600/Stories+That+Sing+Cover+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="684" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcdeQ8lDO5ev068qN-ShH7xCTm4DbYasLJPJyo_huVh_0ugpJLQDJhtjsePFGhMXujyWDSTsJwW1Zdj4e-oEDyX8cOxmZulZbT7NoYETAgZBdcVmChB7Z8YxzjHahECZl4IOBc9KSNczB/s200/Stories+That+Sing+Cover+%25281%2529.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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You can check out the article <a href="https://www.ospreyobserver.com/2020/06/local-author-and-artist-kat-heckenbach-featured-in-new-anthology/?fbclid=IwAR2zKzHboE4qzq4CCxCMvNKV58mGS8DqbYXLpIUiPIle_yKKqqaxpVzrgV8" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
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You can purchase <i>Stories That Sing</i> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B087PR97JF/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0" target="_blank">HERE</a>. It's available in print and ebook.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9MOX4ucilye3LOakY0kP9uKkKwb9m3eoPhDuLZ09aZdOVbVEM6PbZ7W-ex5y97S-epVrZMLHaCfhyphenhyphen_nYMn2AZ0L4PiizGGSjz0vLBRViRhiXCc6HSwn8vl_MdMkLRDDXCvLVmuaIGWq_/s1600/NIGHT+FLIER.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="1600" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9MOX4ucilye3LOakY0kP9uKkKwb9m3eoPhDuLZ09aZdOVbVEM6PbZ7W-ex5y97S-epVrZMLHaCfhyphenhyphen_nYMn2AZ0L4PiizGGSjz0vLBRViRhiXCc6HSwn8vl_MdMkLRDDXCvLVmuaIGWq_/s200/NIGHT+FLIER.JPG" width="200" /></a>And as I mentioned above, <b>my Etsy shop, Jumping Rails is open</b>. Original art is available, including a few of <b>my altered thrift store paintings</b>. And I recently added prints.<br />
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Free shipping on everything!<br />
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Click <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/JumpingRails/" target="_blank">HERE</a> to visit my Etsy shop.<br />
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I mentioned prints...<b>You can buy prints of some of my art on Fine Art America</b>. They also put the images on select items. Right now you can get some of my images on <b>face masks</b>.<br />
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Click <a href="https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/kat-heckenbach/shop" target="_blank">HERE</a> to visit my Fine Art America page.<br />
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And clicking <a href="https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/kat-heckenbach/shop/face+masks" target="_blank">HERE</a> will take you directly to the masks.Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-24614762761683410902020-04-26T10:09:00.000-07:002020-04-26T10:09:23.813-07:00Author-Artist Double FeatureA quick post today to share about the new anthology that releases in just a few days.<br />
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<b><i>Season 2: Stories That Sing</i></b> by <a href="https://gohavok.com/" target="_blank">Havok Publishing</a> features not only my art on the cover but also a flash fiction story by me on the inside!<br />
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Visit the <a href="https://gohavok.com/2020/04/26/cover-reveal-for-season-two-stories-that-sing/" target="_blank">Havok site</a> for all the details, and the link to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/155421532566103/" target="_blank">Facebook Launch Party</a> on April 30th.<br />
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And...here's the cover!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1wochbbUvnAldrKlwQezGKb590K_Q7Nt7IRyS0AvH1DDnBkdhjetyw1OS8G9_UHONEiDp3IBkyBLKcNAQhesJyKFOpF_klyc0cI38Pg3r6Isd92pjKIwwiIvlFepJQrIwfjQSUxj0-wk/s1600/Stories+That+Sing+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="684" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1wochbbUvnAldrKlwQezGKb590K_Q7Nt7IRyS0AvH1DDnBkdhjetyw1OS8G9_UHONEiDp3IBkyBLKcNAQhesJyKFOpF_klyc0cI38Pg3r6Isd92pjKIwwiIvlFepJQrIwfjQSUxj0-wk/s640/Stories+That+Sing+Cover.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<br />Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-59065478723808242982019-10-04T06:24:00.000-07:002019-10-04T06:24:16.593-07:00The Art of Stealing<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZFs1aBqLLB8mAnqGpYRpO5LxyfG9Hw8Zja4tYko5UnvrXQCD3g5kQt3HHV045k39jwGIqNErGXBDUwOaUkcD2exgk6TCrTKL6VMskYJGzKByEd3jWHh2VOt19rBrr9XQj0omRTaiaSRV/s1600/IMG_1417+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1287" data-original-width="1600" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZFs1aBqLLB8mAnqGpYRpO5LxyfG9Hw8Zja4tYko5UnvrXQCD3g5kQt3HHV045k39jwGIqNErGXBDUwOaUkcD2exgk6TCrTKL6VMskYJGzKByEd3jWHh2VOt19rBrr9XQj0omRTaiaSRV/s320/IMG_1417+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is one of my most popular altered thrift paintings.<br />The original is an 8x10 on canvas board,<br />which I found at a thrift shop for a dollar.</td></tr>
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In an attempt to do something new while walking on the treadmill, I've started watching more TED talks. I'm focusing first on talks about art and creativity. The other day, I watched one that presented the idea that all artists "steal" from other artists. It sort of latched onto the claim that there are no new ideas, only recycled old ones. I don't necessarily believe there are no new ideas, but I do think we can't help but be influenced by other artists' work, even to the point of incorporating certain aspects. And, as was the real focus of that talk, we are often inspired by others' ideas, and then <i>make our own creative versions. </i><br />
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As an example, I'll use one of my latest creative endeavors: altered thrift store paintings. The idea is to buy a rather generic painting from a thrift store and add fantastical elements to it. Such as, buying a boring landscape and adding monsters or mythical creatures or aliens. To get a better understanding, just Google images of "altered thrift store paintings" and you'll see dozens upon dozens of them. That's how I got starting--Googling images to see what has already been done. Not to imitate it, though--to transform.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jX64YWNrg8LLm04hl4BUcrql2zb71QyOHe_aV_HH31WDAcU_qtwcvnW6jDrIlBp6W2VLnbgCDKX73VuP7MLCf1unGuPim78Kqv32dvkvEBUVU5JkL1N66WL2HZ53aYsr9wBEmazmV_kG/s1600/IMG_1429+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1204" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jX64YWNrg8LLm04hl4BUcrql2zb71QyOHe_aV_HH31WDAcU_qtwcvnW6jDrIlBp6W2VLnbgCDKX73VuP7MLCf1unGuPim78Kqv32dvkvEBUVU5JkL1N66WL2HZ53aYsr9wBEmazmV_kG/s320/IMG_1429+%25282%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One thing I do is add shadows and highlights<br />to the original to make sure my additions<br />blend in. This flower arrangement was rather<br />"flat" initially. I added depth to the flowers.</td></tr>
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The difference between imitating and transforming is the way in which each artist proceeds. Every one has their own style and preferences. Some artists go for cute, some for funny, some for scary. Some put in movie characters (lots of Star Wars out there) or cartoon characters. Others prefer to create their own creatures. For some, the idea is to make the addition stand out both in content and in style. Others (like me) prefer to work the new elements in so that they appear to be part of the original painting.<br />
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The point is, I wouldn't be having all this fun, and selling these paintings as fast as I can create them, if I'd been afraid of taking hold of an idea that's already out there. Stealing is part of art, but it's taking those stolen ideas and turning them into something unique that makes it art. Letting your own personal style and voice come through. Not just imitating, but transforming. I still look at other altered thrift paintings to get ideas for how to approach a new painting, but I always end up taking things in a different direction. (Other times, I just stare at the painting until an idea jumps out--like the two examples I have in this blog post. Both originals seemed to tell me what they needed.)<br />
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So steal away! Ideas, that is. Inspiration. Then twist what you've stolen into something new and unique.<br />
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<b>If you want to keep up with my art, including my altered thrift paintings, follow me on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/katheckenbach/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. I also try to keep up with sharing them on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KatHeckenbachAuthor/" target="_blank">Facebook author page</a>. </b><br />
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<br />Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-20694874848108035152019-08-03T05:23:00.000-07:002019-08-03T05:23:11.916-07:00Creativity is Giving<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My last post was about the importance of creativity, how it affects our mental health. Today, I want to dive in a little about why that's true from a slightly different perspective. The pastor at the church my family has started attending recently just finished a series on happiness. How we find happiness, the fact that it's about relationships not material stuff, etc. The last installment was about giving. He pointed out that studies show volunteering our time, helping others, giving of ourselves increases our level of happiness in ways nothing else does. Well, except creativity. He mentioned that, but didn't expand on it in his sermon, and I had to get my thoughts out on the topic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First of all, creativity is a form of giving. We don't think of it that way most of the time. And I don't mean just giving away the products of our creativity. We all know that a hand-made item well-received as a gift makes us feel happy. I spent years painting these little holiday-themed plaster figurines and Christmas ornaments and giving them away to family members and friends. I loved seeing people light up at the sight of my creations, and I loved seeing those creations proudly displayed in their homes every year. It made me happy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now I sell most of my artwork--the artwork I don't keep for myself, of course. I generally expect payment for the work I do, and most of my friends and family won't allow me to give them my art because they want to support this endeavor. It's nice of them, and the money sure comes in handy, but the happiness comes from seeing how much people--friends, family, and total strangers--actually want to own my art. As I said in my Realm Makers Facebook group after attending the conference as an art vendor this summer, "I feel as though I put little pieces of my soul out, and you all wanted to take them home with you and nurture them."<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That is why creativity is giving. Artists put pieces of themselves into their art, and each little piece goes with whoever buys the art. Even if no one buys it, the artist's soul remains in the artwork, forever removed. We can't regain it by destroying the work. Once we've put ourselves into the artwork, that's it. Yes, it can make some of our work hard to let go. Sometimes, it's impossible--the artwork is simply too personal, and not having it nearby would be too much. The paintings I did right after my son's death are an example. Those were a gift to myself in a way. Meant for me only. But my other artwork still draws from deep within, and each time I sell one of those paintings I have to say goodbye to a little part of myself.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisSZvH-X9qEFNMq6tbD-3egSVSsu3T5NVWyV8wNNRgXKBhZOQaht4GS66DFMHu2siyYoNmbcRFUKnWKRR_1bagiWilF9WXOf2mPjXOVgcEeH7Vh5OsoXY-BjFCfPahTbItxIc0EkG_JPR/s1600/IMG_1411+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1279" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisSZvH-X9qEFNMq6tbD-3egSVSsu3T5NVWyV8wNNRgXKBhZOQaht4GS66DFMHu2siyYoNmbcRFUKnWKRR_1bagiWilF9WXOf2mPjXOVgcEeH7Vh5OsoXY-BjFCfPahTbItxIc0EkG_JPR/s320/IMG_1411+%25283%2529.JPG" width="255" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But that's where the paradox is. We give away a part of ourselves, and somehow that makes our souls fuller. Just like giving our time to volunteer, just like giving our money to a good cause, just like helping out someone in need. The only difference is that most of the time with art we don't know where that little piece of ourselves is going to go. We paint or sculpt or photograph, we carve or draw or crochet, we write or compose or choreograph--we do anything to make something that wasn't there before, weaving part of ourselves into the finished product, and we are giving. Even if what you create never leaves your house, a piece of you has been released into the world around you.<br /><br />So, don't think of it as being selfish when you insist on time to work on creative projects. Don't think of it as "taking time for yourself." Think of it as time spent giving, sharing pieces of yourself and making room for new growth so you are able to give even more.</span>Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-69924248255948717542019-03-09T06:41:00.000-08:002019-03-09T06:41:45.625-08:00Why Creativity is Critical<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwUmW3zji8JaIvdh7AC4LbwAZNxarLh3H2R1GgYQF3BzmiHVqqPw4FJokD8o_CFQTvQeA-rlxqssMRzKt18OH0rfNFkflByZy2s3Hde7pK1DrtY3iYAcq13_nyrZW-BEum6mI2-Romk5-/s1600/Blood+Roots.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1297" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwUmW3zji8JaIvdh7AC4LbwAZNxarLh3H2R1GgYQF3BzmiHVqqPw4FJokD8o_CFQTvQeA-rlxqssMRzKt18OH0rfNFkflByZy2s3Hde7pK1DrtY3iYAcq13_nyrZW-BEum6mI2-Romk5-/s320/Blood+Roots.JPG" width="259" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I thought about grabbing an online image<br />specifically about creativity, but then<br />figured, why? I have my own art to show off. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Seven months ago I posted about a painting series I did because I
lost my 18-year-old son to suicide. I haven't blogged since, and I've only
posted on Facebook a few times about the situation. I think that may be
surprising to some people, that it's expected that I would express myself with
words during this time because I'm a writer. Yes, everyone knows I'm an artist,
too, but writers have this need to put things into words. And I have done that
a lot in private journal entries and the workbook that goes along with the
grief support group I'm in. But my real expression has come through art,
specifically painting. When emotions are too intense or all jumbled, pictures
just make more sense. When it comes to things I want others to read, I write
much more fiction; and the little bit of nonfiction I've had published are
personal experience stories written years after the experiences they
illustrate. So maybe I'll someday be able to put all this into a story or
stories somehow. For now, it's about art. And that's fine. The point is, I'm
creating. For those of us who are creatives--visual artists, writers, dancers,
musicians, wood workers, Lego builders, game designers, and the list goes on
and on--expression through creativity is vital. It's as vital as the air we
breathe and the water we drink.<br />
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<span style="color: black;">I've been reading a book called <i>The Artist's Way</i> by
Julia Cameron. So much of it is about the need we have to create and how it's a
part of who we are, and how we become blocked in every aspect of our lives if
we don't let that creativity flow. We become cranky and irritable if we stifle
out urge to create. Cameron says it's like being choked if we don't allow
ourselves to create. We become depressed, we become angry. We "react as if
we are fighting for our lives." Because we are smothering a part of
ourselves. It's scary and makes the world seem senseless and cruel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooZgMPmpQHtm_OuQqoTLq9ogmx1H4o4KVQpBEZIvO2u4sG76o2Oony9RL3pY9gbRn_GnrY72UhydHp0ByRgtRbeHvK95PsNgzbr8GOp0bKQIJtvrge5lrsw-kv6_UTG0o2doLKuOSdCja/s1600/hidden+in+plain+sight2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1241" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooZgMPmpQHtm_OuQqoTLq9ogmx1H4o4KVQpBEZIvO2u4sG76o2Oony9RL3pY9gbRn_GnrY72UhydHp0ByRgtRbeHvK95PsNgzbr8GOp0bKQIJtvrge5lrsw-kv6_UTG0o2doLKuOSdCja/s320/hidden+in+plain+sight2.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black;">I keep looking back at my son's life. Nick was so smart and
inquisitive as a child. He absorbed information like a sponge, particularly
when it came to animals. And he was creative. He drew so many pictures of those
animals he spent hours learning about. He build zoos out of Legos. He'd go
around the house gathering craft materials so he could create caterpillars and
lizards. He wrote stories. He played pretend all the time. He was constantly
coming up with outlandish "what if" scenarios for me to consider. As
he got older, I encouraged his creativity. But he became more self-conscious
and refused to draw or paint or design things. He wrote reluctantly when I
assigned it as part of his homeschooling, but no matter how much I encouraged,
he refused to write other than that. He refused to believe me when I told him
how good his writing was. And it WAS good. Not
I-think-it's-good-because-I'm-your-mom good either. It was
I'm-a-writer-and-I-know-good-writing-when-I-see-it good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">The more I read in <i>The Artist's Way</i>, and the more I
connect how I am feeling during my grief with how much or little I am creating,
the more I am becoming convinced that part of Nick's depression came from him
stifling his own creativity. No, I will not say that is the only cause, or even
the central cause, because I have no way of knowing for sure. But I believe it
contributed. Strongly. We are seeing higher suicide rates among teens for so
many reasons, but the root of those reasons is lack of self-acceptance and
feeling unaccepted by the world. We're seeing kids buckling under the pressure
to be perfect academically when their strengths lie elsewhere, denying what
their true talents are, thus denying who they are. Creativity is part of our
identity. Denying that is denying who we are. And denying who we are makes us
feel unworthy. It's scary and makes the world seem senseless and cruel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">It's frustrating as I see how many people around me are feeling
depressed and discouraged in the creative fields. So many can't make a living
at it, and it sends the message that this is not a worthy pass time. We have to
have "real jobs" in order to pay the bills--which is fine, but when
we're feeling like failures because of that fact, it weighs on our souls. We
shouldn't need outside validation, but in the world as it is today, we're
constantly told that that's exactly what defines us. How much money you make,
what kind of house you have or car you drive, what your title is, what your
college degree level is...how many paintings you've sold, how much you earn in
royalties, how many Amazon reviews you have...To the point where many are
giving up. Not just giving up writing for publication, but giving up writing
altogether.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75eYbrZLOjlEdHXzuplQh4fYpvHYe4kOlG0ssm702IjdAUPf1mdQF6Tufo5DsxbMN_Rw6umCFaT9TFaBcyoxRQNgwGlANMCbOQsq7Cx-kGNMgdBHioRBTlWZBM4KJYHq1NzYp-bHFDAUA/s1600/Eye+of+the+Beholder.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1293" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75eYbrZLOjlEdHXzuplQh4fYpvHYe4kOlG0ssm702IjdAUPf1mdQF6Tufo5DsxbMN_Rw6umCFaT9TFaBcyoxRQNgwGlANMCbOQsq7Cx-kGNMgdBHioRBTlWZBM4KJYHq1NzYp-bHFDAUA/s320/Eye+of+the+Beholder.JPG" width="258" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black;">And kids are feeling pressure more and more to be successful
financially. They're watching their parents stress about money. Watching their
grandparents unable to retire fully. Being pushed to finish college before
they've had a chance to finish high school. And college is presented as the
only option. Trades are shoved aside, seen as less-than. The arts are being
trampled by math and science. Don't get me wrong--I love math and science. I
have a college degree in biology! But when school is skewed so heavily toward
STEM classes, it sends a message. Oh, sure, some have changed that to STEAM,
but the "A for art" gets glossed over. Or it's seen as only things
like web design. And we're constantly reminded what a competitive market the
creative arts can be. Better have a back-up plan. Paint if you must, write if
you must, but don't expect to make a living. The subtext: You won't be getting
paid, so don't waste your time. Or, at the least, you better produce what the
market wants, establish yourself, and then maybe...maybe...you can start
working on things you actually enjoy and try to make money on those. (Btw, I'm not saying those things aren't true about the competitiveness, etc,, but the truth about those things doesn't make it easier on our self-esteem.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">A lot of us take that deeply to heart. We start spending so much of our
time marketing our books or artwork, we find ourselves drained and unable to
feel creative. We can't finish that novel because we know it's just going to be
followed by hour upon hour of marketing with very little return on investment.
It begins to feel pointless. At the same time, we turn our noses up at those who
say they write for themselves, or write only for God, or "if only one
person is touched by my story, I've done my job." We think to ourselves
that those people aren't serious writers. That words written are meant to be
read, and by as many people as possible. (I posed some questions in a writers
group, trying to get to the heart of how everyone would feel if they had no way
of expressing their creativity, and in doing so I asked if marketing was ever
discouraging of the creative process. Wow. The way writers now jump on the
discussion of marketing! It is a consuming topic in the writing world--I would
say these days even more so than actual writing, which shows me how powerful
the pressure is. Ironically, at the same time, a blog post called "</span><a href="https://www.manrepeller.com/2019/02/trap-of-turning-hobbies-into-hustles.html">The Modern Trap of Turning Hobbies into Hustles</a><span style="color: black;">" which touted the war cry, "You
Don't Have to Monetize Your Joy!" was being shared virally among that same
author group.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">We also feel that art is to be seen and appreciated, and sold. Selling art begets
selling art--if you can say you're selling, people are more willing to buy
because they see more value in your work. However, it's getting harder and harder for
artists to emerge and gain traction. People are seeing art as something they
should be able to get for free. Photography especially. It's "just a
picture." Just pixels on a screen these days. Original art is harder to
sell because mass produced "art" is everywhere--printed canvases are
available in retail stores all over the place for a tiny fraction of what a
similar original painting would cost. Those not in the art world themselves
have no concept of the cost, both time and money, for the artist. I know from
experience, it often makes us want to keep our original works and only sell
prints. Or we're forced to sell original pieces that glean us below minimum
wage for each hour of work put into them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyhB8RRvS6ivbw1FIIdN8FDP3KU7k5Jn8rVm3hBMW8gZ0LCcRG0tN0vJvumr_3cUvLezBlt7hs6p9cj1VqoxUsfi5BK6hCtS3Dp89MyAGu0dqx6x-i-x21to8-trWL8dYS6cikElfYm9w/s1600/spirit+tree+trim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1587" data-original-width="1600" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyhB8RRvS6ivbw1FIIdN8FDP3KU7k5Jn8rVm3hBMW8gZ0LCcRG0tN0vJvumr_3cUvLezBlt7hs6p9cj1VqoxUsfi5BK6hCtS3Dp89MyAGu0dqx6x-i-x21to8-trWL8dYS6cikElfYm9w/s200/spirit+tree+trim.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black;">For years, I did art for just me. I mostly drew for fun. Painted
holiday figurines to decorate my house or give as gifts. I scrapbooked. I even
started wand-making because I wanted a one-of-a-kind wand for myself, with no
intention of ever making another. But as with my writing, my art became about
sales. How many original paintings could I sell? Prints? Pendants? Would people
buy wands like the one I made for me? How do I get more efficient, so I can
make more inventory and sell cheaper and still make money? I was overwhelmed by
the stress of it all. Feeling horrible. It was great to hear people tell me how
good my stories were, or how beautiful my art was, but dang it, buy them!
Because lack of sales made it harder and harder for me to be motivated to keep
producing. Sitting at art and craft events, having people walk up to my table
and gush over how great my work is, then take a look at my prices and smile
hesitantly and walk off....it made me reluctant to participate in events
anymore, sent me home frustrated and angry far too often.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">And then Nick. Here one day, gone the next. Book sales suddenly
don't matter. Art sales? Only so I can get rid of the stock filling up my
armoire. I'm not writing stories anymore. Not now, at least. I will, soon. But
art has been my go-to. Art is where I can breathe, <i>why</i> I can
breathe. Creativity is keeping me alive. I don't care anymore whether or not it
can make me a living. I would give anything to have my Nick back, but I wish I
could do so with this understanding. I wish I could have him here, and have my
art and writing not be a marketing obsession for him to see, but rather a way
to live. I wish I could have made him understand that the need to create is not
something to ignore. I wish I could have silenced the world for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Creativity needs to be encouraged for its own sake. Of course, we
all have to make a living somehow, and wouldn't it be nice to just get paid for
doing what you love? But not if the business side of that makes you hate doing
what you love. Unfortunately, our world is so much about making money off
everything (even playing video games on Youtube) that art is so rarely done for
art's sake anymore. At least, it's not encouraged to be. We're pushed to be the
next innovator, the next trend-setter, and those things don't happen as
naturally as they used to. When the pressure isn't about learning how to paint
or draw or write well, but rather about how to sell what you have
painted/drawn/written, and success as an artist is measured in dollar signs,
the soul of creativity is lost. In the process, a piece of our own soul. We end
up stripping our souls instead of nourishing them. Passion wanes, or is
smothered completely, and is replaced by ambition. And for some, like my son,
passion is never even allowed to sprout in the first place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYr-Ubf1rpCK2U8b7-DBnsN5SUq37wzQp4kP78T-X9fFmgfmxCcyVouNzU0CMSMxUY3IzXdKAeLkc9v5kIpKStrfOLbeMB2e7k63Fru4k18_5FxS3au2574JWK9lRGdgFi_dOAqsSebQg-/s1600/Night+Lights.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1593" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYr-Ubf1rpCK2U8b7-DBnsN5SUq37wzQp4kP78T-X9fFmgfmxCcyVouNzU0CMSMxUY3IzXdKAeLkc9v5kIpKStrfOLbeMB2e7k63Fru4k18_5FxS3au2574JWK9lRGdgFi_dOAqsSebQg-/s200/Night+Lights.JPG" width="198" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black;">I was discussing art with a couple of friends a while back, neither
of whom are artists. Both have enjoyed doing those paint-and-sip classes once
or twice. Both express interest in learning water color painting. Both talked
about how little skill they have, and are mostly refusing to allow themselves
the chance to nurture their desires. It made me so sad. I told them to just do
it anyway. I explained that the only reason my art is at this level is that
I've been working on it my whole life. Don't be discouraged because someone
else makes it look easy and it's hard for you. It's not about making some <i>thing</i> beautiful
on the outside, it's about making <i>yourself</i> beautiful and
healthy on the inside. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I don't know how to fix this. The world is a demanding place and
that's not going to change. It will probably get even worse as time passes. It's
harder and harder to fight. Kids are shunted off to college earlier and
earlier, taught to the test in school, all shoved into the same box
academically...even in the homeschool community kids are not immune because
despite being schooled at home they live in the world and see what other kids
their age are struggling with. And yes, some of us homeschoolers find ourselves pushing some of the same things. I'm not trying to end this post on a negative
note, but the fact is words are not enough. Telling our kids we love them,
encouraging them with words and actions is not always enough when the world is
sending an opposing message much louder and stronger. We did everything to
encourage Nick creatively, academically, personally. But it was all filtered
through what he personally was seeing: the cruelty of the word at large. This
doesn't mean we don't try! We do, every second of every day, and hopefully,
with each little parental push, the pendulum will begin to move in the other
direction. </span></div>
Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-76583321645320064022018-08-31T09:26:00.000-07:002018-09-06T17:29:03.158-07:00My Beloved Do You Know...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I haven't posted much on this blog the past couple of years simply because of busyness. The last two months I've posted almost nothing--and that's because my family suffered a serious tragedy on June 16th. My son, at the age of 18, took his own life. I will not go beyond that statement here--if you know me personally, you know what happened. (I am also not allowing comments on this post--if you know me personally, you have other ways of contacting me.) Otherwise, I'm sorry, it's still too raw for me to go further right now. But I've made promises on Facebook to post about a painting series I recently did, and it's much easier for me to put it all on here than to piece it together with all the photos and links there. This is the series:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkBzi8QycUCZYj-I0hjRNkeqTZHhL27Pb_X76ZLQitKG77Q9uDu6W1h6R4Ku7u2gvJ3wdeT638aP0-ZceYFIy8I-cR2w5sOzkgpoMnKwvWrc4Z50KT3jDsHjOtgb6yB_1HwMdGS2AkRnHt/s1600/40342987_10212638587541063_7314166968209113088_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="1440" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkBzi8QycUCZYj-I0hjRNkeqTZHhL27Pb_X76ZLQitKG77Q9uDu6W1h6R4Ku7u2gvJ3wdeT638aP0-ZceYFIy8I-cR2w5sOzkgpoMnKwvWrc4Z50KT3jDsHjOtgb6yB_1HwMdGS2AkRnHt/s320/40342987_10212638587541063_7314166968209113088_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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At my son's memorial service, we played the video for the song ILLUSION by VNV Nation because it was a song that he connected with and it expressed his feelings about struggling to fit in. (You can watch the video with lyrics <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w98yJ7gRu8" target="_blank">HERE</a>.)</div>
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After the service, I began listening to more songs by VNV Nation, and one of the first ones I found was BELOVED. The words to this song...they were, and still are, so incredibly meaningful to me. So meaningful, they inspired a painting series. You can read the words (they are written below along with images of the paintings) and you will understand. I promise, though, you will not understand completely. Maybe that sounds arrogant, but no one can fully understand another person's deepest emotions, and while you'll hit the periphery, you will never quite get everything. I'm sure I can't fully understand the inspiration for the lyrics in the first place, not every nuance. This is my interpretation of the lyrics, my expression of how they affected me. </div>
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Each painting is followed by the specific verse that inspired it. They are in order of how the verses appear in the song. After the seventh verse, some of them are repeated, but of course I didn't paint duplicates or different images for repeated verses. I've also included some of the explanation for specific elements, although I will not explain fully the meaning of everything.</div>
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Painting #1</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpIaxt_bw1rdhyOuIvLf72_PlaB1Ba_0u-6sP-V1vIZs2JpUR_MJOIlEP5HGF5PdbwXasqm3z2BxK2rl69DJ_LoUbJuvpylLZ0nJKpgRnZrVjcr6u0bwLBuPpU9zfc4Hp3IlD9zXJxNCu/s1600/IMG_1251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1586" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpIaxt_bw1rdhyOuIvLf72_PlaB1Ba_0u-6sP-V1vIZs2JpUR_MJOIlEP5HGF5PdbwXasqm3z2BxK2rl69DJ_LoUbJuvpylLZ0nJKpgRnZrVjcr6u0bwLBuPpU9zfc4Hp3IlD9zXJxNCu/s320/IMG_1251.JPG" width="317" /></a></div>
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It's colder than before</div>
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The seasons took all they had come for</div>
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Now winter dances here</div>
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It seems so fitting don't you think</div>
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To dress the ground in white and grey<br />
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(This one is pretty obvious.)<br />
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Painting #2</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MuoGL7yS0SIWNS4xV2q2CgLYwmu0L5qx1zD-VZKau9m4oU1-vxgjTA2MMD0NdyHw3EKhvRCRiKz2ooLC66ZpIYPMd9muszs761XcfiYPdGrdD8Yj0X_raRl5I4mJm4XeeA8XOR54TzF8/s1600/IMG_1252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1590" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MuoGL7yS0SIWNS4xV2q2CgLYwmu0L5qx1zD-VZKau9m4oU1-vxgjTA2MMD0NdyHw3EKhvRCRiKz2ooLC66ZpIYPMd9muszs761XcfiYPdGrdD8Yj0X_raRl5I4mJm4XeeA8XOR54TzF8/s320/IMG_1252.JPG" width="317" /></a></div>
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It's so quiet I can hear</div>
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My thoughts touching every second</div>
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That I spent waiting for you</div>
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Circumstances afford me</div>
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No second chance to tell you</div>
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How much I've missed you<br />
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(I chose a butterfly because to me they are the most "silent" of all creatures, and they go around touching every flower.)<br />
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Painting #3</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKx6Ke3bndHv9btaEG9YE7Wv4qSZsNYw9whQbzYvgCCI1tH044p6_Iy-u0Ouon06fR7fAskYDb52PEgjoqfe-Fg686fbV5YDEwz9JjS0goNrJzp4mPsbXL_30QI84eWC844D4wC-xD1RVq/s1600/IMG_1253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1597" data-original-width="1600" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKx6Ke3bndHv9btaEG9YE7Wv4qSZsNYw9whQbzYvgCCI1tH044p6_Iy-u0Ouon06fR7fAskYDb52PEgjoqfe-Fg686fbV5YDEwz9JjS0goNrJzp4mPsbXL_30QI84eWC844D4wC-xD1RVq/s320/IMG_1253.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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My beloved do you know</div>
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When the warm wind comes again</div>
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Another year will start to pass</div>
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And please don't ask me why I'm here</div>
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Something deeper brought me</div>
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Than a need to remember<br />
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(This all happened at the beginning of summer when warm winds blow, and when that happens again, a year will have passed.)<br />
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Painting #4</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4uiPAxomspllK_L7sc-qVMJkG1NXJJDSdpbNegLGLzMQ8SUK_2UAynkIwhPUzIAigbi3f_32FN54d2weTCRHxuMNB5DuTNL2YXbLR4DsOlsw8Oq1MdEc4bNTYftnBliNbqISz_KUXeJI/s1600/IMG_1254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1588" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4uiPAxomspllK_L7sc-qVMJkG1NXJJDSdpbNegLGLzMQ8SUK_2UAynkIwhPUzIAigbi3f_32FN54d2weTCRHxuMNB5DuTNL2YXbLR4DsOlsw8Oq1MdEc4bNTYftnBliNbqISz_KUXeJI/s320/IMG_1254.JPG" width="317" /></a></div>
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We were once young and blessed with wings</div>
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No heights could keep us from their reach</div>
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No sacred place we did not soar</div>
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Still, greater things burned within us</div>
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I don't regret the choices that I've made</div>
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I know you feel the same<br />
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(Again, pretty obvious that mountains are great heights.)<br />
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Painting #5</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoezBksUxfbnqcjewh975ZAPlGcySG41RGPNXWnMTXjjHkM2YXTy9pYZloOaZU3mK2vBl8tL1NwSKgIc00qUsB2ABVrJIGarLMPG2bvXFF_Ukt9Px6MUQ9uURu_aahEcT4B8MLtjV_WDFc/s1600/IMG_1255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1595" data-original-width="1600" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoezBksUxfbnqcjewh975ZAPlGcySG41RGPNXWnMTXjjHkM2YXTy9pYZloOaZU3mK2vBl8tL1NwSKgIc00qUsB2ABVrJIGarLMPG2bvXFF_Ukt9Px6MUQ9uURu_aahEcT4B8MLtjV_WDFc/s320/IMG_1255.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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My beloved do you know</div>
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How many times I stared at clouds</div>
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Thinking that I saw you there</div>
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These are feelings that do not pass so easily</div>
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I can't forget what we claimed as ours<br />
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(Also fairly obvious--the butterfly seeing a butterfly in the clouds. However, in real life I keep seeing dragons.)<br />
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Painting #6</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ex9OOKjScW64MvJ_B78XVNUGvvWTixTTul0_2jRLG-x_i2Xzr4vKVq3MwzBzPp8vyVr-Tpuo-u-Hep3UOBlVEg9IEtO-0Xmuzx26RjhjS5BsRnDEILjMG5LsAyPQMptweLN6QD78FNl8/s1600/IMG_1256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1596" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ex9OOKjScW64MvJ_B78XVNUGvvWTixTTul0_2jRLG-x_i2Xzr4vKVq3MwzBzPp8vyVr-Tpuo-u-Hep3UOBlVEg9IEtO-0Xmuzx26RjhjS5BsRnDEILjMG5LsAyPQMptweLN6QD78FNl8/s320/IMG_1256.JPG" width="319" /></a></div>
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Moments lost though time remains</div>
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I am so proud of what we were</div>
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No pain remains, no feeling</div>
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Eternity awaits<br />
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(The moments have passed, and butterflies live but a moment, but time continues--the sun will still go up and down. I considered having the wings falling off the butterfly in this one, but I think this captures it well without that imagery.)<br />
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Painting #7</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_0GTxsR_Hbyv4SlyMj2hZ-rkSE8LH89eHiIAxFyZ8U_5jinyYAL7iC3ltNu0goASNjqAQvPgI160tWgv61TGPYqDgqGSLCHYjeokwEAdBcabn_Hn1SYGcTw9IJ4-DwCsggfLocNzJfmf/s1600/IMG_1257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1590" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_0GTxsR_Hbyv4SlyMj2hZ-rkSE8LH89eHiIAxFyZ8U_5jinyYAL7iC3ltNu0goASNjqAQvPgI160tWgv61TGPYqDgqGSLCHYjeokwEAdBcabn_Hn1SYGcTw9IJ4-DwCsggfLocNzJfmf/s320/IMG_1257.JPG" width="317" /></a></div>
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Grant me wings that I might fly</div>
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My restless soul is longing</div>
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No pain remains, no feeling</div>
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Eternity awaits<br />
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(The butterfly transforms into something much more substantial. Butterflies represent change and rebirth, but as I said above, they are short-lived. Phoenixes represent rebirth that continues. They are much more powerful, can fly farther, go on forever.)<br />
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<b>You can listen to the song ILLUSION that inspired the series <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfc3zcnrWMQ" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </b><br />
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Again, there is much more to this, and no, I'm not going to let you into the deepest parts because that is for me alone. But I wanted to share the lyrics that inspired this because music and writing are powerful things, and because while everyone is basically right by saying this painting series is about grieving and healing, it's specifically about THIS song. Thank you, VNV Nation, for touching both my son's life and mine in such a profound way. </div>
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Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-19510714182000737522018-08-25T06:28:00.002-07:002018-08-25T06:28:46.520-07:00Relent Re-ReleasedPopping in to let everyone know that <i>Relent</i> has officially been re-released in both ebook and print. You can find it on Amazon by clicking <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Relent-Kat-Heckenbach/dp/1724490427/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
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The new cover is exactly the same as the old, minus the old publishing house banner across the top. I am so thankful to Desert Breeze Publishing for allowing me to keep my cover art. (For the non-writers out there, publishers generally aren't so generous about that.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6AT6MSbTTUQSLqsZ7pRyrJTyQI0VUiUABQ0u2_JIAJ0mQervSX5FwbkzljcNfXVw36-Awx8ZKwqMY0Y8_Zg8yInjLJ2jNSmuQT9ali4QSJD6jATRf4yjNopBNmFP2Dxf5c9tQQIFgi6J/s1600/RelentCoverArtPaid72dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6AT6MSbTTUQSLqsZ7pRyrJTyQI0VUiUABQ0u2_JIAJ0mQervSX5FwbkzljcNfXVw36-Awx8ZKwqMY0Y8_Zg8yInjLJ2jNSmuQT9ali4QSJD6jATRf4yjNopBNmFP2Dxf5c9tQQIFgi6J/s320/RelentCoverArtPaid72dpi.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Quick reminder of what <i>Relent</i> is about:</div>
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After spending her life in foster care, Simone discovers she’s half angel when the demon Wraith comes into the diner where she waits tables. Wraith--the only one who is ever truthful enough with her to admit his words are mostly lies. Years later, angry that her mother abandoned her to return to heaven, Simone finds herself abandoning her lover, Reese, and their newborn child after Wraith tells her what she can’t deny is truth: “They will grow old and die while you remain young.” But could he have lied? The only way Simone can know is by finding them, and making a place for herself in their life. And when the balance between human and angel begins to shift in her, she must turn to Wraith again regardless of whether she can trust him or not.</div>
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<br />Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-77446774339046367822018-07-11T09:56:00.001-07:002018-07-11T09:56:55.989-07:00Relent Reboot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnY2JfPPv-ENLKToNr6Mu1NpST8Li8oW-zwhyphenhyphen_QhUnzkSdxd71zbufY4x6eGxX1g5AxSrkUDKvTpW_N3P_Xes7QFKZb4dPoss5FqB4LKNsDAnxhUNErAIRt_MgiKSn-kKFeRymGht5a7pK/s1600/Just+posting+this+quickly.+My+publisher+for+Relent+has+closed+its+doors.+I+will+retain+full+rights+to+the+novel+as+well+as+the+cover+art%252C+and+expect+to+have+both+print+and+ebook+republished+sometime+in+August..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnY2JfPPv-ENLKToNr6Mu1NpST8Li8oW-zwhyphenhyphen_QhUnzkSdxd71zbufY4x6eGxX1g5AxSrkUDKvTpW_N3P_Xes7QFKZb4dPoss5FqB4LKNsDAnxhUNErAIRt_MgiKSn-kKFeRymGht5a7pK/s400/Just+posting+this+quickly.+My+publisher+for+Relent+has+closed+its+doors.+I+will+retain+full+rights+to+the+novel+as+well+as+the+cover+art%252C+and+expect+to+have+both+print+and+ebook+republished+sometime+in+August..jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-58256226732188539702018-06-04T07:30:00.001-07:002018-06-04T07:30:17.288-07:00The Electrical Menagerie: Steampunk Meets Sci-Fi in a Fabulous Adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4SpsPrdyu8vhIiib2R6vhwArRHu1YtRpMf5Ry2OIihmvYTqrna0dTSiNTonwcJfczYLSABgLcwDXkx8SdgOk7CpO7_llFAJL_YKXtRoLlzwg9TqRCM6QlVLPa86DZOd0tTvqK91_FJAe/s1600/Electrical+Menagerie+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4SpsPrdyu8vhIiib2R6vhwArRHu1YtRpMf5Ry2OIihmvYTqrna0dTSiNTonwcJfczYLSABgLcwDXkx8SdgOk7CpO7_llFAJL_YKXtRoLlzwg9TqRCM6QlVLPa86DZOd0tTvqK91_FJAe/s320/Electrical+Menagerie+Cover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">I was recently given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of a book that absolutely made me fall in love.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><i><b>The Electrical Menagerie</b></i> is one of those books that captivated me from the very beginning. The voice was the first thing that got my attention. The characters quickly came alive for me. Carthage and Huxley are so different, and yet so compatible. Carthage the inventor and tinkerer and illusionist and performer who came from circumstances that could have entirely broken him. Huxley the organizer, the businessman, the logical one, with a surprising past. I could connect with both of them and loved seeing their interactions. The depth of their characters really impressed me. The rest of the cast was unique and interesting as well. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">And the story world....</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">The story world. Oh, my. Steampunk with a twist of sci-fi. Trains running on rails through space. Holopaper. Steampunk-style automatons that run on electricity. The genre mash-up was <i>perfect</i>. And all of it centering around a circus-like competition for entertainers. The book's description says it's for fans of <i>The Greatest Showman</i>, and honestly I hadn't even seen that description when I read my advanced copy, but that is <i>exactly</i> what came to mind for me. Not a knock-off, though. Not by any stretch. The Electrical Menagerie is completely unique, but it definitely has the atmosphere of The Greatest Showman (minus the musical numbers, of course). It's got that fun for all ages feel, too. The main characters are adults, but the book is appropriate for middle grade and up. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">I am so looking forward to more books in this series! And I know without a doubt I'll be reading this one again.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>The official description: </b></span><br />
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The Electrical Menagerie, one-of-a-kind robotic roadshow, is bankrupt.<br />
Sylvester Carthage, illusionist and engineer, has the eccentric imagination the Menagerie needs to succeed creatively — but none of the people skills. Fast-talking Arbrook Huxley, meanwhile, has all the savvy the Menagerie needs to succeed commercially — but none of the scruples.<br />
To save their show, Carthage & Huxley risk everything in a royal talent competition, vying for the chance to perform for the Future Celestial Queen. In this stardust-and-spark-powered empire of floating islands and flying trains, a shot at fame and fortune means weathering the glamorous and cutthroat world of critics, high society, and rival magicians —but with real conspiracy lurking beneath tabloid controversy, there’s more at stake in this contest than the prize.<br />
Behind the glittery haze of flash paper and mirrors, every competitor has something to hide… and it’s the lies Carthage & Huxley tell each other that may cost them everything.<br />
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<b>I'm not alone in loving this one:</b><br />
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"Dazzles from start to finish. In Carthage & Huxley, Sherlock & Watson fans will find another dynamic duo whose ready wit and sizzling banter (and inevitable personality clashes) never fail to delight. You'll be calling for an encore performance." Gillian Bronte Adams, author of The Songkeeper Chronicles<br />
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"The stuff that fandoms are built on." Kyle Robert Shultz, author of Beaumont & Beasley<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Purchase Links</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Electrical-Menagerie-Celestial-Isles-Book-ebook/dp/B07D5TM5VS" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.amazon.com/Electrical-Menagerie-Celestial-Isles-Book-ebook/dp/B07D5TM5VS</span></a></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-cc372d30-cb26-42a0-2d50-3cec06637a89"><br /><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Goodreads: </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39719906-the-electrical-menagerie" style="text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39719906-the-electrical-menagerie</a></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcoIYMJcM0jIo122yuArTT-gt_ben1RyA3GDn8Kl46MVa8D45traxCODOoUxaB3BS1x2P0AwrWLVfv1WII8-oXZP60720crLBvNEoopp58-6GE1JYyUAAZI2L67gqyEIz8PzACtlegPLi/s1600/Mollie+Reeder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="974" data-original-width="848" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcoIYMJcM0jIo122yuArTT-gt_ben1RyA3GDn8Kl46MVa8D45traxCODOoUxaB3BS1x2P0AwrWLVfv1WII8-oXZP60720crLBvNEoopp58-6GE1JYyUAAZI2L67gqyEIz8PzACtlegPLi/s200/Mollie+Reeder.jpg" width="173" /></a></div>
<b>About the Author:</b><br />
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Mollie’s first job was with a major theme park, where she operated a roller coaster, fixed parade floats, and helped Scooby-Doo put on his head. Now, Mollie is a movie producer and the author of character-driven science fiction/fantasy novels for adults who never outgrew imagination. Her favorite things include Jesus, dinosaurs, and telling cinematic stories that blend glitter and grit.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Social Media Links</span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-8b0ba09c-cb27-8885-41b6-f3f9abfb56c8"><a href="http://thecelestialisles.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> — </span><a href="https://twitter.com/writeratops" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> — </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/writeratops/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Instagram</a></span></span><br />
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<b>Enter the Giveaway:</b><br />
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Explore the world of The Electrical Menagerie by entering to win this Celestial Isles prize pack, which includes: "High Victorian" playing cards by luxury playing card company Theory11, handmade galaxy mug by DeVita Designs, Science & Engineering Themed Pocket Notebook Set by CognitiveSurplus, and a tin of Electrical Menagerie themed tea (over a $50 value)! (US only.)<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Link:</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://kingsumo.com/g/8tf8sz/the-electrical-menagerie-steampunk-prize-pack-giveaway" style="text-decoration-line: none;">https://kingsumo.com/g/8tf8sz/the-electrical-menagerie-steampunk-prize-pack-giveaway</a></span><br />
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<b>And continue following the blog tour:</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Monday, June 4</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 7.2pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Book Spotlight – </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.sarahashwoodauthor.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Sarah Ashwood’s Newsletter</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Author Interview – </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://newauthors.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">New Authors Fellowship</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review – </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.katheckenbach.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Finding Kat Heckenbach</a></span><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tuesday, June 5</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 7.2pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review – </span><a href="https://seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Seasons of Humility</span></a><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Book Spotlight – </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.pamhalter.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Fairies, Fantasy, and Faith</a></span><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wednesday, June 6</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 7.2pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Guest Post – </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.hlburkeblog.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">H.L. Burke’s Blog</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Character Interview – </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.kylerobertshultz.com/blog" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Kyle Robert Shultz</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review – </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://boldreads.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Bold Reads</a></span><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thursday, June 7</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 7.2pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review – </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://inspiredchaos.weebly.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Inspired Chaos</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Guest Post – </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.jlmbewe.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">J.L. Mbewe</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review – </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://scriblerians.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Scriblerians</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review – </span><a href="http://thebibliophileofbeaverton.wordpress.com/" style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Bibliophile of Beaverton</span></a><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friday, June 8</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 7.2pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Author Interview – </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://simmeringmind.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Bethany A. Jennings</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Guest Post & Review – </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.elvenpadawan.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">The Elven Padawan</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Author Interview – </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://shannonahiner.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Shannon A. Hiner</a></span><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Saturday, June 9</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 7.2pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Author Interview, Character Interview & Review – </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://katelynbuxtonbooks.weebly.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Katelyn Buxton Books</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review – </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://kmcarrollblog.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">K.M. Carroll, Author – fun, fantastical escapes</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Character Interview – </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: calibri; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://the-book-sprite.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">The Book Sprite</a></span><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Monday, June 11</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 7.2pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blog Tour Wrap-Up – </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://unicornquester.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Unicorn Quester</a></span></div>
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Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-87165211774838003772018-05-31T09:23:00.001-07:002018-05-31T09:23:54.847-07:00Best Friends and Worst EnemiesA friend started a discussion on Facebook by asking what the opposite of "frenemy" is. The answers were interesting, and most agreed that frenemies include people who are friendly on the surface but hate each other underneath. But they also include people who seem to hate each other, yet totally have each other's back. I agree with those definitions to a certain level, but I think a real frenemy relationship it much more complex. I know this because I've had a couple of frenemships (is that a word?) myself. I drew on these relationships when writing <i>Relent</i>.<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SrKta_bOcAbh7zTiLeGAoCVqdkGTlgeYT5IcYWNFLjPOj1LaLkT8oig7DgwnL9eZFEiip5JTOSb_-uwxFdTG-HGi_WMtq9wYEIjrWF-hdojHe6MM3fC7ccYPuoVPBPbIom4cR7DKctAQ/s1600/momoa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="421" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SrKta_bOcAbh7zTiLeGAoCVqdkGTlgeYT5IcYWNFLjPOj1LaLkT8oig7DgwnL9eZFEiip5JTOSb_-uwxFdTG-HGi_WMtq9wYEIjrWF-hdojHe6MM3fC7ccYPuoVPBPbIom4cR7DKctAQ/s320/momoa.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, I see Wraith a lot like Jason Momoa.<br />Only Wraith has much paler skin <br />and much darker hair.</td></tr>
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<i>Relent</i> opens with Simone meeting a guy named Wraith, who reveals himself to be a demon. He also reveals the truth about Simone: that her mother, who abandoned her, is actually an angel. Simone's father, of course, was human, and her mother lost her status as an angel because of her affair with him. She abandoned Simone in order to regain her angelic status. Okay, it's more complicated than that, but to get the full story, you need to read the book.</div>
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The point is, Wraith gave Simone both the information she desperately wanted and the information that would hurt her the most. And his motivation was both to help her and hurt her. Throughout the novel, Wraith manages to be the only one Simone can trust, while also being the one who intentionally causes her the most pain. He is there to dig and torment at all the wrong times, but he is also there for Simone during her darkest moments. </div>
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It goes far deeper than just pretending to be friends, but hating each other underneath. Or being openly hostile, while jumping in to save the other person from peril because it's the right thing to do. There is no moral compass guiding Wraith--he's a demon, remember? All of his motives are selfish. Everything he does is calculated, and yet driven by his own desires. He toys with Simone, but he connects with her, and she connects with him. There is a level at which they simply need each other because, despite their animosity, they are the only ones who can genuinely understand each other. They are quite literally best friends <i>and</i> worst enemies. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVFtWyMth8XN2TN2XI5bVlDzzY3__OcCngCgTOBNPYQ_vdFUz2MQZ0kKM1Jn0VneIECmwdff88gjmM-Y1xGTpfdftuGvVYsvX43gwjstS-BcQfTA81enorRljAah4EOGbL-Uh403Rvyhr/s1600/RelentCoverArt72dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVFtWyMth8XN2TN2XI5bVlDzzY3__OcCngCgTOBNPYQ_vdFUz2MQZ0kKM1Jn0VneIECmwdff88gjmM-Y1xGTpfdftuGvVYsvX43gwjstS-BcQfTA81enorRljAah4EOGbL-Uh403Rvyhr/s320/RelentCoverArt72dpi.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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After spending her life in foster care, Simone discovers she's half angel when the demon Wraith comes into the diner where she waits tables. Wraith--the only one who is ever truthful enough with her to admit his words are mostly lies.</div>
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Years later, angry that her mother abandoned her to return to heaven, Simone finds herself abandoning her lover, Reese, and their newborn child after Wraith tells her what she can't deny is truth: "They will grow old and die while you remain young."</div>
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But could he have lied? The only way Simone can know is by finding them, and making a place for herself in their life. And when the balance between human and angel begins to shift in her, she must turn to Wraith again regardless of whether she can trust him or not.</div>
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"A unique and twisted journey into the supernatural. Compulsively readable! I was totally captivated by Heckenbach's vision." - Rachel A. Marks, author of The Dark Cycle trilogy. </div>
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"Relent is a fresh, unique take on angels and demons that will sweep you away on a wild ride you won't soon forget." ~Amy Brock McNew, author of the Reluctant Warrior Chronicles.</div>
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Find links to purchase Relent at your favorite online retailer <a href="https://books2read.com/u/4NReM6" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Also available in print on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Relent-Kat-Heckenbach/dp/1682948986/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1498867278&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/relent-kat-heckenbach/1126664861?ean=9781682948989" target="_blank">Barnes&Noble</a>.</div>
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Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-45922346363775107292018-05-13T09:13:00.002-07:002021-05-02T10:16:49.784-07:00Why Relent is Really a Mother's Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhHU1FDqRqUyfiTHF-J7ncLO7cF75X-cXDPHWJw6LA9mKjoBFQDU2YAE1d-a2lFbYaeSQILKBhgmjtgb9HKFi6LTtqtvhOeHVyASbXOt4IixGlL1jg2_YHgQwSsOyLvf9BGEXZLOpoDO3/s1600/RelentCoverArt72dpi.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhHU1FDqRqUyfiTHF-J7ncLO7cF75X-cXDPHWJw6LA9mKjoBFQDU2YAE1d-a2lFbYaeSQILKBhgmjtgb9HKFi6LTtqtvhOeHVyASbXOt4IixGlL1jg2_YHgQwSsOyLvf9BGEXZLOpoDO3/s320/RelentCoverArt72dpi.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
I realized recently why I've had a hard time pushing <i>Relent</i> when I'm at author events, as well as talking about it online other than the occasional reminders that it exists as a book and I want people to read it. You see, it's labeled as "paranormal romance." I cringe every time I tell people that, but it's not because I have an issue with that genre or with romance in general. I do read romance--it's just usually romance + some other genre. (Romance+fantasy, romance+sci-fi, romance+dystopian, etc.) I find myself telling readers that <i>Relent</i> is lighter on the romance, heavier on the paranormal. Which is true, but my motivation for that is so they don't expect a bunch of steamy scenes. There's love, there's romantic tension, and yes, Simone gets pregnant, but the details of that union stay behind closed doors.<br />
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But while listening to <a href="https://indiebookmagic.wordpress.com/2018/05/11/episode-20-an-exciting-array-of-fantastic-books-featuring-family-for-good-or-not-so-good/" target="_blank">this podcast</a> with authors Janeen Ippolito and H.L Burke, where they discuss books with unique family dynamics, I was struck by Janeen's comments about <i>Relent</i>. She pointed out that Simone isn't just some badass warrior chick with a sword, which is a common thing in paranormal/supernatural romance and urban fantasy. (BTW, not dissing that--there are some awesome books that use that trope in great ways, like <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Reluctant-Warrior-Chronicles-2-Book/dp/B07282G4XG/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1526226503&sr=8-6&keywords=amy+brock+mcnew" target="_blank">The Reluctant Warrior Chronicles</a> by Amy Brock McNew.) Instead, Simone is a half-angel, struggling to not let her angel half fall while she tries to get back into her young daughter's life. Sure, this involves the romance between Simone and her ex, but her focus, her driving force, is the relationship with her daughter.<br />
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That relationship was broken as a result of Simone's broken relationship with her own mother. Seraphina, who was full angel, was forced to give up Simone at birth and live away from her with her angelic status and powers stripped. Years later, after Simone has grown up and had a daughter herself, whom she abandons at birth -- for very different reasons-- Seraphina is allowed to return to Heaven as a full angel. Simone is angry to say the least. She believes her mother chose to abandon her out of selfishness, and vows to get her own daughter back. Thus begins her hunt for her ex and their child.<br />
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Throughout Simone's search she is guided (read: manipulated) by the only one who understands who she is, a demon named Wraith. He was the one who told her the truth about her past, about her mother, and advised her to leave her child. He is simultaneously her best friend and her worst enemy. Their relationship is of course complex, but even Simone doesn't realize just how complex until the end of the book.<br />
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See? Relent isn't a paranormal romance. Not in the traditional sense. It's a story of a daughter who was abandoned by her mother. The story of a mother who abandons her child. It is about the lengths a mother will go to to give her child a chance at life, even if it means not telling her child what's really going on, letting that child hate her for the decisions she makes because there is no way the child can understand what drives them. And it's about sacrifice, giving all you have, <i>all you are</i>, for the one you love.<br />
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So, yes, I will probably continue cringing every time I say <i>Relent</i> is a paranormal romance. Not because PNR is such a bad thing, but because it's not the right category. Unfortunately, there is no category for romantic supernatural fiction about mother-daughter relationships. At least now I can explain why <i>Relent</i> is different, and why it's more than just a book I wrote that I think you should read.<br />
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You can find <i>Relent</i> on Amazon by clicking <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Relent-Kat-Heckenbach-ebook/dp/B07FZ6K5QS/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=kat+heckenbach&qid=1559526533&s=gateway&sr=8-4">THIS LINK</a>.Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.com0