For our club, we will be using:

(Konos Connection / 1998 / Paperback)

The Definition of Fiction

fic·tion (fkshn) n.

1. a. An imaginative creation or a pretense that does not represent actuality but has been invented.1. b. The act of inventing such a creation or pretense.2. A lie.3. a. A literary work whose content is produced by the imagination and is not necessarily based on fact.3. b. The category of literature comprising worksof this kind, including novels and short stories.4. Law Something untrue that is intentionally represented as true by the narrator.

[Middle English ficcioun, from Old French fiction, from Latin ficti, fictin-, from fictus, past participle of fingere, to form; see dheigh- in Indo-European roots.]
fiction·al adj.fiction·ali·ty (-sh-nl-t) n.fiction·al·ly adv.
Word History: To most people "the latest fiction" means the latest novels or stories rather than the most recently invented pretense or latest lie. All three senses of the word fiction point back to its source, Latin ficti, "the action of shaping, a feigning, that which is feigned." Ficti in turn was derived from fingere, "to make by shaping, feign, make up or invent a story or excuse." Our first instance of fiction, recorded in a work composed around 1412, was used in the sense "invention of the mind, that which is imaginatively invented." It is not a far step from this meaning to the sense "imaginative literature," firstrecorded in 1599.

Sunday, December 10, 2006

saber007's Light and Dark chapter 1:arrival

The rain beat down on the cloaked figure as it ran along the sidewalk carrying a large basket.The dark blanket of night consumed every inch of ground except for the front of a red brick, five storey building illuminated by a small porch light.Under this light a small metal sign was clearly seen,it read (The Shining Light orphanage:Reverend James Howard). The cloaked figure sat the basket on the front step and began to knock,but as it did a large hooded man grabbed it from behind.As he did this the hood of the cloaked figure fell back to reveal a young woman who had long,flowing golden hair and deep blue eyes."Did you think we wouldn't find you" the man said in a deep growling voice."You cant hide from the shadow, nor can you vanquish it".The woman turned her head a little."I cant ,but they can" she said gesturing towards the basket.Just then a light came on in a window above their heads,a woman poked her head out.As she did the man still holding the woman leaped over the stair railing and dragged her off into a dark alleyway.As she was being dragged she prayed in a silent voice."Dear Lord protect them from the shadow.Let them not be led astray from their destiny.I pray that their lives may not be so full of be so full of deception and darkness as mine has been,amen".She and the man disappeared into the darkness and she was never seen again.The front door of the orphanage opened and Sara Sanchez looked down at the basket with curiosity.She picked it up and lifted the dark cloth that covered it "oh my" she gasped.She took the basket in and rushed up the wooden stairs.She stopped when she reached a large wooden door.She pounded furiously on the door."Come in" said a tired voice on the other side of the door.Sara burst into the room.Reverend James Howard sat on the edge of his bed rubbing his eyes."What is it?" he asked.Sara handed him the basket,as he looked inside of the basket his eyes widened.Their inside the basket where two babies a boy and a girl, they each had a golden necklace that showed the symbol of the cross.The babies also had the deepest blue eyes the Reverend had ever seen.He lifted the baby boy out of the basket.As he did, Saras eyes widened in terror."What is it?" asked the pastor noticing her shocked expression.She only stared at the babies back, the Reverend turned the baby around to see what the fuss was about.Then he realised that she had good reason to be shocked, because there on the baby boys back was a pair of wings.They where small brown and looked like bat wings.He sat the baby boy down and picked up the baby girl.She also had wings, but hers where covered in pure white feathers."What are we going to do?" Sara had a habit of fretting when she wasn't in control of the situation."We keep them here." the reverend responded calmly."WHAT!" Sara exclaimed."Sara, this is an orphanage and they seem to be orphans so they stay."."But what about their wings?"she asked."They don't matter, where all equal in Gods eyes".With that said the Reverend pulled two of the drawers out of his dresser, emptied them and folded two blankets small enough to fit into them then he laid one of the babies in each one."That will do" he said in satisfied tone."Well since their staying, what should we call them?" Sara seemed to relax a little at this question."Lets name the girl Karen after my Grandma." she said."And the boy Daniel after my Father."So be it". said the Reverend.

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Wassail: Hot Tea and Cider Punch


In the modern day, Wassail is most commonly recognized as an obscure reference in various traditional Christmas carols: "Wassail, wassail all over the town," for example, or "Here we come a-wassailing among the leaves so green". Wassail-themed songs were once sung by winter carollers who went from house to house, singing to the residents in exchange for small gifts of money, food and drink (often wassail.)

6 cups water
8 tea bags
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon or 4 cinnamon sticks
32 cloves or 1 tsp ground cloves
5 cups cranberry juice
2 1/2 cups orange juice
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 cup grapefruit juice
4 cups apple cider
mandarin orange slices
marachino cherries

Boil water, tea bags, sugar, cinnamon, and cloves for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags. Add juices. Add more water/sugar to taste. Serve 1 cherry and 1 orange slice in each mug. Drink hot. Refrigerate extra and reheat when needed.

(For all my writers...what person is this written in? First, Second, or Third?)