February 20, 2008

• Sneak Peek of My Book

  I need input, I am writing this book (untitled as of right now,) I need to know how the public will receive it.

  Oh, and:
  Know any or can you think of any cool names I can name a character?
  How about names for species?
  Anything you would like to add to the story, what could make it better?

  Lend me your creativity! *smiles* Pretty please?

  

  Introduction:

  Over the hills and valleys, into a
  place that you would least expect deep in the heart of the forest, there you will find a creature who is quite
  mysterious indeed, for they are often overlooked and seldom understood. They
  call these creatures the Jixies. They are no more than two feet tall on their
  tippy toes, but you can ask those who have met one and they will tell you that
  despite their size they are very quick on their feet. They are covered with
  long bushy fur like that of a lion’s mane, their ears are big, pointed and long
  giving them a majestic look and I can imagine good hearing as well. Their eyes
  are big and bright, full of mischief, set right above their little snouts. They have short legs and big feet, which gives them a waddle when walking without
  the help of their hands.

  Jixies are not quite odd looking, just different. When you
  see them you know that if a Jixie could look like anything, it would look just
  like that, even if they have never been described to you before. They love to
  play games and are quite good at riddles, so before you riddle them this and
  that, remember, they could probably beat you while tongue tied.

  Jixies live in many places, wherever land is found. In the north
  they dwell in the giant redwoods, in the south they have made their homes in
  the cypress trees. The black oaks in the east were once an oasis for the Jixies,
  but because of the growing rarity of these trees some have migrated to the red
  oaks. In the far, far west they have taken shelter underground, the cool earth
  protecting them from the heat of day. These Jixies in the west that dwell in
  tunnels and chambers are a little different than others, their eyes have
  adjusted to life in the dark and their hair is much, much lighter. Their moods
  are a little less pleasant but they have managed to stay friendly, though can
  come off as rude. But overall they are silly fun loving individuals that laugh
  often and rarely will you find one not smiling. Contrary to popular belief, the
  tree dwelling Jixies also live underground as well, beneath the tree where
  they are safe and hidden. The reason I tell you of this is because this is a story of one
  Jixie in particular, a Jixie by the name of Jeru.

  Chapter 1:

  Jeru was one of the Northerners who lived in a giant
  redwood; he had lived there all his life and had no plans of leaving anytime
  soon. He was comfortable, he had everything he needed, and Jixies need little
  more than that. Unlike most Jixies he lived alone, though others lived in big
  families with sometimes 4 generations under one roof. The reason why he was the
  only occupant of his cozy little abode doesn’t matter, all that matters is that
  he was. But loneliness was never a concern; he had family and friends among
  the other redwoods and hobnobbed often, as Jixies tend to do. There was little
  to be concerned about in these peaceful woods and nothing unfortunate had
  happened in almost eight hundred years, but that was about to change…

  He sat there quietly smoking the pipe his grandfather had
  given him on his 100^th birthday and he enjoyed it thoroughly. With
  each puff it was as if he was drawn deeper into thought, the thought of what
  I’m not sure, he himself sometimes wasn’t sure. But he sat there daydreaming,
  dreaming about anything, about life beyond the redwoods. His contemplation was
  interrupted by a knock at the door, he was not expecting any company but he
  never begrudged the arrival of a friend. He lopped towards the door to invite
  whoever it was inside for some freshly brewed mint tea and a pleasant smoke
  from his old pipe. The knock sounded again, this time a little louder.

  “I’m coming, I’m coming!” He bellowed.

  He opened the door and there stood, who of all of people? It
  was his dear cousin Jada, son of his Aunt Tissy on his mother’s side; he was
  the uninhibited one in the family and had a reckless streak. Many times had
  Jada gotten him into trouble, but then again he was always there to bail him
  out as well.

  “Hey there, you old scraggly fur ball, come on in, I was
  just fixing some tea and it’s your favorite.”

  “Don’t mind ifa do” He made himself comfortable while Jeru
  fetched the tea.

  Jada looked around admiring the décor and the space; he
  chuckled every time he thought about how cleverly his people lived. Their homes
  were simple but brilliant, disguised to hide the fact that anyone might call it
  “home.” The entry at the base of the trunk was carved out of the tree itself,
  you couldn’t even tell there was a door there until it swung open, when shut it
  seemed to practically disappeared, hiding any sign of anything different than
  giant redwood. Only the eye of a Jixie or those who knew them well could spot a
  Jixie tree. At about that time Jeru toddled in with a wooden tray upon which sat
  the kettle, two clay cups and some sugar.

  Jada was happy, he loved Jeru’s tea, “Thank you, I have been
  craving some of your tea for a while, you brew the best” he exclaimed as he
  sipped his hot tea.

  “Care for a smoke too?” Jeru offered.

  He declined explaining that he was trying to cut back. “Grandma
  Brilly doesn’t like it and I promised I wouldn’t.” he whimpered as he looked at
  the floor and shook his head wishing he hadn’t promised anything.

  Jeru took his pipe in hand “Fair enough,” he puffed to light
  the sweet smelling tobacco “you’re missing out though, this is my best batch.”

  You could see the longing in Jada’s eyes, his mouth began to
  water, oh, how he wanted to taste of the smooth honey flavored smoke with a
  hint of berry. Jada sighed and again declined.

  “Your willpower will fade,” Jeru chuckled “so what’s the
  point?”

  “No, I can quit smoking whenever I wish, and I have.”

  “I give you two more days, three at most and then you will
  be begging me for some tobacco.” Jeru began to laugh for it had happened
  countless times. He now looked curiously at Jada, “Why do you place yourself in
  such discomfort knowing it will all be for naught in the end?”

  “Every time I make a promise, I actually have the mind to
  follow through.”

  “You do know what the definition of insanity is, right?”

  “No, what might that be?”

  “Picking barries from
  the same bush repeatedly and expecting a different taste”

  They both began to hoot and howl almost falling out of there
  seats, everyone knew that Jada had always been a couple honeybees short of a beehive.

  ---

  I have been "Stashed" by angi1972, I feel honored!

  
  Sweet, I look like one of the three musketeers!
  Rawk On!

  • 6:18 pm
  • 39 Comments