The Parisian Experience

A few days ago I published a photography sampler eBook entitled, The Parisian Experience,

(Copyright © 2012) For the cover, I used one of my favorite photographs, which was well liked in its original posting on this blog. The composition depicts a Normandy harbor beautifully covered in a blanket of sunlight.

as a precursor to the full-length book I am developing.

This free edition features some of my most well-received photographs which have appeared on the Adventure Writer’s Blog, including Louis XVI, Omaha Beach, Notre Dame de Paris, and multiple others.

The book is currently being reviewed by B&N and Apple’s respective quality assurance teams.

On a different note – tomorrow I hope to post my comprehensive Hunger Games review, as well as an audio edition for the AW Blog YouTube channel.

The Crashing Waves

Over the course of a few days I developed a soundtrack for a mini-movie which I will be presenting before an English class representing the poem, Dover Beach. This is the soundtrack in question, with shooting for the video in progress:

This video is made legally using Apple Co. loops provided with the application, Garage Band, in accordance with Terms of Use.

Ever heard of the calm before the storm? Well this is the calm... AFTER the storm.

Free Publications: Updates Available

In January of this year, I provided the manuscripts for my short story publications on this blog, without

The annotated version of War At Our Doorstep delves into the story, uncovering important details and casting light upon the story's various ambiguities. The story provided in this post is the original, unannotated version.

the extras provided by their ninety-nine cent counterparts, and developed my Literary Feedback page to gather the opinions of my readers and subscribers.

Since then, months have passed, and I’ve updated my publications. War at Our Doorstep has had punctuation errors and an imagery [literary] device was altered. 400 Years of Silence was extended to include additional background about the character Manasseh, and pave the way for the potential novel to come.

These new additions are available on their old posts:

http://adventurewriter.wordpress.com/2012/01/02/400-years-of-silence-six-hundred-word-story/

http://adventurewriter.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/war-at-our-doorstep-2/

If you’re looking for a quick read, these should do the trick, and as always, I’d love to have feedback (that’s why I changed “Leave a Reply” to “Share Your Opinion” – much more welcoming).

Passion: White Flag [Deluxe Edition] (Music Review)

Official Album Cover (Amazon)

Passion: White Flag is the latest installment from the Passion music series, recorded live at Passion 2012, and debuting commercially March 9th, 2012. During its first day, it climbed to the top of the Gospel Christian charts and achieved a high ranking overall.

It is a thoroughly diverse album, featuring the talents of such artists as Chris Tomlin, Kristian Stanfill, Christy Nockels, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, and the recently retired David Crowder Band who made their last performance at the live event. Boasting [in Christ] an incredible seventeen songs, four videos (including a sermon by GA Pastor & Passion Pres. Louie Giglio), and song booklet –  the deluxe edition is certainly the best deal financially and in terms of quality content.

Its tone is vibrant – full of energy and passion. Its lyrics are not watered down, but beautiful, powerful, and pertinent. A common thread of surrender [and conformation] to Christ unites the album, hence the name, White Flag. 

The full content list reads as follows:

» Not Ashamed (feat. Kristian Stanfill)
» White Flag (feat. Chris Tomlin)
» Jesus, Son of God (feat. Chris Tomlin)
» How I Love You (feat. Christy Nockels)
» All This Glory (feat. David Crowder)
» Lay Me Down (feat. Christy Nockels)
» You Revive Me (feat. Christy Nockels)
» One Thing Remains (feat. Christian Stanfill)
» Yahweh (feat. Chris Tomlin)
» Sing Along (feat. Christy Nockels)
» The Only One (feat. Chris Tomlin)
» Mystery (feat. Charlie Hall)
» 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord - feat. Matt Redman)
» No Turning Back (feat. Chris Tomlin)
» Let Me Feel You Shine (feat. David Crowder Band)
» Who You Are (feat. Kristian Stanfill)
» Jesus, All in All (feat. Charlie Hall)
» Twenty Seven Million (feat. Matt Redman & LZ7)
» How Great Is Our God (World Edition - feat. Chris Tomlin)
» Fearless (Passion 2012 Talk - Louie Giglio)
» Passion 2012 Slideshow
» Digital Booklet

The Adventure Writer’s Blog Rating:

10/10 - Quality, diverse content with something for everyone.

Brief Review Summary on iTunes

Our God’s Alive: Andy Cherry (Song Review & Rouen Photography)

Yesterday Andy Cherry released his first album, Nothing Left to Fear, containing the hit song Our

Joan of Arc Memorial - Rouen, France

God’s Alive - a beautifully orchestrated piece with unique vocals and a dynamic personality.

This is by far one of my favorite songs within the Contemporary Christian genre, with well-thought out  organization, instrumentals, and powerful lyrics with a simplistic message, effectively echoing the salvation message through a captivating medium.

News (3/07): Our God’s Alive is currently available for free [legally supporting the artist] on iTunes for a period of one month, by download code. Instructions are available on this page.

Extending eBook Content

Tonight I’m revising my 400 Years of Silence six-hundred word story publication by extending it to

Taken at one of the many Notre Dames of France - altered slightly for effect.

encompass the same scope as its duet-play counterpart. Once completed, the updates will be sent to the iBookstore and Barnes and Noble (NOOK).

I pray that, as I make these revisions, I will stay true to the heart of God – even if that entails extending it to the length of a novel.

The story in its current forms are available for reading on the Adventure Writer’s Blog. If you enjoy the story, you may also download the eBook version from the NOOK or iBookstore.

      /______________________________________________________________________\

• 400 Years of Silence (Play): AW Blog | NOOK | iBookstore

• 400 Years of Silence (600-word short story): AW Blog | NOOK | iBookstore

      \______________________________________________________________________/

Reminisicent Rosehip Country

Long rows of rosehips extend from this Normandy road to a World War II memorial, commemorating the 1st Infantry Division.

400 Years of Silence: Duet Play

400 Years of Silence

Photography Gallery Available at the Bottom of the Post

Scene I

Manasseh (exclaiming):Brother Naaman! What are you doing reading that old thing? It’s

been four-hundred years since that God of yours proclaimed anything to his people – resign this insanity of yours!

Naaman: Insane I may be, but these prophesies that Isaiah speaks of…

Manasseh (aggravated): Forget the prophesies! Those were simply lies devised by the old kings of Israel.

Naaman (reasoning): If that is so, why would the kings seek their own destruction? It is by God alone that…

Manasseh (exasperated): I relent brother, I relent! (off-stage) I leave you to this self-ordained madness!

Naaman (to himself): My brother may not believe, but I feel the spirit of the Lord is strongly manifested on this night. God will not be quiet forever, He will come after His lost sheep.

Scene II

Narrator: Today was the day of Caesar Augustus’ fateful decree – the census of the entire Roman world, and everyone in town had left their homes to register themselves (Luke 2:1). Naaman had gone, his brother Manasseh with him, to register at the same time of Joseph and Mary.

Naaman (cheerfully): Ah, what a day is this.

Manasseh: Always the cheerful one brother. What is it you find so worthwhile in life?

Naaman: Unlike yourself Manasseh, I find joy in the coming of a savior.

Narrator: As they approached the place of registration, Naaman noticed a pregnant woman among the crowd. With her was a descendant of David, the man named Joseph. Manasseh followed his brother’s eyes and saw an opportunity to torment him in his superstition.

Manasseh (exultantly): See here brother! This couple, claiming to be followers of God, have committed a great sin against the commandments of the Great Creator! Engaging in that which is sacred to marriage. What would you say in defense of your fellow brother’s and sister’s grievous reproach?

Naaman: Man is inherently sinful Manasseh, who can know the bounds of depravity? Yet even a Godly man or woman may fall into the bounds of sin. Yet my God is a merciful one, as seen with David and Bathsheba.

Manasseh: Hypocrite! How may one be the follower of a perfect God when they themselves are imperfect?

Naaman: For this very reason God gave us repentance through sacrifice. Though in my heart, stirring within my spirit, I am confident that God will do away with this ritual and bring us to Him through a most glorious and perfect way.

Manasseh: An ultimate sacrifice I suppose? That would only be possible by the death of God himself.Naaman: God will find a way.

Narrator: And God did find a way – on the most glorious day that has ever been known to man, God became manifested in a pure, and altogether perfect, baby boy named Jesus – the Savior of humanity and God’s only begotten son.

-Scene III

Narrator: Many years passed since the birth of Jesus Christ & the accompanying John the Baptist, and soon the inhabitants of Bethlehem learned of the news and saw the Man Himself. Many were in disbelief, others saw the event as a long-awaited miracle from God. From the cry of the Baby boy on that seemingly average night, the four-hundred years of silence from God had ended.

Naaman: It is as the prophets attested! God has come to us!

Manasseh (solemn): You have become greater the fool in your old age than in our youth, my poor brother. There is no Messiah, the world is as it has always been. The fishermen go forth to catch the bounty of the oceans, and the tax collector eternally devises another method to cheat us of our earnings. You have no cause for joy.

Naaman: Oh my brother! How I wish the curtain over your eyes would be torn away, as the barrier between us and God will soon be removed.

Manasseh: I refuse to believe that this man – a mere carpenter from Galilee, is the son of God. It is a most ridiculous supposition.

Naaman (pleading): I request brother, that you will come just one day to see this Man. When you hear his teachings, you will believe as I.

Manasseh: If only to see what drives this ailing passion of yours, I will go on this journey with you, and you will see for yourself the reason in my disbelief.

Author’s Note: I have considered to make a full-length novel out of  this play, expanding upon the transitional period between scene three and four, entailing the various sermons which Manasseh and Naaman attended and Manasseh’s drastic transformation of character therein. Whether I will do this, however, will depend upon the will of God.

Scene IV

Narrator: So it was, that the two brothers journeyed to Galilee and were among the multitude present at the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5) and when the Lord Jesus had healed the sick (Matthew 4).

Naaman: We have seen many things brother, and do you still remain obstinate in your disbelief?

Manasseh: I had accompanied you Naaman, desiring to make a mockery out of something unreasonable. Now I am uncertain of the very ground beneath which I stand. We have indeed seen many things – all of which I had not, in all my imaginings, sought to be believe possible. Yet here is this Man who calls himself the Son of God, doing those things which are impossible – making everyday life a miracle! I believe now brother that… (pauses for reflection) I rather incline to say, I do indeed believe what you have spoken about the Christ, and what He himself has spoken. In my old age, almost certainly my last year in this world, I give myself to Christ, and the Father who, I attest, loves me so dearly.

Naaman: Amen. For now we are brothers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and our lives, or what remain thereof, shall testify of that fact. Forevermore, praise the Lord Almighty.

NOOK Notice: This material is protected by copyright. 

Copyright © 2012 – All Rights Reserved

You may recall my 400 Years of Silence (Short Story) post a while back, which was introduced as such:

Today I’m posting a copy of my short story, 400 Years of Silence, based upon the historical period between the Old Testament prophets and New Testament birth of Jesus Christ. In that time, there was no word from God, until the cry of a baby broke the silence on that glorious night when the savior of the world was born. For those who are not avid readers, I’ve also provided [photographs] which [are] related to the story. The Apple Co.’s iBookstore recently accepted my eBook for distribution, as well as Barnes & Noble with their NOOK.

Above is the original version of my story, in duet play form.

Positive and civil constructive criticism is welcome.

Gallery

Rouen, France {Notre Dame}

I designed this graphic for the purpose of one of my paperbacks. The candles were within Le Notre Dame of Rouen and were beside a statue of Mary and baby Jesus. I cut out the candles, altered them, and ensured they were a proper size. I'm, overall, quite pleased with the results.

Grâce à Mes Yeux: A Photographic Compilation

The Adventure Writer’s Blog presents its first… collage!

Feel free to express your opinion in the comments.

This picture was ridiculously large (in its original posting earlier time) and had the potential of long loading times. However, if you would like to view the full version (which I would recommend if you have high speed internet) click here and take advantage of the size by zooming in on all the various details.

In all my time blogging over the course of two years I never thought to make a collage, and never one this large. The original was 7200 x 4050 - half a gigabyte with high resolution, although this version has been dramatically resized for lower connections.

Mont Saint Michel

I took this photograph while touring Le Mont Saint Michel, quite a vast complex with all sorts of areas to explore. The colors are slightly enhanced, using Mac's Preview application.