About
Raven Dane;
'Vampirism at a deliciously literary level, dark fantasy at its best'
I am an established mainstream published author of the dark fantasy series, The Legacy of the Dark Kind.
Already published are Blood Tears, Blood Lament and Blood Alliance; all available to order from good book stores and online.
These books have an enthusiastic and fast growing international following.
So, what is so different about the Dark Kind?
They do not sparkle for one thing! Nor suffer from teenage angst ! My vamps are not human nor ever have been.They are not supernatural Undead ghouls. They are living, powerful beings further up the food chain to humans, a race of beautiful but deadly creatures that have preyed on mankind since before recorded history.
There was a time when the Vampire Kings ruled most of the ancient known world, governing their human subjects with honour and justice. Now there is only Jendar Azrar left of this noble elite, Prince of a remote Upper Balkan country and last warlord of the Dark Kind.
I am also here on this exciting site to promote my first attempt at comedy writing ; The Unwise Woman of Fuggis Mire which will be published in Spring 2010 by Endaxi Press.
My favourite authors are Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Helen Hollick, Phiil Rickman, Mervyn Peake, Ray Bradbury and Karen Maitland and the delightful, quirky poetry of Michele Brenton
Learning to Breathe Fire: The Rise of CrossFit and the Primal Future of Fitness
Description
<p><b>The absorbing, definitive account of CrossFit's origins, its explosive grassroots growth, and its emergence as a global phenomenon.</b><br /> <br />One of the most illuminating books ever on a sports subculture, <i>Learning to Breathe Fire </i>combines vivid sports writing with a thoughtful meditation on what it means to be human. In the book, veteran journalist J.C. Herz explains the science of maximum effort, why the modern gym fails an obese society, and the psychic rewards of ending up on the floor feeling as though you're about to die. <br /> <br />The story traces CrossFit’s rise, from a single underground gym in Santa Cruz to its adoption as the workout of choice for elite special forces, firefighters and cops, to its popularity as the go-to fitness routine for regular Joes and Janes. Especially riveting is Herz’s description of The CrossFit Games, which begin as an informal throw-down on a California ranch and evolve into a televised global proving ground for the fittest men and women on Earth, as well as hundreds of thousands of lesser mortals. <br /> <br />In her portrayal of the sport's star athletes, its passionate coaches and its “chief armorer,” Rogue Fitness, Herz powerfully evokes the uniqueness of a fitness culture that cultivates primal fierceness in average people. And in the shared ordeal of an all-consuming workout, she unearths the ritual intensity that's been with us since humans invented sports, showing us how, on a deep level, we're all tribal hunters and first responders, waiting for the signal to go all-out. </p>
Story Behind The Book
This is my first attempt at a comedy novel and has been called the funniest book on Harper/Collin's authonomy site where it has already delighted hundreds of authors and readers.
It has been favorably compared to the works of Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Monty Python and Blackadder.
This book also comes with a health warning...do not read while drinking as people have coughed up coffee and red wine over themselves and their laptops with laughter. Nor is it advisable to read this book when juggling stoats.
