Attracted to Evil: The Hybristophiliac

Attracted to Evil: The Hybristophiliac

by Tina Glasneck

Every day we are almost beat upside the head with tales of horrible crimes: murders, rapes, torturing and armed robberies.  Yet, while many of us gasp and shake our heads in outrage, others feel a deadly attraction. It is when the ultimate bad boy becomes an object of intense desire.

As you may know, my research takes me everywhere and I believe that to create believable characters, I also need to understand them. This month, my research has broached a topic I was unfamiliar with by name, but  familiar with by concept.

We all have our kink?

Hybristophilia, also known as the Bonnie and Clyde syndrome, referencing the dynamic crime duo of the 1930s, is nothing new, and the most popular case thereof, dates back to the 1890s.

With the romanticizing of darkness, our once hardened shell has become more accepting of finding the barbaric and atrocious appealing, evident by the rising trend of hybristophilia. By performing an internet search of it, you’ll notice that this paraphilia has been playing in the background of society for a while, but also that it is rising in the limelight.

Hybristophilia , as defined by sexologist, Professor John Money, is "a paraphilia of the marauding/predatory type in which sexuerotic arousal and facilitation and attainment of orgasm are responsive to and contingent on being with a partner known to have committed an outrage or crime, such as rape, murder, or armed robbery." Statically, women are known to suffer from this syndrome more than men.

The hybristophiliac seeks out companionship with violent criminals and is most known for their fan letters to serial killers, and are often referred to as serial killer groupies. In their letters, they often express their love and devotion.  In fact, it is estimated that a once notorious serial killer, who shall remain nameless, “received about two hundred fan letters each day from female admirers” while incarcerated. 

There are two main categories or  types of hybristophiliacs: passive and aggressive. The passive hybristophiliac is not serial killer fan because of her overwhelming interest in the crimes committed by the criminal, but because of her exaggerated attraction to the ultimate “bad boy.” Somewhere between fan letter and her knowledge of her idol’s crimes, she convinces herself that the perpetrator is either innocent, as in he didn't do it; or, he been reformed by the criminal justice system and has changed, or, he will change because  her love can be a catalyst of change, i.e., I love him enough to make change happen. Through her love, she truly believes she can change and rehabilitate the beast, changing his nature from feral to domesticated.

The aggressive hybristophiliac can be a ticking time bomb, whereby she can be involved in the crimes of her “bad boy.”  According to Love Art History website, “[She is] willing to help out [her] lover with [his] criminal agenda by luring victims, hiding bodies, covering crimes, or even committing crimes.” As an active criminal element, she is willing to do anything and everything she can to achieve that which she wishes to have.

When our appreciation of the anti-hero climaxes, and leaves us longing for more, and we've soaked up all that we can throughout hours of laid back entertainment, and we start to see monsters as men, we teeter on being swayed by our romanticism, until we reach the true dark side.

And you? What are your thoughts?What is your take on the serial killer fan club?

For more information on hybristophilia, please check out the following resources:

• Bonnie and Clyde: http://qi.com/infocloud/bonnie-and-clyde
• Passion Victim, Psychology Today,  http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-excess/201310/passion-victim
• Psychology of Hybristophilia http://lovearthistory.hubpages.com/hub/psyhparaphilia

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TINA GLASNECK loves storytelling. She is currently working on the next story in her Spark Before Dying Series, and loves her entertaining research. Her dark novella, and most recent release, ANGELS CRY, is exclusively available on Amazon.

 

Have we lost our humanity?

Have we lost our humanity?

The beginning of the year is always a time of newness, when we are able to be hopeful that the coming year will be filled with vitality, joy, merriment, glee and goodness. Yet, so far in January, it seems that the sheer intensity of crime has increased, as though diabolical demons are seeking to capture more souls and create chaos. Following my news feed, I can’t help but wonder, what will it take for this nation filled with consumerism to finally learn that our power is in understanding our humanity?
School Shootings

Ever since the mass shooting in Columbine, there seems to be a steady rise into this horrendous crime, perpetuated by those who choose to unleash their fears on the world or have someone else kill them rather then themselves. It has sparked gun control debates, but has resulted in no true change, and in lieu of change, we’ve settled to sit on the precipice of time, waiting for the next angst-ridden teen, disgruntled adult or mentally ill individual to grab an available weapon to shoot innocent people due to their own “issues.” Yet, I wonder, how would things be if we stopped lobbying for multi-million dollar companies and instead focused on the importance of loving the person beside us?

I am not arguing the pros or cons regarding gun control, instead, what I am insisting upon is that we be reminded of the importance and value of human life; that we again regard society as a village - a village needed to raise the youngsters in our care; a village that is there to assist the ill and poor, and, of course, a village that is not so preoccupied with Washington’s lobbyists that the cares and concerns of the nation’s citizens are disregarded.

Maybe if we spent less time pushing a ____________ (insert vice of choice) on others and started to remember the value of those around us, then this world can indeed become a better place.

The War on Poverty

This week marked the anniversary of Lyndon B. Johnson’s declaration of War on Poverty.  Somehow the perpetuation that millions are living the life off of the government’s “handouts” has been propagated by the media, movies and music, but the truth of the matter is that the entitlements provided by government are to assist those, who are unable to bridge the gap of assistance needed.

Having grown up with welfare and using food stamps, the only thing I personally wanted was to have food on the table, a roof to cover my head (rent subsidy) and to be safe from the ever growing street violence. Living an impoverished life is not a choice for millions of children. They are born into situations out of their control, but it is through education that changes are made – not by entitlement-shaming. When politicians degrade an ever growing percentage of the population, who is doing all that they can do, to make ends meet, then I can’t help but again wonder, how we would be, if we truly cared about the communities, in which we live.

Interestingly enough, we are easily moved by images of starving dogs, but are easy to say that the mother, who is washing her children up in the public restroom, made poor choices and the decision to live so. A society that fails to care for its feeble, hungry, homeless and poor is on the brink of doom, because it has lost sight as to what it means to be human.

I don’t know the answers to our world’s problems, and my ultimate goal is to start a conversation, but I fear that if we don’t change courses, and start respecting those around us, and understanding that everyone has value, then we are coming ever closer to being a society built on the blood of the innocent.

So, tell me:  Have we lost our humanity and what can we do to try to heal our communities and nation?

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TINA GLASNECK is a fearless crime fiction author. Her latest release, ANGELS CRY, is available on Amazon. Connect with Tina on Facebook!

Every Day is Christmas by Tina Glasneck

"I recognize that in my frailty is strength
and in my strength is purpose."

When I heard the crunching metal and the cars breaking, combined with a child’s screams, I felt helpless. For that moment, I thought of all of the things that I could have done better; the words that should never have been spoken, the patience I never should have lost. I thought of the flippant thoughts, as I stumbled and fell.

The car gunned forward, speeding towards me, changing gears faster than I could blink.

I don’t know how my legs whisked me away, out of danger, as if carried on the wings of angels. I felt the newness, as I attempted to swallow, and visibly shook.

Lessons are not always learned, but when they are, we come to understand them as second chances; second chances to do better, and be better. We come to understand them to be the moments that caused our metamorphosis.

Metal pieces flew, windows crashed, glass panes broke. Only shards and shells remained.

What could I say to relieve the horror witnessed when only the broken shards remained behind?  This year, I’d stumbled often…I’d wished to give up, to let go of fanciful dreams, and then something happened. Something sparked and made the gift so much better.

When the Christmas lights twinkle and illuminate the night, I feel a sense of joy. The lights represent the season, and it combines with the time of the Winter Solstice. In the Judeo-Christian traditions, December is the month of celebrating. And the activities available, as people are cheerful, more courteous and a smile is not foreign on a strangers lips.

Today, I take with me, and hold it close, that Christmas doesn’t have to be only one time of year, it can be my every day, where I appreciate the beauty that every twenty-four hours gives; truly appreciate what it means to be alive, and experience the heaven on this earth. Today, I cherish the moments I have instead of pining for moments I might never achieve, and breathe in knowing that for this one moment, I am more than grateful to be alive, I am happy.

As we countdown to 2014, and I sign off on 2013, I hope that my honesty has resonated within you, and that you too will take hold and know that it only takes a spark to start a fire. Wishing you many blessing during this holiday season, and may your 2014 bring you the metamorphosis you desire, filled with an abundance of happiness, hope and laughter.

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TINA GLASNECK enjoys living a fearless life. She's learned to appreciate what it means to wear different hats, juggle her responsibilities, and still remain sane in a sometimes insane world. When she is not writing, researching or otherwise working, she can be found pondering the meaning of life, and trying to find interesting ways to kill it.  The question isn't if the way of death is plausible, but how can she make it more interesting. Her new book, Angels Cry, is scheduled for release on December 31st. 

Connect with Tina on her website at www.TinaGlasneck.com or find her on facebook.

When Fact Meets Fiction: Writer's Research Holds Grains of Truth

When I started researching for my book, Angels Cry, I expected nothing more than to find a few details that I could sprinkle into my fiction, but what I discovered, shifted my paradigm. When we think about human trafficking, we think about larger cities with worse reputations; we think about foreign and faraway places. Most of us never consider that it could be happening in our backyards.

Human trafficking is illegal, both according to state and federal law. The Thirteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution abolished slavery, in any form. Yet, this has not quashed the ever rising tide of illegal brothels and sex slaves. But, human trafficking isn’t limited to the sex industry.

Additionally, according to the FBI, what must be understood is that  “[it] but can be found “in many job locations and industries—including factories, restaurants, elder care facilities, hotels, housekeeping, child-rearing, agriculture, construction and landscaping, food processing, meat-packing, cleaning services…as well as the commercial sex industry.”

What I’ve noticed over the months it has taken for me to create and finish my story is an explosion of information about human trafficking. (A simple Google search will produce pages upon pages of information.)For example, in November, a Taskforce was announced to combat the human trafficking in the western part of the state. Legal entities have received mandated power to tackle it. For example Virginia Code §9.1-102(55) states: "In conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General, advise law-enforcement agencies and attorneys for the Commonwealth regarding the identification, investigation, and prosecution of human trafficking offenses using the common law and existing criminal statutes in the Code of Virginia." Most recently, Style Magazine, in its December 3^rd edition, also produced an amazing article offering insight into this heart-wrenching problem. The article, titled “Prisoners Among Us,” is a must read.

Knowledge is power and it will take all of us knowing what Human Trafficking is for us to combat it.

What is Human Trafficking?

According to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, “The federal Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act defines human trafficking, in part, as the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision or obtaining of a person for the purposes of commercial sex acts or labor services through the use of force, fraud or coercion… A trafficked victim does not have to be moved or transported; only forced into a state of servitude.”

Who can be a victim?

As reported by the National Center for the Victims of Crimes, “Although the majority of labor trafficking victims are undocumented or qualified aliens, the majority of sex trafficking victims in the U.S. are U.S. citizens.” As such, we mustn’t necessary fear the evil from outside, but from within.

What should I keep an eye out for?

In a January 2012 post, the FBI posted under its Stories section an article called, Human Trafficking Prevention: Help Us Identify Potential Victims, therein they provide key details as to what you can keep an eye out for, and what could be a sign or indicator of possible human trafficking.  

• Individuals who have no contact with friends or family and no access to identification documents, bank accounts, or cash;
•  Workplaces where psychological manipulation and control are used;
• Homes or apartments with inhumane living conditions;
• People whose communications and movements are always monitored or who have moved or rotated through multiple locations in a short amount of time;
•  Places where locks and fences are positioned to confine occupants; and
• Workers who have excessively long and unusual hours, are unpaid or paid very little, are unable take breaks or days off and have unusual work restrictions, and/or have unexplained work injuries or signs of untreated illness or disease.

How Can I Help?

The Virginia Chapter for National Organization for Women provides great resources for those involved in and for those who believe human trafficking is occurring. Due to this being a crime, one can always contact their local law enforcement and/or the FBI. The Virginia Chapter for National Organization for women suggests that you report  suspected trafficking in Virginia to ICE, the FBI or the Virginia DOJ.

For additional reading, check out: NBC | Human Trafficking in Virginia Part I. If you are interested in learning how you can help, please contact the Polaris Project for additional information; and if you are or know someone who is a victim of human trafficking, there is help available (both private and government assisted). The VADOJ provides a list of resources.

The above is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg that I haven't really even started to uncover. Who knows, maybe this will be a topic I’ll delve into in another book, but for now, I can’t help looking at the world around me with new eyes, and wondering who is truly helping their neighbor and who is just taking advantage of them.

Note: During this holiday season, please consider the plight of those living among us, and should you suspect human trafficking, reach out to law enforcement for assistance. Do NOT try to rescue someone on your own. Although we all would like to be an action hero, it's better to call in the professionals.

Share your thoughts below in the comments.

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TINA GLASNECK's forth coming release of Angels Cry is due out in late December, 2013. To learn more about Tina, please connect with her at TinaGlasneck.com or on facebook.

Clueless: Is the Perfect Murder Possible?

In a recent episode of Castle, a young man is on death row, about to be executed, and Alex, having interned with an attorney on the man’s case, believes the inmate to be wrongly convicted, and requests Castle’s help in righting this wrong.

He heard the screams from across the street. Dropping his towel, he hurried next door to his neighbor’s house only to discover her unresponsive on the floor. Under the low lights, he reached down and touched her neck, seeking a pulse.  Nothing.

Removing his hand, he then felt the stickiness on his fingers, which he tried to wipe away. Then he saw it: a slow pool of blood starting to form under her. Now, staring down at it, all that he thought about was getting out of there, before the police arrived, before someone became suspicious and noticed that a crime had taken place.

It was too late, as patrolmen arrived and arrested him.

– Part of the story from Castle, episode 607, Like Father, Like Daughter

This episode got me thinking about forensic science and its role in crime solving.

During my time at the Citizen’s Police Academy, we had a session on the Forensics Unit, where we discussed Locard’s Exchange Principle. Dr. Locard believed that “…no matter where a criminal goes or what a criminal does, by coming into contact with things, a criminal can leave all sorts of evidence, including DNA, fingerprints, footprints, hair, skin cells, blood, bodily fluids, pieces of clothing, fibers and more. At the same time, they will also take something away from the scene with them.” See Forensic Handbook 

Therefore, anytime someone enters a crime scene, be it a criminal or police officer, he leaves something behind and takes something with him. As such, when it is determined that a crime has taken place, the scene is taped off by a patrol officer to ensure that the scene is not contaminated by unnecessary foot traffic.

When the first officer arrives on the scene, so begins the chain of custody, and also the crime scene log. The log and notes include such details as the fact of if the lights were on or off, when officers arrived; the temperature of the air, as well as if any dust is disturbed.

While many criminals may feel that a perfect murder is possible, it isn’t. The advance of technology, along with a statute of limitations that doesn’t expire, makes it possible for a criminal to be caught even 20 years after the murder. From popular shows, like CSI, many feel that a little bit of bleach will make a crime scene disappear, but according to the forensic experts, it might degrade the DNA, but not the blood. Blood will still react under Luminol, and this can indeed help to build a criminal case, even if the human remains are not recovered (yes, there have been successful criminal prosecutions done when a body has not been found).

A murder is a stop in time moment, and as a writer, my job is to present clues to allow my reader the opportunity to figure out the whodunit or even the actual motive, leaving clues behind… and if there is a perfect murder, with this knowledge in hand, you have to wonder why.

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TINA GLASNECK is just getting started. The countdown is on for the release of her novella, ANGELS CRY, and she is excited about all of the places her research is taking her. Connect with Tina on Facebook and if you are in the Richmond area, please mark your calendars and join her at Regency Square Mall on December 21st at 12 p.m.

Body Brokering

We've all heard the rumors and exposes of harvesting happening abroad, in places like China - from their death row inmates. Yet, here in the US, it has also found a foothold. Since 2004, when the proverbial cap came unscrewed, the truth behind the backroom deals was revealed; body harvesting has found a new home.

Each piece of the human cadaver
 has a  black market value.

Body brokering became the big news in 2004. USA Today published the article, There’s money in the business of body parts even including a handy-dandy graphic as to How the body can be used after death.  Even in 2012, CNN was still reporting on this phenomenon, during a segment with Nancy Grace (Surgeon Sells Funeral Home Body Parts).

After coming across this subject through Anne Cheney’s book, Body Brokers: Inside America’s Underground Trade in Human Remains, I started to pay attention and dig.

What once was known as body snatchers, grave robbers and the like are now body brokers, those that seek to gain profit off of the human remains of the deceased.  It is where urban legends begin to mix with reality (recently, the news contained segments about a young man's remains being exhumed and  PVC pipes had replaced his actual femurs; and, a missing young men was located missing his vital organs).

According to the United Nations, “Trafficking in organs is a crime that occurs in three broad categories. Firstly, there are cases where traffickers force or deceive the victims into giving up an organ. Secondly, there are cases where victims formally or informally agree to sell an organ and are cheated because they are not paid for the organ or are paid less than the promised price. Thirdly, vulnerable persons are treated for an ailment, which may or may not exist and thereupon organs are removed without the victim's knowledge. The vulnerable categories of persons include migrants, especially migrant workers, homeless persons, illiterate persons, etc. It is known that trafficking for organ trade could occur with persons of any age. Organs which are commonly traded are kidneys, liver and the like; any organ which can be removed and used, could be the subject of such illegal trade.”

With organ harvesting tourism, that supports the trafficking, large sums of money are being exchanged. According to the Guardian, “Patients, many of whom will go to China, India or Pakistan for surgery, can pay up to $200,000 (nearly £128,000) for a kidney to gangs who harvest organs from vulnerable, desperate people, sometimes for as little as $5,000.”

What we have is two-pronged problem: bodies being harvested for their parts, and the living being harvested for their organs. Each are part of the rise in human trafficking, the demand in healthy parts due to the rise of western diseases, such as diabetes, and the poverty of those who have nothing left to offer besides literal pieces of themselves. In the research I've done, I've even read about children being sneaked into western countries so that their young organs could be harvested.

This problem is only a small portion of the human trafficking agenda, which also includes prostitution, slavery and drug trafficking. Yet, where we find human trafficking, we also find a part of this equation of possibly helping save someone from such a fate.

How can you help stop human trafficking?

There are several ways to help combat this and save someone’s life, but it all starts with learning the red flags of human trafficking. According to the US Department of State, the following are some of the indicators of human trafficking:

·         Living with employer

·         Poor living conditions

·         Multiple people in cramped space

·         Inability to speak to individual alone

·         Answers appear to be scripted and rehearsed

·         Employer is holding identity documents

·         Signs of physical abuse

·         Submissive or fearful

·         Unpaid or paid very little

·         Under 18 and in prostitution

Most localities provide assistance, through a non-emergency number, but you can also contact the U.S. Department of State at  the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-3737-888 (24/7) or the Department of Homeland Security at 1-866-347-2423 (24/7), or submit a tip online at www.ice.gov/tips, or from the U.S. Department of Justice at 1-888-428-7581 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (EST). 

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Tina Glasneck, author

I hope you enjoyed today's installment. At Murderer's Market, I am still trying to catch my stride as to my brand, but I hope by choosing to share some of the information I've gained through my research, you too will be inspired to learn and help.

Research is an opportunity to learn something new, and in creating my upcoming release, Angels Cry, I chose the topic of body brokering. During my time of attending the Citizens' Police Academy, I've gained so much insight as to what it means to keep an eye open and watch out for myself and those around me.  The organizations and services as provided by the localities, state and even at the federal levels are there to assist us. The more knowledge we gain, the more we are able to assist.

Domestic Violence Awareness

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

According to the Huffington Post, by the end of October another 50 women “will be murdered with a gun by an intimate partner.” The statistic is staggering.Yet, the tragedy of it all is that these victims could have been saved. Yes, it can include physical violence, which seems to be what is most often understood as abuse, but it also includes sexual,  emotional ,  financial  and elder abuse.

Recently, during the Henrico County Citizens’ Police Academy, I learned about domestics. My hand steadily wrote down everything in order to not only share this important information, but to also increase own knowledge about this topic. 

Domestic violence is a pattern of behaviors over one person or another to assert power or maintain control. According to the officer, domestic violence includes a variety of acts, including sexual violence, stalking, strangulation, etc.

Fact: 89% of domestic homicide victims were stalked by their killer.

When it comes to physical abuse, it is easy to imagine someone appearing black and blue after the fact, but not all forms of abuse leave black and blue bruises, lacerations or broken bones.  I never considered that someone might be waterboarded in their home, but that is only one from the long list of physical abuses, which also include pinching, squeezing, pushing, shoving, slapping, biting, punching, kicking, strangulation, throwing objects, suffocation, throwing of the person, restraining a person.

Courtesy of YOUTUBE

The cycle of abuse continues because “it works. The violence and the threat of violence are effective means of control;” and that combined with the belief that they have such an innate right, be it based on their religion, gender, financial standing, status in the community, etc, continues to perpetuate violence. This combined with society’s complete lack of clarity regarding the sending of effective messages regarding such, only continues to convoluted the issues, and make it that “abusers are not held accountable” for their actions.

Of course, the cycle continues when one is abused and children are able to “soak” up and believe that this abuse is normal. What they see happen in the world around them, they are more likely to reproduce. As such, “the most insistent predictor of abusive behavior is prior violent or abusive behavior. Battery is a choice.”

According to “Love Shouldn’t Hurt,” an insert provided by the Henrico County Police Department, “Up to ten million children witness domestic violence in their homes each year, leaving a strong negative impact on their emotion well-being whether or not they are physically abused.”

There is help for victims of domestic violence.

·         No one deserves to be abused in any way. Virginia offers statewide resources to help the abused. In the case of emergency, call 911. If you believe that you are a victim of domestic violence, please seek help, and contact  your local domestic violence programs or call Hotline: 1-800-838-8238 (available 24/7)

Please visit the Virginia Department of Social Services website for more information: http://www.dss.virginia.gov/community/dv/

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TINA GLASNECK is an author with moxie and world experience. To learn more about Tina, please visit her website: TinaGlasneck.com and connect with her on facebook!

Badge Bunny? I Think Not

Surely when seasons change, we have the opportunity to learn, grow and even make fools of ourselves. And today, on Murderer's Market, I thought of ways of how to creep under a rock - preferably a large boulder that would erase and hide all of my, dare I say, unease.

For months, I’ve been telling  everyone that will listen how I am a “badge bunny,” but it wasn’t until  I sought out Urban Dictionary that I discovered exactly what I was proclaiming myself to be. But before you decide that I’m a 'holster sniffer', I’ve introduced myself numerous times as such a "bunny"; shaken hands with people and smiled; and, then never understood the look of awe mixed with a little shock that my proclamation received.

Recently, while signing books, and interacting with potential readers, I sought to condense the description of my “personality” by using a short phrase to describe myself. “I’m a badge bunny,” I said speaking to the gentleman who had stopped. And when given the chance to speak, he paused. With a smile plastered across my face, I was making good idea contact, waiting for a response – for that is what conversation requires – an exchange, but his pause sent my mind into a whirlwind. I sought to solve the quandary, searching for clues – verbal and non-verbal- like it was the solution to keep the ticking bomb from exploding in my face.

Suddenly, his welcoming smile broadened, and he leaned in a little too close, until I was able to catch a whiff of his cologne. In a matter of seconds the conversation drifted to his connection with law enforcement. Still the pieces of the puzzle didn’t quite click together until things became too personal.

During personal appearances, I’ve been hugged; people have taken pictures with me, I’ve been given a kiss, and I’ve even had fortuitous luck sprinkled over me through networking, but when the professional slid towards the personal and the desire for a love connection, I paused. But it wasn’t him, but me. I’d been talking and not knowing what the hell I was saying.

If I could have had a magic button to press pause and look up what I was calling myself, I would have done it. I never knew that what I was pronouncing to the world is that “I like to sleep with cops and only cops because they have badges, guns and training.” 

Imagine my embarrassment. So, there will be no more forums for me, no more of me telling everyone that I indeed love law enforcement and the justice system (where now, I’m sure images of me pulling a Miley Cyrus, with a copy of the Constitution instead of a foam finger, twerking around in people’s head – if it wasn’t it is now - if  you have no idea what I mean, then just google it). No, for now on, I will make my elevator pitch into a long spill, without the need for much interpretation. 

Have you ever made a fool of yourself?

TINA GLASNECK is a sometimes enlightened idiot, who has learned the importance of being able to laugh at herself, and still come out belting "We are the Champions" by Queen.  She enjoys trips to WholeFoods, surfing on YouTube, and plotting murder. To connect with Tina, find her on Facebook! 

If you've enjoyed this crazy post, please share it!

Project Chick

I’m often asked what brought me into this murderous world, where I choose to write about villainy and crime. Yet, I think it would be too simple to say it was just one experience.

1995, Philly

When the thunder rolls I think of the dark nights of long ago and the sounds of gunshots that were a part of the nightly serenade.  I’ve heard too much, seen too much, as cars drove slowly by, young men  were strapped, and girls and women were pawns in a lifestyle where they had little meaning or regard. I remember the silent brick bubble, in which I dwelt. Shutters, the shutters snapped closed as the depth of despair leached away at the last bit of myriad hope I’d hung on to; the moment my faith in humanity was dashed by death.

Death and murder have always been walking beside me. I don’t want to delve into what it meant to lose someone of my family to gun violence. I don’t want to recall what the world has been like since he perished so long ago, but I still remember the hot tears that dripped down my face; I still remember seeing his bloated unrecognizable features, and  the extreme pain of what it meant to no longer have him there.

I’m a project chick. I’ve seen drugs sold from dark alleyways, heard gun shots barrage in the air, calling out to one another; I’ve watched smiling faces lose their innocence while small kids played hop-scotch along the sidewalks. In the projects, where roaches were more prevalent than officers, I know what it was like to be a prisoner inside.

Be inspired, and remain true to yourself

Until it rained.

When it rained, then I was free, able to bounce around and play in the torrential wetness, as the heavens opened up as if to give me a moment of reprieve. I could shower in the renewing mist gifted from above, laugh, and be joyful.

Yet, I don’t regret it.

Living in poverty, I learned the meaning of hard work, honesty and truth. They built my character. I learned the value of true friendship and that poverty wasn’t limited to one skin tone, color or ethnicity. Back in the day, a dollar was still able to get you and three of your friends a small bag of chips from the corner store, but a loaf of bread would cost almost an arm, and milk was more expensive than a gallon of gas. Regardless of the high prices, it was the handsome guy behind the counter, who kept throwing compliments your way, and the convenience of the store being so nearby that kept you coming back. Yeah, I remember those long days where in desperation, the people did more than struggle, we survived and lived. We found joy in the simple things, and knew how to laugh. 

Through it all, I learned the value of me – my strengths are reflected through my experiences, as are my weaknesses.

Beyoncé singing "I Was Here", courtesy of YouTube

That being said, I write what I write because it is a part of me sharing a part of my creative soul with the world. It is my unmistakable voice being heard, where this stew of experiences have created a decadent meal.

Enjoy! Dinner is served. :)

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TINA GLASNECK enjoys looking on the darker side of things, and still finding a glimmer of hope. When she is not creating worlds, she can be found multi-tasking. To learn more about Tina, and to stay up-to-date on her works, please connect with her at www.TinaGlasneck.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TinaGlasneck

The Truth, So Help Me God

“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

“Truth is the purity of someone’s heart.”
- My Mother

While having lunch with a friend this week, I was asked what I considered to be the most important thing to me. Being a family person and family-oriented, my first thought was of them, and I quickly spoke it aloud. Yet, as I listened to his response, I paused. It was a pause of creation, whereby an inkling of new perspective mixed with a fallow mind willing to listen and receive. As he explained his take on things and the importance of honesty in his life, the seed of wisdom was sown. Yet, his question made me think long after our lunch was over. What is truth really?

I mulled it over, thinking about it from every viewpoint, considering all of its possibilities and if the root of the equation of life could be broken down to something so simple. Maybe, even as a metaphorical exaggeration, I seemed to move through the stages of grief as I felt the shifting of my paradigm from that of denial, to anger at the simplicity of it, to even a moment of despair; I even attempted to bargain for it to be something different until it finally registered. In that silent moment of contemplation, I began to understand the underlying importance of truth and what it is.  

What is my truth?

Art often imitates life, and it can be the great muse needed for artistic expression. It can assist in revealing the layers underneath the everyday mask through its cathartic-like therapy, and it can also be a welcome reprieve, whereby one encounters great truth.

When I was a young child, not only could I not keep a secret, I couldn’t lie. The importance of honesty stuck with me all the way to the present. It's an intricate part of my character. It is the foundation for the cornerstone of life. Although all truth is not free of interpretation, i.e., what is understood based on my interpretation through my sieve of experiences and senses, the absolute importance of honesty and veracity cannot be overlooked. 

I like to consider myself a person with a little bit of moxie, able to bounce back. I’d even surmise that I’m quite blunt in the things that I say. I mean what I say and say what I mean. The lack of a filter has sometimes served to my detriment, but it is still a part of the learning process and thus, the basis for my happiness, success and ambition.

When we lie, we lie not only to others, but also to ourselves. However, when we are able to have the audacity to live honestly, then we are able to take the reins and drive toward what we wish to accomplish in our lives, including the lofty ambition of happiness.

So, I look at the monster knowing the truth of what it means, and I fear not that he may be looking right back at me.

And you? What is the most important thing in your life?

TINA GLASNECK is the author of THOU SHALL NOT and isn't afraid of asking questions, challenging herself or even having a loud laugh-out-loud moment. When she isn't devising plans for world domination, researching various topics on Google or looking at funny memes online, she is definitely still trying to figure out the meaning of life, one philosopher, and murder, at a time.

Feel free to connect with Tina on Facebook. 

Self-sabotage: Fear of Failure?

Like many, I’m a fan of reality television, be it the Real Housewives franchise or anything on WE TV, and one thing I've noticed is that no matter the level of sheer fame, many seem to be killing their chances of success by engaging in self-sabotage. So grab your cup of Lavender Tea and let's reflect.

Take a moment today for self- reflection

According to Psychology Today, “Behavior is said to be self-sabotaging when it creates problems and interferes with long-standing goals.”

There are many reasons that self-sabotage happen, including the fear of failure. Coming from a theological background, my times in undergrad and later in graduate school assisted me in understanding the range of human emotions, interactions and the human psyche. I am far from being a psychologist, but there is one thing I've learned a lot about – the power of fear.

I can’t recall who said it best, but fear is really, “False Evil Appearing Real”.  It is a perceived truth based on no logical evidence, but only on emotional conclusions. It is the lofty idea of failure with no understanding of success. It is misinterpreting the signals and signs and believing that one is not capable of more, and that one is not worthy of more. Fear is the reflection of self-doubt and the lack of self-confidence.

 It is the belief that one ultimately will not achieve the goal as set, and therefore, why should one continue to strive for it. It is the pathway filled often with self-ridicule and a lack of understanding of self-worth, where internally and maybe subconsciously, one believes that success is not an available option.

Today, take the time to look at your situation and see if you are standing in the way of your greatest success. Look in the mirror and say, “I can achieve greatness. I am worthy of greatness. I am able to make a difference.”

Live strong, love passionately, be kind to one another and get out of your way. It could be that your greatest moment is just around the corner!

Are you guilty of self-sabotage? What do you do to defeat self-destructive thinking and behavior?

For further reading: Great information on self-sabotaging behavior can be found at Psychology Today’s website, and specifically the article titled, “Self-Sabotage: The Enemy Within” 

Tina Glasneck walks the line. She enjoys creating murderous tales and can be often found sipping a cup of lavender tea. Tina is currently working on the follow-up novel to THOU SHALL NOT, and is excited to see where the road of authorship takes her.

To connect with Tina, find her Facebook, and tell her how much you enjoy drinking a cup of lavender too.