Monday, April 17, 2017

N thru S for the A to Z




Alaska has several natural hot springs. A tourist favorite is Chena Hot Springs. 90 minutes from Fairbanks it’s a favorite in the summer or the winter, when the aurora borealis is active.

Besides Chena there are at least 12 other Natural Hot Springs in the Alaskan Interior. And while a natural spring is mentioned in the Snowman, it's not in Alaska.

BANNED
FOR
OBSENITY

O = Obscene – offensive to moral principles, repugnant

(of the portrayal or description of sexual matters) offensive or disgusting by accepted standards of morality and decency.

The Snowman may be offensive for both the violence and the sexual portrayals of the story. Please be forewarned. Stone is not a nice character.



P = Ptarmigan – (t arm again) The Willow Ptarmigan is the State Bird of Alaska. Also, known as the Arctic Grouse or as some in Alaska call them, the Alaskan chicken. There are three types of Ptarmigan and all are found in Alaska - the Willow, the Rock, and the white tailed.

In the Snowman I mentioned the ptarmigan as part of the Alaskan turducken dish of - ptarmigan, bear, and moose. FYI - there is no such dish! 😉




Q = Quiver or quiver?

To quiver is to tremble or shake with a slight rapid motion or it’s a slight trembling movement or sound especially one caused by a sudden strong emotion.
Or a Quiver is the tool that holds your arrows.
Both examples are used in the Snowman – both uses cause uncontrollable shaking, terror, and eventually result in death.

R = Reincarnation – “Reincarnation is the philosophical or religious concept that the soul or spirit, after biological death, can begin a new life in a new body. This doctrine is a central tenet of the Hindu religion. The Buddhist concept of rebirth is also often referred to as reincarnation and is a belief that was held by such historic figures as Pythagoras, Plato, and Socrates.”
Stone believes in reincarnation - can he kill the same person twice?

S = Sadistic – deriving pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others.

How would you feel waking up on Stone's autopsy table?
Sadism is Stone’s specialty. As I said before, be forewarned! Stowy is not a nice guy!
***

&

   Yolanda RenĂ©e
TE
Excerpt:

Naked, bound, and with a thundering headache, Carol stirred. She blinked several times. The fluorescent light above her blinding.

Where am I? The hospital?

No bitch. You’re on the autopsy table … and … you’re dead. Stone said, emphasizing each word.

Tears immediately appeared. You bastard.She struggled, but neither her stretched out arms or legs would move.

Stone leaned close. “Tell me who did you rat me out too?

You. I dont know you.She stared wide eyed.

I know you wrote down my license plate number, both times. Once with Kathy and the other time with Crystal. Do-gooding got you killed. Whod you give them to?

***



Have you ever visited a Natural Hot Springs?



What do you consider obscene?

Personally, the political scene fits my definition! 😊

Ever eat ptarmigan?

Ever found yourself in a quiver?

Do you believe in reincarnation?

And sadism, wow, how much is too much?
I’m afraid Stone hasn’t reached his limit – at least for dishing it out!





14 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

The Alaskan chicken - funny. That would make one interesting Turducken.

Pat Hatt said...

A hot spring with a bunch of other people I'd think about how many peed in there lol Some characters push the limit, but they get theirs in the end, hopefully.

Yolanda Renée said...

Wouldn't it!
Hi, Alex!
Top Ten Snowmen - sheesh! :)

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Pat! LOL - I'm not a fan of any body of water with people or fish! I only soak in a tub for health reasons, but shower immediately afterward. :) I know!

Misha Gerrick said...

I find things to be obscene when they are used gratuitously. Like... someone being graphic about sex could be fine if it suits the character, but it irritates me when it's just graphic for the sake of being graphic. If that makes sense?

Yolanda Renée said...

I agree Misha, but I'm probably as guilty as most. When it's your writing you never see it the same way others do. Although, I've been told I'm too much of a lady - LOL. Stowy might have changed that!

Nilanjana Bose said...

Chicken is not a fancy enough name for such a pretty bird. I think I prefer Ptarmigan. I was just thinking as I read the definition of obscene that it's not always sexual...sadly. The last time I was at a hot spring was in Egypt, Ain Sokhna about 200kms from Cairo, the name itself means 'hot spring.' I am a total jellyknees when it comes to graphic violence - look down resolutely in films, probably quivering, gulp! :)

cleemckenzie said...

I was forewarned and still I read to the end. I should have stopped at that last image, but did I? NOOOOOO.

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Nila, so do I. Absolutely hate fighting of any kind! Blood and guts, nope. Especially zombies!!! But for some reason I do write it. So odd! What can I say? :)

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Lee:
Sorry about that, but I'm am trying to warn folks, this isn't a typical story.
:)

Denise Covey said...

Hi Yolanda! Congratulations on getting The Snowman published! Obscene? I'd say that suicide bomber who lured children out of that Syrian cavalcade of buses of refugees outside Aleppo fits the description--lure them out and blow them to smithereens--70 children amongst the 150 dead. Obscene! Gah!

Catch you later! I posted just now for WEP. I like the early option at the mo'. :-)

L. Diane Wolfe said...

That autopsy table is creepy. Looks like it's in an abandoned asylum.

Nilanjana Bose said...

And you write it with consummate skill. Very convincing! The cover looks quite blood- splattery too...shiver!

Denise said...

I've been to Yellowstone a few times where hot springs are really HOT. I find tight leggings with short tops to be obscene. No reason to walk around with butt crack showing IMO. I remember when grouse roamed my neighborhood. Rather have them than the deer which showed up years later. No, I don't believe in reincarnation. Nice post.