December 2011 midnightwriters.webs.com midnight.writers2013@gmail.com
Ask Aphro & Dite
Musings of Hades
Athena’s Corner
To submit questions, please email askaphro@gmail.com. They will remain anonymous!
Believe it or not, I like the winter holidays. Because, you know, my wife Persephone is actually home this half of the year. We’re not picky which holiday we celebrate. Some years we do Christmas, others Hanukkah, sometimes Kwanzaa, or, more often than not, all of them combined. I’m the God of Riches. We can afford to splurge multiple times a year. We’ve accumulated a lot of wealth over the millennia. If we’re going to live forever, then we might as well live comfortably, right? Persephone also has this thing for making huge donations to this or that charity, so that makes up for our kind of luxurious lifestyle. (We look like peasants next to Zeus and his sports car collection, or Poseidon and his yachts.) So. Yeah. Immortality. It gets a little uneventful after a while. We don’t worry about rent or groceries or gas, Persephone and I don’t have kids (if we did, we’d have to choose who they’d spend spring and summer with), and if anyone tried to fire me from my job, hell would be unleashed unto the world. Literally. Just ask Zeus about the Black Plague. Anyway, I’m not going to say anything about envying mortals for being able to die, though. Death is part of their natural life cycle. It’s not for ours. Still, the reason why you hear about us gods having illicit affairs and starting wars is because otherwise immortality would just be a fat load of boredom. We can only do so many Sudoku puzzles. Maybe that’s the real reason why Persephone and I like the holidays. They bring a change of pace. Huh, maybe we should invite the family this year… Pffft, no freaking way. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and all that good stuff.
Grave Mercy: 2012, Robin LaFevers Ismae was scarred at birth and doomed to a life of abuse and stares, but her luck changes when she goes to Mortaine’s abbey. She learns all the tricks she needs to become a servant of Mortaine and kill the ones He marks. But during Ismae’s mission at court, she begins to learn that serving Mortaine is not a simple as she first thought, and love may not be the burden she believed it was. This Dark Endeavor: 2011, Kenneth Oppel Victor Frankenstein, his twin Konrad, and their friends Elizabeth and Henry live peaceful lives until they find an occult library in their basement and are forbidden to return. When Konrad falls deathly ill, Victor becomes obsessed with finding the Elixir of Life to cure him. The adventure soon becomes more perilous than Victor ever imagined. This prequel to Frankenstein will thrill readers and encourage them to reread Frankenstein with new eyes. The Lost Goddess: J. Christien Lee Irene is a young worshipper of the Lost Goddess Athena in a world where everyone worships the Greek gods, and everyone chooses a god or goddess to be their patron. Irene pursues pursue Hellenology, an extremely difficult career, and almost succeeds when Keene bursts into her life and destroys that dream. Now Irene must decide whether to trust Keene, because the life she’s always known is slowly becoming undone.
Dear Aphro & Dite, My brother is at college and the most I talk to him is once every two weeks on Facebook. If I’m lucky. How do I make him talk to me? Sincerely, Brotherless Dear Brotherless, College is a stressful time. You can't make someone talk to you. If he's a freshman, he needs time to adjust to his new surroundings and make friends. College is like starting over with out any old friends from elementary school. Try talking to other people. I love my younger brother to death, but I still don't like talking to him 24/7. Sincerely, Dite Dear Aphro & Dite, In many classes, I hear people talking about this question for that test. “You need to know XYZ.” This cheating has become so widely used that people no longer consider it cheating, but it’s still cheating. I can’t tell them to stop talking because it’s none of my business. I can’t tell a teacher because that’s squealing. I usually try to ignore them, but it still bothers me. Any suggestions how to handle this? Sincerely, Very Irked Dear Very Irked, It’s high school, my dear. Grades are important to many students If they’re someone you consider a friend or good acquaintance, tell them it bothers you and explain it's still cheating. A lot of people don’t realize this is cheating because, as you said, it has become so widely used! Telling a teacher doesn't help a situation at all. It unnecessarily escalates the situation, but your problem with that shouldn't be because you feel that you're “squealing.” In my opinion, this is not as serious of a misdemeanor as a lot of other ways students have found to cheat. But that's just me. If it still bothers you just confront the person when you can get them alone! Hope this helps. LOVE, Aphro
Special thanks to Sra. Steele and acknowledgement to Hades, Athena, Hippolyta, and Hermes.
Holly By Athena (4th grade) One frosty day in December, a girl named Amber was walking home from school. She stopped by a pet store and looked in the window. She saw bunnies, kittens, geckoes, hamsters, guinea pigs, and – a puppy! It was the cutest puppy Amber had ever seen. She went inside the shop and asked the owner how much the puppy cost. “Why, forty dollars, no less.” The shopkeeper replied. “That’s my best puppy.” Amber’s face fell. “Okay, how about I save her until Christmas?” the
shopkeeper offered kindly. Immediately, Amber’s face brightened. “It’s a deal!” she agreed. “Thanks!” Amber hurried out of the shop and raced home. She burst into the den, where her mother and father were watching The Addams Family special on TV. “Mom, Dad, can I pleeeeaase have a puppy?” Amber begged. Her father glanced at his wife. “Honey, we’ve been through this before,” he said sternly. “First you have to prove yourself responsible enough to take care of it. And also you have to have enough money to buy it.”
“I have a job that fulfills both of those requirements at the same time,” Amber announced proudly. “What?” her surprised parents asked. “You’ll see,” was all she would say. The next days she had posters up all over town about her new job: walking and dog-sitting the towns’ dogs. In a week she had earned forty dollars. Amber raced to the shop and burst in the door. “I have the money,” she yelled excitedly. “I’m sorry,” the shopkeeper replied. “Somebody bought her already.” Amber was heartbroken. She walked
home slowly, not wanting to face her parents. But as she opened the door slowly, her father caught her before she could flee to her room. “Early Christmas present,” he yelled. He showed her a cardboard box on the floor. Amber could hear scratching noises from inside the box, which was covered in holes. She opened the lid, and inside was her dream puppy! She gasped and yelled, “Thank you Dad!” and hugged him. Amber named her puppy Holly and they were best friends.
The Very Merry End
Gingerbread House By Glittercheese
Like sweet icicles hanging from buildings
Sweet mint swirls into the world Coiling and dancing through the misty air Like a vicious snake tamed by peter the piper
Little dots of sugar sparkle and light The small dark chocolate-ly world Stretching beads of happiness
Out the little pretzel chimney Dripping with a bounty of frosting
While, yummy foundations of graham Support the mini wonder world Stretching beads of happiness
Illustration—“Happy Ne w Year—Tsurara” by Japanda3 Illustration—“Winter” by Japanda3
Jason just wants to survive his parents’ bitter divorce when he After much prodding by a certain book-loving vice president, meets a girl—an angel. Why does she have no wings? Why is President Hades hopes you enjoy an excerpt from this year’s she not in heaven? Read My Angel by Blackthorn Rose NaNoWriMo entry, The Lost Goddess, available online! online to find out! After seeing her friends being brutally murdered one after another, Suzy tries to flee all the chaos and heads up to Vermont for the holidays, but death still follows her even there. Read An Almost Merry Christmas by Apollo online! Do you like writing, art, or photography? Is there Nana is back with interesting and hilarious facts about Christmas and its surprisingly gruesome and lewd history. What’s up with the trees and mistletoe? And just how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night? Read Cheers, Friends! by Nana online! We at Midnight Writers had the amazing opportunity to meet authors Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices) and Michelle Hodkin (The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer)! Read Athena’s interview with them online!
some kind of topic you’d love to rant about? If so, Midnight Writers is the place for you! For more info, email us at midnight.writers2013@gmail.com, or visit www.midnightwriters.webs.com! Join our staff, or just subscribe to our readership!
Illustration—“The Lost Goddess” by Hades
Illustration—“Bloody Alley” by Calypso
Time By Artemis Time is an unstoppable flow Never stops, never slows No one can stop it Not even the best All baby birds Must leave the nest Seasons go round and round Temperatures go up and down School comes and goes As the years flash by You make new friends Experience new things But eventually, it stops And as you reflect on your life You may want to go back But you can’t So do everything now Because it won’t last Everyone Eventually Surrenders to Time
I Have Tasted Death By Hades I have tasted Death, And he is sweet. Sweet like water On August days. I have heard Death, And he is soft. Soft like autumn Winds breezing by. I have seen Death, And he is dark. Dark like twilight Swallowing the sun. I have smelled Death, And he is enticing. Enticing like pine Luring you to forests. I have touched Death, And he is warm. Warm like the evening Sunlight on the grass. Now I have known sweetness, And softness, the dark. Now I have known enticement, And I have known warmth. When I stand at the chasm, I shall close my eyes. For now when I fall, I will know no fear.
Defeated By Raindrop It wasn't as if she hadn't tried. She had. She had fought tooth and nail and she had promised herself that she would never give up, never give in, that she would only go down if she was kicking and screaming for all she was worth. But her demons were still there. Taunting her, haunting her... Sure, she had won some battles against them, but she had lost many and the war against her insecurities and fears was steadily plodding on. Her family wondered why she had changed, but could never, no, would never understand. Her friends couldn't recognize her anymore, so they tossed her aside like an old, ragged toy. Her silent screams and tears, left unnoticed and ignored. Her pain steadily carving a gaping hole in her heart. And now she was so, so, tired. Tired of slogging through her pain alone, tired of struggling futilely against the world, tired of hating herself, tired of trying.. just tired. So she stopped. She closed her eyes and let the darkness whisper sweet, seductive nothings into her ears and allowed herself to fall into its grasp. She let it envelope first her mind, then her body, then her soul. And she was tired no more. Illustration—“Dusk” by Hebe
Nana’s Christmas Jokes Nothing to do after you open your presents on Christmas? Experiencing an awkward silence during a conversation with a super hot girl or guy? Scared of the dark? No fear! Christmas jokes are here! ~What did Adam say on the day before Christmas? It's Christmas, Eve! ~What does Father Christmas suffer from if he gets stuck in a chimney? Santa Claustrophobia! ~Why does Father Christmas go down the chimney? Because it soots him ! ~Where do snowmen go to dance? Snowballs! ~How do snowmen travel around? By iceicle ! ~Knock Knock Who's there? Avery Avery who? Avery merry Christmas!~Knock Knock Who's there? Rudolph Rudolph who? Money is the Rudolph of all evil! ~Knock Knock Who's there? Mary Mary who? Mary Christmas! ~Name the child's favorite Christmas king? Answer: A stocking. ~What is the snowman’s favorite breakfast? Answer: Frosted Flakes! ~What’s the first thing elves learn in school? Answer: The "elf"-abet! Nana’s Gift Wrapping Ideas
Wow! This was one loooooooong article! I guess to make up for not writing in November! Well thanks guys for all your support, and I hope that you all have a darn good time doing whatever it is you during the holiday season. I’ll be seeing you all next year! Play it safe! :) -<3 Nana
Photo—“Black Bottom Cupcakes” by Hades
Instead of putting on just one lonely bow, why not cover the whole surface? Why not brighten your gifts with a few Christmas light bulbs? Be creative! Make your present stand out from the crowd. Why not change the container? You can use old paint cans, decorated Illustration—“Santa’s Helpers” by Anonymous
Crossroads By Hades Many, many years ago, I came across a fork in the road. A young girl was standing on the right, Beautiful, smiling, rosy as spring. She pointed down the sunlit walk, Under a cloudless, clear blue sky. It was lined with lovely, colorful blooms, Breezes carrying sweet, heavenly scents. Take my way, she said to me, And you will live in paradise. Never know pain or hardship, And everything you desire will be granted. But on the left stood an old crone, Hunched and gnarled, dressed in rags. She jerked her head at a path of shadows, Forever in dusk, forever in the dark. The way was uneven, cracked, broken, And danger lurked at every bend. Walk my road, she said to me, And you will fight for life every day. Death and loss may await you, But eternal glory will be yours. I paused in thought, gazed at both, And sighing, I turned to the left. Where this road will go, I do not know, But this… this is the path I have chosen to walk. Illustration—“The Mountain’s Cry” by Hades
I Dream of Flying By Kenpachi Come, we will fly Upon the night Through the sky We will dream of this again If only we fly up and high Stars will shine when you fly Smiling along the way Everlasting bloom Your wings bring you Higher and higher in the sky I try and fly side by side But my wings melt As I try and go higher and higher for you Watch and stare as I disappear Live your life And don’t look down I’ll be there when you’re down To keep you flying higher and higher I look up, you’re shining like the sun Our story ends with you up high And I sleep so sound Dreaming of you Gods Gathering Dust by Hades They sit on their forgotten thrones, On mountains that no man will go. Even the sun neglects to shine, In a court of long lost pride. Skin as pale as marble stone, Eyes as dull and dead as glass. Arms and legs, stiff with disuse, All is still, not even a blink. The room is silent as a tomb, Not a cry or sigh, nary a breath. Their vivid robes are gray with age, Their gleaming swords are dulled with time. No smiles or scowls upon their faces, Just empty stares, emotion fled. The fire’s gone, the lights are out, Another day of eternity’s passed. They shed no tears for days of old, For prayer, worship, glory untold. Hearts no longer beating with love, With passion of age old stories gone. Like statues they sit. Cold. Alone. Beautiful. Unmoving. Undying... Immortal.