Author: Anastasia Blackwell

Recently, I met a woman who asked me what my novel was about. I explained it was the tale of a woman who had become disfigured after childbirth, and made a vow at a shrine, Truth for Beauty - a promise to fulfill her manifest destiny in return for an unmarked face.  Her beauty is restored, but as she begins to seek a  rightful path her "perfect" life falls apart. The woman's marriage ends in a devastating divorce, and her life, she has known it, is destroyed. The novel explores her transformation as she is lured into the Montreal underground, educated by the mystics and gypsies, and through self discovery begins a dramatic transformation.

"Why should I care about a spoiled woman who gives up a perfect life, destroys a marriage, and uproots her children to seek her own selfish destiny? she replied with vehemence.

"But", I explained, "she made a vow at St. Joseph's Shrine, Truth for Beauty - a promise to seek her truthful destiny in return for unparalyzed face."

The woman shook her head and looked disgusted, as though I was one of the tawdry, spoiled women the media parades out, like witches deserving a good sacrifice at the stake. Of couse, I realized she was from a country with a strong caste system and different values than my own. Yet, I knew her thoughts were shared by many, if not most women in the world  To walk away from wealth and power and the oppression it carries is hard for many woman to understand, or find any degree of empathy.

In the prelude of the novel my protagonist Alexandra describes how her husband removes her long white coat and smoothes the wrinkles from her dress, a sign of control over her image. When she leaves him he uses his wealth to destroy her finacially and take their children. She eventually becomes an outcast, with no possibility of creating a new life in the old system. She has no choice but to seek the destiny she promised at the shrine, and take the heroine's journey. There is no selfishness in her motives, rather a sacred quest to be true to herself, and by doing so help to illuminate others.

Our forefathers did the same thing, as do all revolutionaries, yet their causes are not generally deemed "selfish". So, why then is a woman to be distained when she seeks the same kind of freedom from oppression and desire for illumination?

We must believe in freedom at any cost if we are to live in the land of the free.  How can we live free is we are slaves to a man or a lifestyle, chained by money and greed. Each woman must ask the same question of herself, whether rich or poor. The blood  men shed as they fight for their freedom is also shed by woman, but invisible to the eye.

Would you chose TRUTH or BEAUTY? If you answered the former you will find beauty. If you answered the latter, there will be no truth, and your beauty will fade as your destiny is lost to time.

THE HOUSE ON BLACK LAKE HAS BEEN ADAPTED TO SCREENPLAY. GO TO HOME PAGE TO VIEW PROVOCATIVE CINEMATIC TRAILER WITH SEXY GOTHIC BEDS.

The following picture is a beautiful example, near perfect, of a gothic bedroom. It is similar tto the archecture of the Sandeley's mansion in Montreal, featured in my novel,  [amazon_link id="0982500203" target="_blank" container="" container_class="" ]The House on Black Lake[/amazon_link] The sexy bedrooms featured in the trailer areGothic Victorian , and authentic, as they were filmed at the historic Chateau Tivoli  (one of the "painted ladies" in Alamo Square) in San Francisco.

I am in the process of creating a list of the most popular dominant romantic heroes. But, for now, trust me when I tell you - Ramey Sandeley, the "hero" in "The House on Black Lake" is  a master of the craft, far more than the trailer on the home page implies. The trailer is only a taste - and there is another character, a certain rock God, Georgie La  Pointe, who will either draw you in or repel you altogether, depending on your taste for very dominant men.

It is my belief that dominant heroes are appealing to women because they create an instant challenge, and the vulnerability payoff is huge. The dominant male is decisive and confident and that takes bravery, passion, intelligence.  It generally always leads to success, and a sense of security for the woman he chooses, no matter how self reliant she may be.  Most women desire being submissive at times and also dominant when the need requires. Also,  there is the excitement of being with a highly opposite version of the female gender and, perhaps, of being forced to do exactly what we truly desire.

The bottom picture is of a dominent male that will never be tamed, and is best left in the wild!

The following clip from the movie "The Phantom of the Opera" proves that there is no gothic story that better incorporates the beauty of the gothic romance. Gerard Butler has never been sexier, and the visuals draw us into the wonderful underworld where everything is possible, and nothing deemed unsavory or untasted.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHAauiJwwmU&feature=related

Miss Representation is a documentary film by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, first screened at the 2011 Sundance Festival that explores women's under-representation in positions of power and influence in America and challenges the limited portrayal of women in mainstream media.

Women are:

3% of clout positions in the mainstream media

3% of 'Fortune 500 CEOs

7% of mainstream film directors

16% of film protagonists

17% of Congress

While women make up 51% of the population

Next time you see a movie, ask yourself . .

How many women to men are in the cast?

How often do the women talk to each other?

How many women appear in non-traditional roles?

How many women writers, directors or producers were involved in making the film?

Information provided from misssrepresentation.org Miss Representation features Barbara Berg, Caroline Heldman, Catherine Hardwicke, Condoleeezza Rice, Cory Booker, Daphne Zuniga, Dianne Feinstein, Dolores Huerta, Gavin Newsom, Geen Davis, Gloria Steinem, Jackson Katz, Jane Fonda, Jean Kilbourne, Jim Steyer, Katie Couric, Lisa Ling, Margaret Cho, Nancg Pelosi, Pat Mitchell, aul Haggis, Rachel Maddow, Rosario Dawson

Other data to consider is that women bear the weight of creating 100% of the human life on this planet. So, shouldn't their voices be heard?

THE HOUSE ON BLACK LAKE HAS BEEN ADAPTED TO SCREENPLAY. GO TO HOME PAGE TO VIEW PROVOCATIVE CINEMATIC TRAILER

During my travels in promoting The House on Black Lake  have spoken to many women frustrated that most romance novel authors cut off heroine age at around 36, an age when most women have only begun to fully mature into their innate beauty and strength. Yet a good number of these authors are well into their 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, and even older.

When I set out to write The House on Black Lake I could not imagine featuring a woman who was not fully mature in my book. All of the women featured in my novel are over forty, and there is an extremely seductive character well into her sixties. In the course of the trilogy that constitutes the entirety of the story of heroine, Alexandra Brighton’s journey, she and the women in her sphere will age with incredible beauty, dignity, strength, and romantic passion.

I do not promote a social structure that demeans women in their prime because they pursue what nature deems their best course, including mating with a young, healthy male. I say no, and so does my heroine.  Alexandra is desired by all of the conflicted males in the tale, and torn between the seductiveness of the younger male and the depth of her intellectual , sexual, and emotional equal, Ramey Sandeley. The elder patriarchal elite, represented by Roger Sandeley, find her both a treasure and threat, as she carries the ultimate power.

We learn in the prelude to Alexandra’s story that she was a beautiful young woman taught to accept the role society had laid out for her. When she suffers a disfiguring affliction after child birth, she makes a vow at St. Andre’s Shrine, “Truth for Beauty” – a promise to follow her divine destiny in return of an unblemished face. As she attempts to follow her chosen path she finds herself demeaned and diminished by society. And when she leaves her powerful, wealthy, controlling husband, the court strips her of her children and financial security. Ultimately, she is left broke and alone. The journey into the underground of Black Lake is her only hope of salvation.

The greatest fear of most mature men is abandonment and failure, and that is why mature women are stripped of their power when they choose to compete with, leave an older man, or cast eyes at younger men.  What is more inconsionable is that women strip themselves of their own and other women’s power by buying into stereotypes and myths, competing with other women, and accepting that beauty and money alone have value. And yet, it is the patriarchal elite who have the most to lose, for they squelch their only hope of a soulmate to nurture them at home and unite to govern the world with humanity and grace.

The House on Black Lake is a woman’s journey through the underground of society, subsequent transformation, and empowerment. The men and women who do not live by society’s rules, the gypsies, witches, and mystics, are Alexandra’s tutors in redefining what constitutes power and beauty.

Strange female creatures are being created in operating rooms all over the world as women accept a twisted notion of what allures, while the guile and determination that defines charm is further buried. Many mature women give up altogether  and live through their daughters. The opposite should be the norm, as young girls must learn from the vibrant females of our world, and not the opposite. They shall earn their place when they have passed through the trials of financial struggle, work, motherhood, sorrow, loss, and as well as travel, adventure, and passionate love.

I yearn for the guidance of the goddesses of the past, and strive to become one worthy of following. I say it’s time for revolution, a revolution of mature heroines storming into modern society, a new breed to lead the younger generations.

Writers need to know what their followers desires. Contact them on their websites if you seek to learn more about powerful females and their adventures.

Scene from trailer/novel where sexy young artist Andre Labat (Tosh Yanez) seduces heroine, Alexandra Brighton, (Anastasia Blackwell)  a mother of two and well into 40's. He is one of three successful and powerful men who vie for her attention.

Another character, Luna Sandeley, is in her 60's with a wealthy husband, a younger lover, and the adoration of many others

Oral interpretation of chapters from "The House on Black Lake" are provided in a series of segments on blocktalkradio. Chapter sixteen may be accessed on link. Also, all previous chapters are archived on site. The entire book will eventually be archived, as well as discussions about themes and the road to publication and creation of cinematic trailer and music videos.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/anastasiablackwell/2011/01/31/anastasia-blackwell-reads-from-the-house-on-black-

Ann Stokes is one of the premiere artists of gothic and fantasy. Her portfolio and pictures of tattoos may be found at http://www.annestokes.com/

In the fantasy realm I also love Michael Parkes http://www.michaelparkesgallery.com/ and Boris Vallego http://www.imaginistix.com/gallery_store.cfm . They have both inspired me with their drawings of powerful female figures. Toward the end of writing "The House on Black Lake" I began to move into elements of fantasy.  I find myself drawn to both  gothic symbols and fantasy as they expand how we view nature and humanity, and most importantly protray women, and their interaction with men and wild mammals in a manner that is supremely sensual, exotic and powerful.