Awards, Websites, and Short Stories

Aubrie of Flutey Words gave me this wonderful award on last week. The award is described thusly: "A Prolific Blogger is one who is intellectually productive...keeping up an active blog that is filled with enjoyable content."

The rules for this one are as follows:

1. Every winner of the Prolific Blogger Award has to pass on this award to at least seven other deserving prolific bloggers. Spread some love!
2. Each Prolific Blogger must link to the blog from which he/she has received the award. (see above).
3. Every Prolific Blogger must link back to this post, which explains the origins and motivation for the award.
4. Every Prolific Blogger must visit this post and add his/her name in the Mr. Linky, so that we can get to know the other winners.

I bequeath this award to:
Anyone following my blog. (Most of my followers have already received this award.)


In other news, I've been procrastinating writing my short story "Soul Drinker" to work on my website. I think it is much better than it was. Please check it out http://cheriereich.webs.com. I would like to add a section for reviews (ones received and given). If I reviewed something of yours, and you would like it up on my website, let me know.


I am slowly working on my story "Soul Drinker." This story is based off the Yanomamo tribe in South America, although I'm adding some fantasy elements to it. I plan to submit the story to The Way of the Wizard anthology. I'm finding it a little difficult at times to write this story, since I can't use character names for the Yanomamo. It's considered an insult to speak their name (usually a nickname) to them or their relatives. In order to respect their culture, I haven't given them any names. It's not easy. Here is a blurb for "Soul Drinker":

When the shaman's son's valiant brother is killed in battle with the evil spirits of hei ta bebi, he must take his brother's place as waiteri, or warrior. By completing the mortuary ceremony reahu in drinking his brother's ashes and speaking with him in hedu ka mis, the spirit world, the brothers' souls are united. Like a jaguar hunting in the night, this native son of the Amazon enters hei ta bebi. He must stop the evil ones' destruction of the rainforest and save the Yanomamo children that were taken before hei ta bebi takes over hei ka misi, or earth.

Here are the first couple paragraphs that I have so far:

Within the third circle, ten funerary fires glowed in the twilight.  Three mounds contained the bodies of two women and a child, who died from poisonous water.  Seven pyres burned the waiteri, the valiant warriors.  The medicine man's son knelt before the center pile of ashes.  The dying heat warmed his brown face.  "My brother, may you find good hunting in hedu ka mis."  His dark eyes stared skyward.

             

A weathered hand rested upon his shoulder.  "My son, we will avenge our people."  The shaman shifted toward the pyre.  With a wooden bowl, he gathered the bone ashes of their greatest warrior, his eldest son.  He mixed them into the plantain puree, turning the liquid chalky gray.  Raising the bowl toward the silver grinning moon, he chanted in their ancient tongue.  "Drink your brother, my son.  Hold him within you.  Complete the reahu."