New Story Excerpt: Historical Fiction

Today will be a different sort of post. I normally don't share pieces of my fiction writing on this blog, but today, I will have to make an exception.

I have been working on my fourth and final novel in The Warriors of Aragnar, but I took a short break to embark on a side-journey for just a little while. I have been wanting to write a historical fiction book for many years, and I had an idea I just had to write down. This following excerpt is the result. This story is still without a title, but it is set in WW2, and focuses on several German and American characters. It's quite different then the average historical fiction, but I'll leave that a secret for now. There will be more to come! In the meanwhile, enjoy!

Prologue: Memoirs of a Traveler

There is a certain silence in war.
A peace amidst adversity.
I had never imagined that in my years of life, I would experience something so horrid. The history books cannot hold a candle to what is seen before one’s very eyes.
I would know, because I walked between the lines of bloodstained ink, through the very laws of reality itself.
I saw. I lived.
I loved.

CH 1: Sound and Fury

“Death has no name other then what he is given. But surely, if he were a sound, it would be the wailing of sirens, the screaming of bombs.”

-Unknown

The night sky erupted into billows of flame, explosions shaking the earth. Mere moments later, the sirens screamed a warning too late. Searchlights flicked on with sluggish assurance, whipping through the chilly night sky. Black shapes filled the air, enemy planes laden with more bombs. Another explosion cut through the dark, sending pieces of brick, mortar, and debris hurtling unseen in every direction.

Screams echoed on the streets as helpless townspeople scurried toward the shelters, hands over their heads as they cowered in fear. The airplanes were so high above, and yet the roars of their engines reverberated in one’s ears…were they all diving now? Had it come to such a desperate course of action that nothing but total annihilation remained? Who could answer, for fear was the only thing that was certain. Death was sure to follow.

A lone figure ran across the cobblestone street, his officer’s uniform unblemished, medals gleaming in the firelight. He looked anything but brave. His face was taut with desperation, and his lips moved, but no words could be heard over the frantic din.

People paid him no mind as he rushed down a crowded road, they simply moved out of his way, too focused on their own safety. He, however, paid no mind to such things, for his urgency drove him onward.

He turned down the familiar street that led to his home, his stomach already twisting in somersaults as the acrid stench of smoke hit the back of his throat. He gagged, but continued running. He wouldn’t believe it, wouldn’t voice his fears until he knew he was wrong.

It could be said that fear is a stronger driving force then reason.

A ragged sob erupted from his throat, and he dropped to his knees. His officer’s cap fell from his bowed head, and dropped to the scorched stone road.

His home was utterly destroyed. Not a single wall remained standing.

“Amelie, no…” the words were forced off his tongue, laced with brokenness. Tears ran down his face, but he didn’t care who saw. His beloved wife of a mere eight months, pregnant with their baby boy, was gone. “My God, not her, anything but her!”

He threw back his head and screamed at the night sky, tears pouring down his neck and staining his shirt collar.

The sirens still screamed their warning, too late.

(This story is my original content, please don't copy/alter in any way, shape, or form, thank you!)

Image found on googleimages.com, not mine!

Paper Mache Heart: A Poem

Have you ever had a day in which nothing seems to go right? Or perhaps an entire week? A Year? For me, the past two days have been nothing but pain, strain, and little gain. (Okay, I tried to pun, don't shoot me! I'm honestly shocked I have the energy.) Life's thrown me an ample amount of difficulty, and it's been hard for me to keep my head above the raging waves. If it were possible to physically drown in stress, I already would have.

Now, I know that stressing won't do me any good. And I'm faithful to remind myself of that...as a continue to stress. Why is it so hard to simply stay in faith? How come God seems to shrink down to the size of an insignificant pea every time I'm cast in the shadow of a mountain? Yes, it's perspective, and no, I shouldn't stay there. But sometimes, all the best advice in the world seems entirely worthless when you're hurting, upset, and beyond the realm of rationality. When I'm struggling with my fears, I always ask myself, "will it ever get any better?"

Thankfully, there's a good end to this story. You see, even though I am faulty, imperfect, and sometimes far too riddled with fear, God is faithful. He patiently holds me close in His arms as I weep, and walks with me through my trial-filled day. And you know what the best part is? Even when I hurl accusations His way, He doesn't shun me because of it. He keeps loving me through my pain. Not only does He care for me through my hurts, but He still blesses me regardless. 

I was given the most incredible opportunity today, one that will advance my future career, as well as my books. While I will give more details as this unfolds, I am so stunned, excited, and in awe of what God is doing in my life. I never imagined I'd get a chance to use my talents in such a way during my time in college, and I honestly am not sure where this will take me. All I know is that God, in His loving mercy, still gave me a tremendous blessing I desperately needed despite my tired, worn out, ragged faith. In my traditional fashion, I wrote a new poem about how I had felt, and how God's faithfulness never wanes of fades. I hope you enjoy it!

"Paper Mache Heart"

You say you want to fly like a bird,

But you're too scared to let go.

Of all the things that weigh your mind,

The hurts that crush your soul. 

"If I had wings, I'd fly far away", you say,

Wishful thinking of a grounded dreamer.

Who claws for waning courage to stay,

Regardless, deep down, you're still eager.

To taste the freedom of the sky, oh but pain,

That tears through the winded feathers.

Like paper, you watch them blow away,

You wonder if you'll ever find fairer weather.

But something inside you refuses to concede,

Against all the raging odds, it lifts high above.

You learn that no matter how much you bleed,

A soft voice whispers, "You're good enough."    

You think your heart's made of paper mache,

But truly, it is anchored deep in firm stone.

No matter what happens, never forget to pray,

For you will find victory through Christ alone.

You're fighting your very hardest,

Don't let them tell you their lies.

Faith shines forth in the darkness,

Against all odds, you will rise.

Art and Inspiration: Tools of Creativity

Sometimes I am honestly shocked by how far my books have come. I created this comic in 2016 for a class project, and it quickly grew into something more. I had a narrative, a story that had to be told. In the year 2014, I already had drafted out a book that I want to publish as a 'short story'. Never had I imagined in my wildest dreams that it would turn into a four novel saga. 

It was in 2015 that I published the original version of the story, even though it admittedly had many, many errors. It was in 2016 that I revised the tale, and repackaged it entirely. Through artwork like the rudimentary comic page above, I was inspired to take the story to new heights. 

In the original manuscript, the story was painfully boring. I'll freely admit that, being my own worst critic, but I knew it had potential. It was only after I first started to create concept art for the book that I discovered many of the ideas that are in the final version today. I had always been an artist, but I came to realize the power of illustrating my story, and the spark of creativity that would follow.

Since then, I have constantly been illustrating my story world. From the characters to the creatures, and even to the geography itself, my artwork has brought the books to vivid life. Even if I never share all the plethora of messy sketches and anatomy concepts with the world, they have been an enormous wealth of inspiration. 

What really blows my mind is seeing my characters in other artist's art styles. From the covers to commissions, seeing my characters through other's interpretations is honestly amazing! Since I've always done my own art, thinking of other artists drawing MY characters is crazy! Who would have thought? I certainly didn't.

It all goes to show you that you never know what God will do with your gifts and talents, and when you put them to His uses, you never know how far you'll go. Now that I'm nearing the release of my second novel in The Warriors of Aragnar and my own self-publication of my poem book, Dauntless, I certainly have been busy. But these busy days have quickly become some of the best days of my life.

I'm doing what I love, and I'm able to share it with the world. It's what I've always dreamed of doing, and to see it actually taking place just takes my breath away. I sure have a long way to go, but I'm choosing to enjoy the ride, and see where life takes me. It's a choice that it's easy, but one we must all make. God knows what He's doing even when we don't (which is honestly most of the time) but He is faithful to us!

No matter where we are in life, we can find happiness if only we focus on the bringer of life, instead of the lies whispered in our ears. The enemy tried to convince me to stop writing, but something inside of me refused to give up. Likewise, we must never give up in the face of trials, and once we finally emerge from the storm, we'll see that we are stronger then ever.   

Wings of Darkness: New Cover!

Aaaaannd here's the final cover!!! 

This artwork completely BLEW my mind and my expectations, it captured the story's theme perfectly and gives a foreboding glimpse into the events that unfold within. The first cover is largely peaceful, though Aleron and Maria's armor promises that there are battles ahead...in this cover, that battle is at hand, and desperate. Here is the synopsis:

"For many decades, stories of betrayal, darkness, and blood have surrounded the mysterious land of Aragnar. Now, those tales have become a shocking reality; revealing a perilously beautiful land fraught with danger, discovery, and adventure. When a young woman is thrust into the forefront of an ancient war, her actions will determine the fate of thousands.

Finally free from the tyrannical reign of former King Raveyn, Maria Fellbane and her people have found refuge in Aragnar, a foreign land on the verge of escalating war. Despite their serenity, murmurs of shadows in the dark mar the thin line between peace and fear, threatening to tear them apart once more. When tragedy strikes, Maria and Aleron must make difficult decisions in order to save their respective people, as well as prepare for the imminent war ahead.

An ancient darkness prowls in the shadows, seeking blood, and only through divine help will any survive its onslaught. Secrets will be revealed, and questions uncovered as the battle for the truth commences, promising drastic changes for their future."

The tension in Wings of Honor is unfolded in Wings of Darkness, but it also offers a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos. I truly hope that my readers will find this book intriguing, thought provoking, and engaging. It has been an incredible journey to write, and I look forward to sharing it with you all!

Wings of Darkness is available for preorder at:

https://www.brockeastman.com/store/p71/Wings_of_Darkness_%28Warriors_of_Aragnar_2%29.html

Wings of Darkness Cover Reveal Coming Soon!

I have finally returned to writing after a terribly long break! Speaking of breaks...I just came back to school after spring break, and I was so happy to have a chance to lay back and relax (somewhat). During my short respite from my regular homework load, I was able to wrap up the final edits for Wings of Darkness, the second novel in The Warriors of Aragnar!

This book is definitely bigger then Wings of Honor is, so it took me a little more time to work through all the edits and tweak it to near perfection. I am super excited to release it, as it's a very strong story, and I believe it will take the series in a very good direction. It is far more action-packed then the first, and as the title suggests, the book has much darker undertones.

I have always wanted this series to be strikingly unique and different then others, but when a series is being established, there's only so much you can do to avoid every single cliche. With the second book, I've felt much more freedom to break from cliches, which has been fantastic.

Now that I'm deep into finishing up the third, I'm excited for what the future will hold for the series, and I can't wait to reveal the cover art! It's a truly stunning concept, and it captures the theme of the book perfectly!

Stay tuned, as I should be revealing the artwork in the next day or two!

Dauntless: A New Kind of Book

Without further ado, here is the cover for my upcoming poetry book, Dauntless!

It's release admittedly long overdue, I finally have had some time to work on this side project during my crazy schedule. With my second fantasy novel, Wings of Darkness, nearing it's final polished state, I figured it appropriate to release Dauntless around the same time.

I've wanted to publish a compilation of my poems for several years, but I have been waiting to have enough poems that I think should be included. I've now reached the point where I have enough content to do so, and I am very excited to share it all with you!

Some of the poems will be familiar, as I've shared them on this blog. Others are previously unpublished, some having borne inspiration from my fantasy series. While many leave their poems up to interpretation, each poem in Dauntless will have a description of my thoughts and heart behind the words. Yes, I will leave the meaning of many of the poems up to the reader's reflection, but some are very personal, and so I felt it best to include them.

Writing a poetry book is definitely different then my main genre, and it's certainly been a learning curve. I've enjoyed every moment of the journey, and I look forward to sharing a piece of my heart with you all!

As the title explains, many of these poems are not lighthearted, but it has always been my driving vision to instill a theme of hope throughout my work. Dauntless is no different, and I pray that it's readers will be encouraged and challenged to dig deeper into their passions and see the glimmer of hope in our world.   

The War of Ideas: Humanity and the Christian

Since the dawn of our existence, man has always sought to discover the truth of meaning. A myriad of schools of thought have developed over the centuries, contrasting in depth and scope, all seeking the answer to the same stirring question. Why are we here? For what purpose do we exist? Some seek the answer through means of varying religion, others through a specifically Christian lens, while many more choose to view our existence as not an important event, but rather, a mere accident with no lasting value beyond death.

If this is true, then how can human hearts beat with such passion for life? How can eyes shine with excitement as anticipation for a new day rises within? Why do we feel the deepest pain when we lose those we love, and experience the tragedies and toll life can bring? If we are truly creatures with no purpose beyond our relatively short lives, then all this would mean nothing. In the words ahead, I will attempt to contrast the beliefs of such naturalist thinking with the Christian worldview.

Do we, as a collective whole, have lasting value other than our earthly achievements? For one realm of thought, humanity’s value is not in who we are as people, but rather how efficiently we can perform. In the view of man as a machine, the end always justifies the means. Such thinking is consequentialism at its core, in which morally questionable actions are ‘swept under the carpet’ in favor of a desired consequence. The uniqueness of the individual is all but eradicated, as we are seen as mere cogs in a massive collective machine run by the powerful.

Julien Offray de La Mettrie, a French philosopher of the 1700’s, wrote a book so riddled with controversy, its publication forced him to flee from his native homeland Paris to Holland. Titled “Man a Machine”[1], the book was an expression of his atheistic and humanistic views. In this book, he wrote, “Experience and observation should … be our only guides ... Both are to be found throughout the records of the physicians who were philosophers, and not in the works of the philosophers who were not physicians. … Only the physicians have a right to speak on this subject. What could the others, especially the theologians, have to say? Is it not ridiculous to hear them shamelessly coming to conclusions about a subject concerning which they have had no means of knowing anything?”[2] In its entirety, the book promotes a thoroughly atheistic view of the world, supporting the secular theory that man is but a machine.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, but ironically just as hopeless in its result, is the theory purported by many that man is simply a pawn of the universe. French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre frankly explained this vein of thought in a lecture he gave in 1946, titled “Existentialism is a Humanism”. “Man is all the time outside of himself: it is in projecting and losing himself beyond himself that he makes man to exist; and, on the other hand, it is by pursuing transcendent aims that he himself is able to exist…this is humanism, because we remind man that there is no legislator but himself; that he himself, thus abandoned, must decide for himself…”[3] Sharing the same beliefs with philosophers such as fellow Frenchman Albert Camus, famed for his retelling of “The Myth of Sisyphus”, both believed humanity to have no eternal worth or meaning. In this worldview, it is stated that we, as human beings, may pursue all manners of frivolity during our lifetimes, but in the end, we will never escape the brutal hostility that is the universe. Man is truly helpless and meaningless, and this view supports a thoroughly defeatist mentality.

In an entirely stark contrast to the two theories described above, the Christian’s view of humanity is far different. Instead of being a product of mere chance, destined for a meaningless existence, the Christian view of humanity states that we are handcrafted by God, made specifically for His purpose. Genesis 1:27 states, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” The Christian worldview upholds several other beliefs that stand in direct opposition of the two above. As I just explained, God made man in His own image.
Secondly, man has a spiritual element, destining us for eternity, and not just our earthly lives. Theologian Dr. W. Gary Crampton explained how man was more than a natural creature, saying, “Most obviously, rationality, knowledge, righteousness, holiness, and the internalized law of God are all spiritual or mental characteristics.”[4] Thirdly, it is clearly stated in the scriptures that God gave man dominion over the earth. Genesis 1:26 says, “Then God said, “…And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth…”

French theologian John Calvin vastly supported the Christian worldview, having said, “God preordained, for his own glory and the display of His attributes of mercy and justice, a part of the human race, without any merit of their own, to eternal salvation, and another part, in just punishment of their sin, to eternal damnation.”[5] Unlike the thoroughly humanistic worldviews, the Christian worldview is one of hope, giving a firm sense of meaning and purpose to those who otherwise would feel lost and aimless in our fallen world.

Though incredibly different, and nowhere near in agreement in most realms of thought, one thing that all three beliefs hold is that man has a reason for existing. The theorist who surmises we are machines still must admit that in their thinking, we exist for the purpose of producing. Likewise, even though the existentialist believes that we are destined for a cruel fate of nothingness, we still are doing something. In a noticeably twisted way, both secular theories mirror the Christian’s view of meaning, albeit for darker purposes. Where the Christian believes man was created for infinite meaning, both theories point to man’s destiny as infinitely lacking.

There is obviously only so much to be found in where these three views agree. In fact, it is far easier to see where they don’t, starting at the most fundamental level. Both the humanist and the existentialist do not believe in creation. Wholly Darwinist in approach, (who ironically, popularized his ideals long after Julien Offray de La Mettrie’s), they believe not only in man’s meaningless destiny, but man’s random chance of existence. In contrast, the Christian worldview proclaims man’s special creation, purpose, and eternal outcome. There is no other view that provides us with such an incredible reason to live, as well as a promise that one day, all that is wrong with this world will be made right, and all questions of meaninglessness will be swallowed by the hope that is found through Jesus Christ.

---

[1] Julien Offroy de La Mettrie

[2] “Man a Machine”, Julien Offray de La Mettrie

[3] “Existentialism is a Humanism”, Jean-Paul Sartre

[4] “Man as Created in God’s Image”, W. Gary Crampton

[5] Institutes, John Calvin

Image not my own, found on googleimages.com