Author R.A. Gasparac

-Dark/Paranormal/Fantasy/Horror AUTHOR -Human/Hyrax Hybrid -Dark Empress of Delayed Reactions

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  • Making art is a form of protest.

    Remember the last thing a fascist regime wants is people to make more art because art makes people think. It’s ok to use your art as an act of protest.

    #writingadvice

  • Soothing The Writers Soul

    Ok, I have yet to work on the most important part of my Query Letter for my Novel, but I have sated the sleeping dragon. I realized recharging my batteries was more important than the multitudes of deadlines I imposed on myself. So, as I left my day job, sleet ( a wintery mix of ice and rain) began to trickle down from the heavens. A familiar bone chilling wind hit my face, and I was brought back to a better time.

    I remembered myself as a child, coming in from the winter after hours of play on the south shore. I grew up in the suburbs between Montreal proper, and the end of the Appalachian ( for my US readers) mountains. I knew I wanted stew, but not just any kind – it wasn’t exactly French, but it was made with French technique. My father, a Serb/Croatian would favor thick hearty stews, and left me with the know how.

    I spent an hour preparing all of the ingredients, and subsequently another two hours of cooking time. All I had eaten was oatmeal for breakfast, and four chocolate chip cookies for lunch ( because we all try to eat healthy meals apparently.) Thirty minutes into cooking. I chastised myself every time I would reach to tear open the pot and devour whatever was there our of sheer survival, but my head won out. Patience would reward me with layers of flavor.

    Sitting down with that first bowl soothed something deep within me. I wasn’t judging myself for what I didn’t do for the day, and allowed myself to take in a bit of life before it starts all over again. This is my mental break. I know I’m no closer to being a bestselling Author the longer my Query collects digital dust, but I had to stop beating myself up about my unrealistic production goals. The Query will come, but like the stew, I have to layer the flavors, carefully prepare each sentence before I combine them all on the page to create something so savory, that I will have my choice of Agents and Publishers.

    So far it’s been three days in a row that I’ve actually written sequentially on here. I should feel bad for that, and calling myself a writer – but it’s ok. I am perfectly imperfect. Rome was not built in a day, and my writing career will not be either. One ingredient at a time.

  • The Inspiration Behind Di Inferi Reveille Book 1

    I know I have mentioned it before, but its always good to revisit things of this nature. Inspiration strikes writers when we weren’t expecting it, much like falling in love. I was tired, cranky, and ready to get home after a bad day working for a Hobby retail store. I was mentally checked out the entire drive home late at night. For some reason I chose to drive the back roads home instead of the easy and quick highway routes.

    It was pitch black as I carefully worked my car through the twist, turns, drops, and up hills. The headlights set on bright, I immersed myself into the scenery when it happened. The branches along the tree line started to cast Erie shadows like shadow people stalking my car, ready to inflict mayhem around the next turn when my writers brain when into overdrive.

    Like expanding a ZIP file on a computer, my brain began to feverishly world build along the storyline of a secret society which seeks out and maintains order against the shadow people. Granted the story has changed dramatically since that moment, but I remember how that idea rooted itself into my psyche with me helpless to stop it.

    This is where I understand J.K Rowling in an interview where she first received inspiration for the Harry Potter Series, and the same intensity with which the story took her.

    What is your story, and how did it give you this moment too? What was the moment you knew you had to write it?

  • Writing What I Want to Read

    Ever said to yourself, “I really wish I could find a book where the author wasn’t afraid to write what hurts.” Me too! Thats why I wrote Di Inferi Reveille, Book 1.

    Writing is hard. What is too easy as an author is to grasp for the low hanging fruit. Writers are the agents of change. We need to create the most devastating conflict for our characters to instigate change within them.

    The most difficult part about this is typing what makes us hurt. I challenge you – write scenes that break your heart and make you cry. I broke down in tears, and my heart bled into my manuscript.

    Those emotions reach your readers. Those scenes break their hearts too. Those readers become advocates for your characters, your book, and your career. Just ask Margaret Atwood.

  • Submition

    I finally did it. After two months of doing everything to avoid sending out my first batch of Query Letters, I finally sat down and just did the damn thing. Here’s a few things I learned from the process.

    1.) Every agency has quirks in how they want you to submit. I learned. They aren’t being picky to deter you from submitting – they just want to tell the difference between serial manuscript spammers, and people who had taken the time to read the guidelines to research the agency. Yes this takes a lot of time, but if it isn’t worth it for you – then you will never have a career in writing.

    2.)It isn’t all that hard. It’s just tedious. Procrastinating in submitting only delayed the inevitable. The hardest part about the process is to get over your own mental roadblocks.

    3.)I am okay with rejection. I have no fear. Even if no agency picks up my book, I am an advocate for my story. I am the only person who cares the most about it. If no one gets what I am trying to say, I gave it the best chance at succeeding.

  • I Love Reading these Reviews!

    “I rarely get drawn into a book.” – Beta Reader

    “Although I shouldn’t, I loved Zeus’ style. The Arrogance, the swagger…” – Beta Reader

    “Loved it, when will you be done with book two?”- Beta Reader

    “Captures the grand epic that is Greek Mythology, while simultaneously modernizing, and humanizing the old golds.” -Beta Reader

  • Today’s the Day you Meet Pandora, a Character in my Novel Di Inferi Reveille Book 1

    This image of Jaime Murray was a direct inspiration for the strongest oof women in my Breakout Novel, Di Inferi Reveille.

    While Pandora is not the main character of this book, she is about to receive a starring role in the sequel, and eventual series. We all know the story. She was mans cautionary tale for women to stay meek and fearful of our feminine ways. Historically, she is to blame for everything that goes wrong for humanity because she is flawed, being a woman.

    When I made the decision to turn Greek and Roman mythology upside down, I knew I needed to start with this myth. In a new world where women are becoming the breadwinners and breaking any glass ceilings, I wanted to help update the role of pandora to one of hero.

    Pandora is a strong woman who was put in an impossible situation against her will, and how she breaks out of it. Without spoiling too much, I will tell you she is passionate, fearless, and a warrior. I chose to make her the pure representation of woman power when the world needs to be reminded of it most.

  • My Writing goals For The Next Year

    Looking out to the horizon of 2021, I realize it will be here before I know it. All the more reason to start thinking of my core actions to take before there is no time left.

    1.) FIRST AND FOREMOST – I absolutley must start sending out more Querries. I have 173 posprceive agencies that I will be submitting to through this year.

    2.)I will be finishing my Non Fiction title ‘Toxic People’, and working on a second draft of that.

    3.) I would like to complete the first draft of at least two Fiction Novellas. One is completely outlined and just needs to have it fleshed out whereas the second is partially outlined.

    4.) Book two of Di Inferi to be completely outlined. The concept is strong, and all I need to do is spend a little more time researching and building the plot.

    5.) FINALLY- Continue my work on my Author’s Platform. My stories aren’t just important to me, but to others out there who need that outlet and break from reality. I want to connect with those people who I know would benefit, and would in turn enrich my life with their presence. I seek to build a writing kingdom that I can populate with likeminded and creative people intent on living a more entertaining life.

    There you have it. While there are many small goals I have for myself, these five are my must do actions. What about you? What are your top Three or Five actions for your upcoming year?

  • Current Book Hangover – ‘The Testaments’

    With more and more people staying home, we are catching up on cleaning, Streaming media, and our book pile. With the resurgence of audio books, it makes it even easier to multitask around the house while escaping our self quarantines internally.

    My current book hangover is ‘The Testaments’ by Margaret Atwood. If you are unfamiliar, she is the author of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale.’ While it has been YEARS since the original publication, the resurgence of interest through the HULU adaptation made it a worldwide phenomenon. With it, readers and viewers demanded more.

    The Testaments is the long awaited sequel, as Margaret stabbed us all through the hearts at the open ending of book 1. Rendering the reader into a state of complete and total shock.

    Without spoiling the book, I wanted to talk generically about my favorite part. I loved that this book didn’t try to soothe our hurt feelings. It talked about how women were getting their power back in Gilead, and the unending fight to end the police state control. For me it was the sharp reality that just because you think you know a person and based on their role, you have no idea where their allegiance actually stands ( Aunt Lydia.)

    What about you? Did you read a book lately that you couldn’t put down? Did you read ‘The Testaments’?

  • The misstress is awakened once more.

    Di Inferi Book 2 is going to simultaneously gut and entertain you.

  • Dear me, ten years ago.

    Dear me,

    I am sitting here ten years on, and there are some things I really think you should know.

    You need to remember you are stronger than what is up ahead of you. I know writing a full length novel sounds crazy, but you will surprise yourself when you try and succeed. You will get over your failures in the past, and try to write again through NaNoWriMo.

    I know the last time you tried you failed miserably, and you vowed to never set high goals again. Until one day inspiration strikes and all you can think about is this imaginary world, and it’s people. You will want to live in it, stir things up, and generally live vicariously through your favorite imaginary friends.

    After fully completing a full length narrative you will take on an even more difficult task. After re reading you will make massive editorial and structure changes which basically creates an all new novel than the one you just labored over. I need you to remember that is perfectly okay. This is a normal step all writers go through. You aren’t failing, you are honing your craft.

    The three top things I need you to remember are this:

    1. It will be impossible to write everyday. You are just starting out. Just because Stephen King writes 10k a day does not mean you have to write that much in order to validate you have a right to be in your chosen field. Words are useless in that quantity if you can’t use them.

    2. Go easier on yourself. You can’t do everything. You have to learn how to plan your workload efficiently, but also maintaining a personal life. There is no point in secluding yourself away to build a better life if you are unable to enjoy said life. There has to be balance in everything we do. You do just as much (if not more) work on your writing away from a keyboard or pen with paper. You need time away from it in order to think about it. You need that distance to look at it objectively.

    3. The story chose you. This is because you are the only person that for the time being will care about it. Like a new mother, once the ‘newness’ wears off, people stop calling and visiting. You gave birth to an idea, and you are the only one strong enough to maintain its life. A time will come when others will be as in love with your work as you, but for the time being you are this ideas parent. It is your job to raise it and help it walk on its own two legs. You will make mistakes, and you will learn from it. You are both better and stronger than the sum of your parts.

    Above all, I need you to know this action you are going to take will transform your life. As you are going through it, you will insist it isn’t for the better, but I can assure you that it is. Everything that is holding you back will be removed. You will not be weighted down any longer, even though it seems like it is lifting you up right now. You are about to put in a tiny amount of work that will greatly impact and change the complete course of your life positively.

  • DiInferi Revellie Book 1 UPDATE

    As I am writing this my employer ordered us back to work even with a stay at home order, so I am writing this in haste. (This is being scheduled to appear at a later date.)

    DiInferi Reveille Book 1 Synopsis is currently being revised for the first query letter to be sent out sometime this week.

    BONUS UPDATE

    Di Inferi Book 2 is currently in developmental phases! That’s right- Book two is officially started. I am currently in the outlining phases, however have many plot points that are sure to tantalize, horrify, and above all entertain.