The Matt Xell Blog

Tower of Parlen Min: The Chapter Commentaries Ep 4 & 5

2012-01-03T14:38:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

It's the last month of my day job so I'm busy something stupid yet again but at least I can roll out two more episodes of the Chapter Commentaries for you. Here, have a look:

Cheers and thanks for watching, I really do appreciate the support,

Matt

Tower of Parlen Min: The Chapter Commentaries Ep 2 & 3

2011-12-28T15:35:00.000-08:00

Mina-San!

Here's two more episodes of the Tower of Parlen Min Chapter Commentaries!

Enjoy!

Matt

Tower of Parlen Min: The Chapter Commentaries EP 1

2011-12-19T13:17:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone,

So we're just about mid-way through post-production on the first half of The Chapter Commentaries, so I guess it's safe to post a few and see what you make of it - enjoy!

cheers and thanks for watching!

Matt

It's been a while ... I know, right?

2011-12-19T13:11:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone,

I haven't been what I consider a very good friend for a while now. And to some people ... er - a lot of people, I'm becoming more and more distant. I guess the fortune and glory rat race has made me more and more socially apathetic. It's becoming more and more about business stats, marketing, sales and ROI ... this is not a good thing, because the truth is I need people for wealth, health and love.

So before the next post I just want to take the time to say sorry for not saying 'Hi' more often and telling you what I'm up to these days. For not asking how you are. For not socializing more. Yes, I missed you too ... Megan, Samba and Danny too. Yes, I'll be sure to talk to them in a bit.

What am I listening to right now? Blue Train by Asian Kung-Fu Generation. What's the last good movie I saw? Real Steel, that was execellent! My movie of the year award goes to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. What am reading? Battle Royale by Koshun Takami, it's like Saw vs. Hunger Games, it's really gory. What am I excited about? The Dark Knight Rises trailer ... pure awesomeness!

So what have I been up to? I'm pretty much my day job's b$%*, but during bits of time I get I'm working on a new project; a podcast show called 'Matt Xell: Writer's Advocate' where I promote some of the cool stories I stumble upon on Wattpad.com.Wattpad? It's that one site where people get post and share the stories they write.

Ves? He's in some sort of comma right now ... I can't say too much about that, but I'm still plotting and scheming a bunch of stuff. I still have to tell you about Eslo, Vincent, Willow and Billy first before we can even get to Ves again ... I know it's like forever but I'm working as hard as I possibly can to get the stuff out there.

The Chapter Commentaries videos? Oh - yeah, that's right, it's what I wanted to show you in the next post. So let's get to that, yeah?

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

2011-11-11T10:09:00.000-08:00

Hi'ya everyone!

Today this Matt Xell would just like to take the time to thank everyone that helped me out and supported me during the seemingly ambitious Tower of Parlen Virtual Book Tour that ran from July 24th to October 31st and was an absolute blast!

First to my heroes the book bloggers and reviewers that were super kind and supportive of a virtually unknown author, and took it of their precious time to patiently read a lengthy 345 pages of a book they don't usually read (and a very unusual one at that) filled with cringing typos and grammar mistakes, and (for the love of God, what's wrong with this guy) is not written in the First Person Perspective that's all so cool and trendy these days and just makes a lot of sense. So !!!SUPER THANKS!!! and !!!BIG UP!!! to Vickie for Coma Calm's Corner, Shanna from A Book Vacation, Precious from Fragments of Life, Rebecca from Everything To Do With Books, Ashlin from Baffling, Bonkers, and Brilliant Books, Ambur from Burning.x.Impossibly.x.Bright, Zakiya from Butterfly Feet Walking on Books, Krista from Cubicle Blindness, Michelle from Book Briefs, Gina from The Bucket List, Lauren from Books From a Shelf, Erica from Booked In Chico, Lydia from Gardening Literature, Sabrina, Suzanne and Akansha from Cup of Tea Reviews, Dana from Dana Does Read, Benji from The Non Reluctant Reader, Kristin from Better Read Than Dead, Destiny from Green Lilipads, Sarah from Book Saur's Reviews, Amy Jones; the author of The Soul Quest Trilogy, Michelle and Marissa from Novels on the Run, Jessica from Hoplessly Devoted Bibliophile, Sharli from Entre Libros, Olivia from Magical Books, Leah from The Kings and Queens of YA, Steph from Short & Sweet, Katie from Mon Palais, Rabiah from Confessions of a Readaholic, Nevey Berry from Le Vanity Victorienne, Joselin from Ryning Books, Reut from Reutreads, Trisha from YA Bound, Rida from Raindrop Reflections, Kimberly from Read Now Sleep Later, Donna from Book Lover’s Hideaway, Anya from House Miller, Cassandra from Book & Movie Dimension, Lulu from Lulu The Bookworm, Lee from From Page One, Mayara from The Brazilian Bookworm, Linda from Most Important Letter, Eliora Vespera from Scholar Berry, Gina from My Precious, Velvet from Vvb32 reads, Lisa from Turning Pages, Heather from Earth's Book Nook, Hiba from WovenStrands and Missy from Missy Reads and Reviews. There wouldn't have been a tour to begin with without the consideration and kindness you guys showed to Ves and there aren't many words that explain the GRATITUDE and LOVE I have for you guys, cheers :)

Second, I'd like to thank everyone that attended the tour's event page on Facebook; Daniel K, Chilly, Chimwasu, Kerrie, Pace, Zak, Lydia, Kaya, Ken, Charmboy, Joseph, Kristin, Sing'ombe, Larissa, Bay, Aine, Vaezi, Keely, McHotsa, Nathan, Francisca, Sharli, Farai, Zakiya, Mulundu, Stephanie, Celester, Lu-Marie, Selena, Sabrina, Twanga, Mdyela, Chibale, Mufumbi, Mahonga, Destiny, Jade, Michelle, Woven, Dana, Sagar, Gina, Dennis, Mayara, Kachepa, Trisha, Clyde and Vickie. Thank you, thank you, thank you so much guys, I won't forget the support you gave me and I hope to return it whenever I can!!!

Third, I'd like to thank my six !!!UBER-AWESOME!!! (yes, of course that's a word!) best-friends, my master mind group; Samba Yonga my brilliant and lovely editor, Megan Grant the beautiful 'Jane of all trades' behind the current iteration of TPM, Danny Mexen who I had to drag out of the Copperbelt to help me with the Chapter Commentaries, Kafula aka BBD who helped us shoot and direct the videos and trailer, the inspirational Randis Albion whose awe-mazing cover continues to be paramount to the marketing of the book and The Red Plus himself who pretty much organised the whole tour and ran the whole show. You guys have kept me going through this hellish project, focused on the goal at hand and ever passionate about telling Ves' story to the world! There seems to be an infinitely long way to go before the Trials of Golgotha and I hope you guys will be there to see me through it!

So sorry if I left anyone out, if I did it's because I'm immensely stupid and like Ryan, I don't really know what's going on - heh!

Cheers and thanks again people,

Matt

The Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour: Day 43

2011-10-31T13:48:00.000-07:00

Happy All Hallow’s Eve people! It’s the 43rd and final day of the Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour. Whoo! I guess we pulled it off! And I couldn’t have done it without your excellent support ... yes even you Danny. So here’s our last stop:

1. Review: Midnight Twilight's Book Blog - http://midnighttwilightsbookblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

And here’s a final recap of where we’ve been throughout the tour:

1. Guest post: Mon Palais - http://monpalais.tumblr.com/post/12113160273/character-bio-vikey-from-tower-of-parlen-min

2. Guest post: Everything To Do With Books - http://everythingtodowithbooks.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-matt-xell-on-jacobius-trent.html

3.Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 2, Part 2 - http://mattxell.blogspot.com/2011/10/ves-and-good-doctor-episode-2-part-2.html

4. Guest post: CubicleBlindness Book Reviews - http://cubicleblindness.blogspot.com/2011/10/character-interview-with-matt-xell.html

5. Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 2, Part 1 - http://mattxell.blogspot.com/2011/10/ves-and-good-doctor-episode-2-part-1.html

6. Guest post: Ink Scratchers - http://inkscratchers.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-and-book-trailer-frm-matt.html

7. Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 1, Part 3 - http://mattxell.blogspot.com/2011/10/ves-and-good-doctor-episode-1-part-3.html

8. Guest post: Book Briefs - http://bookbriefs.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-autho-matt-xell.html

9. Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 1, Part 2 - http://mattxell.blogspot.com/2011/10/ves-and-good-doctor-episode-1-part-2.html

10. Guest post: Burning X Impossibly X Bright - http://burningximpossiblyxbright.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-blog-tour-guest.html

11. Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 1, Part 1 - http://mattxell.blogspot.com/2011/10/ves-and-good-doctor-episode-1-part-1.html

12. Guest post: The Non Reluctant Reader - http://readerbenji.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-from-matt-xell.html

13. Interview: Butterfly Feet Walking On Life - http://walkingbutterflyfeet.blogspot.com/2011/10/interview-with-matt-xell.html

14. Review: Butterfly Feet Walking On Life - http://walkingbutterflyfeet.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

15. Interview and Giveaway: Earth's Book Nook - http://earthsbooknook.blogspot.com/2011/10/matt-xell-interview-and-book-giveaway.html

16. Guest post: vvb32 Reads - http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/2011/10/sword-challenge-by-matt-xell.html

17. Review: Woven Myst Book Mystique - http://wovenstrands.wordpress.com/2011/10/09/the-tower-of-parlen-min/

18. Interview and Giveaway: All the Days of - http://allthedaysof.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-and-giveaway-with-matt.html

19. Review: Turning Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/book-review-53-tower-of-parlen-min.html

20.Review: Missy's Read's & Reviews - http://missyreadsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-reviewhttpwwwblogge.html

21.Interview and Giveaway: Turing Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-matt-xell-giveaway.html

22. Giveaway: A Muggles Magical Book Blog - http://lusbookblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min.html

23. Review: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/book-review-tower-of-parlen-min.html

24. Interview: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/author-interview-tower-of-parlen-min.html

25. Giveaway: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

26. Interview and Giveaway: Book & Movie Dimension - http://bmdimension.blogspot.com/2011/09/interview-giveaway-with-matt-xell.html

27. Review and Giveaway: Most Important Letter - http://mostimportantletter.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/blog-tour-review-giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell/

28. Review: From Page One - http://frompageone.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

29. MXL Interview and Giveaway: Brazilian Book Worm - http://brazilianbookworm.blogspot.com/2011/09/unread-interview-and-giveaway-matt-xell.html

30. Book Review: Reut Reads - http://reutreads.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

31. Book Review: The Book Worm is Here! - http://lulu-bookaddict.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-for-tower-of-parlen-min.html

32. Book Review and Giveaway: House Millar - http://housemillar.host56.com/tower-of-parlen-min-tour-stop/

33.Review: Raindrop Reflections - http://www.raindropreflections.com/682/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

34.Review: Ryning Books - http://ryningbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

35.Giveaway: Ryning Books - http://ryningbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

36.Review: YA Bound - http://yabound.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell_27.html

37.Review and Giveaway: Confessions of A Readaholic - http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

38.Review and Giveaway: Mon Palais - http://monpalais.tumblr.com/post/9198293692/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell

39.Review: Steph: Short & Sweet - http://steph-shortnsweet.blogspot.com/2011/08/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

40.Giveaway: The Non Reluctant Reader - http://readerbenji.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-giveaway-blog-tour.html

41.Review: The Kings and Queens of YA - http://leahsyabookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

42.Review: Magical Books - http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-reivew.html

43.Review: Bookedinchico - http://bookedinchico.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell.html

And that’s it -- it’s been a blast! Let’s do this again sometime after the release of Eclipse Over Atuwis Wood, yeah? ... Maybe ... no?

Cheers and thanks!

Matt XD

The Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour: Day 42

2011-10-30T12:40:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, it’s day 42 of the Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour! Thanks for stopping by! Here’s where we’re at today:

1. Guest post: Mon Palais - http://monpalais.tumblr.com/post/12113160273/character-bio-vikey-from-tower-of-parlen-min

And here’s the recap of where we’ve been so far:

1. Guest post: Everything To Do With Books - http://everythingtodowithbooks.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-matt-xell-on-jacobius-trent.html

2.Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 2, Part 2 - http://mattxell.blogspot.com/2011/10/ves-and-good-doctor-episode-2-part-2.html

3. Guest post: CubicleBlindness Book Reviews - http://cubicleblindness.blogspot.com/2011/10/character-interview-with-matt-xell.html

4. Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 2, Part 1 - http://mattxell.blogspot.com/2011/10/ves-and-good-doctor-episode-2-part-1.html

5. Guest post: Ink Scratchers - http://inkscratchers.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-and-book-trailer-frm-matt.html

6. Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 1, Part 3 - http://mattxell.blogspot.com/2011/10/ves-and-good-doctor-episode-1-part-3.html

7. Guest post: Book Briefs - http://bookbriefs.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-autho-matt-xell.html

8. Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 1, Part 2 - http://mattxell.blogspot.com/2011/10/ves-and-good-doctor-episode-1-part-2.html

9. Guest post: Burning X Impossibly X Bright - http://burningximpossiblyxbright.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-blog-tour-guest.html

10. Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 1, Part 1 - http://mattxell.blogspot.com/2011/10/ves-and-good-doctor-episode-1-part-1.html

11. Guest post: The Non Reluctant Reader - http://readerbenji.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-from-matt-xell.html

12. Interview: Butterfly Feet Walking On Life - http://walkingbutterflyfeet.blogspot.com/2011/10/interview-with-matt-xell.html

13. Review: Butterfly Feet Walking On Life - http://walkingbutterflyfeet.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

14. Interview and Giveaway: Earth's Book Nook - http://earthsbooknook.blogspot.com/2011/10/matt-xell-interview-and-book-giveaway.html

15. Guest post: vvb32 Reads - http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/2011/10/sword-challenge-by-matt-xell.html

16. Review: Woven Myst Book Mystique - http://wovenstrands.wordpress.com/2011/10/09/the-tower-of-parlen-min/

17. Interview and Giveaway: All the Days of - http://allthedaysof.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-and-giveaway-with-matt.html

18. Review: Turning Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/book-review-53-tower-of-parlen-min.html

19.Review: Missy's Read's & Reviews - http://missyreadsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-reviewhttpwwwblogge.html

20.Interview and Giveaway: Turing Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-matt-xell-giveaway.html

21. Giveaway: A Muggles Magical Book Blog - http://lusbookblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min.html

22. Review: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/book-review-tower-of-parlen-min.html

23. Interview: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/author-interview-tower-of-parlen-min.html

24. Giveaway: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

25. Interview and Giveaway: Book & Movie Dimension - http://bmdimension.blogspot.com/2011/09/interview-giveaway-with-matt-xell.html

26. Review and Giveaway: Most Important Letter - http://mostimportantletter.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/blog-tour-review-giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell/

27. Review: From Page One - http://frompageone.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

28. MXL Interview and Giveaway: Brazilian Book Worm - http://brazilianbookworm.blogspot.com/2011/09/unread-interview-and-giveaway-matt-xell.html

29. Book Review: Reut Reads - http://reutreads.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

30. Book Review: The Book Worm is Here! - http://lulu-bookaddict.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-for-tower-of-parlen-min.html

31. Book Review and Giveaway: House Millar - http://housemillar.host56.com/tower-of-parlen-min-tour-stop/

32.Review: Raindrop Reflections - http://www.raindropreflections.com/682/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

33.Review: Ryning Books - http://ryningbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

34.Giveaway: Ryning Books - http://ryningbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

35.Review: YA Bound - http://yabound.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell_27.html

36.Review and Giveaway: Confessions of A Readaholic - http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

37.Review and Giveaway: Mon Palais - http://monpalais.tumblr.com/post/9198293692/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell

38.Review: Steph: Short & Sweet - http://steph-shortnsweet.blogspot.com/2011/08/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

39.Giveaway: The Non Reluctant Reader - http://readerbenji.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-giveaway-blog-tour.html

40.Review: The Kings and Queens of YA - http://leahsyabookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

41.Review: Magical Books - http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-reivew.html

42.Review: Bookedinchico - http://bookedinchico.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell.html

Cheers and thanks for the support!

Matt

Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 2, Part 2

2011-10-29T12:10:00.000-07:00

Wender was serving the orphans their lunch when Miss Twisty called her into her office. As she entered the office, her heart skipped a beat when she saw the person seated in the chair in front of Miss Twisty’s desk.

“Wender,” Miss Twisty said, “this young man is Dr Armando Elrick.”
“Good – good morning doctor,” Wender swallowed.
“Good morning,” Dr Elrick said with a grin.
“Dr Elrick is a child psychologist, a very famous one, I hear. His here to do some research for a newspaper article he’s writing on the lives of the children at the orphanage. He’ll be here the whole day and I want you to show him around the orphanage and introduce him to the children.” Miss Twisty explained.
“Yes ma’am, I understand,” Wender said.

Dr Elrick stood up and followed Wender out of Miss Twisty’s office.

“This was your great idea?” Wender said, angrily to the doctor when they were a fair distance away from Miss. Twisty’s office.
“Yes,” he replied. “Please play along. I’m already late, let’s avoid wasting anymore time. Show me around this place quickly then take me to where Ves is.”

Wender nodded and gave the doctor a quick tour of the orphanage and introduced him to the other caretakers whom he interviewed about the difficulties of working with the children and gave them some tips on how to deal with the children in better and effective ways. Then Wender took him to the playground and introduced him to some of the children and some of the teens. Wender had to admit that the doctor did get on great with the children who seemed to like him almost instantly; he played with them for a while, taking notes in his journal every now and then.

“Where is Ves?” he asked Wender after a while.
“Over there,” Wender said, pointing at furthest part of the playground.

Ves was seated in one of the corners sketching something on a sheet of paper. A girl, about his age with short wavy brown hair, was seated next to him.

“Who’s the girl?” Dr Elrick asked.
“That’s Milly Hempshed,” Wender told him.
“Ves’ girl friend?”
“Doctor! Ves and Milly are only 8 and 9! But if you must know, Milly is rather fond of Ves and likes to think of him as a brother.”

At that exact moment, they saw Ves suddenly yell at Milly, gesturing at her to go away. And Milly left him.

“Ves no the other hand, as you already know, dislikes anyone who tries to get close to him,” Wender said dully.

Dr Elrick continued chatting and playing with the children (though he kept an eye on Ves) until the sun set. He stayed for dinner, seating himself at one of the tables amongst the children (to have a clear view of Ves who was seated on an adjacent table) and told them stories of his own childhood on an island off the coast of the Etrikan continent. Milly sat next to Ves, talking to him animatedly though he paid her no attention; playing with the vegetables on his plate.

The doctor was turning his head away when Ves suddenly dropped his fork on his plate, slapping a hand to his forehead and wincing in pain.

“What is it?” Milly asked. “Are you okay?”
“It’s my head,” Ves told her. “… It’s about to happen again.”

The doctor furrowed his brows wondering what Ves meant. What was about to happen again? He looked down at his watch momentarily; the time read a quarter to nine.

Ves stood up from the table.
“I’m going to bed,” he told Milly.
“Alright, goodnight then,” she said.

Dr Elrick stood up and followed Ves out of the dinning hall, down two hallways towards the boys’ dormitories. He kept his distance, watching as Ves stumbled down the hallway holding his head, groaning in pain.

Ves kicked off his shoes when he got to the dorm and collapsed onto his bed. Dr Elrick watched silently from the door as Ves writhed for a moment, holding his head tightly … then he stopped. The doctor watched him sit up look around the room with a dazed look on his face.

“So that’s how it happens,” Dr Elrick spoke.

Ves looked up at him with raised eyebrows.

“Who are you?” he asked, not recognizing him.
“My name is Armando Elrick,” the doctor replied.
“Do you work here?”
“No,”
“Then you don’t belong here. Please leave.”

Wender walked into the room at the moment.

“What’s going on?” she asked.
“W – Wender, Wender,” Ves said, pointing at the doctor, “this man … this strange man came in just now and —!”

Ves broke off. He frowned at the doctor.

“Wait … I think I know him,” he said.
“Yes, you do,” Dr Elrick said.
“You’re that doctor, aren’t you?”
“Yes,”
“… What are you doing here?
“At the orphanage? I’ve been here all day”
“… Really?”
“It’s true, Wender said. “Dr Elrick has been here since the afternoon.”

Ves looked down at the floor, frowning in contemplation.

“It … must have happened again,” he said.
“What must have happened?” Wender asked.
“He lost his memory just now,” Dr Elrick said.

Ves nodded.

Dr Elrick walked over to Ves’ bed and sat down next to him.

“Ves,” he said, “can you tell us exactly how it happens?”
“No,” Ves said, shaking his head. “You’re just going to tell the others so they can make fun of me and say bad things about me.”
“Why on earth would I do that?” the doctor laughed.
“I dunno, you people are always doing things like that,”
“I don’t think your memory loss is funny. I only want to help you fix it.”
“I don’t need help. I’m fine,”
“Do you really believe that? You can’t honestly tell me that you want to live your life like this … always forgetting the important things. No, I don’t think so. It must get on your nerves often, always waking up and not knowing a thing; where you are, why you’re there … that nerve-racking feeling of disorientation. It must be devilishly frustrating.”

Ves didn’t say anything for a while.

“Fine, I’ll tell you,” Ves said, dully to the doctor. “But not Wender,” he added shaking his head.
“Very well,” Dr Elrick said with a nod. “Wender please leave Ves and I alone for a moment.”

Wender nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her.

“I … get these painful headaches everyday,” Ves explained, “then I get dizzy … and I stop feeling and hearing anything … then it just goes, my memory.
“Sometimes the headaches are really bad … I just … pass out. Some memories do come back, some stuff comes back all mixed up and I can’t make any sense of it. I like to draw, memories come back much faster when I’m doing that. Pictures, sounds, smells and some … feelings … bring back memories. Then it happens again … and everything just goes again,”
“Its kind of like a jigsaw puzzle that you’re in the process solving,” Dr Elrick said, “and just when you’re almost done putting all the pieces together something comes and just breaks it up and throws the pieces all over the place. Then you have to start all over again.”

Ves nodded.

“Do you really think you can help me?” he asked the doctor.
“Yes. We have to try or else it could drive you mad someday,” Dr Elrick replied
“I don’t think I’ll go mad … I don’t think about it too much, so I’m just fine,” Ves said. “And I don’t think you can fix it.”
“Really?” Dr Elrick laughed a little. “Will you at least let me try?”

Ves smiled to himself.

“Whatever, I don’t really care,” he said.

Some of the other boys came into the dorm to sleep. The doctor looked at his watch and sighed.

“It’s late and I should be going now,” he said. “Goodnight, Ves.”

The doctor stood up and left the room.

“So, what now?” asked Wender who was waiting for the doctor in the hallway.
“I need to go home and get some sleep,” Dr Elrick yawned. “But before I leave I’d like to have a word with Miss Twisty.

* * *

When Dr Elrick spoke with Miss Twisty, he thanked her for letting him spend the day at the orphanage. He told her how much he’d enjoyed talking with other caretakers and playing with the children. He told her that he had learned a lot from the experience and congratulated her on doing an excellent job of running the orphanage, and she, of course, was flattered.

And then of course he asked about Ves.

“Ah, yes. I thought you’d take notice of him sooner or later,” Miss Twisty said. “Ves is a very … special boy.”
“Yes,” Dr Elrick nodded. “Wender told me that he has an Autism Spectrum Disorder.”
“Yes, a condition he’s had since he was born.”
“Well, Miss Twisty, I must tell you that according to what I’ve seen and heard … I don’t believe that Ves is Autistic at all.”

Miss Twisty raised her eyebrows slightly.

“Oh?” she said. “And what do you think is Ves’ case then doctor?”

The doctor cleared his throat and leaned forward in his seat.

“I believe that what Ves has is a terrible memory loss disorder,” he said clearly.

Miss Twisty frowned.

“A memory loss disorder?” she repeated.

Dr Elrick chose his following words carefully.

“Many of caretakers have told me that Ves has always been a rather forgetful boy and that this forgetfulness is one of the reasons he’s so hard to teach anything like reading or writing. Of course, some of the caretakers think he just pretends to have forgotten, and that often he pretends to not know certain people,” the doctor said. “But this is not a case of simple forgetfulness; it absolutely is a memory loss disorder of likes that I have never seen or heard of.”
“But Doctor, how can you be sure of this?” Miss Twisty asked.
“I spoke to Ves himself. He told me all about it … even how it happens."

Miss Twisty was staring at the doctor in disbelief, a hand over her mouth.

“Ves told you about it?” she asked.
“Yes ma’am,” Dr Elrick replied.
“You really must have a special way with children, Doctor,” Miss Twisty said. “Ves rarely opens up to anyone.”
“Thank you ma’am,” Dr Elrick said, bowing his head and then leaning back. “If you’d allow me ma’am, I’d like to examine Ves for a whole day at my practice. I think I can help him and I’d love to.”

Miss Twisty sat in silence for a while, contemplating. The doctor suspected that she was in shock at everything he’d told just told her, but she didn’t let it show. Then she said finally:

“Very Well … I’ll have Wender bring him to your practice tomorrow morning.”

* * *

Wender and Ves arrived at Astra’s Angel at half past 8 o’clock the following morning. They found Dr Elrick waiting for them at the front desk.

“So why exactly do you want to examine Ves for a whole day again?” Wender asked the doctor.
“I want to know when exactly he loses his memory and I want an MRI scan of his brain at that exact moment,” the doctor replied.

Apart from lunch in the city, they spent the whole day in Dr Elrick’s office. Wender told Dr Elrick to give Ves a pencil and some sheets of paper to sketch on.

“Amazing,” Dr Elrick mused as he saw one of Ves’ sketches. “The illustrations are so life like. Your extraordinary art skills must be linked to some process in your brain that tries to compensate for the faulty storage of memories.”
“Sometimes … I don’t remember what I draw. Like this picture here,” Ves said handing the doctor his latest sketch. “I don’t know when this happened.”

The sketch showed a girl of about 10 years, playing with her skipping rope in the backyard of a suburban home.

“I think that girl's name is Julie or something,” Ves said.
“Interesting,” the doctor said.

At 8 pm, just when they were about to go out for dinner, Ves told them that his head had started stinging. Dr Elrick rushed him back into the building, to the lab. He laid Ves on the platform of the MRI machine and told him to stay still for a while, and then he turned on the machine.

“What do you see?” Wender asked Dr Elrick as they stood by the monitor showing images of Ves’ brain.
“There’s a lot of brain activity at the moment,” he told her with squinted eyes “… a rapid build-up of neural-electric energy. I don’t understand why.”

Ves started writhing and shaking his head in pain, making the image of his brain on the screen unclear.

“Ves, please try to stay still for just a short whi –!”

The doctor didn’t finish his sentence for Ves stopped moving completely that moment; he’d fainted.

“… Oh my,” Dr Elrick muttered looking at the image on the screen of the monitor. “This is something else.”
“What? What do you see?” Wender asked, frantically.

Ves stirred and opened his eyes a minute later.

“W - Where?” he groaned.

Wender left the doctor’s side and went to Ves. Dr Elrick turned off the MRI machine after printing some of the last scans of Ves’ brain.

“… Wender? Where are we?” Ves said sitting up.
“It’s okay Ves, you’re safe,” Wender told him.

Dr Elrick walked towards Ves and bent down until he was level with him. He pulled out a tiny torch from his lab coat and shined it in Ves’ eyes.

“What … are you doing?” Ves asked.
“Your pupils are dilated. Your breathing is labored,” Dr Elrick said, putting a hand on his chest. “Your heartbeat is fast but is normalizing. And you’re extremely disoriented … dizzy, am I right?”
“Yes … but who are you?” Ves said.
“Doctor, I think he needs to lie down,” Wender said.
“Yes. There’s a bed in one of the other rooms. Let’s leave this place,” Dr Elrick said.

After putting Ves to sleep, Wender and Dr Elrick returned to his office. As they were sitting down, Mrs. Wesley walked into the room.

“Working late?” she asked.
“Yes,” the doctor replied. “And you?”
“On my way home, actually. I was just locking up my office,” Mrs. Wesley said. “What’s the latest on Ves Asirin’s case?”
“It’s … almost unbelievable. Have a look at these three MRI scans.”

Dr Elrick handed Mrs. Wesley the printed images of Ves’ brain.

“What am I looking at?” Mrs. Wesley asked.
“The first scan was taken about a minute before Ves lost his memory,” Dr Elrick told her. “What do you see?”
“Unusually high levels of brain activity, especially in the Medial Temporal Lobe and surrounding cortices.”
“Yes. Now look at the next scan and tell me what you see?”
“A very significant decrease in brain activity. And, my god, these dark areas; the entire hippocampal formation; CA fields, denstrate gyrus and subicular complex … and the parahippocumpal corties, the entorhinal and perirhinal … these parts of the brain are completely 'shut down'!”
“Exactly,”
“Armando, how can this be? What exactly happened?”
“Explain it to me as well,” Wender cut in, “in a way I can understand please. I don’t know any parts of the brain.”

The doctor took in a deep breath then exhaled.

“I’ll explain this as slowly and clearly as I can. I’m still trying to make sense of it myself,” Dr Elrick said. “Wender, what time did Ves wake up this morning?”
“It was half past 7,”
“And what time was it when he complained about his headache tonight,”
“Around 8 o’clock,”
“And yesterday the headache started at a quarter to 9; I was watching him,”

Mrs. Wesley shrugged in confusion.

“And what does that all mean?” she asked.
“It means that everyday, from the moment that Ves wakes up, it takes about 10 to15 hours for his memory to fail. And I suspect that this happens every 10-15 hours regardless of whether he’s awake or asleep.”
“About two times in 24 hours?”
“Possibly. And at this 10th or 15th hour, Ves has a migraine attack caused by a mysterious build up of neural-electric energy in his head, which is most active in the Medial Temporal Lobe; the hippocampal formation, which constitutes the parts in the brain that many scientists and psychologists believe to be responsible for storage and recollection of memory. This surge of neural-electric energy build up ends, of course, with a system wide ‘blackout’ that I believe not only shuts down those parts of his brain but also erases most of the new memories that have not yet been permanently stored. And as you may or may not know, it takes up to several months for memories to be stored permanently.”
“For a simpler explanation, allow me to use the analogy of a Personal Computer that you’ve been using all day without saving any data to the hard disk. Then there comes a powerful electric surge that crashes your computer and erases all the data temporarily stored in the Random Access Memory … even worse, it partially fries your hard disk and corrupts some of the data stored there too. Imagine if that happened to you everyday, every 10 to15 hours.”

Wender shook her head and started crying.

“That sounds … so terrible,” she sobbed.

Dr Elrick sighed, took off his glasses, slumped back in his chair and closed his eyes.

“This is beyond me,” he said. “I’ve never heard or read of any case like this.”

Mrs. Wesley placed the printed images on the doctor’s desk and scratched her hair.

“… I have,” she said.

The doctor opened his eyes and sat up straight.

“What did you say?” he asked Mrs. Wesley.
“I said I’ve heard a case like this … several of them actually,” she replied.
“When? Where?”

Mrs. Wesley exhaled and put a hand on Wender’s shoulder to comfort her.

“There was a string of such strange cases over 10 years ago. You won’t have heard of them because they were hushed up by the government,” Mrs. Wesley explained
“The church of Orem?” Wender asked.
“Not just the church,” Mrs. Wesley said. “Governments of the Opus Empra, the United Atlantic States, Ire Country, Nihon and many other countries as well,”
“But why?”
“I don’t know it remains a mystery to this day.”

Dr Elrick frowned.

“How did you hear about these cases, Rita?” he asked.
“The same way I heard about the secret auction for your contract, Armando. I have my sources,” Mrs. Wesley replied.

Mrs. Wesley looked at her watch and let out a little squeal.

“Oh, my! it’s gotten really late. I have to get home. I don’t trust my husband with my kids; he likes to spoil them with lots of unhealthy junk food,” she said. “Quickly Armando, give me a pen and paper.”

The doctor did as he was told and Mrs. Wesley scribbled a name and an address on the paper then handed it back to the doctor. Then she turned on her heel and walked off.

“Dr Roland Emerich?” Dr Elrick said reading from the note.
“He’s a retired Neurologist, he worked on some of the cases,” Mrs. Wesley said as she was walking out of the door. “I believe he’s the man you’re looking for … if you want to know more.”

* * *

Roland Emerich lived on the outskirts of the city, an hour and half’s drive to the district of Veramil. His house was a neat 19th century cottage surrounded by a large and colorful garden with a myriad species of flowers, some of them exotic. An orchard of trees loomed in the backyard.

When the cab that Wender, Ves and Dr Elrick had taken drove down the driveway to front of the cottage, they saw Roland with a hose watering a flowerbed in front of the porch. He was an old bearded and bolding man in his late 60s. Dr Elrick was the first one out of the cab; he strode towards Roland and held out a hand to greet him.

“Good afternoon, Dr Emerich,” he greeted
“No, it’s just Roland now,” Roland said, shaking Dr Elrick’s hand. “I’m not a doctor anymore.”
“Forgive me, Roland,” Dr Elrick apologized. “My name is Armando Elrick.”
“Ah, yes. Rita’s protégé. Come to pay a visit to your old masters, eh?” Roland chuckled.

Roland turned to see Wender and Ves coming out of the car. As he got a proper look at Ves he dropped his hose, his eyes widening in shock … or rather disbelief.

“Roland? Is anything wrong?” Dr Elrick asked.

Roland quickly looked away from Ves and composed himself, grinning at the doctor.

“Stupid Roland, where are your manners,” he said to himself. “Please come inside.”

He led them into the cottage, to the living room and when they’d sat down, Dr Elrick introduced Wender and Ves. Then he told Roland the reason why they’d come to see him, going into detail about Ves’ condition.

“Yes, you’re quite right in assuming that I’ve heard of such a case,” Roland said. “And of course Rita Wesley, who would know all about it because of her sniffing around my files at the old hospital where we worked together, is the one who told you that I’d worked on some of these cases.”
“What can you tell us about them?” Dr Elrick asked.

Roland sighed, turning to look at Ves for a moment.

“First we’ll have some tea,” he said, “then I’ll talk.

He stood up and left for the kitchen. He returned some 10 minutes later carrying a tray with a steaming kettle of tea, some teacups on saucers and a plate full of cookies.

“My wife baked these cookies just before she left for the city,” Roland told them “She really loves to bake. She went to buy ingredients for a cake she’s making for my nephew’s birthday.”

Roland placed the tray on the table and Wender stood up to serve them. Roland didn’t drink any tea or eat any of the cookies, though, he just sat with his fingers crossed under his chin watching Ves, his eyes were almost narrowed.

When they were done with their tea, Roland kept his promise, clearing his throat to tell his story.

“Ten years ago when I was at the height of my career, I and several other prominent neurologists, scientists, medical doctors and psychologists of the time were summoned by a secret council consisting of the heads of states of the three world powers: Enger Country, the U.AS and the Opus Empra. We were tasked by this council to examine 12 children aged between 4 and 7, gathered from around the world, who were suffering from some mysterious mental illnesses. Of what importance the children were to this council, we were never told. We were to find out what exactly was wrong with these children and report back to the council as soon as possible.

“Of course the first logical steps were to conduct MRI scans of their brains or operate on their brains and look for physical brain damage. But these children … had no brain damage … all that we did record were high levels of neural-electrical energy in their brains, the cause of which we could not discern.

“The psychologists were just as baffled. All of their ‘mental hypnosis’ and other psychological tests were inconclusive.

“These mental illnesses had strange effects on the children. Some could not speak, some couldn’t see, some couldn’t hear anything, feel anything or walk even though all the parts of their bodies that served these functions were perfectly healthy.

“While we were arguing with each other over our theories of what was happening to them, one by one, the children suddenly started dying of strokes …. They were all dead within 2 weeks; their brains just gave out. The secret council sent us home soon after and had us swear an oath not to disclose any information on the children’s cases to the public.

“A year went by. In that time after, I heard of many stories around the world of children aged 4 to 7 dying of mysterious incurable body dysfunctions. The media and the public thought nothing of them … but I knew these cases were similar to those of the secret council’s 12 children, after carefully looking into those stories I found that I was right.

“Then the secret council came for me again in the summer of 1994. They wanted me and four others to examine a black Etrikan boy about 8 or 9 years old. Upon first seeing the boy, we thought there was nothing wrong with him until of course we did MRI scans of his brain saw that his brain too had high levels of neural electric energy. But he was fine, really; he could talk, walk, see, feel normally …. But a week later he started having seizures. Then he stopped talking, though this, we found was a personal choice of his. When I tried to force him to speak, he said only in his native Etrikan language, ‘The old enemies seek to learn my secrets … but I shan’t tell a single soul. I’ll speak only to the High Master of Orem and the Seven.’ He repeated these words over and over again to anyone who talked to him. And finally he got his wish; some Orem Knights came to collect him one day and took him to see the High Master, I never saw him again.

“I hear that he stopped speaking completely after he’d seen the High Master … well, at least not in any language that normal people can hear. They say he speaks only Kapriseik now, the language of the angels. I also heard that he became like the High-spirited, more like the High Master, with all three great eyes; red, blue and green.”
“Roland,” Dr Elrick asked with a slight frown, “could this boy you’re speaking of be Orem church’s Grand Paladin?”
“You mean Dret Morbis?” Wender cut in excitedly.
“Yes, that’s what he calls himself these days. Back then he was called Lato,” Roland told them. “Five years after they took Lato to see the High Master, the church called on me yet again, this time they came to see me personally … with another boy. They were particularly interested in this boy’s case more than any of the other children … he was extremely well guarded. But … unfortunately, like the other children, I could not help him.”

Roland slumped back in his chair and smiled looking at Ves who, uninterested in Roland’s story, had fallen asleep, leaning his head against Wender’s shoulder.

“You said this young lad has a memory disorder?” Roland asked Dr Elrick.
“Yes,” the doctor replied.
“Hmm … that’s very interesting,” Roland said. “He was only 4 years when I last saw him. He couldn’t speak then … he didn’t even seem to be aware of anyone but himself, living in his own self-centered reality, that hasn’t changed much. I suppose that’s why they settled with notion of him having an Autism Spectrum Disorder.”

Dr Elrick raised his eyes for a moment, then he smiled in full understanding.

“But of course … Ves Asirin is the boy the church brought to you 5 years ago,” he said.
“Roland, is that true?” Wender gasped in surprise.
“Yes,” Roland said. “Back then the constant high levels of neural-electrical energy is all we could see on the scans of his brain. I was certain that he would die soon … he used to have such terrible seizures that only stopped when he was sedated. It really is a miracle that he’s alive … even more miraculous is the way his brain has learned to discharge the surges of neural-electrical energy … shutting off parts of the brain and then restarting. His memory loss is an unfortunate, though necessary payoff.”

Dr Elrick exhaled and closed his eyes for a moment, realizing that there was no permanent way to heal Ves’ memory … realizing that that brain process was now as vital to Ves as breathing in and out … and that it was for Ves a healthy process.

“Roland,” Dr Elrick began, “you said that you and the other doctors 10 years ago had theories concerning what caused the unusual high levels of neural-electrical energy in the 12 children. I’d like to hear your theory … what do you think happened to those children?”

Roland cleared his throat before he spoke.

“We, men of science,” he said, “ know very well now and cannot deny or pretend that this world that we live in is full of many strange, mysterious and unexplainable forces … supernatural forces; the High-spirited, Wicca, alchemic transmutation, Spirits … and even angels.”
“You think that something supernatural was responsible for what happened to the children?” Dr Elrick asked with a look of confusion.
“Something … or someone,” Roland said. “Someone who, like the church and the secret council of world governments, knew of the importance of those children … someone who wanted them dead.”

The second those last words left Roland’s mouth, the door bell rang.

“Excuse me,” Roland said.

He stood up and walked out of the living room to answer the door.

“Well now,” boomed Roland’s voice from the front door, “if it isn’t good old Elanora Twisty!”

Wender’s eyes widened in shock and she turned to face the hallway leading from the front door.

“Who are you calling old?” said Miss Twisty, angrily. “You’ve grown old yourself, you git!”
“Ah!” exclaimed Roland again. “And you lieutenant Eslo, came along as well!”
“Please, sir,” said the man Roland had addressed, “Eslo is fine, just Eslo.”
“Still just Eslo? No surname to go with it, eh?” Roland chuckled.
“Roland, invite us in you miserable nut!” Miss Twisty snapped.
“Yes, of course. So sorry, forgot my manners once again.”

Roland, Miss Twisty and the Orem Knight whose name was Eslo entered the living room.

“ Good afternoon ma’am,” Wender said, standing up and bowing her at Miss Twisty.
“Afternoon Wender and you Dr Elrick,” Miss Twisty replied.

The doctor kindly bowed his head.

“Ma’am this is a surprise, what are you doing here?” Wender asked.
“Eslo and I had gone to Astra’s Angel to collect you and Ves. When we arrived there Mrs. Wesley informed us that you’d left to visit Roland here, who is an old friend of mine,” Miss Twisty explained.
“Will you be staying a while? Shall I put on some tea?” Roland asked.
“No thank you, Roland, but we must be on our way,” Miss Twisty said.

Wender put her hand on Ves shoulder and shook him gently.

“Ves dear, wake up, we’re leaving,” she said.

Ves opened his eyes and turned look at the new faces in the room, he only recognized Miss Twisty of course.

“Dr Elrick, I am afraid to say there won’t be any space for you in the car. Can you find your own way back into the city?” Miss Twisty asked.

“Yes ma’am, no need to worry, I’ll call myself a cab,” Dr Elrick said.

“Very good. We’ll be on our way then,” Miss Twisty said.

Ves waved goodbye to the doctor and then said to Roland:

“Thank you for the cookies. I really liked them … I think I remember eating them … some time ago.”

Roland slowly grinned, tears coming to his eyes.

“Well, bravo. My wife will be glad to hear that,” Roland said. “Please let me pack some cookies for you and your friends at the orphanage.”

Roland dashed to the kitchen and returned a minute later with a jar of cookies, which he handed to Ves. Roland and Dr Elrick escorted Wender, Ves, Miss Twisty and Eslo to the car in the driveway and waved at them as they drove off, then the two went back into the cottage and returned to living room.

“Am I right in assuming that it was you who called Miss Twisty here when you went into the kitchen to make the tea?” Dr Elrick asked Roland.
“Yes,” Roland replied. “I’m sorry, but you must understand that that child must always be in the protection of the church or at least within reach of them.”
“I’m guessing then that you did find out the importance of those 12 children to that secret council … and of Ves' importance to the church?”
“Yes … but that is too great a secret to reveal. I cannot tell you,”
“But why then did you tell us everything else?”
“Because … you and young Miss Wender really want to help Ves cope with his condition, and I do believe that you can. And even if that condition of his really is incurable … Ves needs people like the two of you in his life.”

* * *

After dinner, when she had helped tuck in some of the younger children into bed and read them bedtime stories till they had fallen asleep, Wender went to see Miss Twisty in her office.

“Yes, come in. Have a seat,” Miss Twisty beckoned as Wender entered the office.
“Ma’am …” Wender began, “I’m sorry but … I have to know.”
“Yes?”

Wender swallowed before she spoke again.

“Is it true?” she asked. “Did something … or someone hurt Ves like that … his brain – his memory, I mean?”
“Yes,” Miss Twisty replied.
“Who – who would do such a thing? What kind of evil—?”
“— Wender, lower your voice, child!”

Wender nodded and composed herself.

“I’m sorry…” Wender said. “Who did it?”
“I cannot tell you,” Miss Twisty told her.
“Why?”
“I’m sworn to an oath of secrecy to the High Master of Orem himself. I cannot reveal any information concerning that case.”
“But ma’am—“
“—Wender you must respect me!”

Wender nodded slowly.

“Roland, that old bugger, should not have told you a single word on the matter. But I understand why he told you what he did … the guilt of failing to save those poor 12 children and the keeping of such dark secrets must eat at his soul … but it is a price he and the few that know must pay, a responsibility we must all uphold,” Miss Twisty said.

Miss Twisty leaned forward and said to Wender in a very serious tone:

“I trust that, as it is a part of his profession, Dr Elrick will keep all that he has learned to himself. And I want you to do the same. I don’t want you looking into the matter any further, it will not serve you or Ves. Am I understood?”
“Yes ma’am,” Wender said.
“Do I have your word and your promise?”
“You do, ma’am,
“Good,”
“But …”
“Yes?”
“I have a request.”

Miss Twisty leaned back.

“Let me hear it,” she said.
“I would like Ves to continue seeing Dr Elrick,” Wender said.
“… Very well, he shall,” Miss Twisty nodded. “But I have a request too.”
“Yes ma’am?”

Miss Twisty smiled.

“If it’s okay with you, I would like the church to pay for the sessions, expensive as they are, from now on,” she said.

Wender nodded slowly, her cheeks going red.

“You’re a brilliant young woman, Wender,” Miss Twisty said. “Your heart is filled with only goodness and love … and this orphanage … and Ves are privileged to have you.”

Wender grinned, her cheeks going even redder.

“Thank you ma’am … that means a lot to me.”

* * *

When Ves walked into Dr Elrick’s office, he found the doctor by his window, looking out at the city scape.

“I really love this view, don’t you?” Dr Elrick said.

Ves went to stand by his side.

“It’s nice, I guess,” he said.
“Where’s Wender today?” Dr Elrick asked.
“She’s taken some of the older kids to a place called a museum,” Ves told him.
“What a shame. I’ve grown fond of seeing her everyday. Such a fine woman she is.”

The doctor left the window and went to sit behind his desk.

“I have something for you,” he said to Ves.
“Oh? What is it?” Ves asked.
“Come and have a look.”

Ves went to stand in front of the Dr Elrick’s desk. Dr Elrick lifted a thin brown package from the desk and handed it to Ves.

“Go on, open it,” the doctor said.

Ves tore off the brown wrapping and pulled from it a brand new leather bound book with a large gold plated letter ‘V’ on the cover.

“What’s this?” he asked.
“Open it,” Dr Elrick told him.

Ves pulled strap from the cover and opened the book and went through its pages.

“It’s empty,” he said.
“That’s right. It’s meant to be a scrapbook. You’re supposed to draw in it or write in it like journal and stick things like photographs and clippings from magazines and newspapers. I want you to use it to record your most important memories in there from now on.
“It’s mine?” Ves asked with a smile.
“Yes. I had it made just for you,” Dr Elrick said.

Ves closed the scrapbook and put the strap back onto the cover. On this strap was a small silver plate on which were engraved three symbols.

“What do they mean?” he asked Dr Elrick.
“They’re Nihonese ideograms or ‘hiragana’ ... ‘me – mo – ri’, that’s what they say,” Dr Elrick explained.
“Me – mo – ri …” Ves repeated to himself.

Ves looked up at the doctor, meeting his eyes for the first time.

“You still think you can help me?” he asked.
“Yes,” Dr Elrick nodded with a grin. “I think I can.”

Ves grinned.

“ Thank you … you really are a good doctor.”

The End

The Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour: Day 41

2011-10-29T12:05:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Thanks for joining me for day 41 of the Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour! Here’s where we’re at today:

1. Guest post: Everything To Do With Books - http://everythingtodowithbooks.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-matt-xell-on-jacobius-trent.html

2.Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 2, Part 2 - http://mattxell.blogspot.com/2011/10/ves-and-good-doctor-episode-2-part-2.html

And here’s where we’ve been so far:

1. Guest post: CubicleBlindness Book Reviews - http://cubicleblindness.blogspot.com/2011/10/character-interview-with-matt-xell.html

2. Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 2, Part 1 - http://mattxell.blogspot.com/2011/10/ves-and-good-doctor-episode-2-part-1.html

3. Guest post: Ink Scratchers - http://inkscratchers.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-and-book-trailer-frm-matt.html

4. Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 1, Part 3 - http://mattxell.blogspot.com/2011/10/ves-and-good-doctor-episode-1-part-3.html

5. Guest post: Book Briefs - http://bookbriefs.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-autho-matt-xell.html

6. Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 1, Part 2 - http://mattxell.blogspot.com/2011/10/ves-and-good-doctor-episode-1-part-2.html

7. Guest post: Burning X Impossibly X Bright - http://burningximpossiblyxbright.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-blog-tour-guest.html

8. Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 1, Part 1 - http://mattxell.blogspot.com/2011/10/ves-and-good-doctor-episode-1-part-1.html

9. Guest post: The Non Reluctant Reader - http://readerbenji.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-from-matt-xell.html

10. Interview: Butterfly Feet Walking On Life - http://walkingbutterflyfeet.blogspot.com/2011/10/interview-with-matt-xell.html

11. Review: Butterfly Feet Walking On Life - http://walkingbutterflyfeet.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

12. Interview and Giveaway: Earth's Book Nook - http://earthsbooknook.blogspot.com/2011/10/matt-xell-interview-and-book-giveaway.html

13. Guest post: vvb32 Reads - http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/2011/10/sword-challenge-by-matt-xell.html

14. Review: Woven Myst Book Mystique - http://wovenstrands.wordpress.com/2011/10/09/the-tower-of-parlen-min/

15. Interview and Giveaway: All the Days of - http://allthedaysof.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-and-giveaway-with-matt.html

16. Review: Turning Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/book-review-53-tower-of-parlen-min.html

17.Review: Missy's Read's & Reviews - http://missyreadsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-reviewhttpwwwblogge.html

18.Interview and Giveaway: Turing Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-matt-xell-giveaway.html

19. Giveaway: A Muggles Magical Book Blog - http://lusbookblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min.html

20. Review: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/book-review-tower-of-parlen-min.html

21. Interview: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/author-interview-tower-of-parlen-min.html

22. Giveaway: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

23. Interview and Giveaway: Book & Movie Dimension - http://bmdimension.blogspot.com/2011/09/interview-giveaway-with-matt-xell.html

24. Review and Giveaway: Most Important Letter - http://mostimportantletter.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/blog-tour-review-giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell/

25. Review: From Page One - http://frompageone.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

26. MXL Interview and Giveaway: Brazilian Book Worm - http://brazilianbookworm.blogspot.com/2011/09/unread-interview-and-giveaway-matt-xell.html

27. Book Review: Reut Reads - http://reutreads.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

28. Book Review: The Book Worm is Here! - http://lulu-bookaddict.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-for-tower-of-parlen-min.html

29. Book Review and Giveaway: House Millar - http://housemillar.host56.com/tower-of-parlen-min-tour-stop/

30.Review: Raindrop Reflections - http://www.raindropreflections.com/682/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

31.Review: Ryning Books - http://ryningbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

32.Giveaway: Ryning Books - http://ryningbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

33.Review: YA Bound - http://yabound.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell_27.html

34.Review and Giveaway: Confessions of A Readaholic - http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

35.Review and Giveaway: Mon Palais - http://monpalais.tumblr.com/post/9198293692/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell

36.Review: Steph: Short & Sweet - http://steph-shortnsweet.blogspot.com/2011/08/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

37.Giveaway: The Non Reluctant Reader - http://readerbenji.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-giveaway-blog-tour.html

38.Review: The Kings and Queens of YA - http://leahsyabookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

39.Review: Magical Books - http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-reivew.html

40.Review: Bookedinchico - http://bookedinchico.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell.html

Cheers and thanks again for the support,
Matt

Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 2, Part 1

2011-10-28T11:36:00.000-07:00

Wender spent the whole of Monday morning searching newspapers, magazines and the internet, looking for one of the best psychiatric practices in Muleya City. She eventually found one that she liked. It was called Astra’s Angel and from the details that she read from the website, it sounded quite exclusive but Wender was determined to pay its price. She called the practice’s office to set up an appointment for 10 o’clock on Wednesday.

On the premise of taking him for a walk in the park, Wender got permission from Miss Twisty and took Ves into the city on Wednesday. As they entered the practice and made there way through the elegantly decorated entrance hall, Wender was convinced even more that this was a place frequented by the wealthy, a fact that was confirmed by the woman at the front desk who sized up Wender in her Orphanage uniform.

“You’re Wender Mistry?” the woman asked.
“Yes,” Wender replied.
“And you work at … an orphanage?”
“Yes, Orem Church Orphanage.”

The woman raised her brows slightly. Then she leaned in towards Wender, cleared her voice and whispered.

“With all due respect, Miss,” she said, “but you should know that this is a very expensive practice. I mean, we charge a minimum of $ 3,500 an hour, and that’s only for short term and minor cases.”

Wender smiled, reached into her purse and pulled out something she hoped she wouldn’t have to use, an object of extreme secrecy: a platinum membership credit card issued by a very prestigious bank in Ire Country.

“Oh, wow …!” the woman exclaimed.
“We’re determined to have the very best,” Wender said.
“Yes, of course, the woman said in an ashamed tone. “Please, forgive me, and please follow me.”

Wender nodded and hastily hid the credit card in her purse. The secret of her wealthy background was one Wender went to lengths to keep hidden, especially at the orphanage.

The woman whose name was Ester led Wender and Ves down another hall to the office of Mrs. Rita Wesley who was the head of the practice. Mrs. Wesley greeted them, offered them seats and then had a look at Ves’ files.

“This is the child?” Mrs. Wesley asked, taking off her glasses and leaning forward to have a better look at Ves.
“Yes,” Wender replied.
“He’s cute,” Mrs. Wesley said.
“Yes, he is,” Wender smiled.
“I would have loved to take the case myself,” Mrs. Wesley told Wender, “but I’m afraid that my slate is full at the moment. I do, however, know just the right man for the case.”

Mrs. Wesley picked up her phone and asked for someone to come to her office. A minute later, a smartly suited bespectacled black man in his late twenties came into Miss Wesley’s office.

“You called for me?” the man asked.
“Yes,” Mrs. Wesley said. “I see you decided to come into the office today.”
“Yes. I have had a very bad migraine for the past five days,” the man sighed, folding his arms and shaking his head, “… and a case of writer’s block. I was unable to come in for work or complete my latest thesis. So sorry I didn’t call to tell you, Rita.”
“Whatever, I’ve no mind for excuses,” Mrs. Wesley said briskly. “Besides, you’re a terrible liar. A jealous young lady friend of mine told me you’ve been out courting an ambassador from Monaco.”
“What?” the man laughed. “Me … and an ambassador from Monaco? I’ve no idea what you’re talking about, Rita.”
“Deny it all you want but I’ll be take those days out of your salary,” Mrs. Wesley said with a smirk. “Now pay attention, I have a case for you.”
“A case?” the man groaned.
“Yes, this young woman is Wender Mistry and the young boy is Ves Asirin,” Mrs. Wesley said. “And Wender, this lazy but brilliant young man is Armando Elrick, or ‘The Good Doctor’ as he is famously refers to himself in his weekly newspaper column on child psychology.
“Nice to meet you,” Wender said to the doctor, bowing her head slightly.
“Yes …” Dr Elrick said with a grin, “the pleasure is mine,”

Mrs. Wesley handed Ves’ file to Dr Elrick.

“Ves here has an Autism Spectrum Disorder,” Mrs. Wesley told the doctor. “Wender would like to know the severity of the condition. Run your usual diagnostics and give her a full report, understood?”
“Yes ‘mom’,” Dr Elrick sighed. “Wender, Ves, please follow me to my office.”

Wender nodded and she and Ves stood up to follow him.

“A word of caution Wender,” Mrs. Wesley said as they were leaving her office. “Armando … has a way with young women. Try not to fall for his devilish charms; he keeps none of his promises.”

Wender laughed.

“Not to worry ma’am,” she said, “my heart belongs to Dret Morbis.”
“Dret Morbis?” Dr Elrick said raising his brows. “The Grand Paladin of Orem Church?”
“Yes,”
“Hmm, I stand no chance at all then.”

When they were in his office, Dr Elrick sat down behind his desk and went through Ves’ file.

“This all the information there is on his condition?” Dr Elrick asked.
“Yes,” Wender replied. “I’ve tried to get more details from a doctor who is assigned to the orphanage, but he won’t give me any information that he says is classified.”
“I see,” Dr Elrick said.

Dr Elrick turned to look at Ves who, uninterested in anything that Wender and the doctor were discussing, was absentmindedly staring out of the window at the happenings in the city outside.

The Doctor sighed.

“Bring him in tomorrow at 10 o’clock and I’ll begin my work.

* * *

When Wender and Ves arrived in Dr Elrick’s office, he told them to sit down and then he introduced himself to Ves.

“My name is Dr Armando Elrick,” he a said. “I am a child psychologist. Miss Mistry would like me to examine you and help you get better if I can.”

Ves frowned.

“There is nothing wrong with me,” he said.
“You don’t have to worry about a thing,” Dr Elrick laughed. “Unlike a medical doctor I’m not going to give you any painful injections or bitter tasting medicine. I am just going to observe you and take some notes.”

Dr Elrick sat down behind his desk, folded his arms and watched Ves for a while. Ves, who always avoided eye contact with anyone, looked down at his lap.

“Oh, I see,” the doctor laughed quietly, “you’re one of those … very well, game on.”

The doctor watched Ves for about 10 minutes, then he picked up the newspaper on his desk and begun to read it. After another 10 minutes, it seemed he had completely forgotten about Ves and Wender. She cleared her throat to get his attention. He lowered his paper and looked up at her … then at Ves, then he stood up folding his paper and said:

“That’ll be all for today. Please come by tomorrow at the same time.”

He walked out of the office before Wender and Ves did.

The next day, Wender and Ves arrived at the doctor’s office before he did. He arrived ten minutes later and sat down behind his desk without even greeting them. He watched Ves, who was staring outside the window at the city, for five minutes then he put on his glasses, pulled out a detective novel from his desk drawer and started reading it. Ten minutes later, he stood up, announced that the session was over, and left.

On Monday morning, the doctor stood by his office window through the entire session with his back turned to Wender and Ves. On Tuesday he did not show up until the last few minutes of the session, when he simply picked up his coat from the hanger and left without telling them the session was over.

This greatly annoyed Wender. She went to the front desk and asked Ester what the current bill for Ves’ sessions was.

“It’s at 9000 dollars,” Ester told her.
“What? But that Doctor Elrick hasn’t done anything worth paying for yet!” Wender snapped.
“Be patient,” Ester said. “The Good Doctor will come through eventually.”

Judging from Ester’s tone when she said this, Wender suspected that she was smitten with Dr Elrick. This annoyed Wender even more.

The doctor continued his routine of ignoring Wender and Ves the next day, annoyingly typing away on his laptop. Wender cleared her throat to get his attention but he pretended not to hear her. She did it again but still he ignored her.

“Doctor!” she snapped finally.

Dr Elrick slowly looked up from his laptop’s screen to her face, which was going red with all her anger. He smiled and then turned to Ves who was looking around the office space. The doctor watched him for a while. Ves wore a very curious expression on his face, a frown of confusion, a look that said, ‘Where am I and what am I doing here?’

“Aha!” the doctor exclaimed suddenly, startling Ves and Wender.

Ves’ expression was almost livid now, and he was breathing fast. The doctor grinned.

“This session is over. I’ll see you tomorrow at the same time,” he said.

Wender stormed out of the office and went to the front desk.

“Ester,” she said angrily, “I’d like to have a word with Miss Wesley!”

Once in Miss Wesley’s office, Wender exploded in complaint against Dr Elrick.

“He’s absolutely incompetent! All he does is look at Ves for a few minutes then he just ignores us and minds his own business! I can’t be paying 12000 dollars for that! I want a new doctor to see Ves or a full refund!”
“Wender, dear, please calm down. Mrs. Wesley said. “I understand how you feel … but please trust and believe me when I say that Dr Elrick ‘is’ doing his job.”
“What? You can’t expect me to believe that,”
“I know it’s hard to stand him, I can’t stand him myself. But … he’s really good at what he does.
“Miss Wesley, I’m sorry but I don’t think I understand what it is you’re trying to say.”

Mrs. Wesley sighed and leaned back in her chair.

“Armando graduated two years ago,” Mrs. Wesley explained, “and though he is only 26 he has received honorary degrees in psychology from 3 top universities. He is what scholars refer to as a savant. A genius.
“His former classmates say that he attended only a few classes every semester and that when he did he wasn’t really paying attention to the lectures, but he graduated at the top of his class.
“Last year, his contract was put on auction by a hospital in Atlantis where he worked at the time and I outbid 5 top psychiatric practices in the world to obtain that contract. I paid 4,000,000 dollars for it.”

Wender frowned in disbelief.

“He’s that good?” Wender asked
“Oh, yes,” Mrs. Wesley smiled.
“So then what is he doing with Ves?”
“They say his powers of observation are so great they rival that of High-spirited people with the red eyes. He’s studying Ves behavior, I’m sure of it. He never follows any of the standard procedures that other psychologists use but he always finds the answers he’s looking for. Let’s give him a week. If he doesn’t have the information that you need by then, I’ll give you a full refund and free sessions with another doctor.”

Wender nodded.

“That sounds fair enough. I’ll try to ‘stand’ him for one more week.”

* * *

When they arrived for their next session, they found Dr Elrick sleeping in his chair. Wender cleared her throat loudly to wake him up.

“We demand to be taken seriously today, doctor,” she told him.
“Yes … of course,” the doctor said, yawning. “Mrs. Wesley told me that you are not at all satisfied with my work so far.”
“What work?” Wender said with a frown.

The doctor smiled then turned to face Ves.

“Hello, Ves. How are you this morning?” Dr Elrick greeted him.
“Fine, thanks,” Ves said, dully.
“I’m guessing that, like Miss Wender, you’re not happy to see me?” Dr Elrick said.

Ves didn’t reply. The doctor smirked.

“Ah, but you don’t even care, do you?” he asked. “…You don’t even know who I am, do you?”
“No,” Ves said.

Wender turned to face Ves and smiled with frown.

“Ves, that’s ridiculous. How can you not know Dr Elrick? We’ve been coming to see him for over a week now,” she said.
“Oh?” Ves said.
“Yes.”

Dr Elrick started laughing.

“What’s so funny?” Wender asked him.
“Oh, come on Miss Mistry,” the doctor said, “even you should have guessed at what’s really wrong with Ves by now.”
“No, I haven’t guessed,” Wender said, angrily. “And I shouldn’t have to, it’s your job to tell me, that’s what we’re paying you for.”
“Yes, of course,” Dr Elrick said. “Ves, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Dr Armando Elrick. I am a child psychologist. Miss Mistry here would like me to examine you and help you get better if I can.”

Ves frowned.

“There is nothing wrong with me,” he said.

Dr Elrick grinned.

“You don’t have to worry about a thing,” he said, “unlike a medical doctor –”

The doctor broke off as Ves’ expression changed to that of something between shock and confusion.

“You’re … you’re not going to give me any painful injections,” Ves said completing the doctor’s sentence, “or bitter tasting medicine.”
“That’s right,” Dr Elrick said with a wider grin. “Go on.”
“… You’re just going to … observe me and take some notes,” Ves said.

Ves raised his eyebrows.

“We have met before … just like Wender said,” Ves said.
“Yes,” The doctor laughed. “Now Miss Mistry, are you still going to tell me you don’t know what’s really wrong with Ves?”
“No,” Wender said, shaking her head.

The doctor sighed.

“Does Ves do this often, forget people he’s in contact with regularly?” he asked
“Well, yes, some people, like the barber or the priest that comes to preach at the orphanage on Sundays. We, which is to say, the other caretakers and I, think it’s deliberate because he doesn’t seem to like them much.”
“Interesting,” Dr Elrick said.

He stood up from his chair.

“Please come with me,” he told them.

Wender and Ves followed him out of his office and went down the hall to a room that looked like a medical lab. A large peculiar looking machine the doctor told them was called an MRI scanner occupied most of the room’s space.

“We are going to use it to have a look at images of Ves’ brain,” he told them.

Dr Elrick had Ves, who was reluctant at first, lie down on the machine’s bed like platform before he turned on the machine and went to stand at a computer screen to see the images of Ves’ brain.

“Please don’t move around, stay as still as you can,” he told Ves.

When the first the images of Ves’ brain came up on the screen, the doctor frowned.

“This is certainly turning out to be a far more interesting case than I thought,” he said.
“What is it? What do you see?” Wender asked him.

Dr Elrick did not reply. He printed a few images of Ves’ brain and turned off the machine.

“This session is over,” he said as he got Ves down form the machine’s platform. “I’m going home to compile my notes and I’ll have all the information you need to know tomorrow morning.

* * *

When Wender and Ves arrived at the practice, Ester directed them to Miss Wesley’s office, which is where Dr Elrick was waiting for them.

“Good morning Wender,” Mrs. Wesley greeted.
“Good morning ma’am,” Wender replied, “how are you?”
“Fine thank you. And Ves, how are you this morning?”
“Fine,” Ves said, not even looking at Miss Wesley.

Dr Elrick sniggered.

“And what, may I ask, is so funny, Armando?” Mrs. Wesley said.
“Ves doesn’t know who you are,” the doctor said.
“He doesn’t?”
“He doesn’t remember you.”

Miss. Wesley turned to Ves.

“You don’t?”

Ves shook his head. The doctor laughed as he walked to Wender’s side and handed her a file.

“I don’t believe that Ves has an Autistic Spectrum Disorder,” he said. “Though I do believe that condition he does have is responsible for his autistic traits,”
“And exactly what is Ves’ condition?” Mrs. Wesley asked.
“… Memory loss?” Wender said reading from the file Dr Elrick had given her.
“Yes that’s exactly what it is, a very complicated memory loss disorder.” Dr Elrick said.
“Are you serious?”
“Certainly.”

Wender frowned and continued reading through the file.

“How could we; Miss Twisty, the other caretakers and I, have missed this?” Wender said in disbelief.
“Oh no, you didn’t miss it at all. You simply wrote it off as a simple case of forgetfulness, just another one of his autistic traits,” Dr Elrick said. “And being of an introverted and secretive nature, Ves never told anyone how bad it really was. And it’s so simple to hide things about yourself if no one bothers to ask you, even more so if they think you’re mentally ill.”

Wender turned to Ves.

“Is it true … is it as bad as the doctor says?” she asked.
“It’s not that bad … I like it,” Ves said. “I don’t have to remember everything … no, not the stupid things people say about me at the orphanage, thinking that I can’t hear them.”

Tears started streaming down Wender’s face.

“Don’t be like that,” Ves said, almost laughing. “How different is this memory thing from thinking I’m – what’s that word the other kids call me – retarded or whatever?”

Wender put her hand to her mouth and started to cry.

“How severe is the disorder, Armando?” Mrs. Wesley asked Dr Elrick.
“It’s very serious,” he told her. “I’ve never come across such a case. He shows symptoms of both anterograde amnesia and retrograde amnesia. Though, I haven’t figured out how it works exactly or which is more prominent than the other.”
“Anterograde amnesia - retrograde amnesia? What does all that mean?” Wender asked in between sobs.
“Ves doesn’t forget everything or rather after some periods of time some memories return to him. Memories with strong emotions tied to them are most likely the easiest to recall,” Dr Elrick explained, “The reason for my supposedly ‘incompetent behavior’ during our sessions, was to figure out that last part. I ignored Ves almost completely and so he formed nor stored no memories of me as opposed to Wender, whom he strongly dislikes by the way but has an emotional attachment to. And I believe that whatever of his memories he does retain have ‘lacunars’ or gaps in them, which is why today I suspect he remembers who I am and what I do, but not my name, am right Ves?

Ves nodded with a frown. Dr Elrick smiled.

“Ves absolutely hates being scrutinized or being talked about,” the doctor added with a laugh. “Of course everything I’ve just told you and written in my report is only my theory at the moment.
“A theory?” Wender asked, wiping the tear’s from her eyes.
“Yes, just a theory,” Dr Elrick said shaking his head. “I know that’s how his memory works but I have no physical evidence to support it.”
“What do you mean? Didn’t you do an MRI scan of Ves’ brain?” Mrs. Wesley asked.
“I did.” Dr Elrick said. “Wender, please show Mrs. Wesley the scanned images.”

Wender clipped out images from the file and handed them to Mrs. Wesley.

“Patients who suffer from anterograde or retrograde amnesia have brain damage; Injury to their hippocampus and surrounding cortices, which many scientists and neurologists believe are the parts of the brain that control the storage of memories,” Dr Elrick explained. “But what do you see in those images of Ves’ brain, Miss. Wesley?”
“I don’t see anything wrong,” Mrs. Wesley said. “There’s no damage to Ves’ brain that I can see,”
“Exactly, Ves’ brain is just as healthy as any one of us,”
“So then, what do you think causes his amnesia? Some kind of subconscious mental process?”

Dr Elrick shook his head.

“No. it has to be something physical for it to be this severe. To be sure of what it is I’d like to observe Ves for a whole 24 hour day, a week even,” he said.
“That’s not possible, I can’t leave Ves here,” Wender said. “You see, no one at the orphanage knows that this is where I’ve been bringing him. If they found out, I’d probably lose my job.”
“Hmm, is that so,” Dr Elrick said, scratching his chin in contemplation. “Very well, I have a great idea. This session is over. You and Ves don’t have to come into the office tomorrow but I’ll be contacting you as soon as possible.”

With that, the doctor marched out of the office, muttering something about being late for a date.

To be continued ...

The Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour: Day 40

2011-10-28T11:28:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! It’s day 40 of the Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour, thanks for stopping by! So here’s where we’re at today:

1. Guest post: CubicleBlindness Book Reviews - http://cubicleblindness.blogspot.com/2011/10/character-interview-with-matt-xell.html

2. Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 2, Part 1 - http://mattxell.blogspot.com/2011/10/ves-and-good-doctor-episode-2-part-1.html

And here’s where we’ve been so far:

1. Guest post: Ink Scratchers - http://inkscratchers.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-and-book-trailer-frm-matt.html

2. Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 1, Part 3 - http://mattxell.blogspot.com/2011/10/ves-and-good-doctor-episode-1-part-3.html

3. Guest post: Book Briefs - http://bookbriefs.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-autho-matt-xell.html

4. Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 1, Part 2 - http://mattxell.blogspot.com/2011/10/ves-and-good-doctor-episode-1-part-2.html

5. Guest post: Burning X Impossibly X Bright - http://burningximpossiblyxbright.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-blog-tour-guest.html

6. Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 1, Part 1 - http://mattxell.blogspot.com/2011/10/ves-and-good-doctor-episode-1-part-1.html

7. Guest post: The Non Reluctant Reader - http://readerbenji.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-from-matt-xell.html

8. Interview: Butterfly Feet Walking On Life - http://walkingbutterflyfeet.blogspot.com/2011/10/interview-with-matt-xell.html

9. Review: Butterfly Feet Walking On Life - http://walkingbutterflyfeet.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

10. Interview and Giveaway: Earth's Book Nook - http://earthsbooknook.blogspot.com/2011/10/matt-xell-interview-and-book-giveaway.html

11. Guest post: vvb32 Reads - http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/2011/10/sword-challenge-by-matt-xell.html

12. Review: Woven Myst Book Mystique - http://wovenstrands.wordpress.com/2011/10/09/the-tower-of-parlen-min/

13. Interview and Giveaway: All the Days of - http://allthedaysof.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-and-giveaway-with-matt.html

14. Review: Turning Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/book-review-53-tower-of-parlen-min.html

15.Review: Missy's Read's & Reviews - http://missyreadsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-reviewhttpwwwblogge.html

16.Interview and Giveaway: Turing Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-matt-xell-giveaway.html

17. Giveaway: A Muggles Magical Book Blog - http://lusbookblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min.html

18. Review: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/book-review-tower-of-parlen-min.html

19. Interview: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/author-interview-tower-of-parlen-min.html

20. Giveaway: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

21. Interview and Giveaway: Book & Movie Dimension - http://bmdimension.blogspot.com/2011/09/interview-giveaway-with-matt-xell.html

22. Review and Giveaway: Most Important Letter - http://mostimportantletter.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/blog-tour-review-giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell/

23. Review: From Page One - http://frompageone.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

24. MXL Interview and Giveaway: Brazilian Book Worm - http://brazilianbookworm.blogspot.com/2011/09/unread-interview-and-giveaway-matt-xell.html

25. Book Review: Reut Reads - http://reutreads.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

26. Book Review: The Book Worm is Here! - http://lulu-bookaddict.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-for-tower-of-parlen-min.html

27. Book Review and Giveaway: House Millar - http://housemillar.host56.com/tower-of-parlen-min-tour-stop/

28.Review: Raindrop Reflections - http://www.raindropreflections.com/682/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

29.Review: Ryning Books - http://ryningbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

30.Giveaway: Ryning Books - http://ryningbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

31.Review: YA Bound - http://yabound.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell_27.html

32.Review and Giveaway: Confessions of A Readaholic - http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

33.Review and Giveaway: Mon Palais - http://monpalais.tumblr.com/post/9198293692/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell

34.Review: Steph: Short & Sweet - http://steph-shortnsweet.blogspot.com/2011/08/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

35.Giveaway: The Non Reluctant Reader - http://readerbenji.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-giveaway-blog-tour.html

36.Review: The Kings and Queens of YA - http://leahsyabookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

37.Review: Magical Books - http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-reivew.html

38.Review: Bookedinchico - http://bookedinchico.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell.html

Cheers and thanks,

Matt

Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 1, Part 3

2011-10-27T11:54:00.000-07:00

When Jake got home from work, Mardri told him about Ves’ poor performance at school. Jake immediately called Orem Church Orphanage and spoke to Miss Twisty who understood everything Jake told her and arranged a meeting with him and Mardri for Monday afternoon when she would explain everything. She told them to bring Ves along with them of course.

Jake and Mardri agreed that whatever bad news Miss Twisty had for them they were still going to keep Ves. They loved him too much already to give him back. They were just going to cope with whatever they were told and take responsibility for it, because that was the kind of family they were.

After dinner, Mardri went to do some laundry, Jake sat in the living room with a bowl of popcorn to watch a sports game on TV and Ves and Julie were in their playroom. Ves was sketching his toy truck whilst Julie sat cross legged with a large dictionary in her lap, a newspaper and a pencil in her hands, solving a crossword puzzle.

“I’m really good with words,” she told Ves in a show-off tone.
“Oh?” said Ves absent-mindedly.
“ Yeah. I’m going to participate in the National Junior Spelling Bee Championship in three months. I’m going to win.” Julie said.
“Oh,” was all Ves said again.

This annoyed Julie.

“It’s no wonder why the kids at school are always saying bad things about you,” she said.

Ves slowly looked up from his sketchpad. Julie smirked, glad that she had his attention.

“They say there’s something wrong with you,” Julie said.
“Something wrong with me?” Ves asked.
“Yeah, up here Julie,” said pointing at her scalp, “in your head. Mentally.”

Ves frowned. He looked away from Julie and continued his sketch.

“It’s not just the kids. The teachers think so too,” Julie continued. “It’s true isn’t it? There is something wrong with you.”

Ves ignored her. His head gave a sudden throb and it started to sting. It was late … and he knew it was that time again.

“Only Mom and Dad seem to think you’re okay, naively treating you like some new toy. But they’re going to find out sooner or later then they’re going to throw you away just like a broken toy,” Julie said.

Ves gathered his pencils, sketch pad and toy truck and stood up to leave but Julie got on her feet as well and went to stand by the door with folded arms.

“Where are you going?” she asked him with a smirk.
“I need to go to sleep, I – I don’t feel good,” Ves said, a hand on his aching head.
“But I’m not done telling you what the other kids were saying about you,” Julie sniggered.
“Tell me later – tomorrow.”
“ But you just have to hear what they’re calling you now. They’re saying you’re a retard. That’s a really bad word for people who are mentally damaged … people like you.”
“ Please – get out of my way,”
“ Retard … there I said it too, because that’s what I think you are as well.”

Ves let out an exasperated groan and tried to get past Julie but she moved to block his way. He tried again and but he couldn’t get past her.

“Get out of my way!” Ves said angrily, his head stinging terribly now.
“Retard – retard – retard,” Julie began to chant.

Ves dropped his sketchpad, swung his red truck at Julie, and hit her in the face. She let out a shriek and started to cry.

Jake heard this and rushed to the playroom.

“Daddy! Ves hit me in the face with his truck!” Julie wailed.
“What? Ves is this true?” Jake asked.

Ves was standing with his back turned to Jake and Julie, with his hands on his head, grabbing at his hair.

Jake walked towards Ves, Knelt down beside him and turned him around.

“Ves, did you hit Ju–?”

Jake suddenly broke off as Ves fell forward into his arms, his eyes rolled back into the back of his skull.

“Wha – what’s wrong with him daddy?” asked Julie who stopped crying abruptly.
“I think he’s … fainted,” said Jake, a confused expression of his face.

Mardri walked into the room a moment later and saw Julie holding a hand to her bleeding nose and Ves passed out in Jake’s hands.

“What’s going on here?” she asked in an alarmed tone.

At the sound of her voice, Ves stirred awake.

“Jake … Haylen?” he said in a whisper.

“Yes. Are you alright?” Jake asked.
“My head …” he groaned.

Jake stood up and carried Ves out of the room.

“Please take care of Julie, I’ll put Ves to bed,” he told Mardri.

Jake made Ves drink a glass of water before laying him on his bed and tucking him in.

“How does your head feel now? “Jake asked.
“… Better,” Ves whispered.

“Good, get some sleep you’ll feel a whole lot better in the morning.” Jake said, getting up from the bedside.

He was just leaving the room when he stopped and turned back to ask Ves:

“Why did you hit Julie with your truck?”
“… I did what?” Ves replied.
“You hit Julie in the face with your toy truck,”

Jake frowned.

“You don’t remember?” he asked.
“No …” Ves said.
“It happened just a few minutes ago. How could you forget it?”
“I …don't know”

Ves closed his eyes.

“I’m sorry … if I hit Julie,” Ves said. “It was a bad thing to do.

Jake stared at Ves for a while, a puzzled expression on his face. Soft snores told him that Ves had fallen asleep a short while later and he left the room.

* * *

The following day the Haylens had a friend of theirs, Jonathan, who was a medical doctor, examine Ves to determine the reason why he had fainted. Jonathan, couldn’t see anything wrong with Ves, he told them that Ves was perfectly fine but that they should let him lie in for a day and drink lots of water. He told them to call him if Ves fainted again and he would be at their home as soon as possible.

And so Ves spent the whole day in bed. He spent all this time scribbling in his sketchpad. Mardri who was the most concerned brought him breakfast, lunch and a glass of water at the turn of every hour and checked up on him often.

At 6 o’clock in the evening, the Haylens left the house to see a family movie that Julie had been frantically waiting to see for months. They left Ves in the care of an old woman named Joyce who was their neighbor’s mother. Ves was told to call for her if need he anything.

Ves went to sleep shortly after the Haylens left. He woke up an hour later and sat in near darkness, the only light there was came from a children’s night lamp plugged in the wall. Ves hated the thing; apart from the way it was made to look like a jester’s head, it was faulty, flickering on and off continuously sometimes.

Another hour went by and Ves started to feel hungry. He wondered if the old woman downstairs had been instructed to bring him some dinner. Would he have to go down and ask her for something to eat? No, he decided against that … he didn’t want to meet her, he couldn’t even remember her name anymore.

That night lamp started to flicker on and off again to Ves’ annoyance. He would have done his best to ignore it were it not for that buzzing sound it was making that day. No, it was more than annoying and he couldn’t stand it anymore. He got out of bed and went to unplug it from the wall. He placed his hands around it and pulled but the lamp seemed to be stuck. He pulled and pulled for a whole minute but stopped abruptly as sparks begun to issue from the lamp. He backed up slowly and picked up the baseball bat that was at his feet, and made a fatal mistake, swinging the bat at the lamp.

Joyce was watching an antiques show on TV when she smelled the smoke. She heard Ves running down the stairs coughing, the baseball bat still in his hands.

A second later, the fire alarm went off and the fire, which had come from Ves’ room, was making its way rapidly down the second floor hallway.

Joyce screamed, grabbed Ves and carried him out of the house.

A fire truck arrived 10 minutes later by which time the fire had consumed a half of the house. The Haylens arrived 5 minutes later … they were absolutely devastated.

* * *

Wender returned to Orem Church Orphanage after her two months suspension. Miss Twisty called her into her office and explained that the Haylens had returned Ves back to the orphanage.

“The Haylens have been kind enough not to press charges against the orphanage for withholding information concerning Ves’ spectrum disorder, which is what their lawyer advised them to do,” Miss Twisty told her. “The church will, of course, be compensating them for the damage done …. May the Lord bless their souls.”
“I … I’m so sorry,” Wender said on the verge on tears.
“Yes … I’m sure you are,” Miss Twisty said. “And I hope that you’ve learned your lesson.”
“Yes ma’am,” Wender nodded.
“Good. You may leave,” Miss Twisty said.

Wender stood up bowed to Miss twisty and left her office.

At lunchtime, she went to see Ves who she found seated alone on his bed in one of the boys’ dormitories, playing with two pieces of string.

“Good afternoon, Ves,” Wender greeted him.
“Hello,” he replied dully.
“It’s a bright sunny day outside, wouldn’t you like to go out and play with the other kids?” Wender asked Ves.
“No … I’m busy,” Ves replied.
“Really? What are you doing?” Wender asked.
Ves didn’t answer her. A minute later, he noticed that she was still watching him and said:
“I’m … teaching myself … how to tie my shoe laces.”

Wender smiled.

“And how’s that coming along?” she asked.
“Good,” Ves said.

He tried to ignore her hoping that she would go away eventually but she stayed and watched as he put the pieces of string aside and bent down to tie the first crude knot on his right shoe. He smiled, apparently proud of himself.

He looked up at Wender and said:

“George the caretaker showed me lots of times how to tie this knot but I always forget. But I’ve … I’ve been leaving myself … clues so I can remember this,”
“Clues?” Wender said

Ves now attempted to tie his other shoe’s laces.

“Tell me more about these clues,” Wender said, carefully.

She half expected him not to answer her but he did.

“The clues …” Ves said, “help me … help me keep track of a lot of things that I forget not just how to tie my shoes,”
“And what are these clues?” Wender asked.

Ves didn’t answer. He had an expression on his face that told Wender that he was contemplating on whether to tell her or not. Then very slowly, he pulled up the left sleeve of his jersey to reveal several red cuts on his arm. Wender gasped in shock.

“Each ... each cut that I make … helps me remember certain things. The pain triggers glimpses … fla – flashes of things I forgot … that help me remember. I figured it out while I was staying at the Haylens.” Ves said.

Wender was in too much shock to speak, breathing hard and fast.

“This one here … is for remembering my last name … this one here is for your name … these are for finding rooms like the bathroom, the playground, the dining hall and … I think these are for remembering breakfast, lunch and dinner … I sort of forgot about all those places while I was staying with the Haylens,” Ves continued.

Wender suddenly grabbed Ves’ hand and hurriedly walked him out of the dorms and took him down the hall towards the infirmary.

“…The cuts are only good for several days … because they heal, but if the cuts are deeper the memories last a little longer. So I decided to make bigger cuts for important memories,” Ves continued with an odd fascination for his own discoveries in his voice tone.

Wender suddenly stopped, turned to Ves and slapped him hard across the face…. She put a hand over her mouth, realizing what she’d just done. She’d never hit any of the orphans before … nor anyone in her whole life.

“I’m sorry … so sorry,” she said. “But - don’t ever purposefully hurt yourself like that again, do you hear me?”

Ves didn’t say anything but momentarily he nodded. Wender took him inside the infirmary and bandaged his cuts.

* * *

Wender slept restlessly that night. It was of all the guilt she felt that kept her awake. The guilt of disobeying Miss Twisty and putting Ves up for adoption, the guilt of leaving out the documents detailing Ves’ spectrum disorder from the file she gave the Haylens and the guilt of hitting Ves that afternoon when he’d showed her the cuts on his arm.

All she had wanted to do was help Ves. How could things turn out the way they had?

She gave up on sleep and sat up in her bed and turned on the lamp at her beside table, picked up Ves’ file and read and re-read it all through the rest of the night even though she’d practically memorised it; she had gone through his file more than any other caretaker in the orphanage, looking for any small detail that would help her reach Ves.

She knew that children with autism spectrum disorder where very dysfunctional, but she’d always felt differently about Ves. In her heart she’d always suspected, even though proof was evident, that spectrum disorder wasn’t the problem. That there was something about him that she and the other caretakers were missing, something elusive and yet so obvious.

She’d often called the church doctor who’d been assigned to the orphanage to help with more extensive details about Ves’ condition but he never told anything more than what was stated in the file. She always got the feeling that this doctor was hiding something; he was always so nervous when Wender asked certain questions, and he would not give her any information on the psychologist who’d diagnosed Ves, claiming that this information was classified.

There was just this mystery about Ves that went beyond his spectrum disorder and she knew that Miss Twisty was the ‘keeper of keys’ of this mystery; no one else was more protective of Ves. But she would never talk, it would be pointless for Wender to even ask her.

Wender pulled the photo of Ves from his file, held it close to her face stared at it for a while …

She sighed, closed her eyes and shook her head.

No, she was not giving up that easily. And as he lay down to sleep, she decided that the first thing she would do the next morning was to find her own psychological doctor, the best that money could get, to help her fully understand Ves’ condition. She just had to know who Ves Asirin really was …

To be continued ...

The Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour: Day 39

2011-10-27T11:50:00.000-07:00

Yo’oh! It’s day 39 of the Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour! This Matt Xell is glad you showed, and as always thanks so much for the support! So here’s what we’re up to today:

1. Guest post: Ink Scratchers - http://inkscratchers.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-and-book-trailer-frm-matt.html

2. Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 1, Part 3 - http://mattxell.blogspot.com/2011/10/ves-and-good-doctor-episode-1-part-3.html

Here’s where we’ve been so far:

1. Guest post: Book Briefs - http://bookbriefs.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-autho-matt-xell.html

2. Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 1, Part 2 - http://mattxell.blogspot.com/2011/10/ves-and-good-doctor-episode-1-part-2.html

3. Guest post: Burning X Impossibly X Bright - http://burningximpossiblyxbright.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-blog-tour-guest.html

4. Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 1, Part 1 - http://mattxell.blogspot.com/2011/10/ves-and-good-doctor-episode-1-part-1.html

5. Guest post: The Non Reluctant Reader - http://readerbenji.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-from-matt-xell.html

6. Interview: Butterfly Feet Walking On Life - http://walkingbutterflyfeet.blogspot.com/2011/10/interview-with-matt-xell.html

7. Review: Butterfly Feet Walking On Life - http://walkingbutterflyfeet.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

8. Interview and Giveaway: Earth's Book Nook - http://earthsbooknook.blogspot.com/2011/10/matt-xell-interview-and-book-giveaway.html

9. Guest post: vvb32 Reads - http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/2011/10/sword-challenge-by-matt-xell.html

10. Review: Woven Myst Book Mystique - http://wovenstrands.wordpress.com/2011/10/09/the-tower-of-parlen-min/

11. Interview and Giveaway: All the Days of - http://allthedaysof.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-and-giveaway-with-matt.html

12. Review: Turning Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/book-review-53-tower-of-parlen-min.html

13.Review: Missy's Read's & Reviews - http://missyreadsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-reviewhttpwwwblogge.html

14.Interview and Giveaway: Turing Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-matt-xell-giveaway.html

15. Giveaway: A Muggles Magical Book Blog - http://lusbookblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min.html

16. Review: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/book-review-tower-of-parlen-min.html

17. Interview: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/author-interview-tower-of-parlen-min.html

18. Giveaway: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

19. Interview and Giveaway: Book & Movie Dimension - http://bmdimension.blogspot.com/2011/09/interview-giveaway-with-matt-xell.html

20. Review and Giveaway: Most Important Letter - http://mostimportantletter.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/blog-tour-review-giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell/

21. Review: From Page One - http://frompageone.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

22. MXL Interview and Giveaway: Brazilian Book Worm - http://brazilianbookworm.blogspot.com/2011/09/unread-interview-and-giveaway-matt-xell.html

23. Book Review: Reut Reads - http://reutreads.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

24. Book Review: The Book Worm is Here! - http://lulu-bookaddict.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-for-tower-of-parlen-min.html

25. Book Review and Giveaway: House Millar - http://housemillar.host56.com/tower-of-parlen-min-tour-stop/

26.Review: Raindrop Reflections - http://www.raindropreflections.com/682/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

27.Review: Ryning Books - http://ryningbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

28.Giveaway: Ryning Books - http://ryningbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

29.Review: YA Bound - http://yabound.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell_27.html

30.Review and Giveaway: Confessions of A Readaholic - http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

31.Review and Giveaway: Mon Palais - http://monpalais.tumblr.com/post/9198293692/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell

32.Review: Steph: Short & Sweet - http://steph-shortnsweet.blogspot.com/2011/08/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

33.Giveaway: The Non Reluctant Reader - http://readerbenji.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-giveaway-blog-tour.html

34.Review: The Kings and Queens of YA - http://leahsyabookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

35.Review: Magical Books - http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-reivew.html

36.Review: Bookedinchico - http://bookedinchico.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell.html

Cheers and thanks for the support!

Matt

Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 1, Part 2

2011-10-25T13:07:00.000-07:00

“What were you thinking?” Miss Twisty bellowed at Wender who sat in a chair in front of her desk.
“I wasn’t thinking ma’am,” Wender replied. “I just did what I felt was right for Ves.”
“What you ‘felt’ was right ? You’ve no idea what you’ve done!” Miss Twisty said through gritted teeth.
“I’ve done nothing wrong, Ves has a family now,” said Wender with a conviction. He can live a normal happy life now, not the kind of life he lived here —”
“—Shut up!” Miss Twisty snapped suddenly. “You stupid and naïve girl! If you even knew the half of who Ves is, you wouldn’t have —!”

Miss twisty broke off at the sound of a knock at the door.

“Come in,” Miss Twisty answered.

A tall Asian man with shoulder length and braided black hair, clad in an Orem Knight’s uniform walked into the office. He bowed his head to Miss Twisty.
“Good evening Miss Twisty,” he said in his husky oriental voice.
“Evening Eslo,” Miss Twisty said rubbing her forehead; she was developing a migraine.
“You called for me, ma’am?”
“Yes, I need you to call an emergency meeting with the Seven. Please tell them it’s about Ves Asirin,”

Eslo raised his eyebrows slightly.

“Ves Asirin?” he asked.
“Yes. Wender here just had him adopted,” Miss Twisty said. “We need to decide on the way forward. Your urgency on the matter will be much appreciated.”
“Yes ma’am,” Eslo nodded and left the office.
“Ves is going to be alright, ma’am. The Haylens are a delightful couple. He’s in good hands,” Wender said quietly.
“I hope, for Ves’ sake, that you’re right,” Miss Twisty sighed. You’re suspended until further notice, Wender. Please leave my office,”
“… Yes ma’am.”

* * *

Ves woke up and sat up in his bed. After looking around for a minute and not recognizing the surroundings of his new room, he suddenly yelled.
The Haylens came running into the room with dumbstruck expressions, wondering what had happened.
“Ves dear, what’s the matter? Are you okay?” Mardri asked.
Ves’ eyes widened when he saw the Haylen’s ‘unfamiliar’ faces. He jumped out of his bed, ran towards the wall and stood with his back against it.
“Who?” Ves breathed out.
“It’s us, Jake and Mardri,” Jake said. “Don’t you remember us?
“No …” Ves said, shaking his head. “Where?” was his next question.
“At your new home,” Mardri said, moving towards Ves, a smile on her face. “You moved in with us yesterday.”

Ves suddenly leaped at Mardri and pushed her back, knocking her to the floor. He ran past Jake and went out of the room.

He ran down the end of the house’s 2nd floor hallway and then went down the stairs, jumping two steps at a time. He got to the front door of the house and turned the knob frantically, but it was locked.

He spun around and ran down the hallway to the dinning room then to the kitchen. Its door was open and he ran out to the backyard. A distance away, he spotted a back door by the picket fence that led to a back street. He ran towards it, almost falling into the pool in the middle of the backyard.

When he got to that door he found it locked as well, and he was just about to climb over the picket fence when Jake caught up to him, grabbed him around the waist and picked him up. Ves struggled to free himself, kicking and punching Jake as he carried him back to the house.

“Ves, come on, calm down,” Jake told him.

Jake carried Ves to the living room and sat him down on the sofa, trying to calm him down so that he and Mardri could explain everything.

“So you see, by adopting you we made you a part of our family,” Mardri said, slowly and clearly, “and that means we are your parents now, Jake and I are your father and mother. Do you understand?”

Ves nodded slowly, though he didn’t look convinced.

“So, this,” said Jake gesturing at the surroundings, “is your new home.”
“What’s with all the racket?” came a voice from the stairs.

A red haired girl stood on the middle step of the stairs looking down at them.

“Good Morning, Julie”, Jake and Mardri said at the same time.
“Morning mom, morning dad,” Julie said.
“Who’s that?” Ves asked.
“That’s Julie, our daughter and your new big sister,” Mardri told him.
“Julie, come and say hello to Ves,” Jake said.

Julie came down the stairs and came into the living room area. She stood next to her parents and stared at Ves through squinted eyes.

“Morning Ves,” Julie greeted.

Ves returned a curt nod and a grunt.

“Well, then,” said Mardri, “shall we have breakfast?”

* * *

It went on for a few more days. Ves would wake up yelling and the Haylens would rush into his room, calm him down, tell him who they were, explain to him that they’d adopted him and that the place where he was now was his new home. The Haylens thought that Ves was simply going through some sort of trauma or shock of being away from the orphanage and they didn’t suspect anything more.

On the 8th day, Ves didn’t wake up yelling , he simply got out of bed and went down to have breakfast, and the Haylens were ecstatic.

The Haylens were a great family by many standards. They lived fun and event filled lives. They did everything together; Shopping, picnics, sports games, fishing and went to the movies every weekend.

As Wender had advised them, the Haylens bought Ves a sketch pad and an art kit and he was glad … really happy … but his living with the Haylens was not meant to last.

* * *

It was the first day of the new school term. Jake, Julie and Ves were seated at the table in the dinning room having their breakfast. Mardri was frantically running around the house looking for her car keys, which she had misplaced.

“Did you check the bedroom closet?” Jake asked her.
“I did,” Mardri replied as she searched the kitchen. “I just know I left them in here or the living room. Oh, I hope I can remember where I put them in time or Julie and Ves’ll be late.”
“I can drop them off if you want?” Jake suggested.
“No, then you’ll be late too.”

The phone rang in the living room and Mardri went to answer it.

“Oh, hi mom,” she said. “… We’re all fine, how are things back at home? … How are you, Dad, and rick … great. Yes mom but I have to go, I’ve lost the car keys again and its Julie and Ves’ first day of school and I can’t remember where I –!”

Mardri broke off and let out a loud gasp as she felt a sharp pain at the side of her right arm. She dropped the phone and raised her arm to see a deep and bleeding cut.

And there was Ves, standing a step away from her with a sharp knife in his hands.

“Oh my god!” Mardri shrieked.

Jake came running into the room and saw the knife in Ves hands.

“Ves, what do you think you’re doing?” Jake said, grabbing the knife from Ves.
“He – cut me!” Mardri said in shock. “When did he get the knife? I mean, didn’t you see him?”
“Sorry, I didn’t,” Jake told her. “I stood up to get my energy drink from the fridge, I had my back turned to both him and Julie for a while, I didn’t even see him walk out of the room after you.”
“ I saw him take the knife,” Julie said, walking into the room.
“Why didn’t you say something?” Jake asked.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know what he was going to do with it,” Julie shrugged.
“I was just trying to help Mardri … remember where the she left her car keys,” Ves said.“Pain … helps you remember things.”
“What? Who told you that?” Mardri asked.
Ves didn’t answer her question.
“Was it bad , what I did?” Ves said, an expression of confusion on his face.
“Yes, Ves. You hurt Mardri. Don’t do something like that again, understand?” Jake told him with a frown.

Ves nodded.

“Tell her that you’re sorry,” Jake said.
“ I’m sorry,” Ves said to Mardri, though he didn’t seem to mean it.
“Now,” Jake said, “let’s take care of that cut.”

* * *

At the end of the second week of school, Ves’ class teacher, Mr. Reed, called Mardri to the school to have a private meeting.

“Ves is not performing well in class, Mrs. Haylen,” Mr. Reed said.
“What seems to be the problem?” Mardri asked.
“I don’t quite understand the situation myself and I was hoping that you could shed some light on it,” Mr. Reed said. “Ves does fine with practical activities such as the arts and crafts and other short term or one day activities but he has great difficulties in continuous and progressive lessons such as reading, writing and math.”
“Really? What do you think is the reason?”
“He has a lot of trouble recalling information and I don’t know why that is. He can’t seem to remember a lot the lessons after a day. For example you can teach him how to count from 1 to 10 in one day, but the next day when you try to teach him how to count from 10 to 20 and he can’t remember what numbers come before 10. The few numbers he can remember are jumbled up – 7, 2, 5, – and the other numbers are simply forgotten. And by the third day and forth day he’ll have forgotten all the numbers.”
“Maybe he’s a slow learner,”
“It’s not just with learning Mrs. Haylen. Sometimes Ves doesn’t seem to remember me or some of his other teachers, and he doesn’t seem to get along with the other kids, he doesn’t play or socialize with them. He stays in class during every recess.”

Mardri shrugged and shook her head.

“ I’m … I’m at a loss for words,” she said.
“You said that you adopted Ves recently?” Mr. Reed asked.
“Yes,” Mardri replied.
“ And his files or Medical records didn’t mention anything out of the ordinary?”
“No, nothing. … What do you suggest we do Mr. Reed?”
“Normally, if the problem were limited to learning, I’d suggest we put Ves in a lower grade and see if he improves. But in such a case I think the best way forward would be to contact Orem Church Orphanage and ask them to disclose any additional information about Ves that would help us deal with his situation, I’m sure they’d know more about it than we do. We could also call in a psychological doctor to assess and evaluate Ves.”
“… Yes. I understand.”

To be continued ...

The Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour: Day 38

2011-10-25T12:56:00.000-07:00

7. Guest post: vvb32 Reads - http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/2011/10/sword-challenge-by-matt-xell.html

8. Review: Woven Myst Book Mystique - http://wovenstrands.wordpress.com/2011/10/09/the-tower-of-parlen-min/

9. Interview and Giveaway: All the Days of - http://allthedaysof.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-and-giveaway-with-matt.html

10. Review: Turning Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/book-review-53-tower-of-parlen-min.html

11.Review: Missy's Read's & Reviews - http://missyreadsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-reviewhttpwwwblogge.html

12.Interview and Giveaway: Turing Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-matt-xell-giveaway.html

13. Giveaway: A Muggles Magical Book Blog - http://lusbookblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min.html

14. Review: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/book-review-tower-of-parlen-min.html

15. Interview: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/author-interview-tower-of-parlen-min.html

16. Giveaway: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

17. Interview and Giveaway: Book & Movie Dimension - http://bmdimension.blogspot.com/2011/09/interview-giveaway-with-matt-xell.html

18. Review and Giveaway: Most Important Letter - http://mostimportantletter.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/blog-tour-review-giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell/

19. Review: From Page One - http://frompageone.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

20. MXL Interview and Giveaway: Brazilian Book Worm - http://brazilianbookworm.blogspot.com/2011/09/unread-interview-and-giveaway-matt-xell.html

21. Book Review: Reut Reads - http://reutreads.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

22. Book Review: The Book Worm is Here! - http://lulu-bookaddict.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-for-tower-of-parlen-min.html

23. Book Review and Giveaway: House Millar - http://housemillar.host56.com/tower-of-parlen-min-tour-stop/

24.Review: Raindrop Reflections - http://www.raindropreflections.com/682/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

25.Review: Ryning Books - http://ryningbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

26.Giveaway: Ryning Books - http://ryningbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

27.Review: YA Bound - http://yabound.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell_27.html

28.Review and Giveaway: Confessions of A Readaholic - http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

29.Review and Giveaway: Mon Palais - http://monpalais.tumblr.com/post/9198293692/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell

30.Review: Steph: Short & Sweet - http://steph-shortnsweet.blogspot.com/2011/08/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

31.Giveaway: The Non Reluctant Reader - http://readerbenji.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-giveaway-blog-tour.html

32.Review: The Kings and Queens of YA - http://leahsyabookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

33.Review: Magical Books - http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-reivew.html

34.Review: Bookedinchico - http://bookedinchico.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell.html

Cheers and thanks again,

Matt

Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 1, Part 1

2011-10-24T13:06:00.000-07:00

Ves Asirin, a small, eight-year-old, orphaned boy with dark brown eyes and dirty blonde hair, was a problem. Not one of the caretakers at Orem Church Orphanage would admit this because of how delicate he was with his autism spectrum disorder, but that is definitely, what he was; a problem.

No caretaker could ever get him to do anything but eat. No one could get him to get up on time or go to sleep when they wanted him to. No one could get him to play outside with the other children, instead of running down the hallway repeatedly. No one could get him to the barbershop without a fight. No one could stop him from drawing all over the wall with pens or markers and that he stole from the administration offices.

He was such a problem at the local school that he went to when he was six that Miss Twisty, the Head Caretaker at the orphanage, had him dropped out of the school because he could not be taught anything; he would not pay attention in class and he was always so forgetful.

Ves was such a problem, that none of the caretakers tried to hard to change him, make him conform and fit in with the other children … except Wender Mistry the youngest caretaker at the orphanage. Wender, who was 22 years old, tall with long red hair, was a hard working and a very kindhearted woman; she was brilliant with children. Miss Twisty had often criticised Wender’s way with the orphans because some of them, out of love for her, refused to leave the orphanage when people wanted to adopt them.

Wender was always trying her best to help Ves, showing an interest in him the very first day she’d come to the orphanage. Unfortunately, Ves misinterpreted all the attention she showed him as scrutiny, which absolutely he loathed.

Wender was the only caretaker who had tried to come up with a solution to Ves’ habit of drawing on the walls. Every morning, she would hand Ves a pencil and several sheets of paper to draw on, but of course, whenever he ran out of paper he returned to drawing on the walls.

Wender never gave up on her campaigns to win Ves over; she was just too naive to accept that he was beyond her help.

* * *

On a special day in April, Orem Church Orphanage opened its doors for adoption and eager scores of couples and foster parents came to the orphanage. On this day, Ves played alone in the playground whilst the other orphans showed off their various talents to the couples and foster parents. Miss Twisty had never put Ves up for adoption and had stated on more than one occasion that Ves lived at the orphanage under special care from the church whenever a curious couple asked about him. Of course, no other caretaker had complained about this other than Wender.

“First you drop him out of school … and now this?” Wender had complained during her first month at the orphanage. “Doesn’t Ves have as much right at a normal life as the other children?”
“I know how you feel Wender. But you must understand that this orphanage is the best living environment for a boy like Ves,” Miss Twisty had told her.
“But Miss Twisty. What’s the worst that could happen to Ves if he were adopted by a normal family?”
“Do you honestly believe that what you call a ‘normal family’ could cope with Ves’ condition? It takes 30 caretakers to run this orphanage and none of them combined manage to stay on top of Ves. This ‘normal family’ of yours would have Ves sent off to some mental institute in less than a month … or return him here if they had any sense.”
“ You don’t know that!”
“ Oh, I do, Wender. I’ve seen it happen to children who are far less problematic than Ves is. Please, Wender, just let it go.”

Wender, being the kind of woman that she was, would never let it go and was destined to defy Miss Twisty.

That April, on that day, Miss Twisty was out of town, and Wender who had planned for it, pulled together all of Ves files and put him up for adoption.

She bathed him, dressed him in his best clothes and sat him down next to the other children.

“ Wender, what do you think you’re doing?” asked Renet, one of the other female caretakers.
“ Doing what’s best for Ves,” Wender replied, not meeting Renet’s squinted eyes.
“ This is going against the board … and Miss Twisty. Oh, she’ll be so furious! She’ll have your head – and your job!” Renet whispered.
“ I don’t care as long as it is right in the eyes of Jesu and the Great Lord,” Wender said, briskly.

Renet shook her head and walked away muttering inaudibly to herself. Wender stood by her decision and before long a couple had noticed Ves who was seated with his head bowed, twirling one of his blonde streaks with his finger.

“ Oh, he’s so cute,” the woman said.
“I dunno, he’s kinda small,” the man said. “How old is he?”
“ Eight,” said Wender, excitedly walking over to the couple.
“ And is he healthy?” the man asked.
“ Yes he is,” Wender replied.
“ He’s so cute!” the woman said again, a wide grin on her face.
“ I’m Jake HaylenMardri,” he introduced the woman who was petite and had long, brown and wavy hair.
“Nice to meet you both, I’m Wender Mistry … please take a seat,” Wender said, beckoning the Haylens to two empty seats on each side of Ves.
“So what’s his name?” Madri asked.
“His name is Ves, Ves Asirin,” Wender told her.
“Strange name,” Jake said.
“Strange, but cute,” Mardri added.
“Are you sure he’s healthy? He looks sort of off colour to me,” Jake said.
“He’s fine Jake,” Mardri told him.
“He doesn’t have any illnesses or allergies, or any other complications?” Jake asked.
“No … none,” Wender lied.
“Can we have a look at his profile and medical records?”
“Sure, I’ll be right back.”

Wender got up and left the couple with Ves. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Mardri introducing herself to Ves, shaking his loose hand.

Wender stepped into the caretakers’ office and picked Ves’ file from her desk. She opened the file and slowly clipped out the papers containing details of Ves’ spectrum disorder. She read through the papers quickly and then sighed, her heart beating fast in her chest. She placed the papers on her desk and walked out of the office.

“ Well, here they are,” Wender said handing Ves’ file to Jake.

Jake read through the file and Wender watched him anxiously as he did.

“ Are you sure he’s the one?”Jake asked his wife.
“ Yes Jake … I know it in my heart, Julie is going to love him,” Mardri said.
“ Julie?” Wender asked
“Julie’s our ten-year-old daughter, she’s adopted as well,”
“Oh.”

Jake stood up and beckoned his wife.

“ Let’s have a private talk,” he said. Mardri nodded and stood up.

The couple walked a distance down the hall whispering to each other. Wender watched them, saying a silent prayer in her mind. Her heart had never beat that fast and hard in her life.

The couple returned to Wender and Ves a moment later.

“We’ll take him,” Mardri said excitedly.
“ Great …” Wender sighed in relief.

Wender led the Haylen’s to a desk where they signed papers for Ves’ adoption.

“So, I’ll have my lawyer come over on Monday to finalise everything … and – we’ll be in touch,” Jake said, happily.
“Okay,” Wender said, grinning.
“Come on dear,” said Mardri, holding Ves’ hand and making him stand up.
“… There are a few more things you should know about Ves,” Wender said, carrying Ves' bags as she escorted him and the Haylens out to their car.
“Yes?”
“He’s sort of shy around people and not very social – it’s normal for his age – but sometimes he just doesn’t talk at all for hours,”
“Does he go to school?” Mardri asked.
“No, not yet,” Wender said quickly.
“Isn’t he a bit … late?” Jake asked, raising his brows.
“He is – but he’s a quick learner,” Wender lied. “Though he is rather forgetful at times.”
“Then I guess he’ll be taking after my wife, she’s ‘extremely’ forgetful. She has a knack for misplacing and losing things,” Jake said.
“Oh, and he likes to draw a lot – sketches. If you bought him an art kit of some sort, I’m sure he’d be thrilled,”
“Sure, that shouldn’t be a problem, is there anything else?”

Wender shook her head quickly.

“ No …” she swallowed.
“ We’ll be off then, “Jake said, packing Ves’ bags in the boot of his car.
“ In you get Ves, dear,” Mardri said, beckoning Ves into the car.

Ves hesitated and turned to look at Wender with a frown on his face … as though he knew that this was not right.

“It’s alright, Ves,” Wender told him. “Go on.”

Ves slowly got into the car and Mardri closed the door.

“ Goodbye Wender, and thanks for everything,” Mardri said.
“It was my pleasure, Goodbye.”

Mardri got into the car as well and Jake started it, reversed out the parking area and then drove off. Wender waved at the car as it went, tears running down her cheeks. She hoped she’d done the right thing, she really did.

“Well,” Jake said, looking over his shoulder at Ves “I guess we’ll be calling you Ves A. Haylen now. Welcome to the family.”

To Be Continued ...

The Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour: Day 37

2011-10-24T12:57:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Uber thanks to you for showing up fir day 37 of the Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour. Here's what I've got for you today:

1. Guest post: Burning X Impossibly X Bright - http://burningximpossiblyxbright.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-blog-tour-guest.html

2. Ves and The Good Doctor - Episode 1, Part 1 - http://mattxell.blogspot.com/2011/10/ves-and-good-doctor-episode-1-part-1.html

And here's where we've been so far:

1. Guest post: The Non Reluctant Reader - http://readerbenji.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-from-matt-xell.html

2. Interview: Butterfly Feet Walking On Life - http://walkingbutterflyfeet.blogspot.com/2011/10/interview-with-matt-xell.html

3. Review: Butterfly Feet Walking On Life - http://walkingbutterflyfeet.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

4. Interview and Giveaway: Earth's Book Nook - http://earthsbooknook.blogspot.com/2011/10/matt-xell-interview-and-book-giveaway.html

5. Guest post: vvb32 Reads - http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/2011/10/sword-challenge-by-matt-xell.html

6. Review: Woven Myst Book Mystique - http://wovenstrands.wordpress.com/2011/10/09/the-tower-of-parlen-min/

7. Interview and Giveaway: All the Days of - http://allthedaysof.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-and-giveaway-with-matt.html

8. Review: Turning Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/book-review-53-tower-of-parlen-min.html

9.Review: Missy's Read's & Reviews - http://missyreadsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-reviewhttpwwwblogge.html

10.Interview and Giveaway: Turing Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-matt-xell-giveaway.html

11. Giveaway: A Muggles Magical Book Blog - http://lusbookblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min.html

12. Review: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/book-review-tower-of-parlen-min.html

13. Interview: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/author-interview-tower-of-parlen-min.html

14. Giveaway: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

15. Interview and Giveaway: Book & Movie Dimension - http://bmdimension.blogspot.com/2011/09/interview-giveaway-with-matt-xell.html

16. Review and Giveaway: Most Important Letter - http://mostimportantletter.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/blog-tour-review-giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell/

17. Review: From Page One - http://frompageone.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

18. MXL Interview and Giveaway: Brazilian Book Worm - http://brazilianbookworm.blogspot.com/2011/09/unread-interview-and-giveaway-matt-xell.html

19. Book Review: Reut Reads - http://reutreads.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

20. Book Review: The Book Worm is Here! - http://lulu-bookaddict.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-for-tower-of-parlen-min.html

21. Book Review and Giveaway: House Millar - http://housemillar.host56.com/tower-of-parlen-min-tour-stop/

22.Review: Raindrop Reflections - http://www.raindropreflections.com/682/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

23.Review: Ryning Books - http://ryningbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

24.Giveaway: Ryning Books - http://ryningbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

25.Review: YA Bound - http://yabound.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell_27.html

26.Review and Giveaway: Confessions of A Readaholic - http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

27.Review and Giveaway: Mon Palais - http://monpalais.tumblr.com/post/9198293692/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell

28.Review: Steph: Short & Sweet - http://steph-shortnsweet.blogspot.com/2011/08/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

29.Giveaway: The Non Reluctant Reader - http://readerbenji.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-giveaway-blog-tour.html

30.Review: The Kings and Queens of YA - http://leahsyabookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

31.Review: Magical Books - http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-reivew.html

32.Review: Bookedinchico - http://bookedinchico.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell.html

Cheers and thanks again for all your support,

Matt

The Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour: Day 36

2011-10-22T12:54:00.000-07:00

Hi people! It's day 36 of the Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour, thanks a lot for stopping by! And here's what we've got for you today:

1. Guest post: The Non Reluctant Reader - http://readerbenji.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-from-matt-xell.html

2. Interview: Butterfly Feet Walking On Life - http://walkingbutterflyfeet.blogspot.com/2011/10/interview-with-matt-xell.html

Here's where we've been so far:

1. Review: Butterfly Feet Walking On Life - http://walkingbutterflyfeet.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

2. Interview and Giveaway: Earth's Book Nook - http://earthsbooknook.blogspot.com/2011/10/matt-xell-interview-and-book-giveaway.html

3. Guest post: vvb32 Reads - http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/2011/10/sword-challenge-by-matt-xell.html

4. Review: Woven Myst Book Mystique - http://wovenstrands.wordpress.com/2011/10/09/the-tower-of-parlen-min/

5. Interview and Giveaway: All the Days of - http://allthedaysof.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-and-giveaway-with-matt.html

6. Review: Turning Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/book-review-53-tower-of-parlen-min.html

7.Review: Missy's Read's & Reviews - http://missyreadsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-reviewhttpwwwblogge.html

8.Interview and Giveaway: Turing Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-matt-xell-giveaway.html

9. Giveaway: A Muggles Magical Book Blog - http://lusbookblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min.html

10. Review: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/book-review-tower-of-parlen-min.html

11. Interview: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/author-interview-tower-of-parlen-min.html

12. Giveaway: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

13. Interview and Giveaway: Book & Movie Dimension - http://bmdimension.blogspot.com/2011/09/interview-giveaway-with-matt-xell.html

14. Review and Giveaway: Most Important Letter - http://mostimportantletter.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/blog-tour-review-giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell/

14. Review: From Page One - http://frompageone.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

15. MXL Interview and Giveaway: Brazilian Book Worm - http://brazilianbookworm.blogspot.com/2011/09/unread-interview-and-giveaway-matt-xell.html

16. Book Review: Reut Reads - http://reutreads.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

17. Book Review: The Book Worm is Here! - http://lulu-bookaddict.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-for-tower-of-parlen-min.html

18. Book Review and Giveaway: House Millar - http://housemillar.host56.com/tower-of-parlen-min-tour-stop/

19.Review: Raindrop Reflections - http://www.raindropreflections.com/682/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

20.Review: Ryning Books - http://ryningbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

21.Giveaway: Ryning Books - http://ryningbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

22.Review: YA Bound - http://yabound.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell_27.html

23.Review and Giveaway: Confessions of A Readaholic - http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

24.Review and Giveaway: Mon Palais - http://monpalais.tumblr.com/post/9198293692/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell

25.Review: Steph: Short & Sweet - http://steph-shortnsweet.blogspot.com/2011/08/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

26.Giveaway: The Non Reluctant Reader - http://readerbenji.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-giveaway-blog-tour.html

27.Review: The Kings and Queens of YA - http://leahsyabookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

28.Review: Magical Books - http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-reivew.html

29.Review: Bookedinchico - http://bookedinchico.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell.html

Cheers and thanks again for all your support,

Matt

The Tower of Parlen Min Chapter Commentaries Promo!

2011-10-17T10:55:00.000-07:00

Yo'oh!Hi, people! Matt here has something of an announcement to make (stop shouting - baka)!

Saddly (is it?), due to circumstances beyond my control (really?) and the 'Speed of Zam' (which is the speed just before slow) the Tower of Parlen Min Chapter Commentaries; the video thingys with me and Danny Mexen reading excerpts and discussing the book in depth, will no longer be included in the Virtual Book Tour as originally planned.

I'm really sorry about that. I know I went on about how they would be the highlight of the tour and I really did go as close to the extra mile as I could to have the videos filmed, edited and released during the tour. To all the book bloggers that were hoping to have those on their sites, I really do humbly apologize for not keeping my word.

But, alas, there is a solution of sorts! When production wraps on the editing of the videos I'll be launching a separate promotion for them, tentatively called the Tower of Parlen Min Chapter Commentaries Promo. I won't put a date on it yet but to make up for the wasted anticipation and hype, I'll be giving away 10, that's right, 10 copies of the Tower of Parlen Min ebook from the sites of the book bloggers and reviewers that host episodes of the chapter commentaries. So if you haven't won a copy of the book yet I'll be sure to let you know when the promo kicks off.

Well that's it ... oh ... wait, no. Yes, I've got one more thing to show and tell you, check it out below:

That's right, it's the 'longer over-due' book trailer for Tower of Parlen Min featuring some of the most excellent quotes from a few of our reviewers and the Great Randis Albion's awe-mazing cover -- yes, like Chuck Norris, there's nothing it can't do! I hope you like it, yeah? And tell a friend or two about it, yeah?

cheers and thanks then,

Matt

The Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour: Day 35

2011-10-16T10:53:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Matt Xell here and it’s day 35 of the Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour. Thanks so much for showing up! So here’s our tour stop for today:

1. Review: Butterfly Feet Walking On Life - http://walkingbutterflyfeet.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

And here’s where we’ve been so far:

1. Interview and Giveaway: Earth's Book Nook - http://earthsbooknook.blogspot.com/2011/10/matt-xell-interview-and-book-giveaway.html

2. Guest post: vvb32 Reads - http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/2011/10/sword-challenge-by-matt-xell.html

3. Review: Woven Myst Book Mystique - http://wovenstrands.wordpress.com/2011/10/09/the-tower-of-parlen-min/

4. Interview and Giveaway: All the Days of - http://allthedaysof.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-and-giveaway-with-matt.html

5. Review: Turning Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/book-review-53-tower-of-parlen-min.html

6.Review: Missy's Read's & Reviews - http://missyreadsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-reviewhttpwwwblogge.html

7.Interview and Giveaway: Turing Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-matt-xell-giveaway.html

8. Giveaway: A Muggles Magical Book Blog - http://lusbookblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min.html

9. Review: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/book-review-tower-of-parlen-min.html

10. Interview: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/author-interview-tower-of-parlen-min.html

11. Giveaway: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

12. Interview and Giveaway: Book & Movie Dimension - http://bmdimension.blogspot.com/2011/09/interview-giveaway-with-matt-xell.html

13. Review and Giveaway: Most Important Letter - http://mostimportantletter.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/blog-tour-review-giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell/

14. Review: From Page One - http://frompageone.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

15. MXL Interview and Giveaway: Brazilian Book Worm - http://brazilianbookworm.blogspot.com/2011/09/unread-interview-and-giveaway-matt-xell.html

23.Review and Giveaway: Confessions of A Readaholic - http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

24.Review and Giveaway: Mon Palais - http://monpalais.tumblr.com/post/9198293692/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell

Cheers and thanks again for all your support,

Matt

The Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour: Day 34

2011-10-14T12:02:00.000-07:00

What's up people! Thanks so for showing up for day 34 of the Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour . Here's our stop for today:

1. Interview and Giveaway: Earth's Book Nook - http://earthsbooknook.blogspot.com/2011/10/matt-xell-interview-and-book-giveaway.html

And here's where we've so far:

1. Guest post: vvb32 Reads - http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/2011/10/sword-challenge-by-matt-xell.html

2. Review: Woven Myst Book Mystique - http://wovenstrands.wordpress.com/2011/10/09/the-tower-of-parlen-min/

3. Interview and Giveaway: All the Days of - http://allthedaysof.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-and-giveaway-with-matt.html

4. Review: Turning Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/book-review-53-tower-of-parlen-min.html

5.Review: Missy's Read's & Reviews - http://missyreadsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-reviewhttpwwwblogge.html

6.Interview and Giveaway: Turing Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-matt-xell-giveaway.html

7. Giveaway: A Muggles Magical Book Blog - http://lusbookblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min.html

8. Review: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/book-review-tower-of-parlen-min.html

9. Interview: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/author-interview-tower-of-parlen-min.html

10. Giveaway: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

11. Interview and Giveaway: Book & Movie Dimension - http://bmdimension.blogspot.com/2011/09/interview-giveaway-with-matt-xell.html

12. Review and Giveaway: Most Important Letter - http://mostimportantletter.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/blog-tour-review-giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell/

13. Review: From Page One - http://frompageone.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

14. MXL Interview and Giveaway: Brazilian Book Worm - http://brazilianbookworm.blogspot.com/2011/09/unread-interview-and-giveaway-matt-xell.html

15. Book Review: Reut Reads - http://reutreads.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

16. Book Review: The Book Worm is Here! - http://lulu-bookaddict.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-for-tower-of-parlen-min.html

17. Book Review and Giveaway: House Millar - http://housemillar.host56.com/tower-of-parlen-min-tour-stop/

18.Review: Raindrop Reflections - http://www.raindropreflections.com/682/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

19.Review: Ryning Books - http://ryningbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

20.Giveaway: Ryning Books - http://ryningbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

21.Review: YA Bound - http://yabound.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell_27.html

22.Review and Giveaway: Confessions of A Readaholic - http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

23.Review and Giveaway: Mon Palais - http://monpalais.tumblr.com/post/9198293692/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell

24.Review: Steph: Short & Sweet - http://steph-shortnsweet.blogspot.com/2011/08/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

25.Giveaway: The Non Reluctant Reader - http://readerbenji.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-giveaway-blog-tour.html

26.Review: The Kings and Queens of YA - http://leahsyabookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

27.Review: Magical Books - http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-reivew.html

28.Review: Bookedinchico - http://bookedinchico.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell.html

*Embarrassed sigh* ... yes, of course I know my blog posts are, more or less, pages with a buncha links these days; it's called 'shameless pluggin', lol. So please bare with me until the 31st.

cheers and thanks for the support,

Matt

The Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour: Day 33

2011-10-12T13:08:00.000-07:00

‘Yo’oh! It’s day 33 of the Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour and this Matt Xell is ever so grateful for your support … yes, even you Danny. So let’s have a look at where we’re at today:

1. Guest post: vvb32 Reads - http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/2011/10/sword-challenge-by-matt-xell.html

And here’s the links to where we’ve been so far:

1. Review: Woven Myst Book Mystique - http://wovenstrands.wordpress.com/2011/10/09/the-tower-of-parlen-min/

2. Interview and Giveaway: All the Days of - http://allthedaysof.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-and-giveaway-with-matt.html

3. Review: Turning Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/book-review-53-tower-of-parlen-min.html

4.Review: Missy's Read's & Reviews - http://missyreadsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-reviewhttpwwwblogge.html

5.Interview and Giveaway: Turing Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-matt-xell-giveaway.html

6. Giveaway: A Muggles Magical Book Blog - http://lusbookblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min.html

7. Review: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/book-review-tower-of-parlen-min.html

8. Interview: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/author-interview-tower-of-parlen-min.html

9. Giveaway: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

10. Interview and Giveaway: Book & Movie Dimension - http://bmdimension.blogspot.com/2011/09/interview-giveaway-with-matt-xell.html

11. Review and Giveaway: Most Important Letter - http://mostimportantletter.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/blog-tour-review-giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell/

12. Review: From Page One - http://frompageone.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

13. MXL Interview and Giveaway: Brazilian Book Worm - http://brazilianbookworm.blogspot.com/2011/09/unread-interview-and-giveaway-matt-xell.html

14. Book Review: Reut Reads - http://reutreads.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

15. Book Review: The Book Worm is Here! - http://lulu-bookaddict.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-for-tower-of-parlen-min.html

16. Book Review and Giveaway: House Millar - http://housemillar.host56.com/tower-of-parlen-min-tour-stop/

17.Review: Raindrop Reflections - http://www.raindropreflections.com/682/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

18.Review: Ryning Books - http://ryningbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

19.Giveaway: Ryning Books - http://ryningbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

20.Review: YA Bound - http://yabound.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell_27.html

21.Review and Giveaway: Confessions of A Readaholic - http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

22.Review and Giveaway: Mon Palais - http://monpalais.tumblr.com/post/9198293692/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell

23.Review: Steph: Short & Sweet - http://steph-shortnsweet.blogspot.com/2011/08/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

24.Giveaway: The Non Reluctant Reader - http://readerbenji.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-giveaway-blog-tour.html

25.Review: The Kings and Queens of YA - http://leahsyabookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

26.Review: Magical Books - http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-reivew.html

27.Review: Bookedinchico - http://bookedinchico.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell.html

Random rant: There are 30 days left to the release of The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim … but 3 years before I am worthy to play it. Ah – the price of fortune and glory (T-T). Cheers and thanks People!

Matt

The Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour: Day 32

2011-10-10T09:50:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. Thanks for joining this Matt Xell character for day 32 of the Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour. So here where we're at today:

1. Review: Woven Myst Book Mystique - http://wovenstrands.wordpress.com/2011/10/09/the-tower-of-parlen-min/

2. Interview and Giveaway: All the Days of - http://allthedaysof.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-and-giveaway-with-matt.html

And here's where we've been so far:

1. Review: Turning Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/book-review-53-tower-of-parlen-min.html

2.Review: Missy's Read's & Reviews - http://missyreadsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-reviewhttpwwwblogge.html

3.Interview and Giveaway: Turing Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-matt-xell-giveaway.html

4. Giveaway: A Muggles Magical Book Blog - http://lusbookblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min.html

5. Review: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/book-review-tower-of-parlen-min.html

6. Interview: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/author-interview-tower-of-parlen-min.html

7. Giveaway: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

8. Interview and Giveaway: Book & Movie Dimension - http://bmdimension.blogspot.com/2011/09/interview-giveaway-with-matt-xell.html

9. Review and Giveaway: Most Important Letter - http://mostimportantletter.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/blog-tour-review-giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell/

10. Review: From Page One - http://frompageone.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

11. MXL Interview and Giveaway: Brazilian Book Worm - http://brazilianbookworm.blogspot.com/2011/09/unread-interview-and-giveaway-matt-xell.html

12. Book Review: Reut Reads - http://reutreads.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

13. Book Review: The Book Worm is Here! - http://lulu-bookaddict.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-for-tower-of-parlen-min.html

14. Book Review and Giveaway: House Millar - http://housemillar.host56.com/tower-of-parlen-min-tour-stop/

15.Review: Raindrop Reflections - http://www.raindropreflections.com/682/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

16.Review: Ryning Books - http://ryningbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

17.Giveaway: Ryning Books - http://ryningbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

18.Review: YA Bound - http://yabound.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell_27.html

19.Review and Giveaway: Confessions of A Readaholic - http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

20.Review and Giveaway: Mon Palais - http://monpalais.tumblr.com/post/9198293692/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell

21.Review: Steph: Short & Sweet - http://steph-shortnsweet.blogspot.com/2011/08/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

22.Giveaway: The Non Reluctant Reader - http://readerbenji.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-giveaway-blog-tour.html

23.Review: The Kings and Queens of YA - http://leahsyabookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

24.Review: Magical Books - http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-reivew.html

25.Review: Bookedinchico - http://bookedinchico.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell.html

Your support, as always, is much appreciated people.

Cheers and thanks

Matt

The Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour: Day 31

2011-10-09T11:54:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! it's day 31 of the Tower of Parlen Min Virtual Book Tour, thanks for stopping by! Here's where we're at today:

1. Review: Turning Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/book-review-53-tower-of-parlen-min.html

And here's where we've been so far:

1.Review: Missy's Read's & Reviews - http://missyreadsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/10/tower-of-parlen-min-reviewhttpwwwblogge.html

2.Interview and Giveaway: Turing Pages - http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-interview-matt-xell-giveaway.html

3. Giveaway: A Muggles Magical Book Blog - http://lusbookblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min.html

4. Review: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/book-review-tower-of-parlen-min.html

5. Interview: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/author-interview-tower-of-parlen-min.html

6. Giveaway: My Precious: Ramblings of a Kindle Addict - http://thecallawayfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

7. Interview and Giveaway: Book & Movie Dimension - http://bmdimension.blogspot.com/2011/09/interview-giveaway-with-matt-xell.html

8. Review and Giveaway: Most Important Letter - http://mostimportantletter.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/blog-tour-review-giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell/

9. Review: From Page One - http://frompageone.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

10. MXL Interview and Giveaway: Brazilian Book Worm - http://brazilianbookworm.blogspot.com/2011/09/unread-interview-and-giveaway-matt-xell.html

11. Book Review: Reut Reads - http://reutreads.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

12. Book Review: The Book Worm is Here! - http://lulu-bookaddict.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-for-tower-of-parlen-min.html

13. Book Review and Giveaway: House Millar - http://housemillar.host56.com/tower-of-parlen-min-tour-stop/

14.Review: Raindrop Reflections - http://www.raindropreflections.com/682/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell/

15.Review: Ryning Books - http://ryningbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

16.Giveaway: Ryning Books - http://ryningbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/giveaway-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt.html

17.Review: YA Bound - http://yabound.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell_27.html

18.Review and Giveaway: Confessions of A Readaholic - http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

19.Review and Giveaway: Mon Palais - http://monpalais.tumblr.com/post/9198293692/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell

20.Review: Steph: Short & Sweet - http://steph-shortnsweet.blogspot.com/2011/08/review-tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

21.Giveaway: The Non Reluctant Reader - http://readerbenji.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-giveaway-blog-tour.html

22.Review: The Kings and Queens of YA - http://leahsyabookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-by-matt-xell.html

23.Review: Magical Books - http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-reivew.html

24.Review: Bookedinchico - http://bookedinchico.blogspot.com/2011/08/tower-of-parlen-min-matt-xell.html

Cheer's and thanks again for your support people,

Matt