I was walking near the coast, and this view jumped out at me. It reminds me of a region called the “Lowlands” in my fictional country of Domataland. The main country in my Toxic Sphere novels is Cadona. Domataland is the “enemy nation” in the story.
One fictional country in my “Toxic Sphere” book series is called Fletchia. It is a mountainous land.
I took this picture while on a high-country hike. The scene reminds me of a place that a person might see in Fletchia.
“When a rich man looks out his window, he admires the luxuries that wealth has bestowed upon him. If a poor man is lucky enough to have a window, he sees grimy walls, dirty streets, and all manner of disease and decay. Most of all, the poor man is denied the privilege of seeing hope.”
Hello from beautiful central Idaho, USA! The weather may be “frightful,” but it is gorgeous! Here are some wild turkeys to prove it 🙂
The primary fictional nation in my novels is called “Cadona.” It is big and mighty, but in decline. The air, land, and waters are polluted in most of its territory. This image reminds me of what much of the capital, Cadona City, looks like.
I wrote this poem as I was thinking about socioeconomic inequality.
Doesn’t Matter
It’s heave, it’s throw,
My life it doesn’t matter.
It’s lift, it’s pull,
Can’t climb the rich man’s ladder.
I see the guys in snappy suits,
Gents sittin’ in the shade,
While I swelter in the gutter,
Cleanin’ the mess they made.
It’s tug, it’s tow,
My life it doesn’t matter.
It’s grind, it’s roll,
Can’t get to what I’m after.
I’d like a fancy mansion,
At the end of money street,
But how can I get more schooling,
When I work three shifts all week?
It’s sweep, it’s hoe,
My kids’ lives, they don’t matter.
It’s dig, it’s sow,
Nothing makes me sadder.
My girl went to a grocery store,
And she came home in despair,
‘cause the kid behind her shouted,
She has cooties in her hair!
It’s scrub, it’s sew,
My kids’ lives, they don’t matter.
It’s wash, it’s stow,
The babies’ clothes are tattered.
I want to teach my children
The manners of the well-to-do,
But we can’t go where the rich go,
Without fancy clothes or shoes.
It’s trick, it’s duel,
Our lives, they don’t matter.
It’s taunt, it’s fool,
Can’t join the rich man’s banter.
We don’t have their fancy words,
No one listens to what we say,
And how can we smell like flowers,
Workin’ in the ovens for pay?
It’s lie, it’s cajole,
Our lives, they don’t matter.
It’s arrest, it’s parole,
Our hopes have all been shattered.
Rich folks live in luxury
After drinking too much wine,
But the drunkard in the alley
Goes to prison to serve time.
It’s heave, it’s throw,
Our lives, they don’t matter.
It’s lift, it’s pull,
Can’t climb the rich man’s ladder.
– C. N. Sky
The world’s mightiest nation is on the verge of falling apart because of bad leaders who just want the best for themselves and not for their people. While people such as investigative journalist Bob Fullerby and Senator Bradley Seldortin are trying their best to keep their nation afloat, there isn’t much they can do without the Guiding Light. They are desperately trying to find it as the document may have all the answers they are looking for. However, finding the carrier of the document, Leeha Ritsagin, is not easy. She is hidden somewhere and not easily found. What will these men do to fight for the betterment of their people? Can they find the Guiding Light and Leeha Ritsagin?
Toxic Sphere: Volume 2, Liars and Defilers by C. N. Sky turned out to be one heck of a ride. From the very first chapter, the author had my attention. I say the author because you can definitely feel the presence of the author in the narrative and how the story is told. Although I have not read the previous novel in the series, I had no issues in catching up with the characters, understanding what was happening, or being confused about anything in particular. The mystery behind the Guiding Light is great and I enjoyed how the author kept the suspense until the very end. What I loved most about this novel was the fact that I could not guess what would happen in the end or what the climax would be. I enjoyed the characters, I enjoyed the setting and, more than all that, I loved the novel itself. Very entertaining!
Toxic Sphere, Volume 2: Liars and Defilers, has won two more book awards:
Previously, this book won these awards:
