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Fiction Author

Ralene Burke Interview – Fiction Author

Greetings readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors and welcome to The ToiBox of Words. I’m your host Toi Thomas, author of Eternal Curse, and today I have a treat to share. A while back, I had the pleasure to interview a wonderful author named, Ralene Burke. A good time was truly had by all, and here’s how it went down.

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Toi Thomas: Hi there Ralene! It’s so awesome to have you here at the ToiBox Blog. I’m excited to learn more about you and your work.

Ralene: Hello, everyone! Toi, thank you so much for having me over to your corner of the world today. I’m looking forward to sharing with you and everyone else.

Toi Thomas: So tell me, who is Ralene Burke?

Ralene: I am the wielder of a freelance editor’s sword, a fantasy writer’s pen, and a social media wand. In the non-business world, I am wife to a disabled vet, homeschooling mama of 3, and aspiring home chef, expert seamstress, and all-around domestic diva. Those last ones still need some work, though.

Toi Thomas: Wow Ralene, you sound like a magical Renaissance woman to me. I have a feeling we’re going to have a lot of fun today.

Ralene: Maybe that should be my new tagline: The Magical Renaissance Woman.

Toi Thomas: I like that. Well now, before we dive into your special message today, let’s get to know you, the person inside the author or editor, depending upon which weapon you’re wielding.

Toi Thomas: Who is so you and why?

Wikipedia

Ralene: Gilmore Girls is my favorite TV show. And I’ve always so related to Sookie, one of the secondary characters. She is just like me in so many ways: warm and friendly, if a bit on the emotional side; good at what she does, even though she’s a bit of a klutz.

Toi Thomas: It amazes me to this day what a following this show still has. I usually only see that kind of devotion from sci-fi and crime fans, but the show really stuck with people. It even started a reading movement with younger girls; what’s not to love?

Toi Thomas: If that’s who you relate to, I wonder what makes you geek out?

Ralene: Books? Hello, I’m a writer who also decided to become an editor just so I can be around more books. I’m a big fan of anything speculative fiction (books or TV).

Toi Thomas: That makes sense. No rocket science required.

Toi Thomas: Being a book lover, what was your favorite book or story, pre-teen years?

Goodreads

Ralene: The Giver by Lois Lowry. I read it in the 4th grade, and it made me fall in love with people, life, and speculative fiction.

Toi Thomas: It’s almost sad, but definitely embarrassing for me to admit that I’ve never read this book. Of course it’s been on my TBR list for ages, and even got bumped up with the release of the film (I always make a point to read the book before seeing the film). I will read this book one day soon. I’m tired of being in the dark about this experience.

Toi Thomas: In terms of interviews, whose brain are you just itching to scratch?

Ralene: Frank Peretti is one of my favorite authors. He’s also considered the father of the modern inspirational speculative fiction genre, paving the way with awesome stories like This Present Darkness. I’d love to just pick his brain about how he does the things he does.

Toi Thomas: It’s hard not to like Peretti’s work unless there a difference in philosophical or religious views, but even then one must recognize his talent. I’m partial to his book The Oath, but that’s probably because it’s one of lighter reads.

Ralene: The Oath is one of my favorites as well!

Toi Thomas: Now that we know a little more about you, the person, let’s learn about you, the author, and dive into your special message.

Toi Thomas: So whacha got for me today?

Ralene: I’m a semi-finalist in the ACFW Genesis contest this year, so I can’t really tell you about the book I’m shopping around. However, I’m just starting a serialization project for a fantasy entitled Bellanock (a play on “Beautiful Night”). Bellanock is an island where God has placed all the creatures of lore–unicorns, dragons, etc.–but now the demons have infiltrated the island.

Toi Thomas: I love the premise of the story already and can’t wait to learn a bit more. The concept is both explicitly magical and spiritual (for some- religious) and I like that. The title also sounds very mysterious.

Toi Thomas: So who’s starring is this 2 dimensional script read of Bellanock?

Ralene: Fauna is the fairy queen charged with caring for Bellanock. She’s strong and competent, but a little out of sorts when she has to leave the island.

Brian is a down-on-his-luck preacher who works at an inner city church. He’s reached a point where he doesn’t feel like he’s making a difference, that nobody cares about God, and he wants to give up. That all comes into question when Fauna shows up at his door.

Toi Thomas: Ooo, this sounds so sweet! What a great teaser!

Toi Thomas: What do you think is so special about this story that’s going to reel in the readers?

Ralene: Bellanock is all about finding your true purpose and joy in that purpose. I think too many people “settle” in this life because they want to be safe, secure, etc. But that’s not what life is about. Readers will relate to both Brian and Fauna and their inner struggles while enjoying the interwoven tale with plenty of fantasy genre fun.

Toi Thomas: I totally agree with that. This is something people can relate to. I too have written about finding one’s purpose, because, like you said, people “settle” and I don’t even think they realize it. I’m totally into this.

Toi Thomas: Now I know what you’re working on, but I’m curious: past, present, future, is there a rhyme or reason to your writing?

Ralene: After hollering at hubby to watch the kids, I grab my iced tea and head into the office, sit at my L-shaped desk, and open up Jesus Calling (a devo book) while the computer boots up. I’m either going to be working on writing Bellanock or revising Dividing Spirits (supernatural suspense). I pull up the story in Scrivener and read over my last sessions’ progress, making little fixes and such before diving into today’s work. I don’t have a lot of time to write, but my goal is 1,000 words/day (or 5 pages if editing). If there’s time for more, yay!

Toi Thomas: I feel bad about having trouble with finding time to write when I know authors like you do it with kids. I admire your dedication to a 1,000 word daily goal. I haven’t used Scrivener myself, but I’ve definitely been looking into it. I’ve heard it really streamlines the writing process. (Check out this video to see how the software works, if you’re interested.)

Ralene: A little bit of truth here: My goal is 1,000 words/day, but in the past year or so I’ve missed that goal more than I’ve made. I definitely do not have it all together most of the time and struggle with finding time to write.

Toi Thomas: So, what author(s) has most influenced your writing? Why or how?

Ralene: Frank Peretti falls in here again. In fact, the biggest compliment I ever received was when someone compared my supernatural suspense to Frank Peretti’s writing. I don’t think it was a conscious thing for me to be influenced by him, but I really like the way he deals with life and story.

Toi Thomas: I can see that. Specifically from a speculative fiction viewpoint, I look to C. S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien for inspiration, but Pereiti fit in there as well.

Toi Thomas: Now this is where the questions get a little kooky; are you ready?

Ralene: Absolutely.

Toi Thomas: If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Ralene: Lord of the Rings. I love those movies. They are so well done and so memorable. And every time I watch them, there’s a little something new. And then I fast forward through the big spider parts.

Toi Thomas: Those movies are really awesome, and of course, the first in the trilogy is the best. Great choice.

Toi Thomas: When the soundtrack of your life is playing in your head, what songs express your glee and what songs bring out your rage?

Ralene: I’m pretty eclectic in my musical tastes, but I have less tolerance for secular music than I did as a teen/young adult. Most days my radio is set to the local Christian radio station or playing kids music. Yeah, I have 3 kids, remember? Anything by Casting Crowns, Lincoln Brewster, TobyMac, or Phillips, Craig, and Dean lifts my spirits. You don’t want to get me started on what brings out my rage!

Toi Thomas: TobyMac, nice! I’ll admit, while I’m unhappy with a lot a lyrical content these days, I’m a music lover. I admire musical creativity in so many ways, but accept that everyone is entitled to like or dislike what they want. For me, I don’t understand people who don’t like music at all, but to each his own.

Toi Thomas: Let’s play zombie urban survivor. What 3 things do you need to survive a black-out in Central Park the day zombies attack?

Ralene: Three things? You only need one: Daryl! OK, OK, if Daryl is not an option, then bow/arrows, friends with weapons, and fresh water.

Toi Thomas: LOL! I thoroughly enjoy this answer. Sounds like the perfect survival plan.

Toi Thomas: Can you think of the most fun experience you’ve ever had, to date?

Ralene: Last year’s Realm Makers conference. This conference has amazing workshops for speculative fiction writers, but it also has a TON of fun mixed in. This year, they’re having an all out Nerf-war on the second night. Score!

Toi Thomas: This does sound like a lot of fun, but conventions with authors and fantasy geeks always are.  

Toi Thomas: Last question of the day; here we go.

Toi Thomas: Not that you can see into the future, but in your opinion, what does the future hold?

Ralene: My home life won’t be much different. I’ll still be wife to a disabled vet and homeschooling mama of 3. However, I hope to be multi-published at some point. Between books sales and my editing business, I hope to have reached a point where my husband doesn’t have to work, but we can still afford for me to work from home.

Toi Thomas: That sounds like a very nice and simple future, no desire for excess just what you need and a little more for comfort. I hope this future is indeed waiting for you down the road.

Toi Thomas: Thank you so much Ralene for spending time with me today.

Ralene: Thank you again, Toi, for letting me hang out. I’ve so enjoyed your questions and your responses.

Okay readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors, that’s all for today. Be sure to follow this blog to see who will be visiting next time. For more from Ralene Burke, check out these great links:

Website: Ralene Burke.com

GoodReads: Ralene Burke

Facebook: Ralene Burke, Editor and Writer

Twitter: @RaleneB

Pinterest: Ralene Burke

This has been a

interviewpic-toibox

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Categories
FridayFiction-ToiBoxEdition

Friday Fiction: ToiBox Edition No. 004 #fridayreads (spy, cabin, sentient plant, map)

fridayfictionPrompt #214287205

Topic/Theme: spy | Location/Setting: cabin

Character(s): sentient plant | Object(s): NA

 Action: NA | Random Additive: map

Florsentient

“What’s your name, pretty flower?…Come on, tell me please. I know you can understand me. I saw you squeeze out the cabin walls, and besides, you paused when I yelled stop.”

The pretty flower did not respond. The little girl decided it was time to be just a little bad and make this crawling plant talk to her. First she breathed hot heavy breath on the flower, then she shook its stem, and finally she plucked one tiny leaf and the flower swatted at her.

“I knew you were alive…I mean, all plants are alive, but you’re like me alive, walking and talking. Oh please, won’t you talk to me. I’m sorry about your leaf. I hope you’re not forever damaged.”

The flower crossed its leaves and lowered its petals, finally revealing its face hidden underneath a bushel of anthers. There were black twitchy eyes at the base of the green pistil that had a bright yellow stigma, a perfect resemblance of a nose. There was no mouth to speak of, but the anthers seems to be honing in on the girls face and voice, like antennae seeking a good signal, most possibly the location of the ears.

After a good long look the girl became concerned. “You can’t talk can you? I mean, not the way I do?”

The flower shook its petals from side to side and the little girl clapped her hands.

“Oh oh, it doesn’t matter. You can answer yes and no questions, can’t you?”

The flower shook its petals again, this time up and down.

“Are you an alien?”

The flower shook no.

“Are there others like you?”

The flower hesitated, then shook yes, and then no.

“Well, what does that mean?…Wait. There are more like you, but not many. You’re all going away, right?”

The flower shook its petals up and down and then wilted a few leaves.

“Oh no,” said the little girl. “Is it my fault? Did I do it?”

The flower shook no.

“I want to help you. There has to be something I can do to help…Wait, you were trying to get into our cabin. What did you want there?”

The flower shrugged its leaves.

“Oh right, yes or no questions. There must be a better way for us to communicate.”

The flower shook its petals rapidly and waved its leaves.

“So there is a better way to communicate; I just need to figure out what it is…Should I take you inside?”

The flower shook yes.

The little girl bent down to scoop the roots up, but the flower protested by waving its leaves. The girl paused and noticed the flower uprooting itself, keeping all its roots intact, while slowly losing vertical stature. Soon the whole flower was lying flat, and it was inching like a worm toward the girl’s hand. Finally she carefully picked it up and carried it into her cabin.

Once in, the girl looked down at the flower and could sense that it was already missing the comfort of the moist soil, so she decided to put it in a glass of water. Once in the water, the flower began to dance about. The little girl was so tickled that she almost didn’t notice the words forming in the glass. The flower stretched, twisted, and twirled its roots around to spell out the word “Hello.”

“Oh my goodness! That’s how you talk. That is so cool!”

“Thank you”, spelled the flower.

“So now I can ask you almost anything. So,…what is your name?”

“Melfor.”

“Well Melfor, it’s nice to meet you. My name is Abby.”

“Abby friend?”

“Oh yes. I’m totally a friend. Remember, I want to help you. What can I do?”

“Map?”

“You’re looking for a map?”

“Yes.”

“A map where?”

“Refuge.”

“A what? I don’t know that word, sorry.”

“Safe place.”

“Oh, okay. You’re looking for a map to a safe place. Probably a place that has more of your kind, right?”

“Yes.”

“What does the map look like?”

“Leaf.”

“Um, um, well, um. Can you tell me a little more? I mean, there are plants all over this place and they all have leaves. I need a little more to go on.”

“Big shiny leaf.”

“Huh, big shiny leaf…okay.”

“You find…You bring in.”

“Oh right. That big leaf I found in the woods. Dad didn’t believe me. He said that type of plant was tropical and didn’t grow around here, but sure enough I found it in the woods just down the road.”

“Me see leaf?”

“Oh sure, just wait here…Well, I guess you have to, being in the glass and all. Anyway, I’ll be right back.”

Abby rushed way to retrieve the special leaf she’d discovered only a few days ago. In her absence, Melfor went to work carrying out the dual purpose of his staged encounter with the girl. The last male of his kind, he needed access to an international delivery system to help spread his seeds around the world to all the females, in one final attempt to relaunch the species. His targets for delivery were the clothes of the human man who lived there. He was a pilot and a perfect Trojan for spreading Melfor’s seeds.

After a quick sweep of the room, Melfor was delighted to see that the pilot’s jacket, hat, and briefcase were in plain sight, resting on a hook next to the front door. The whole cabin, inside and out, was carved of wood. Some pieces, while damaged and long dormant, were still alive and eager to lend support to their sentient cousin. Walls, floors, and even a few pieces of furniture splintered, fragments floated over Melfor as he sprayed them with his seeds, and then crash landed onto the pilot’s things. Melfor and his cousins knew many of the seeds and splinters would be dusted away on sight, but just enough should latch on and ride the pilot to some far away destination to seek fertilization.

Abby came rushing back in with her rare leaf and presented it to Melfor. “Here it is Melfor. Now what?”

“Water.”

“You want me to put water on it?”

“Yes.”

“A lot or just a little? Should I put it in a glass like you?”

“Sprinkle.”

“Oh, okay. I can just sprinkle some water on it.”

Abby sprinkled some water on the big shiny leaf and it began to glow. Abby almost dropped the leaf, but managed to hold on to it once she realized it wasn’t burning or buzzing or anything else, but glowing.

Shaking so much as to splash water out of his glass, Melfor gained Abby’s attentions and spelled out, “Put me on.”

Abby shook her head, but Melfor insisted. Finally, she picked him up and placed him on the leaf. With soaking roots pressed against the shiny surface, Melfor began to spell out more words. Abby was sad but didn’t know why. “What’s happening?” she asked.

“Time to go.”

“No, I just met you. I’m not sending you away yet.”

“You help…You send.”

“But, I just…”

“You say…You help…Please send.”

Abby was quite for a moment. Her hands began to shake as Melfor wrapped his leaves around the larger leaf supporting him. Finally Abby conceded. “Fine, how do I send you away?”

“Window.”

Abby crept to the window, taking her time as she fought back tears. “No one’s ever going to believe me. They’ll all just think I’m the crazy girl who talks to plants.”

“Florsentient.”

Abby sniffled. “What’s that? I don’t know that word.”

“I florsentient…Melfor, florsentient.”

“Oh got it. Well, little florsentient, I hope to get to wherever it is you’re going.”

“Thank you…Abby friend.”

Abby opened the window and let the breeze roll over her hand a moment before letting go. A tear fell from her eyes when Melfor didn’t look back, but then she thought, may he couldn’t. He couldn’t sit up very well without something to support his roots. Then she walked over to the phone and dialed 1.

“I did it Dad. Just like you said. I made friends, recorded him interacting with the cabin, and then planted the tracking tag…You won’t hurt him, will you?”

“No honey, I won’t hurt him. I just want to help him, but I knew he’d never talk to me. That’s why I needed my number one spy on the job. You did a good job sweetheart.”

1401 words

Day Month June 26, 2015 – Prompt #0269138167

Topic/Theme: quest | Location/Setting: inside

Character(s): NA| Object(s): weapon | Action: confuse | Random Additive: NA

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Categories
FridayFiction-ToiBoxEdition

Friday Fiction: ToiBox Edition No. 003 #fridayreads (goal, desert, record, hail)

fridayfiction

Prompt #1059126187

Topic/Theme: goal | Location/Setting: desert

Character(s): NA | Object(s): record/cd/tape

Action: NA | Random Additive: hail

Musical Indulgence

It’s been months since I’ve heard from headquarters. It’s a good thing I ranked number one in solitary survival back at the academy, but even I’m beginning to think I might not make it to the next exchange. It’s not even about the provisions anymore; I just want to talk to someone who’ll talk back. I must find the mental fortitude to withstand this isolation and meet the next exchange.

My diffusion pump remains my primary source of water, though I was blessed with a flood a few weeks back. I’ve rationed the excess to the best of my abilities, but irrigation is greedy. Almost all my flood water goes to that. Not one to dream of snow, I never though the desert would get the best of me, but it seems I’ve been wrong about a lot of things. I’m just so tired of being alone and working so hard just to survive, when I can’t see an end in sight.

Each morning I rise to hang shading film across my eighth acre of crops. Of course to do so, I must wake before the sun rises so I can cover my body in protective shrouds. If I don’t hang the translucent SPF shade over the crops, the sun will burn them, no matter how much water I put on then. Then each night before the moon rises I change into my thermal gear in just enough time to pull the shading film away and replace it with heating springs. It takes me almost two hours each night to spread out the tiny tubes that release heat above my crops, keeping them from freezing each night.  The worst part is when a hail storm blows through. All I can do is hope the damage isn’t too bad.

I typically have about a one to two hour window for hunting. Since I chose leafy greens as my preferred crop, there’s no room or time to grow sources of protein. In actuality, I don’t mid the hunting anymore. This dry patch of terrain seems to be overrun with reptiles of varying size and color, all to which taste just like chicken to me- all except those these reddish-orange ones with the tiny horns on their tails. I’ve learned to keep those off my menu.

Between daily and nightly preparations for basic survival, I barely have time to catalog my inventory and prepare it for the exchange, assuming it’s still coming. But when I do find those sweet moments in darkest hours of the night, I cherish them. I almost don’t want to let go of my inventory; it’s become my treasure, my most precious procession, and sadly my reason for living. I struggle to survive everyday just so I can secure a few hours a night to explore the ruins below and indulge in the magical manifestation known as music.

When I came down here, people back home called me a fool. They said I’d never find an archive, but after only a week, I struck gold. I was the first, but soon others came down in search of other long-lost treasures: paintings, sculptures, toys, printed books, period clothing, grandfather tech, and so much more. I of course set out to find music.

When I first broke through the catacombs and repelled down into the old vault, I was disappointed. I’d thought I’d stumbled upon a vault of grandfather tech, but then I saw the vinyl records hang on the walls sealed behind glass casing. I ran to them salivating and came across a tower of cassette tapes and cds. Then I turned and looked back at what I had presumed were servers used to store code. I realized that those machines didn’t story code; they stored music.

For a week I forgot my training and lost my objective. My goal may have been to explore, locate, retrieve, and restore any remnants of music or musical influences from Earth One, but I was having too much fun to comply. After about a day of playing with witches and flipping through circuits and partially decayed manuals, I got the servers and speakers working. I drowned myself in Muddy Waters, Mozart, Led Zeppelin, Whitney Huston, Benny Goodman, Tchaikovsky, U2, Yanni, Bob Dylan, The Fugees, Pavarotti, Bob Marley, and so many more.

I had no idea who these people were, what they looked like, or how they made their music, but I indulged in every bit of it. Soon I remembered my protocol and realized that I had goals to meet. With my emergency rations about to expire, it was time to set up a survival plan. Every two to three months a ship would land to take stock of the music I was able to catalog, categorize, and convert to into nanodigtal form in exchange for more supplies. They’d stick around a week or two, make me an offer to go back home and give up this base; each time I declined. But’s it’s been almost six months since my last exchange and I think I’m about ready to retire.

I’m ready to go home and see how the music I’ve discovered here has affected the world I grew up in. I wonder how much the discoveries and treasures of this past have blended into the mold of my present- its future. It’s time for me to stop living out my days in the ruins of a long dead world inhabited by innocuous mutated reptiles. It’s time to give someone else a change to discover the wonders and magic of music from Earth One. Though they are no longer viable, if I do ever get out of here, I’ll be taking some of the vinyl records with me. They will be a reminder of the time I spend here, on Earth One.

970 words

May 29th, 2015 – Prompt #214287205

Topic/Theme: spy | Location/Setting: cabin

Character(s): sentient plant | Object(s): NA | Action: NA | Random Additive: map

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords