Odyssey of Light Series: Part 1

Odyssey of Light Blog Series

Part 1: The Before And The How (Or, "Why I'm Not Sixteen")

This is part 1 in a five-part series, in which I finally tell the truth about myself, my music, and my identity in Christ. Please leave any and all comments on Facebook, where they can be monitored better. Over the next two months, as part of my Year of Practicing Personality, I’ll be making some changes to this website as I continue to release music and stories. If a link doesn’t work, please let me know.

Let me start off by re-introducing myself, particularly if this is your first time here. My name is Emily Ann Imes, I am a Christian and I am a lesbian, and the two are mutually exclusive. I am from the most obnoxious city in America, which means I am from the most awesome city in America and nobody can convince me otherwise. Yes, it’s true, I’m from New York City, where the pigeons have more class than the people do and it's not church, it's brunch. In my spare time, better known as day 8 of the week, I do this music composition thing. I also used to write and am trying to get back into it after bedbugs ate my career. You know. Because New York.

This is the summer of 2016. Eleven years ago, in the summer of 2005, some freaky deaky stuff happened and my life got flip turned upside down, and I'd like to take a minute, just sit right there, and tell you how Jesus saved my life by using roller coasters. But before we talk about the summer of 2005, we gotta cover what happened before that...the beginning of the Rest of the Story. It's a very good place to start.

082014 -- A Long Time Coming

Hey, readers. Emily here.

No, this isn't a shutdown notice. I think I'm too brave and powerful for that. What this is is me being honest. I'm horrible at making posts, and I'm even more horrible at updating a website. But something that I'm really good at is being honest. How about I be more honest on here, to start with? I think that's a good goal.

The Success of a Man Named Dvorak

Most of my attention as of late has been going over to the Dvorak series, which has been running in one way, shape, or form since April of 2013. We're officially three books in, and the fourth book is going to start serialization next week. I'm nervous, sure, but part of me is actually really excited that the project has made it this far. I think there are so many more things that I could do as far as promoting the book, but the important thing to me is that they're making it out there.

The Dvorak series is now available on JukePop Serials, as well as Wattpad. The fourth book will begin updating there as I put it out, with the other books to come. In addition, print versions of The Dealey Five and Digital Merge will be coming soon, with The Dealey Five hitting press by the end of this month. We'll be returning to New York Comic-Con this year to promote Dvorak, hopefully to kick off a huge press and advertising campaign...which, honestly, scares the crap out of me.

Am I weird for admitting all of this on my website? Nah. I'd rather admit my flaws and present myself as a human being. There are so many other ways that I'm separated from the rest of society. I write music in my sleep. I think up plotlines like nobody's business. I have an eidetic memory and can see sound. But I'm tired of being separated from the world as a whole. I'd rather try to make things happen, even if it's imperfectly. So may people think things have to be done right the first time!

If you're able to, would you support Dvorak? There are several ways you can do this:

1: Read the books! They're available for free on the website, on Wattpad, and on JukePop (as they are posted).

2: Support book 3's release with the official Thunderclap campaign. This I definitely need help with. Sign up and Dvorak will post on your Facebook wall, Twitter feed, or Tumblr about the series on August 26th. And no, you don't have to pay or dump cold water on your head to do it! (Although that just gave me a great idea.)

3: When the books are released, buy them so you can have a physical version. I don't make a lot of money off the books -- just enough to get them into your hands. Dvorak Classic is available now, and the others will be available before NYCC.

That's it for now. I just want to make sure this world doesn't forget about me, and also that I don't forget about me.

-- Emily

Why The World Needs Superheroes (And Why I Need the Dealey Five)

I told myself I would sit down and write a blog entry today, because it had been a while since I had written one. Of course, getting up out of bed and not watching soaps/daytime television/sitting in bed reading manga/playing Pokemon/generally feeling sorry for myself is never a good idea, though it always seems like one when you're stuck in it. We all get depressed for whatever reason or another, and that's what I'd like to try and tackle today -- as well as to my solution.

Update: Y-Bridge Arts Festival

Just giving a quick update in the middle of the week here.

As many of you are already aware, I will have a table at the one and only 2013 Y-Bridge Arts Festival in Zanesville, Ohio! I am SO excited to go home for a little while, I can't stand it (and I'm not lying). The Festival happens every year, but due to construction, they almost had to cancel it. Instead of being at the bridge this year, it will be at the mall on the north side.

I will be bringing my violin and performing at 11:00 AM on the main stage! I'd love it if you all came out to support me. I don't know if I will be playing piano yet but the violin will definitely be out and about. I may even throw spontaneous performances in the middle of the mall if they let me.

PLUS: I am working out details as I type to also exhibit and sell at the First Friday event in downtown Zanesville! I'll have a working link when I get that information -- my awesome friends at the Y-City Writers are setting this up.

At both events, I will have:
-- copies of Blue Impulse and Taconum Carnival for sale. Take this time to pick up copies and get signatures. (If you've already bought my books and want them signed, bring them!)
-- copies of Dvorak Classic!  The final printed copies are available in their first form (cover courtesy of my good friend Milton Ian "MyL10" Piñeiro) and it's only $5 to pick one up (mostly to cover the cost of production). In addition, I have picked up some fun pens with the "d-VOR-ak" logo on them, so pick one up while stock lasts!
-- new copies of my LATEST CD! I don't have any graphics or previews yet, but trust me when I say this is a CD you won't want to miss. I haven't released one since two years ago when I published Almond Dust, so it's high time we heard from my musical side again.

If you are planning on coming out to the Arts Festival, PLEASE LET ME KNOW! Either post a comment on Facebook or comment below to let me know. I'll make sure to let you know what's going on and keep you all updated on the latest information. Be sure to use and abuse the "Y-Bridge Arts Festival" tag, and I'll see you all again soon!

Write More Better,
Emily

Sunday Stack: Vacations Make You Think

So I spent the better part of the past week on vacation in North Carolina. Being out in the middle of nowhere warrants next to no phone service and very spotty Internet. It also makes a great place to reconnect with yourself instead of being bombarded with lots of people needing your attention. Sure, I downloaded a lot of stories from Wattpad, but I spent equal times reading and playing solitaire without a care in the world.

It was really refreshing, and because of it, I probably don't have much to show for it (other than a sunburn). But I think we'll see how this trip spreads throughout the rest of my life soon.

This next week, I have an album to work on...and I still don't have a title. Any suggestions? :S

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