Hello again, you beautiful creatures! Olá novamente, vocês criaturas lindas! Еще раз, вы, красивые существа! Bonjour encore, belles créatures! Hola de nuevo, ¡hermosas criaturas!
Thank you for waiting so patiently for part 3 of this blog about my new adventure in my new city, Spokane, WA! I’m so sorry that it has taken so long, in addition to my heavy workload, the poor health that I mentioned previously has continued. I have chosen a violet butterfly as the symbol for this blog for two reasons: 1: the symbology of the butterfly itself, and the significance of its shape relevant to my medical condition. The first image is courtesy of a site called in5d.com, where you can learn more about the symbolism of the butterfly, should you wish. Thank you to all my followers, new and loyal around the world; I wish I had the time to learn more of Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, French (and more) in appreciation for your efforts to bridge the language barrier. At least we have Google Translate and pictures until I become more multi-lingual.
So: Over the last 30 days, I drove myself to finish the final revisions to my novel and finally submitted it to a publisher seeking submissions for novels in my genre...or at least as close as possible. This book is a cross-genre Lovecraftian/Psychological/Lesbian/Gothic Horror novel entitled The Secret of the Ulthar Codex. I never intended to write something this complex, but that’s just how it turned out. I’m sure it will be a bit controversial, which can be a good thing. A one sentence synopsis:
“In 2017 Los Angeles, a black, lesbian, Wiccan psychologist travels into the timeless Dreamlands of H.P. Lovecraft via a shared nightmare with her favorite patient in order to save the beautifully strange girl whom she secretly loves, and, ultimately, to save herself.”
I hope that my first publisher of choice accepts the novel so that I can achieve my goal of promoting it at its first, most marketable location: the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival in Portland, OR in October. However, the writing business being what it is, I have a plan B and a plan C if my preferred publisher says, “Sorry, Dhyani, we cannot use your novel at this time.” In the meantime, I have devised a new cover image of which I want to create a prototype. @Leetattar, I wish you lived closer, I would love to collaborate with you on this. It involves the use of artistic photography and an ornate mask. @Leighgabriel, your skills with the interweaving of images with digital tools would also be useful. Alas, I will likely have to do it myself, at least until my publisher finds a professional artist for me. Good thing I studied art a bit in college!
Lamentably, my health has suffered due to severe hypothyroidism, which immobilizes me with exhaustion periodically. My doctor has continued to increase my medications, but the effects are marginal at best. Still, I’ve managed to have some fun, thanks to the awesomeness of my new home city. My day job is only 1.2 miles from my apartment, and there are multiple concert venues equally as close. On April 6, I saw NIGHTWISH! What an awesome show - and I received a double-CD album for purchasing a ticket!
On April 6th, I saw a fantasy tribute band called The Reunion, who amazingly created the experience of attending a concert of The Beatles, as if they were all still alive and had reunited to perform their greatest hits before and after they broke up. They were phenomenal - they sounded just like them (and looked like them, too!)!
Now that I have a major project finished, I have several small ones to finish as well: a short-story to rework, a new one to write, a role-playing game supplement to rework, the above-mentioned cover art, and of course the submission process for all of them - and more!
While I keep working, my cat finally has a new place to sleep
And flowers to eat..
And I actually look like I might survive to attend the next HPLFF in October (see latest profile picture). I will try to leave comments on all the sets I view - there are so many of them, and you’re all so amazing and beautiful!
May your karma be easy to bear, and may the star that guides you point you to your secret home-
💗
Dhyani
