A Young Man’s Soul


A Young Man’s Soul

When unseen forces press upon a young man’s soul to find his place
In something so much grander than his daily wants and woes,
What foolish quests and sophistries will the world place in his way,
And how can we direct him to a far more worthy goal?

With stories and examples that inflame his spirit’s noblest fires
Of faithfulness and prudence, vitality and craft,
Courage and discernment, love that wades through mire,
Of fortitude in service with purity of heart

To the One who loves us more than we can ever know
Who invites our souls to soar above the vile flow
Of sewage that this world pretends is culture, virtue, truth;
But really serves the foulest ends and drains away their youth.

He heals our deepest scars of shame and cleanses us of sin
Burns off our dross, shares in our pain, and asks to be let in
That we may tread the narrow way and scale the holy hill;
To bask in bright refreshing day and find our rest until

We’re called to fight beside Him and destroy the Devil’s hordes
Renew what does delight Him and find our great reward,
That all might see true justice done, infused with mercy grand;
The cruellest tyrants are cast down, the humble asked to stand

And look upon the One who gave himself for one and all
Hung upon a brutal cross and given bitter gall
That we might know the joy that He gave up for our own sake
And share in the great glory that was His alone to take.

He knows us, yet still fills these jars of clay with treasure lavishly
And has prepared above the stars a place in His great family.
Where all our virtues are perfected, our flaws are washed away,
All is seen with new perspective, and we are here to stay.

You Really Are Too Good to Us

This year’s bithday poem for my wife:

You Really Are Too Good to Us

 

You really are too good to us,
So we have to thank you thus
(Plus of course in other ways,
From time to time and day by day).

There’s no one in the world that we would rather know
To hold us as we cry and watch us as we grow,
To celebrate our victories, commiserate our falls,
Encourage us that next time we will surely scale that wall,

Warn us when we wander from the straight and narrow path,
Hand us holy soap when our spirit needs a bath,
Hold us to higher standards than the world around us does,
Show unexpected kindnesses, simply just because

You love to give, to understand and help us lift our heads,
Gently kiss our foreheads when we’re tucked up in our beds,
Loving mother, daughter, friend and sister to a throng
Of souls who’d surely join us in singing you a song

To celebrate all that you are, the difference that you make,
The many blessings you provide, delicious treats you bake,
The comfort and encouragement your simple presence gives
Are heaps of shining evidence that in your heart He lives.

Up Your Writing Game – The Art and Craft of Writing

If you’re a writer looking to improve your storytelling craft, then renowned author and editor L. Jagi Lamplighter is ready to share the lessons she has learned over more than thirty years in the industry in the form of practical steps, principles and exercises to improve the quality and impact of your writing and increase the enjoyment and satisfaction that your readers will gain from it.

The best way to gain a core of fans is to write a good book. The best way to improve your books is to learn from one of the best in the business by supporting the campaign to produce this course.

All sorts of perks and rewards are available, including having a personally commissioned poem for a special occasion, or your own book trailer created by yours truly, having your own short story or novel turned into an audiobook or having your novel fully edited by Jagi herself.

Superversive Press – Hope is the New Genre

In the build up to Superversive Press’ presence at DragonCon again this year, I’ve put together a little promotional video showcasing what we’re about and all the titles we’ve released so far. Share it around and build the hype!

www.superversivepress.com

Be inspired, be uplifted, be entertained.

Superversive Press publishes stories that understand the power of hope, the difference between right and wrong, the value of truth, loyalty, honour, and heroic sacrifice.

Feed your mind, expand your horizons, and adventure with us to astonishing worlds.

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Music – The Call by Scott Buckley – http://www.scottbuckley.com.au
solar system animation from videvo.net
Public domain Jupiter image from NASA Juno mission
Explosion, electricity, fire, smoke, laser effects and rotating ship animation from footagecrate.com
Background images and exploding moon animation from pixabay.com
HDRI backgrounds from hdrihaven.com
3D rendering and animation in Daz Studio, additional 2D and 3D effects, animation and video editing in Hit Film Pro by Ben Zwycky

 

To Rule in Hell by B. Michael Stevens

The excellent sequel to The Goddess Gambit was released just under a month ago.

The battle may be over, but the war is just beginning…

Even as the people of the Shanty and the Ziggurat come together to build a new Home, vultures gather, and sinister plots are born.

Amidst the backdrop of an uncertain future, Maya, Jon, and the other guardians set out in search of the Morning Star and the promised salvation hidden within.

When their journey goes awry, Jon and company find themselves at the gates of strange city, where the apparent peace isn’t what it seems. Human men, women, and children are ruled by civilized savages—a King and Queen who are hiding a dark secret an and evil presence from Earth’s ancient past.

The goddess and her guardians must fight for the freedom of the innocent, all while trying not to become that which they despise.

For there are those who reject the notion of serving in Heaven, preferring instead, to rule in Hell.


All Things Huge and Hideous by G. Scott Huggins

The full novel-length version of the hilarious Doctor to Dragons by Scott Huggins is out now, including the orignal short stories and adding many more, so it’s time to revive the theme song!

IF YOU CAN READ THIS, THANK A TEACHER.

IF YOU CAN READ THIS AND YOU HAVEN’T BEEN FED TO THE DRAGON, THANK A VET.

That’s me, Dr. James DeGrande. Fire-lizards deflamed, dire-rats spayed, flea and tick removal a speciality. I’m your local veterinarian, but I’m also a slave of the Dark Lord. I’ve hired a new assistant Harriet, who is almost a witch. I just hope that she can do better than my last assistant who … almost survived.

There’s no more heroes anymore. That’s because they were all fed to the Dark Lord’s pet Dragon after the last War.

It’s not the easiest position from which to make the world a better place, but I might be able to do something about the dragon. If His Darkness’s vampiric Prime Minister doesn’t do something about me first. It’s time to go see my patients, and hope they don’t see me first.

“A rollicking adventure that hits all the right notes.” –Christopher Ruocchio, Award-Winning Author of The Sun Eater Series

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Artwork by Becky Hale
Lyrics and vocals by Ben Zwycky

Immaculate Corpse by Hawkins Austin

Book 2 of the Purity Wellman series is out now.

Purity is back from the grave.

Now she must confront the man who tortured her. This little ol’ Appalachian girl feels lost in our strange futuristic world, but she must face her fears. For the devil’s work is never done, and neither is the Wellman family business.

There are worse things let loose in the world than mortal man can imagine, but Purity can take them and isn’t going to give up and die … again.

Available now from Superversive Press

 

Tears of Elfland by Ben Wheeler

The author of the excellent Sheik of Mars is back with a new fantastical adventure into the depths of faerie.

Peter Briton’s father, John, has gone missing and Peter knows what took him.

One by one, Peter’s siblings are disappearing into the fairy-haunted woods. Something sinister is calling them to the court of the Elven King. Peter feels the call himself.

The children have struggled ever since their mother died in childbirth, and Peter has held the family together… until now. As his brothers and sisters vanish one by one, he knows that soon, he too shall submit to the call and follow. He must find his father, save his family and bring them all safely home. If he cannot, they will be playthings of the Elves forever.

Available now from Superversive Press