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Friday, June 20, 2025

The Shhhh! Digital Media Summer Solstice 2025 Top 4...





Truth And The Summer Solstice

For this year's summer solstice, I'd like to do something special to begin this summer, as I imagine many people will hopefully be taking some time to enjoy the good weather, their adventures out of doors and of course the wonder of their bodies. No matter how fit or unfit you are, your body is pretty much one of the greatest gifts you've ever received, so enjoy while you can but be kind to it now, because you'll pay for it later. 

When you have time for this web site and to read my stories, I'm always very grateful for your readership, but I'd prefer it if you were able to come here with a healthy mind and body. Don't let the gremlins keep you from enjoying the aspects of life that you have every right to enjoy.


Here statistically speaking, are the top 4 stories, one from each of the four major episode story lines: The Two Butterflies, We Who Stand On Guard, Night Boat and Tales Of The Sanctum (A Lady's Prerogative). 

I'll include the statistically most popular story, and one runner up I've chosen personally, for a total of eight selections for the summer solstice and to get the summer started. So without further ado, here they are...


The Butterfly Dragon: The Two Butterflies

Top Episode: Episode 10

This story is a collection of mini-stories connected to the larger plot of the Two Butterflies, starting with a conversation between a young Ai Yuanlin Ying and her father when she was a little girl. We then jump forward to the current time in the storyline, with each chapter going back and visiting a crucial part of each of the character's experiences in life, while touching upon aspects connected to the bigger picture.

My Personal Choice: Episode 06, The Butterfly Dragon II: What Different Eyes See - Vietnam Special Addition, The Butterfly Dragon: A Piano, A Full Glass, And The Disappearance Of Time

Episode 6 really touches upon the storyline involving Warai Jeong-Min Tokama, Heylyn's adopted daughter, when Kori Jonglyu and Sebomnim Hoon Kwang take her out for a staycation in Toronto. Their staycation quickly turns dangerous when those seeking to kidnap Warai arrive on the scene of one of Toronto's greatest landmarks, where one of the most character defining showdowns occurs, and one that most readers overlooked.

The second one, the Vietnam Special Addition is a stand alone adventure that happens within the book What Different Eyes See, that brings together the entire cast of Butterfly Dragon to solve a mystery, when the mysterious Ms. Huệ Vân summons the cast to her home outside of Ho Chi Minh. Heylyn Yates, (Ai Yuanlin Ying) The Butterfly Dragon, does double duty in this story, as her and her friends put their minds and their hearts together to solve Ms. Huệ Vân's mystery. This story also introduces us for the first time to Linda Delmore.

The third one, A Piano, A Full Glass And The Disappearance Of Time brings Quantum Biologist Alicia Westin into friendship with one of her heroes, Physicist Bryce Maxwell when her fiancé Walton Norler arranges a special night out for her to the Looking Glass Lounge. There, she meets with her alumni peers and engage in the conversation of a lifetime for our favourite Quantum Biologist.



We Who Stand On Guard

Top Episode: Episode 07

This episode focuses on Stanton's time in Tel Aviv during the 1990s, and where he first meets Dina. Its connected to a rather interesting plot that doesn't seek to stir up conflict, but rather to deal with the complex nature of the situation, where our civilian lives and loves sometimes overlap the threat of conflict. Its also connected to a very significant point in our recent history and one about which every member of the modern generation should do their research. The assassination of Yizhak Rabin, and the Oslo Accords. I'd also recommend watching the excellent movie: Incitement (2019).


My Personal Choice: Episode 11

This episode (though currently unfinished), deals with a particularly difficult situation involving two members of a spec-ops team attempting to exfiltrate from a hostile region in Syria, with two prisoners after their chopper is shot down just short of the Jordanese border. One of their prisoners is actually on their side, while the other is hopelessly radical and hell bent on the idea of his reward for turning them all over to Syrian authorities. I find that the tension level and how this story connects to the bigger picture is what makes it enjoyable, though that remains to be seen dependent upon the last few chapters. These chapters will be finished by sometime next week (between June 23 and June 30).


Night Boat

Top Episode: Episode 7: Economy Of Sin Part I

This story is the history of Alomera Constanza Zekestes, in his own words as he recalls while lying in bed in his cabin at the rear of the ship known as the Many Faced Maiden. Its a Gearing Class Destroyer Refit with modernized stealth technology inspired by the rumours surrounding the Philadelphia Experiment (courtest The History Channel). Zekestes aka Mr. Zek, is a former industrialist who reached the apex of his power in the early years of the new millennium. This is the first half of Zek's story as he recalls his own life and history from his childhood to his adulthood.


My Personal Choice: Episode 01

Episode 1 really get the story going, and creates the initial dynamic between Steadman, the Captain of the Many Faced Maiden, and Mr. Zek, who at this point is basically Steaman's prisoner. Zek has very valuable information that would essentially help to put Steadman in the position of power that used to be Zek's. The two men play a cat and mouse game with each other, often switching the roles of the cat and the mouse. This story is crucial to what comes in later and the more recent episodes.


Tales Of The Sanctum: A Lady's Prerogative


Top Book: A Lady's Prerogative II: Wounded Aerth

Of all of the books that I've written for the Tales Of The Sanctum series, this one is still my favourite and one that I'm proud of. Its story line is encompassing and grand, without diluting it given the many characters or sacrificing the their individual story lines. Mila follows the course of her story with Barris and Sato by her side as they search for the Haven Of The True. Nelony visits the darkest places of her soul as she uncovers the mystery of the Wytch hunt of the 1650s and her legacy as a crucial instrument of the Aerth Mother. Shaela's adventure brings her into contact with a man very much like her own father, and the two of them seek to unravel the stranglehold the mysterious Wytch hunters have over the township of West View and the colonies. Yirfir and Jasmer gain the friendship of Thedrick, a farmer who lost his wife to the Wytch hunters, and who guides them to the Haven. Meanwhile, the Sanctum Seclorum itself comes under threat of attack, and all in the absense of its most beloved protectors. This book set the stage for what would eventually be resolved in Unfinished Bee's Wax, after five (failed) attempts to write a fitting follow up that matched its epic story arc and vast scope.


My Personal Choice: Autumn In Alivale, Unfinished Bee's Wax

Autumn In Alivale is perhaps one of the funniest of the A Lady's Prerogative series of stories and books, while still exploring some very deep and emotional aspects of life, live and the pursuit of happiness as Mila and Barris soon find out. Everyone is along for the ride in this one, despite some of the ill effects that a mysterious fog has upon their Wytchcraft.

Unfinished Bee's Wax is the book that couldn't be written. Somehow, after failing five times to write a suitable follow-up to  Wounded Aerth, I managed to salvage the plot and put it all together into an as of yet unfinished tale that seems to have the same scope and humour as the second book in the series. It has a few more chapters to go before its final curtain, but this one sets the stage for things to come. Fans of Tales Of The Sanctum: A Lady's Prerogative shouldn't be disappointed.


Updates


I'll be continuing my work writing tomorrow (Saturday June 21, 2025) and I'll try to get one of the episodes finished, though I won't say which one. If I do, I'll post it by early Monday afternoon.  Regardless, I'll be continuing with the three most prominent story lines.


Have a good weekend and thank you for reading my content, and I meant every word of the rant that I removed from this post.


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