So, as I have finished the second book, I find myself battling the urge to start work on the third. I want to start, BUT part of me thinks I need to wait until my editors have gone through the second one and let me know any changes they may deem neccesary. It would be the better thing to do, right?

But, then the second book ended just as dramatically as the first, so I find myself wanting to find out what happens next, just like a reader will. It may sound absolutely crazy, but the characters keep me in the dark about exactly where everything is headed until I actually get there in writing it. So, the truth is, I am JUST as surprised as the readers...

So, anyway.. I am pondering the epic question... Or at least a version of it... To be or Not to be... Or, uh... actually; To Write. . .  or Not to Write. . . Well? What do you think?
 
I am so sorry for not writing much lately. I've been working hard, fast and continuously on Sensations. FINALLY, the story came together. I finished the final chapter just hours ago. Now, here is where the fun starts!

I get to go back, and start reading, editing, adding and polishing to make the book shine. Then... I get to read again.... just to make sure I caught all the typos I really seem to try to hide from myself. (Seriously! Those buggers like to hide!)

Then, if the story really seems to read as well as I am HOPING it will... I will kiss it with faith and hand it over to my publishers.... who will do their edits... And probably find EVERY SINGLE misstake I STILL managed to overlook! LOL....

Anyway... I am just happy because I have managed to finish the second book. Let me tell ya... it's a doozy!

Hugs!
 
So, here I am, sitting here at 2 a.m., staring at my computer screen and being thoroughly disgusted. I KNOW what is going to happen on this next part of the second book. This is the climax scene. It is something I have been avoiding like the plague but there doesn't seem to be any way around it. Dear reader, I think things are about to go dark in the Awareness series.

I hate it. It scares me. Basically because, I am afraid it is one of those things that might just make readers turn away from the story. As a writer, I want more than anything to entertain. Unfortunately, that means pushing the envelope and taking you, the reader, into an area where you may not be entirely comfortable. I daresay, you may even find yourself angry at me, because I will be hanging you out, and making you... once again... wait for the next book.

That said, I am going to step away from the blog... take a deep breath... and plunge into these final chapters... (GULP)

 
 
I've had the honor of being tagged in the Next Big Thing Blog Hop by fellow Author, Catherin Cavendish. The story I am to talk about is the second in my Awareness series.  It is what I am currently working on. 

I am also passing the tags along to these following Authors; Shiloh Darke (my own alter ego) which  is the part of my personality that is an Author of Paranormal Erotica. http://www.ShilohDarke.com

Denise Bartlett, who is an Author of Fantasy novels for teens, history, science fiction, non-fiction and even drama.  http://www.denibartlett.blogspot.com

And Finally, Charlotte Holley, who is an Author of several different genre's, including young adult, paranormal, fantasy, mystery, and romance.
http://chalaedra.livejournal.com

Now that I have tagged my willing Authors, I will get on with my Next Big Thing. . . Sensations

 
What is the working title of your book?


 


The name of this novel is Sensations. That is
actually a fitting
title since the last one was Awareness and both
books have to do with senses
that the NORMAL human doesn’t have or know how to
use.




Where did the idea come from for the book?



 Sensations is the second book in my Awakening of Awareness
series. The overall idea came from a personal experience, combined with my
crazy imagination.



What genre does your book fall
under?

It falls under several, actually. To name a few;
the genres of
Young Adult, paranormal, romance, and 
fantasy.


 
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Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?



 Oh gosh…. Let me think about that… For the main character, 
Rebecca, I think I would want, Victoria Justice.
She has the exact kind of look
I envision for Becca and she is a good actress.


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For Rebecca's Mother, my heart is SET of Catherine Zeta-Jones. She's beautiful, elegant, and a fantastic actress who would be amazing for the part!



Picture



For her best friend, Rachel, Tiffany Thorton would
be good. She's the perfect cheerleader, pretty girl with attitude type.



There are a few other important female characters,
but I’m not sure who should play them.

The guys in the book? Well they aren’t quite as
easy. . .




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The ghost boy, Marky, who is her guide/friend, I would want Max Charles. He was just so precious
in
the new Spiderman movie!
 



Picture


The Angel, Trevahr, who spends a lot of time with her in this
book, would probably have to be Taylor Lautner, because he just fits. 

Picture



The Elf prince, Darethmar? Well, Zak Efron MAYBE… But I’m not sure he isn’t just a little too
old already. 




There is also a new character as a potential love
interest. I’m
Thinking Ian Somerhalder would be good. I know, I know, He's already in his thirties, but, he has a young face, and just LOOK at those eyes!
Anyway,  As a detective, Guy,  is an OLDER man, but
still younger than twenty-five. We must all strive to remember, Rebecca is
seventeen
 Of course, none of this counts! If I was
lucky enough to have someone want to make my books into a movie, or even a
series, it won’t happen until all my underage choices are already adults. More’s
the pity because the cast in my mind is beautiful
!





 What is the one-sentence
synopsis of your book?



 How can Becca keep a talent like seeing Ghosts a secret when the living, as well as
the dead, need her help?




Will your book be self-published or represented by an
  agency?



I’m in a contract for the entire series through my
publishers, Gypsy Shadow Publishing, they are an Ebook/P.O.D.
company
http://gypsyshadow.com
They’ve done such a good job, I’m honestly not
sure I would be able to trust the series to anyone
  else.



  How long did it take you to write
the first draft of your manuscript?

Well, I am still writing this one. The first book,
Awareness,
took about six months. But that’s only if you
don’t count a week here and there 
dealing with writers block. We ALL get it. . .
Sometimes the stresses of life just get in the way. No harm, no
foul.




What other books would you compare this story to within your
  genre?

Well, I’m not sure there really are any COMPLETE
comparisons.
True Blood has faeries, but my series has no
vampires (at least none have

started talking to me yet!)

Also, this series has
no sex. There is some flirting
and kissing. But this is supposed to be
appropriate for anyone over the age of 
13? So, no, True Blood really isn’t that good of a 
comparison.

 Hush, Hush could be a good comparison,
because my books also
have Angels. The Torment series might be a good comparison. If you like the House of Night series, you might like 
mine.



 Who or What inspired you
to write this book?

This series was actually started from memories I have of a near 
death experience. When I was a teenager, I was in
a bad car accident and I died.
When I came back, I had memories of a bright light
at the end of a tunnel,
family I had lost, and Angels, as well as a small
child who held my hand and
walked me through all of it. I was also haunted by
voices no one else heard for
a good year. I don’t share that lightly, because
frankly, I don’t like the idea
of people thinking I’ve gone nutters. BUT, well, I
started the story based in a 
memory and then let my imagination take over. The
end result has turned into a
pretty good series I am proud of.


What else about your book might pique the reader’s
interest?

Oh Geez, take your pick! This book, as well as the first,
is
filled with drama, comedy, romance, action and more. It is a thriller, bursting
with Angels, Demons, Ghosts, Elves, and a whole lot of surprises
throughout. It
will keep you guessing and its ending is almost guaranteed to leave you
wanting
more! The first one had ME on the edge of my seat, and I was the one
writing
it!


 
 
Sorry guys! You know how I keep saying somewhere in there, life gets ahead of you and you have to race to catch up? Well, even if you didn't, this is one of those times.

The short story has been out and available for over two weeks now. I am BAD! I know! I've just been so busy, trying to work on my other stories and get them ready to go to the editor after the Christmas Holidays are over.

I am really excited about Sensations! The story is coming along and I hope to have it in my editors hot little hand by the first of the year. Now, that may mean it will just sit there for a bit once it is, cause I know she has other people who are ahead of me, but still. It's always exciting to finish something and hand it over happily.

And in OTHER news, Next week, Wednesday 11/ 05, to be exact, I am takng part in a blog hop, to promote said book. Be sure to come back and check it out!

Hugs to all!
              Rowan

P.S. Keep reading, for yet another little sneak peak on Sensations... Just a short one, really



__________________________________________________________________________________________________

We chatted about nothing in particular on the way into
the city. I didn’t even let myself focus on what had happened the night before
until right before we took the exit off the expressway to take us to the
hospital. At that point, our conversation had died down a little and I felt I
needed to talk about it; if only just a little.


“Mom,”I started slowly. “Do you think everything that
happened last night was the end of all that? Or do you think there’s more to
come.” I was afraid of her answer, but I really, really wanted it to be
yes.”


She gave me a side-glance as she followed the line of
traffic. “I don’t know, honey. I imagine we may very well have opened up a can
of worms, so to speak.”Then she shook her head, “But I’d be willing to bet that
by me revealing my own little gift, no one will be so set on trying to have to
admitted.” She shrugged. “Probably we just have to watch out for people wanting
us to contact Uncle Vern and find out about the location of the hidden money
everyone always thought Grandma put in the
mattress!”


Her half–joke, made me laugh, even as I scolded her. “I’m
being serious!”


She gaped at me in mock innocence as she pulled into the
parking garage. “I am too! Honey, we have gifts. Now that it is; I don’t know
how you say it, out in the open, there will be those who want to capitalize on
it.” She sighed and began searching for a place to
park.


I fell silent as images of people I didn’t know following
me around like the paparazzi do celebrities. I grimaced and let my head fall
back on the headrest.“I didn’t want that! Why did it seem that no matter where I
turned now, I was always being hit in the face with reality that my life would
never be blessedly, boringly normal again? Couldn’t I just have my denial of
that fact a little longer? Like, until I was
thirty?


I was startled away from my thoughts by my mother’s hand
resting on mine. “Let’s not worry about this, okay? It can’t be changed or
erased, so instead, why don’t we just make a deal to enjoy it while everything
is calm, and just be prepared for the storm that may very well
come?”


I hesitated, considering her words. Reluctantly, I nodded
and gathered up my purse. With a last look at each other, we got out of the car
and I followed as she led the way to the elevator that would take us into the
hospital.


My thoughts turned to Hailey. She wouldn’t remember much
of me, I didn’t think. Her poor body had been through too much for far too long
before I had found her. I hoped she was doing better and would be able to leave
here soon. I knew first-hand how uncomfortable being in a hospital could be. It
was still fresh in my mind.


When we entered her room, I had expected family members
gathered around the bed. I knew her mother and father would be there along with
maybe a friend or two and siblings. I wasn’t even too surprised to see the damn
Detective, dressed in a t-shirt and blue jeans and sporting his most brilliant
smile; the man is entirely too cute! But I don’t know why I never considered
Marky as someone who would lie in wait for me
there.


The pain I had felt when I discovered his betrayal made
my heart hurt. I almost turned and left the room, but then my eyes met those of
Hailey and I stopped. She smiled big at me and I couldn’t help but return her
grin. “You came!” she greeted me in a happy voice that was music to my
ears.


Without sparing any of the adults in the room a glance, I
moved straight to her side and gave her a big smile. “Of course I came! I had to
see for myself that you were going to be okay.” After I spoke, I felt someone
move to my side.


Swallowing, I turned and was met with a stare I was
unsure was friendly. Hailey’s mother spoke softly, “The Detective says you’re
some kind of a psychic.”


I glanced at Guy with a frustrated look before turning
back to Hailey’s Mom.“Well, no. Not exactly-” I
started.


Before I could get any farther in my explanation her
mother stepped forward and wrapped me in a bear hug. “I don’t care how you knew.
I don’t care how you found her. All I care about is you did.” She sobbed and I
found myself returning her hug. “Thank you. Thank you for saving my
baby.”

 
Good news! I just finished doing re--reads on the complete PDF of the sweet short Christmas love story, Christmas Dance. I sent the approval back to my editor, and UNLESS I am just completely over my head and NUTS... I THINK... It;s coming out this next week!

Watch for it, everyone and if anybody wants to tell me what they think about it, I will be so excited and happy to hear!

http://gypsyshadow.com will be the easiest place to find it. But of course, it will be available at the Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites too.

The Holidays are in the air, and I am looking for
 
I knew they were all still looking at me. I knew
my mother had come to keep them from finding out too much. But well, what was
the saying; too little too late? I was looking at the ghost. “Who are
you?”


The ghost turned his gaze to me and smirked.
“Stay outta this, kid. It ain’t your
  concern.”


I thought the top of my head was about to
explode. “What?” I sputtered indignantly. “Can you explain how it doesn’t
concern me when I’m the only one who can even see
you?”


I conveniently left my mother out of the equation
because she didn’t need the torment I was going through as I gestured to
everyone else in the room. “I’m the one being looked at as if I’m a freak and
you’re telling me to stay out of it.” I groaned, shaking my head. “Buddy, I’m
all kinds of in the middle of this, so I have no idea how it isn’t my
concern.”


The Detective was looking at me like I’d sprouted
two heads. “Who are you talking to?” hi voice had grown louder so I had no
choice but to acknowledge him.


Looking from the ghost to him, I was honest. “The
ghost who is standing beside you,”There, truth is easy; just pure, simple, and
to the point.


The look on his face made the ghost growl. “Oh,
come on Guy! You look like you swallowed a molded piece of
bread.”


I couldn’t help my reaction. “Ewwwwe! That’s just
gross!” I snarled up my nose.“And why do you keep calling him
Guy?”


At that question, they both responded at the same
time.


“That’s his name.” the ghost
said.


“That’s my name.” the detective
said.


I looked at the living man incredulously.
“Seriously? I haven’t heard that name since I was a kid watching Robin
Hood.”


Guy’s face went blank. “Yes, well . . . My mother
had a thing for Sir Guy of Gisborne.”He shook his head. “Don’t ask me why. We
aren’t analyzing my name. We’re trying to get you to tell the
truth!”


If I’d been holding anything, I would have thrown
it at him. “You arrogant pig,” I growled before turning to the ghost. “What’s
your name? Who are you to him? And what is there about you that only he
knows?”


The ghost looked back and forth between us for a
moment before sighing. “My name is Charlie. I was stationed with him in Iraq,
and I was blown to bacon bits in front of his
eyes.”


Blinking several times, I tried to get the image
out of my head. Glancing at my mom, I said softly, “I won’t be eating bacon any
time soon.”


Turning back to look at guy, I spoke almost with
regret. “The ghost following you is someone you were stationed in Iraq with. His
name is Charlie? He just told me you witnessed his
death.”


Guy just sat there looking at me with a perplexed
expression. “Really? Then why don’t you just go a little deeper.” He crossed his
arms over his chest. “How exactly did he
die?”


At that, Charlie started to explain a little
better. “Well see, I said bacon bits, but the truth was it was more like some
big nasty chunks! H actually got hit by a few
pieces—.”


Screeching, I stood up, waving my hand in front
of me as if trying to ward off a demon.“Stop-Stop-Stop-Stop!” I cried, in
horror. “Oh my Lord! Don’t you have any idea about too much
information?”


Looking back to the cop who was actually looking
pretty smug; as if he was going to really catch me I a lie, it was then I
understood why Charlie had gone into so much detail. He knew it was going to
take that to get through to him.


I took a few deep breaths to try to calm myself
as I moved to sit back down across from Guy. I looked straight into his eyes for
several seconds while I tried to figure out how to say what he was forcing me to
say.


“I’m sorry, sir.” I said softly. “I cannot
imagine how hard it must have been for you to see a friend blown up.” I watched
as all the color drained out of Guy’s face. “To be hit by pieces of his remains
must have been something that still haunts
you.”


Charlie, moved to my side and sat down on the
table. “He’s been acting like it was nothing, but I know he spent some time in
some serious therapy over what happened to me. He’s always felt like he had let
me down. But he needs to know it wasn’t his
fault.”


I looked up and nodded to Charlie as my eyes got
misty. When I turned back to Guy, it was to see him sitting still as a statue,
in shock and denial. “He wants you to know, it wasn’t your fault and there was
nothing you could have done.” I swiped angrily at the tear that had begun
traveling down my cheek.


Turning to look at my mother, I whispered, “Can
we go home now? I don’t feel like being here
anymore.”


She moved forward and grabbed my book bag off the
floor. As I stood and made my way to the door, the adults seemed to part. Mom
glared at the principal first. “We will discuss your lack of propriety on
calling me before he talked to her later. For now, I am taking my daughter
home.”


Then she turned to Guy. “If you have any further
questions, you will go through me instead of sneaking into her school and
wreaking havoc in her life! Am I understood?” Her voice was deadly calm, but I
could tell by the way the other adults watched as Guy just nodded; everyone in
the room took her seriously.

 
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Maddie is a teenager who is in LOVE with a boy who is just so out of her league. She's a dork, He's a Jock. She's plain, He's Drop-Dead-Gorgeous! Of course, she doesn't believe he could ever have feelings
for her


Then, amazingly, he asks her to be his date to the dance. She's totally shocked, skeptical and suspicious. Why would someone like him ask HER out?

But, Stephen has secrets and a crush of his own. Will she accept him when he lets her in on them?

This short but sweet Christmas story is coming soon to GSP. watch for it there, as well as at Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.


 

 
Picture
Hey all! I'm a LITTLE late on posting this,,, but there is STILL time! For what, you ask? Well, my publisher is celebrating our 3rd anniversary and we want YOU to be apart of the celebration! Why? Well, to sign up to win lots of goodies... (At least for those who love to read.) Who here doesn't love to read? Next question.... How do I enter? Go here! http://chalaedra-gsp.blogspot.com/p/gypsy-shadow-publishings-3rd.html

There's a bunch of ebooks... AND even TWO really nifty gift baskets! Just use that link and check out all this stuff! The big gift basket even has my very own first YA novel, Awareness, in paperback, no less!


 
I saw her falling. I watched, helplessly as she tumbled down toward the river. MY breath caught as I saw her leg strike a tree trunk and I heard a terrible cracking sound as it hit

Then she was lying at the bottom of the hill, unconscious and bloody. My heart hurt for her. I could barely wrap my mind around the pain she must be in with her leg broken in such a way. For all intents and purposes, she looked very much dead. I could almost believe she was. As I felt myself losing hold on the dream, it occurred to me; If I didn’t tell the cops where to find her soon, she would be.

 

I woke up feeling extreme panic. My heart was pounding and I felt absolutely sick. That dream. Poor Hailey was in bad shape; and with my dream, I knew just what had happened. What was more, I knew where she was. I once had a friend who once lived out by that creek. I was familiar with the sometimes steep incline.

Unfortunately, knowing where she was didn’t solve my dilemma. Now I had to figure out how to talk to someone at the Austin Police station about where she was and how to find her. That was a sobering thought. How do I do that? Or actually, the right question was; how do I tell the cops how to find her without giving away my secret?

Sitting up, I threw back the covers and walked soundlessly to my closet. This had to be one of the craziest ideas I had ever had, but it was the only thing I could think to do. After getting dressed, I pulled my hair into a ponytail and left my room quietly.

Grabbing Mom’s keys off the counter I wrote her a quick note explaining I knew where the girl was and that she was still alive. If she woke up, I had my cell phone. She could call and grumble at me. But I silently hoped she’d sleep through and I’d be back in my bed as soon as humanly possible. I still had school tomorrow, after all.

When I got behind the wheel of my mothers wonderful car, I sat there for a minute just contemplating what I was going to do. When I called the cops, exactly what was I going to say? How was I going to play this off as something oh-so-NOT- mystical.

With a quick shake of my head, I started the car. I just needed to shut up and do this. When it came down to it, I knew Hailey’s mother would care less how I found her and more that she was safe. At least I hoped she was.

I drove from Buda to Austin in silence. I didn’t want or need any distractions. My mother may have been an understanding woman, but if I had done any damage to her car in my late night escapade, I might be in danger of becoming a ghost myself.

Although it was night, the traffic on I-35 was busy and I had to let my attention stay on the traffic around me. When I finally reached the exit onto William Cannon, I was relieved to be getting off the busy interstate. Of course, that relief was foreshadowed by my feelings of impending doom I was dealing with.

It didn’t get any better. Actually, as every mile took me closer to the turn-off leading to the creek my already raw nerves had my entire body shaking worse than I would have if I had been stuck in the middle of a blizzard.

William Cannon was a fairly busy road too. I was pretty sure the first turn I needed to take to get me close to where Hailey had fallen was Onion Creek Drive. As I turned down that street, I took the drive that would lead me closer to the creek.

There was a dirt road; it went in closer to the creek. I was certain, that was the road Hailey had been on, so I took it. My friend had used that same road on her way to and from school all the time. She always told me it wasn’t necessarily the safest place to be, but it beat taking the long way around. If you were walking to school, it saved you a good twenty minutes when it came to getting to classes in time.

I clicked my tongue when I thought of Tara, wishing I had done a better job keeping in touch with her. We had met in church when we had moved out here. We had become pretty good friends. I had gotten familiar with the area because I used to spend almost every other weekend with her for a few years. Honestly, that was a while back now. I hadn’t seen her in so long, I found myself wondering how she was now. Her parents had taken her and moved to Seattle about a year ago and I had lost touch with her.

My eyes narrowed on a certain spot on the dirt road. Slowing down, I pulled up close enough to keep my headlights on the area. This seemed familiar. I recognized it from both my dream and my past. I sighed as I reached into the glove compartment. I’d never tell her, but Hailey was lucky I was familiar with this place. I may seem like a wayward teenager sometimes, but there was no way I would be out here, trudging around in the forest surrounding the creek in the dark if I didn’t have at least a vague memory of where the hell I was!

I made sure my cell phone was in my pocket. I checked the flashlight to make sure it worked, grabbed the bag of water and food I had brought with me. It was nothing fancy; saltine crackers, some grapes, and four twenty ounce bottles of water. Worst case scenario; she’d be unconscious and I wouldn’t need it. Best possibility; she would wake up when I reached her and be extremely thirsty.

Turning off my headlights, I put the car keys in the other pocket of my jeans as I got out of the car and locked the door. “Here goes nothin’.” I whispered as I began to make my way cautiously down toward the area where I thought she might be. I used the flashlight to watch where I was going and before I knew it, I was standing at the edge of what could have been a steep incline.

It was actually the edge of where the river would normally meet the bank. But because all of Texas has gone without a decent amount of rain lately and we are in the middle of a drought, the water level of the creek was down extremely low. Lately, there had been some rain, but so far, all it had accomplished is to make a muddy mess of places like this. Riverbed mud is not like regular mud. In some cases, it’s really quite like quicksand.

“Okay, Hailey,” I whispered. “If you’re down here, I need you to show me where.” I moved my hand slowly, watching where the beam of light touched to see if I saw anything that resembled a ten year old girl.

When my light found that very girl, standing at the bottom of the riverbed, I had to catch myself to keep from screaming. She was staring up at me with a troubled expression.

She waved at me then pointed to her right. My gaze followed suit and what I saw brought tears to my eyes. Hailey was lying unconscious . Her head rested near a rather large rock. There was a substantial amount of blood on it.

Looking back toward her, I saw that her entire leg was at a seriously odd angle from the rest of her body. I grimaced at the sight and looked down to try to decide the safest route for me to take to get down to her. This was bad; really bad. The ground below me was solid mud. Or, that’s not accurate, is it? Mud is not a solid. But this mud was thick; the kind of thick that if you weren’t careful, you could easily step out of your shoes.

Watching the girl’s unmoving form, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. Dialing 911, I waited for the operator to pick up. When she did, I explained as thoroughly as I could where I was at and what I believe I may have found.

She asked me if I could tell if the girl was still alive. I answered honestly. “I really don’t know. I haven’t gone down to her yet. I wanted to call for help first. This embankment is wet, muddy and slippery and if anything happened before I reached her, I just wanted to know you already have someone on the way.”

The operator suggested I just stay where I was so I could direct the ambulance and police when they got there. I smiled tightly and told my first real lie. “Okay, I will.” Yes, it was a lie! I knew that Hailey’s life was really hanging in the balance tonight. If I didn’t get the water I had in my bag to her now, she may not be alive when they got here. I didn’t know how I knew. But I was certain.

Once I hung up and put the phone back in my pocket, I slowly started down the muddy incline. Where were the Angels now? Did they really need an invitation? “What the hell?” I asked out loud, throwing caution to the wind. “For all the paramedics know, I slipped.”

Of course, that wasn’t going to be a lie either. My right foot slid right out from underneath me and I screeched and squeezed my eyes shut as I braced to tumble down the incline. I swear, my hands touched the ground but my rump never did.

With my hands caked in the mud, I felt my t-shirt yanked from the shoulder. Gasping, I swung my head around and looked up into Trehvar’s eyes. I opened my mouth to ask him what took him so long, but the look on his face gave me pause. “Do you never consider the fact that you should not be doing this all by yourself? Or do you simply not realize you are mortal?"