Alexter Albury

Say it now!

2011-07-18T12:17:00.000-04:00

As I get older the words of my elders have more meaning. Adults have always told me that time goes by too fast. As a kid it didn't really seem that way. Summers seemed to last for eons and birthdays seemed to take forever to come. But now I am a father of two beautiful kids. Time ticks much faster now. Summers are short and birthdays zoom by. Time for my children is as it was for me at their age. They see too much of it while I see far too little of it. Time will march on regardless of how we perceive it. My son and daughter will grow up and have their own lives to live. It's bitter-sweet to me. I complain about their arguments, tripping over toy trucks in the middle of the floor, lights being left on in empty rooms, and Punch Buggy games gone wrong but to not have those things in my life would be far worse. I love the madness more than I dislike it. I love my kids and I love my wife. This takes me to my point. I make sure that they know that I love them. I tell them several times a day and show them with random hugs and kisses. I'm sure that it must be quite annoying being wrapped in my bear hugs and plastered with my kisses, especially my kids, but it's the price that my family must pay for having a dad and husband that loves them so much. When the day comes for my children to leave me and start their own lives, I don't want there to be a shred of doubt about my love for them. Too many people reserve their affections for weddings, funerals, and other significant moments. But I believe the time in between those moments is the best time to voice our feelings. Don't wait until your loved one is on their death bed. Don't wait until a crisis erupts. Don't wait until the time is right. Go tell your loved ones that you love them now. Presents and cards will perish and become lost but the words we relay will endure forever. So go kiss your parents and tell them you love them. Go hug your kids, sister, brother, uncle, and aunt. Tell anyone that you love exactly that. If it means that you have to end an old dispute to do so, then so be it. End the grudge and get on with life and the words that must come from your mouth. Love is more eternal than time. Don't let a second slip away. Who knows what tomorrow will bring? Let today bring the words 'I love you' from your lips.

Juggling Work

2011-07-04T12:09:00.000-04:00

Do you hate having a lot of work to do at your job? Do you hate looking over at a pile of work that seems to be staring menacingly at you, daring you to attack it? Well, I don't. I like the challenge of finishing projects and beating deadlines. I usually complete projects way ahead of their deadlines. I don't rush the work to get it done. I just spend a lot more time making sure that it is completed as soon as possible. I don't really know why I work this way. I think a part of it is that I don't want people waiting on me. I don't want my part in a project to hold up the entire thing. I also despise being late! My wife knows this very well. If an event is set at 8pm, I'll probably be there at 7:15. My quirks dictate my work. The good thing is that my work ethic makes the people that I work with very happy. But it can also put a strain on my mind. I'm happy that I have a good wife though. She will pull the plug on my work day when I can't or refuse to do so. Well, I have an assignment to do. I better get started before my wife gets home. It's the 4th of July and I don't think my family would appreciate me being glued to a computer and an art pad all day. I have burgers to flip. Peace!

Gruff begins...again?

2011-02-07T19:42:00.000-05:00

You are not seeing doubles. Gruff: Twisted Fate is back in the all new 2nd edition. I mentioned this book in my last blog but now it's time to announce its release. It is now available for purchase at Lulu.com. In a few weeks it will also be available through most online book distributors. I would like to thank everyone for their encouragement and support. I hope that you will enjoy Twisted Fate as well as the other two books in the series. I will keep everyone updated on this and all of my other projects. I look forward to your comments too. I guess that's it for now. Please check my blog and website for all the things that I am doing. It may be hard to believe but there is more to my work than Gruff. Peace!

I'm still here!

2011-01-26T22:30:00.000-05:00

I know that it has been a while since my last post but I'm still here. I've been working on an assortment of projects that have kept me very busy. I've been entering writing competitions, making comics, writing scripts and screenplays, and writing the 2nd edition of Gruff: Twisted Fate. All of this along with everyday life with my family has kept me away from my blog and website.
Some of the projects that I mentioned are still up in the air. The winners of the writing competitions have not been determined yet. I still need an agent to handle my screenplays (James Cameron, I have what you're looking for). I am a part of a team at my church that has released one comic and others are on the way. My own comics are just scripts at this point. I don't know if I will put together full comics or just write them and leave the art to someone else. If Marvel, DC, or some other company picks them up, I'll do what ever I need to do. The 2nd edition of Gruff: Twisted Fate will be released in a few weeks. I drew a new cover design for the 2nd edition. I like it much better than the original.
So what's next? Basically more of everything that I already mentioned. Gruff is the only thing that will have a rest for a while. I'm really going to chip away at this pile of work and get it into the hands of the people that can help me realize my goals.
I really appreciate all the people that have supported me this far.
*This is the new book cover for Gruff: Twisted Fate (2nd Edition)

My very short FAQ list

2010-08-01T20:53:00.000-04:00

Now that I am getting a little buzz (a little is a lot better than none) about my books I am finding that many people are asking me the same questions. I really appreciate the comments and questions so please keep them coming. But to help people that may have questions about my books I decided to write a quick FAQ blog.
#1) What is the intended audience for the Gruff series?
While I wrote the Gruff series without any graphic nudity and vulgar language, there are still some subject matters and words that young kids will not understand and there are some subjects that kids will not experience until much older. A ten-year old picking up Gruff will not have to have his eyes washed out with soap. That's not at all what I'm saying. The Gruff series is about a man's quest to acheive what he was called to do. This quest involves war, love, hate, and evil enemies. I tried very hard to be as descriptive as possible when writing the scenes and circumstances in this series. Kids can read it but I don't want the parents of these kids to be caught off guard by some things in these books. Gruff is not the story of a cute and cuddly Elf living in a tree and making cookies. Gruff is a 6'2" warrior with a lot of foolish enemies seeking to test him and his skills. Life lessons are taught through this series but they are not always depicted with smiley faces and sing-a-longs. For these reasons I suggest the Gruff series for teens to adults. You can read the synopsis for every book in the Gruff series on my website http://www.alexteralbury.com/.

#2) What is Recipe of a Man about?
Recipe of a Man is a short collection of poetry, short stories, and vignettes. They are samples of my work that range from high school to the present. I thought about altering some of my adolescent work but I decided against it. I was young, naive, and immature about a lot of things I wrote in high school but that was the person I was at that time (15 years ago...Ouch!). I have grown and matured since my teen years but my younger days need to speak as I once was. Recipe of a Man is my progression as a person and as a writer. Read it as it is, just remember that each poem and story was written at certain times of my life and at different ages. The stages of my life are randomly scattered in Recipe of a Man. I'll let you decipher the current me for yourself. By the way, I give this the teen to adult rating too. This ain't Dr. Suess!

#3) Where can I buy your books?
My books are only available online at the moment. You can purchase them through my site, my publishers sites, and most major book suppliers.

#4) What else do you write?
Everyone knows that I love sci-fi, anime, and comics so naturally I tend to write a lot of stories like these. But I also write poetry, screenplays, and fiction. Not everything that I write will involve super powers, aliens or enchanted creatures. There are many sides to my persona. I try to take care of all of them. I hope that last statement doesn't make me sound like I have multiple personalities because we don't. I am working on a book of my art that will be sort of a coffee table book. Look for that one near Christmas. (Hint Hint)

I'm sure that I missed a couple of questions. Feel free to ask me anything about me or my work in person or through email. I love you guys and thanks for the support!

Buy the book

2010-06-29T20:24:00.000-04:00

I'm happy to let everyone know that Gruff: Rising Sons is now ready for order through my publisher Lulu. It is also available as a digital download from Lulu and Amazon. It will take about 6-8 weeks for it to be available through the other online book retail stores. I am very excited! It's great to see the finished product. All of the months of hard work paid off. I would also like to thank everyone for their support and comments. Many of you have been asking me for months if my book was finished. Now you can stop asking. It's ready for you to enjoy and I hope you do just that. This will be the last in the Gruff series for a while. I have other projects that I need to complete. But my mind is already creating another story for the series. That will be a few years from now though. I'm very busy these days on various projects. As they are finished I will let everyone know about them. Until then...enjoy the blog and the book.

STEP OUT OF THE BOAT

2010-06-11T22:51:00.000-04:00

Some of my greatest breakthroughs and moments have come shortly after uncomfortable or challenging changes in my life. These times are uncertain and the paths they lead me to are often veiled by unknown circumstances and future possibilities. I am a creature of habit. I like things to be well-planned and organized. I don't like unexpected changes at all! Not being in control of my life or current situation really throws me off. I am in one of those life-changing spells. But ironically it is something that I prayed for. God has answered my prayers but it requires my obedience-real faith. I have learned from experience that it is crucial to listen when the Lord speaks. Disobedience doesn't always mean pain and suffering. Disobedience can simply be a missed blessing. I dislike missing blessings far more than I dislike change. So now I must be obedient to what God has spoken. It is an answered prayer that requires me to leave my comfort zone. To have what He has clearly promised I must step out on faith. My faith is not a safety net that I pull out to rescue me from a terrible fall. I don't intend on falling. I wont fall! My faith is a rock that can't be moved. It is a foundation that is grounded on God's word. Times may be changing but God will receive the glory when His work in me is done. I am encouraged by the scriptures during this time. In Matthew 14:22-33, Jesus' disciples witness him walking on water. Peter steps out of the boat to join his master only after first getting Jesus' word on the matter. Peter walks on the water just as Jesus told him he could. Peter only had trouble when he took his eyes off the Lord and began focusing on the crashing waves around him. But even after a brief lack of faith, Peter was rescued by the hand of Jesus. This scripture is my encouragement to see this miracle through. I have stepped out of the boat and I will not look at the rough seas around me. My focus is on God and the word that He gave me.

Has God given you a word? Has He given you an answer to your prayers? Remember that He is faithful and he has only good plans for you. If He has given you a word, be obedient and act on it. Step out of the boat!

It is written!

2010-04-12T13:35:00.000-04:00

I know that my deadline ended almost four months ago but alas I have finished my latest book. Gruff: Rising Sons is complete! Sunday I finished the book that I have been writing for about fifteen months. I guess if writing was my full-time job I could have completed it a lot sooner. I am so happy and relieved to have that story out of my brain and on paper where it belongs. Walking around with an epic tossing and turning in your mind is quite exhausting. My eyes hurt from staring at my computer screen for hours at a time. My fingers are sore from the sporatic tapping of keys. My head will finally have the peace that has eluded it because of the lingering thoughts of unfinished battle scenes and visions of imaginary beasts. Gruff's story is done..for the moment. I can breathe easy for a while.

There is still plenty of work left to do. I still have to edit it and design the cover. Those steps are welcomed changes from the harder task of writing the actual story. I will take a week off from everything involved with this book before I even attempt to do anything else. I have been sick for four weeks. I ended up in the hospital emergency wing this morning because of my prolonged sickness. Don't worry! I'm okay. I just need rest and medication. But I think it's funny that the day after I finished my book I end up in an emergency room with two doctors sticking a probe down my nose and throat! It's not the morning of rewarding jubilation that I had imagined when I went to bed last night. So I will rest this week and take care of my body. I'll leave the editing and cover design for another time. I'm content knowing that Gruff: Rising Sons is done.

Once Gruff: Rising Sons is a nice, polished, published copy, I will fill the rest of the year with drawing, painting, and sculpting. I have just as many pictures raking my brain as I have stories. By the end of 2010 my portfolio should be deep enough for me to begin my new art book. But for just a little while I will give my imagination a well-deserved rest.

AVATAR MOVIE: 2hrs.& 40min. of awe!

2009-12-18T20:18:00.001-05:00

I just spent the last three hours immersed in an alien world of savage beasts and blue-skinned warriors and I loved every breath-taking second of it! Tonight I watched the movie Avatar. It is well worth the hype surrounding it. I went in expecting to see a great movie but I left knowing that I had just witnessed a ground-breaking classic. This movie is much more than computer generated effects and battle scenes. Avatar is a well-written story that touches on the basic things that makes us all human. Even though it takes place on a different world with an alien race, the core of its substance is quite human. Avatar depicts themes of self-hatred, spirituality, racism,war, and self-awareness. Avatar addresses these things both honestly and responsibly. The story goes far deeper than just another sci-fi war flick. Avatar has a soul that gives the audience something more than just flashy camera tricks and computer aided imagery. It forces you to see the brutal consequences of hatred and selfish ambitions.
Avatar is also filled with beautiful scenes of wild imaginations and fantastic creatures. The whole 3D effect only acts to intensify the grappling pull of this visual fest of grand illusions.
Avatar is entertaining and thought provoking. It was the best movie that I have seen in quite some time.

404 PAGES AND COUNTING

2009-11-28T22:02:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving break has been a busy time for me. Besides cooking an entire meal, I also typed until my eyes were blurry. I'm really anxious to finish my new book and so is my wife. She has been on me to get it done. So getting as much done during my week off has been top priority. I'm at 404 pages. I still think I'm about two chapters from the ending. The closer I get to the end, the more nervous I seem to get. While I really look forward to the final punctuation mark, I really dread the time when it's all said and done. That's when the unknown takes place. How many will sell? Will people like it? Will this be my big break? During the writing and editing process, these questions are mostly silent. My focus is on the characters and the action during that time. When the book is printed and available to the public my questions plague me. This isn't about fame. It's about seeing the full vision of my work. That can only happen if I have the opportunity.There's always the hope that Marvel, DC, or some movie producer will stumble upon my Gruff trilogy and want to take it to the next level. Hey, a guy can dream, right? For now, day dreams and high hopes are at a stand still. They are still silenced by my unfinished manuscript. When Gruff: Rising Sons is complete the dreams, hopes, and the unknown can be as loud as they want to be. I still have more work to do. 404 pages and counting!

Picturing art with a friend

2009-11-16T21:39:00.001-05:00

I think that I will reach my goal of finishing my latest book by the end of the year. Trusting that I will do just that, I have begun preparing for the 2010 year of art. I have been writing literally non-stop for about six years. In this time my art has taken the back burner. I have done only a few significant pieces. Most of my focus has been on writing books and screenplays. Today marked the end of my diligent writing campaign. My friend, Charlie Roberts took some great photos of my art to be used on my website and made into quality prints. This is a big deal to me. My pieces aren't that small. When ever I need to show my work I have to lug around a hefty portfolio of large drawings. Having smaller and lighter prints will make displaying my work so much easier. This is good news, seeing that I plan on doing a lot...a whole lot of drawing next year.

The best thing about today's photo shoot with Charlie was getting to know another side of Charlie. He is one of the friendliest and most genuine people I have ever had the honor of knowing. But today I saw the photographer in Charlie. I met the artist! His eye for detail and the wealth of his knowledge was impressive. What he did for me was an act of kindness and friendship that I truly appreciate. Thanks, Charlie for your help in preparing me for next year.

(1st Coast Photo Art by Charlie Roberts) charlie.1stcoastphotoart@gmail.com

The Red Terrors!

2009-11-04T16:14:00.000-05:00

My friends know how much I love aquarium fish, especially freshwater. Well, today my new fish finally arrived! Now you probably are wondering why a grown man is so excited over a bunch of fish. The thing is, I am excited. I admit it I am a fish enthusiast! I am very happy about my new fish. They are Red Terror Festaes. These fish were so hard to find at a reasonable price. I searched for months until I finally found them at a great price in Illinois. The joy of finally finding my RTs was almost cut short by the U.S. Postal Service. They lost my Fish! I purchased next day shipping but they never arrived. After many phone calls and emails my fish arrived today. An extra day riding in a mail truck didn't harm them. Now they are swimming happily in my 120gallon tank. I feel like captain Ahab! There was no white-humped whale taunting me from the boisterous froth of the sea. Instead, my angry whale was a little mail truck with my helpless fish tucked in its box-filled belly.

I am not the only fish nut in America. We are millions strong! Go to www.monsterfishkeepers.com and see for yourself.

Sad Reminder

2009-10-31T15:21:00.003-04:00

A friend of mine just recently passed away. She was ill but her death was still a surprise. She was a good person with a giving heart and spirit. She was a friend that I will always remember and miss. Her death has given me more than just tears and sadness. It has forced me to reflect on many things in my life. Everyday that we breathe is a precious gift from God. This is the life that will decide our eternity. We have to make the most of this time. I see my wife and children with keener eyes. I love them even more. I see the world and the people around me with more meaning. I pray that I will leave a good impression on this world after I am gone. My friend was one of those people who believed that I would. She always told me that I had a great destiny ahead. She said that I would reach my dreams and be a light to many others. Sometimes I feel bad because she did not live to see the vision that she believed for me. She may not be here but her faith in me lives on. I will see my dreams through. I will make a positive impact on this world. I will fulfill my destiny. She will see it from another place. She'll be happy and proud of the impression she made.

Who is Gruff?

2009-10-24T09:52:00.000-04:00

Many people know that the main character of my trilogy is Gruff. Many more people often ask me, "Who is Gruff?" Well, that can be an awkward question to answer for people who don't usually read sci-fi or fantasy or even comic books. But I will make it as simple as possible without giving away too much of the story.
Gruff is a hybrid of two races that were once one race of beings. He is half Elf and half Reben. Please do not think of the Keebler sort of elves. Think more in the line of Lord of the Rings elves. Rebens are beings that were once elves long ago. Sin and an evil demon caused them to be cursed with a beastly form. These two warring races make up Gruff. He is unique on his planet. He has blue-grey skin, a well muscled physique, and solid blue eyes. Gruff constantly deals with his very volatile temper. His eyes give away his emotions. His pupiless eyes are blue in his calm state. The angrier he gets, the darker his eyes become. Once fully red, Gruff is taken by his rage. It is a rage that leads to savage outbursts and extreme strength. Throughout the trilogy Gruff must learn to restrain and utilize his anger. He must learn to save his planet by learning to control all facets of his emotions.
Gruff also is a skilled warrior. From childhood he was trained in a form of combat called Tomak-Aki. This is a ferocious and swift martial art. Combined with Gruff's incredible strength the art of Tomak-Aki takes on a deeper sense of power.
Gruff also has God-given armor of various powers. His two swords are the most used of this armor. His swordsmanship is legendary. Only a few souls have lived to tell of the prowess of Gruff's steel.
More than just a demon-killing brute, Gruff is a faithful friend to the end. He faces dangerous adversaries and circumstances all for the sake of his world and for his family and friends. Gruff is a warrior that loves the thrill of war but fights for the peace that his planet yearns to see. He is a man with all the things of average men. He has a family. He has dreams. He has joy and pain. Gruff just has one little thing extra on his list of manhood...the fate of the world on his shoulders.

Kids,Football, and a Luau

2009-10-24T09:16:00.000-04:00

Today will be a fun Saturday. There is a festival downtown called Ancient City Kids. The festival has food, games, and prizes for children. There's even a stage for live music. I will be going there with my family. My church has a booth also. My wife will work there for a while today. After the kids are all worn out from sweets, face painting, and booth visits, we will come home for a little while before leaving again. I will squeeze in as much college football as I can into this tiny window. Then it's off to a Luau. My church has monthly gatherings of members living in the same zip code. We call it Fellowzip. Fellowzips are a way to connect and socialize with the people in our church and area. We spend time together eating, talking and enjoying fun activities. Today my Fellowzip is having a Luau at the beach. Should be lots of fun and good food. Then it's back home for more college football, Florida Gators to be exact. I love the Gators! And of course there will be some writing crammed into this schedule. I really want to finish this book so I can focus on my art for a while. I need some time to recharge my brain though. Taking a day away from writing will do the trick. I plan on writing today but family, fun, rest, and of course football will come first. Gruff deserves a day off too!

Headaches and sleepless nights

2009-10-19T20:58:00.000-04:00

This may sound strange. It may even sound impossible but it is definitely true. I have so many thoughts, stories, and visions in my head that at times it feels as if my head is about to explode! I mean there are so many unfiinished works and ideas in my brain that I can actually feel them pressed against my skull. Unless I write the words or draw the pictures, I never find any peace. I can't sleep a wink. I am plagued with migranes. This goes on for days or weeks even. I only find sleep and relief after I have completed the work banging around in my head. How strange is that? This is both a blessing and a curse. Unlimited ideas and visions versus pulsating cranial nerves. I keep writing and drawing and the pain and insomnia stay away. Sometimes it takes me a year to finish a book. That's a lot of tylenol! Can anyone else relate? I can't be the only one suffering with this strange ailment...right?