The Year in Review
In making one of my few (my detractors choose to call
them "many" arbitrary and capricious) editorial
decisions, this edition of Scribal Tales
will feature no new fictional stories, but will be a Year
In Review.
December marks the one-year anniversary of Scribal Tales.
A birthday gift presented to me by Terry-Ann
Volberg, my loving companion and fellow adventurer in
life.
Here is the chronology of how Scribal Tales came into
existence - but first, before this story unfolds, a word about
the awards being given out in this issue of The Scribe's Gazette:
Critique of the Year: To Michael Battaglia
a/k/a "The Pretentious
Twit."
Michael has outdone himself with his year ending efforts,
producing for Scribal Tales Review 9-14, giving him a 100%
grade for reviewing each and every article published on Scribal
Tales. But his best review, he saved for last: "R.I.P"
by Daniel Olarnick (Hey, that's me!).
I could have easily awarded Michael "Reviewer of
the Year" but the Pretentious Twit has no competition
on the web site (as a matter of fact, as a reviewer he is
without peer on any writing site), but awarding him "Reviewer
of the Year" would have been, quite frankly, "Pretentious."
My original thought was to have given the Critique of
the Year to Michael for his in-depth review on fantasy, where
he reviewed Gabe Morales' "Torment."
Michael gave a scathing review on fantasy, using "Torment"
as his example. Gabe fired back with his own comments on Michael's
admitted dislikes for ballads and fantasy in general. The
June - August issues of Scribal Tales was ablaze with their
words.
(Editorial Note: Michael's Tristian is a science fiction
tale, but I note that his tales of daring have much in common
with fantasy writing.)
This War of the Words went on for three issues of Scribal
Tales, each writer holding his own. My belief is that both
gained mutual respect for each other. It showed that the Pretentious
Twit could take it and dish it out equally well.
However, at the last minute came Michael's review on "R.I.P."
In summary, it was extremely insightful. It showed that Michael
is unique in his approach to review or critique, exposing
my strengths and weaknesses, and, of course, what it is that
I was trying to bring to the reading public, which was far
more than a horror story.
Michael delves into my writing style (actually, I didn't
know that I had a writing style), how the strength of my story
was the time-travel that I took the reader on; how I related
the various characters that I have come across in my long
(1964) reporting career.
Michael's review of "R.I.P." is, quite simply,
in my opinion, of course, the best review he has done for
the year. You can read it for yourself in the Pretentious
Twit column. I urge you to do so.
So here is to Michael. I hope you will join me in giving
him his due.
Gabe Morales:
Best Fantasy Saga of the Year! Gabe Morales' "Torment"
wins the fantasy saga of the year, hands down. His only real
competition (this year) has been Daniel Olarnick's staggering
tale of Odan the Scribe, which simply hasn't gotten off the
ground.
Gabe readily admits that this is his first fantasy work,
but what a tale of adventures he has treated us to. Without
a doubt Gabe could easily be a published author on any webzine
on the Internet. Should any publisher see his work in this
preliminary stage, they would swoop in and try to take him
away.
Each and every month I look forward to see what new adventures
Valdor and Hadrian are experiencing. What new ballads will
Hadrian sing aloud, causing the brooding Valdor to wince in
anguish?
Of the two main characters, Hadrian seems the most popular,
but I feel Valdor's pain and expect that 2005 will reveal
more about this dynamic twosome.
My sources tell me that in the Shared World milieu Valdor
and Hadrian will be meeting a scribe named, Magnus Benoit.
A rather dead serious sort, fairly honorable, dressed in scribal
black, replete with black and purple scribal cloak. A dragon-hawk
is perched on his shoulder. The hawk is hooded in a matching
hood and cloth quite similar to its apparent master, Magnus
Benoit. Hadrian finds this quite amusing. The scribe is looking
to purchase a battle-axe for the Scribal Guild, one that can
be enhanced by a magical amulet, but only if the metals used
to form the battle-axe are pure, never having smelted before.
The scribe has a map, which shows a hidden entrance to Talos
Valley, a wild and untamed area in Volante, which has been
predicted to become a great aggregation (a nation of many
parts). Hadrian informs Valdor that it is rumored that no
one who has ever traveled to Talos Valley has ever returned.
Magnus Benoit whispers, "…that is a rumor, unfounded,
of course…"
The above is a tale that Gabe and I have been working
on. Look for it to develop in the Shared World setting.
So, here is the award for Fantasy Writing. It goes to,
none other than: Gabe Morales.
Horror Story of the Year:
Hands down, Susan Bross' "The
Pedophile" wins Susan this title. Published in March
2004 this story had "people talking." While Susan
has not favored us with a follow-up chapter (nor any other
stories) her writing style was so unique that one of the many
comments I received was from a mother of a parent-teacher's
class who read it to the members of her group because of its
real-life chilling tale of a pedophile and how he views himself
and his victims. The story can be found in our archives. If
you haven't read it, you are doing yourself an injustice.
It is quite simply unique.
Accolades for the Web Goddess:
Rebecca Gallant a/k/a "The Web Goddess" has
created this visually beautiful website. Without her skill,
imagination, dedication, this site could not exist. Recently,
after months of discussion, she convinced me to establish
a link page (See our newly revised and revamped "Resources"
page). This addition to the web site has brought in new readers
and writers to Scribal Tales. However, it is her overall skill
in managing the web site, which needs to be acknowledged.
She links every story, attends to "construction problems,
meta-tags going astray, et cetera" and makes it her business
that the site is totally functional. I urge anyone who is
seeking to gain a presence on the Internet to take the time
to investigate her skills and abilities by going to her web
page. "Thanks, Becky. As our Web Goddess, you are a supreme
being."
Not only is Rebecca skilled in web site construction,
but also is a wonderful fantasy artist.
I own the Number 1 print (1/750) of her "The
Assassin" illustration, a rather dark foreboding
were-feline master assassin, won by me in a bidding war that
occurred two years ago on the Internet. I hope that Rebecca
can link you to this drawing. It demonstrates hybrid fantasy
at its best.
Rebecca has also contributed to Scribal Tales with her
rather unique tale of "Divine
Hangover." This is an amusing tale of why "Cats
Rule the World." Her illustration of Sekhmet
can be found at the story's end and in our illustration column.
The story was reviewed by Michael Battaglia, and drew some
rather interesting comments on both the Internet and fantasy
web sites. The story, itself, starts like this, and grabs
you from the start:
"Sekhmet awoke choking on red sand. Face down in
the muddy reeds was no place for a goddess to be found. The
scarab trying to push its yummy ball of dung in her ear wasn't
helping."
Take a few moments and read it. It will give you cause
to think - especially if you are a cat owner - or is it the
cat that owns you?
Dan Mills - Illustrator - Artist:
No doubt about it. Dan Mills
is the illustrator who makes my stories come to life.
Dan's artwork is the framework for Scribal Tales, as constructed
by Rebecca Gallant. It is but a small example of how I have
used Dan Mills' artistic abilities to create this website's
visual beauty.
His best work, in my mind, is the painting shown on the
front page of Scribal Tales depicting Odan
and the Pool of Life.
I met Dan about two years ago, and as serendipity would
have it, we struck up a conversation (via email) where I would
send him a story that I wanted illustrated, Dan Mills would
send back an initial rough sketch, we would bounce ideas back
and forth, and before my very eyes, he would create an illustration
of exactly what it was that I desired.
In 2005 you will be treated to his latest creation, the
illustration for "R.I.P." I have secured the black
and white illustration, and discussions are on-going for a
color representation.
Any writer out there, who wishes to have his story illustrated,
should contact Dan Mills.
His skills are quite simply wonderful, as they give life
to any author's story with vivid conceptualities.
His writing skills have been featured in Scribal Tales,
along with accompanying illustrations twice. Michael Battaglia
reviews his fictional stories, "Pest
Control," a rather bleak invasion story and "The
Last Round Up," a chilling story about how easily
our population can be eliminated, in our January 2005 issue.
Be sure to read the stories and the review, and then prepare
to be astonished at how Dan captures his own words with an
on-the-subject illustration. Here is an example of what I
mean:
"Denny got closer to the mirror and opened his mouth
again. When he did, the thing hanging from his uvula moved.
It had tiny-clawed hands and feet. The little creature noticed
its own reflection and sneered, revealing several rows of
dagger-like teeth. With a threatening hiss, it opened its
mouth as wide as it could and took a huge bite out of the
punching bag-shaped piece of flesh it was clinging to."
However, for his best work to date, our Scribal Tales
Award for Illustration goes to:
"Odan
the Scribe and the Pool of Life!"
Thanks Dan for bring my story to visual life.
The Mistress of the Shared World: Janice Jackson!
To Janice Jackson for her on-going stories as featured
in the Shared World.
Janice has contributed to the horror genre, "A
Hunting We Will Go," but her real strength and writing
skills have been featured in the Shared
World.
The truth be known: I had made a promise to Janice Jackson
(a/k/a Hensbane and Gatherhence) about four years ago, that
one of these days, we would have a web site in which to feature
our characters Karl Strange, warrior-priest and Odan the Scribe,
a world that will allow us to keep our characters alive and
well and to showcase their adventures.
Janice has always encouraged me to make this project come
to life, and so it has.
Thanks "JJ" you are a scribal gem!
Family News - Special "Thanks Aunt Tick!"
Special "Thanks" to "Aunt" Tick (Madlyn
Volberg) for her outstanding contributions as both a "Family
News Reporter" an avid reader and consultant. "Tick"
has always been there with encouraging words and the infamous
"twinkle" in her eye!
The Family News Section, for this month, has been suspended,
as this is a year-in-review, but next month, I'm sure we'll
catch up with everything that has been going on, in your family
and mine.
Should any reader or writer wish to have some "blurb"
noted in family news, please send that notification to me.
Belated Birthday Greetings: To Diane Volberg. How could
I have missed wishing Diane a happy, happy birthday? It is
beyond me. I guess I'll have to blame it on my proof-reader
(oops, that's me). Since Diane's birthday was supposed to
be announced in the last issue, the infamous "Feast of
the Beast" (Halloween) issue, we should give it appropriate
mention here. Three cheers for Diane!
Gee, where are we up to? Oh, yes, I am now going to thrill
you all with the history behind the development of Scribal
Tales. Well, as a special Hanukkah and Christmas present to
all of the writers and readers out there, I'll spare you the
details!
All right, already, enough cheering!
I close with the following thought for 2005 for everyone:
Health and Happiness to (A little added Wealth wouldn't hurt
either)!
To Terry-Ann Volberg: You are the love of my life!
There, I said it and I'm glad I did.
A Happy Holiday to all, and to all a Good Night!
Daniel Olarnick
Editor and Publisher of Scribal Tales
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