A Spelunking I Will Go

At a little nook of a cave in Custer's State Park

There's a reason I wrote a fantasy series about an underground world...I love caves! I think I would live in one if I could. A simpler dream of mine is to someday explore a cave without following a cement path or listening to a guide. I want to get down and dirty and crawl on my belly and maybe even get stuck once or twice. I've visited several caves in my day, but as all cave junkies know, the guided tours, though typically fun and interesting, can leave you feeling unfulfilled.

Getting Squeezed

Here in New Hampshire, we have two major cave sites: Polar Caves Park and my favorite, Lost River Gorge. Neither have big or long caves, but they're enjoyable all the same. Both can be done without a guide. My favorite part at Lost River is the Lemon Squeezer. It's a squeeze, all right, and if you can't make it through the squeeze gauge, you can't go through the cave. Part of the passage involves pulling yourself along on your stomach, past a stream that bubbles by on your right. This cave can be closed at certain times of the year due to flooding, so either call ahead, or make sure it's been dry lately.

In New York  a few years back, we visited Howe Caverns. I liked the caves well enough-they weren't my favorite, but I did like two parts quite a bit. The first was the ride in the boats on the underground river. In Anaedor, you would ride the Turbles, which would be more fun, but smellier. The other cool part was the Winding Way, a very narrow passage with high walls that winds back and forth (hence the name). It felt very constricting, which was awesome.

Reminds me of Willie Wonka's chocolate river ride.

The Winding Way

Every coffee lover's dream.

Recently we traveled home to Minnesota to visit family. When we were done meeting all one thousand of them (my husband comes from a family of 9 kids), we drove to South Dakota Black Hills territory (which is gorgeous, btw). It was a LONG drive (8 hours), but worth it. We visited the Badlands and Wall Drug on the way out, both of which are fascinating landmarks, for very different reasons. I remember both from my childhood, though vaguely. The Badlands were hot and Wall Drug had ice water and cool stuff to buy. Both are still the same.

The wind is blowing the plastic strip.

While in the Black Hills, we visited Mt. Rushmore (of course) and hit three caves. We were there for only 2 days, so yes, I'm quite impressed with myself for pulling that off. We saw Wind Cave first. It's called Wind Cave because it either blows air out or sucks it in, depending on the barometric pressure. To get in, you have to pass through revolving doors. It kind of takes the romance out of the experience, but there are no natural entrances to the cave other than that blowhole, and I'm pretty sure none of us would fit through it. There was an anti-gun sign on the glass pane going in. I didn't read it, but I'm guessing the point it's trying to make is that caves and bullets don't mix well. Wind Cave is known for its box work details, which you can see in the above photos. I would love to do this for our ceilings - it's a great effect. My favorite part was when the tour guide turned out the lights. Total darkness forever wouldn't be fun, or if you were stuck in an oubliette, but it was very cool to experience for a few minutes.

Note the anti-firearms sign.

Do you see the demon? We did.

Wind Cave is known for its box work details, which you can see to the left and below. I would love to do this for our ceilings - it's a great effect. My favorite part was when the tour guide turned out the lights. Total darkness forever wouldn't be fun, or if you were stuck in an oubliette, but it was very cool to experience for a few minutes.

Wind Cave and more box work.

The second cave we saw was Sitting Bull Crystal Caverns. It's hard to take good pics inside a cave, but here are a few samples of what we saw. It's a small cave, but a beautiful one, and I can imagine what it must have been like when those who discovered the cave first saw the crystals. They must have thought they'd died and gone to heaven. Our guide was fun and funny and we thoroughly enjoyed the tour, though you have to go down a lot of stairs, then get back up them - not for the faint of heart, or the weak of heart, either. Once you leave, there's a small cave right next to crystal cave that you can explore on your own. They even provide the flashlights!

Looks like teeth, eh?

I'm rich, I'm rich!

Pretty pattern...or intestines?

Entry to self-exploring cave.

Rorschach Gem Test: What do you see?

Original entrance to Rushmore - note the ladder.

The last cave we visited was Rushmore Cave. We decided to do the whole package, including the zipline and the 7-D game. The cave was pretty neat and we enjoyed strolling through it. I particularly liked seeing some stalactites and stalagmites - they seemed to be pretty rare in the South Dakota caves. There's a reason for that, but I'm not going to tell you because why spoil all the mystery? After the cave tour we rode the zipline, which was awesome, though my husband felt like he was going to fall off - I recommend holding onto the back of the seat with one hand. My husband and youngest son now want to build a zipline (he and son #2 have already built a trebuchet). Go figure! The 7-D game, which I thought the kids would like but I'd find a tad dull, was awesome! I didn't really care so much about shooting zombies (besides, I stunk at it), but I loved the ride. I wish it would have lasted longer...or been inside the cave.

Entry into a Goblin's cave?

I love the mythical look of this part.

Very cool, but rather suggestive.

More teeth - likely dragon.

Close up of teeth - need brushing.

The exit - reminds me of how Lavida returned to Anaedor in Book Two.

I'm thinking of heading to Pennsylvania next. There are a fair number of caves there that are calling to me. I'd also like to explore a sea cave some time. If you ever visit a cave you like, drop me a line.

Until next time, fellow cavers!

 

Come Explore Anaedor!

The Chronicles of Anaedor: The Return to Anaedor (Book Two)

The Chronicles of Anaedor: The Prophecies (Book One) 

The Chronicles of Anaedor: The Return to Anaedor (Book Two)

The Chronicles of Anaedor: The Lost Ones (Book Three)

The Chronicles of Anaedor: The Uprising (Book Four)

The Next Big Thing

THE NEXT BIG THING is a chain of book and author recommendations. Each author answers some questions about their work, then recommends other authors...

1. What is the working title of your next book?

The Chronicles of Anaedor: The Lost Ones. It's book three in a series of four books. Books One (The Prophecies) and Two (The Return to Anaedor) have already been published. If they weren't, I'd be annoyed if I were you.

2.  Where did the idea come from for the book?

I was living in the city at the time, which was not my favorite place, being that I'm a country girl at heart, but it had this wonderful park full of ravines and streams that totally saved me. One day I was walking through the park, contemplating life, when I imagined that a creature was peeping out from beneath a rock, watching me pass by. Kind of creepy, I suppose, but it jump-started my idea of the hidden, underground world of Anaedor.

3.  What genre does your book fall under?

That's an easy one. It's YA fantasy.

4.  What actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Anyone really cute so maybe I'd get to meet them. I think any of the actors from The Lord of the Rings movies could work, especially Viggo Mortensen. I'd put him in the part of Frio, Amoral Hunter, and resident hottie. Though Viggo would have to go blond.


5.  What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

In Book Three, 16-year-old Lavida Mors, prophesied savior of Anaedor, has to cope with mischievous Lost Ones, a ruthless Hunter determined to use her powers for his own benefit, and a ravenous, giant squid.

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

I am going through Hive Collective, a publishing company that works with authors to publish their works.

7.  How long did it take to write the first draft of the manuscript?

Maybe 8 months? It's been about 8 years since I wrote it, so I'm not exactly sure.

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

If I were savvy, I'd say the Harry Potter series, The Chronicles of Narnia series, and The Hunger Games. But really, my books are only like the first two. Its only resemblance to The Hunger Games is that the characters in the books often get hungry.

9.  Who or what inspired you to write this book?

Staying home to raise three boys inspired me. If I didn't have writing to keep me sane, I would have lost my mind long ago.


10.  What else about the book might pique the reader's interests?

It's full of magic and mystery and adventure. There's some romance, but it's not too gooey for the boys. You'll find weaponry and intrigue, strange, mythical creatures, and a battle with a giant squid. The book starts out with homicidal Pixies bent on taking out Lavida. She uses a spatula to fight them off, then locks them up. Unfortunately, they escape. That's when the fun begins!

  

~~~~~~~

After buying all my books, you might want to check out these other great authors:

1.  Paul Byers  Paul writes adventure books full of non-stop action. He sums up his latest book, Arctic Fire, with the following words, "A world running out of natural resources... A madman's lust for power... A plan to level an American city with thousands dead... A new World Order rising... An ordinary man's struggle to stop it, if he can only survive long enough!"

2.  Dorine White  Dorine writes middle grade fantasy and has her first book, The Emerald Ring, coming out in May. Here's a synopsis: Twelve-year-old Sara Guadalupe Bogus's ordinary life turns upside down when she discovers an emerald ring once belonging to Cleopatra. Soon after trying it on, strange things start happening to Sara. She has troubling visions, can understand animals, and can transform herself into an Egyptian cat. All that seems pretty awesome until a strange man shows up in town. He's hunting for the emerald ring, and will not stop until he gets it.

3.  Stephanie O'Brien Stephanie, author of My Fugitive: A Wartime Suspense Novel, gives us this glimpse into her book: "She didn't want to get involved in the war. The soldiers and rebels were none of her concern, except for when their firefights threatened her and the people she cared about. But when an earthquake struck her seaside town, leaving a prisoner trapped among the wreckage, she couldn't leave him to die. Even if saving him meant risking everything."

Come Explore Anaedor!