Signal my curse, the darkening of days, where shadows consume, and light cannot penetrate. From the depths of despair, echoes of pain, resonate through the air, my curse to remain. A flicker of hope, a momentary reprieve, only to be dashed, as darkness continues to cleave. It whispers in my ear, persistent and cruel, reminding me of my weaknesses, a reminder of the duel. I long for release, from this never-ending plight, but the curse grips tightly, consuming my every night. Oh, how I envy, those untouched by this curse, able to bask in the sunlight, without feeling the hearse.
Using elements from his own family’s struggles, Blocker shaped the human characters for his novel. He was inspired by a vibrant Polish mine he visited that featured colorful lighting and statues carved from slabs of salt. Coupling these tales and experiences, Blocker’s dynamic mind developed a storyline for Treasure of the Magical Mine Moppets four years ago.
Oden expertly illustrated the tale resulting in a unique, lively book jacket that depicts three of the main human characters and a glimpse at some of the moppets. In his free time, Blocker enjoys retreating to a magical world of his own devising; a world he has assiduously documented in a new, exciting young-adult book titled Treasure of the Magical Mine Moppets.
Oh, how I envy, those untouched by this curse, able to bask in the sunlight, without feeling the hearse. But I will endure, despite the pain, wearing the curse as a badge, until I break free from this chain. So signal my curse, let darkness be known, for within its grip, a spark of strength has grown.
Maintenance Worker by Day, Magical Mine Moppet Author by Night
Wiping sweat from his brow, K.J. Blocker climbs down a ladder on a muggy summer afternoon after fixing a faulty pipe at Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City (OSU-OKC). Blocker has worked in the university’s construction and maintenance department for more than five years, a challenging line of work that calls for weekend and late-night repairs. In his free time, Blocker enjoys retreating to a magical world of his own devising; a world he has assiduously documented in a new, exciting young-adult book titled Treasure of the Magical Mine Moppets.
Treasure of the Magical Mine Moppets is the story of a farming family who discovers a magical mining world buried deep under their land. The world is full of happy creatures called moppets who work and play unaware that human life is taking place above them.
Blocker’s fictitious world is becoming a reality with Treasure of the Magical Mine Moppets scheduled for official release July 31, 2017. The book will be available for purchase at the OSU-OKC Bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Powell’s Books, Books-A-Million and Full Circle Bookstore. Barnes & Noble will be hosting a book signing event from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26 at its location at 6100 N. May Ave. in Oklahoma City.
The book is being released under Blocker’s pen name. Blocker is a family name that ties the author to his cousin, the late Dan Blocker who played Hoss on the long-running television western series Bonanza.
Blocker found inspiration for the enchanting book by looking into his family roots and a visit to a Polish mine. His great-grandfather was a miner, a job that had him working for long periods away from his family. Blocker’s grandfather resented that his father was always away and distanced himself from his own father. “My grandfather failed to recognize that in his own action of resentment, he became more like his father than he realized.”
Using elements from his own family’s struggles, Blocker shaped the human characters for his novel. He was inspired by a vibrant Polish mine he visited that featured colorful lighting and statues carved from slabs of salt. Coupling these tales and experiences, Blocker’s dynamic mind developed a storyline for Treasure of the Magical Mine Moppets four years ago.
Blocker describes the writing process as challenging. He found himself creating characters and mystical worlds when he was 19, something he calls an escape from a dysfunctional family. To begin the Moppets process, Blocker began developing a storyline and assembling a powerful team of editors. His wife and children also worked closely on the project offering their feedback as the book progressed.
Blocker sought out renowned artist Ron Oden to bring the vivid story to life through imagery. Oden expertly illustrated the tale resulting in a unique, lively book jacket that depicts three of the main human characters and a glimpse at some of the moppets.
“My hope is that when a reader picks up a copy and enters that magical world, they will be able to identify with one or more of the characters,” Blocker says. “Whether it’s Charlie Chili, a hypochondriac, or Dusty, the clumsy mine manager. Most of all, I hope readers see that forgiveness and second chances are possible.”
Because OSU-OKC has played a major part of Blocker’s life over the past five years, he worked with the OSU Foundation on funneling portions of the book proceeds back into OSU-OKC to benefit students, programs and the campus as a whole. During Blocker’s book signing event on Aug. 26, Barnes and Noble will be donating 20 percent of all store profits to the OSU-OKC President’s Literacy Fund. Shoppers must tell their cashier that they would like their purchase to go toward the OSU-OKC fundraiser at the time of checkout. The store is open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
For now, Blocker’s evenings are dedicated to the second and third installment of the book while he spends his days working tirelessly alongside the OSU-OKC maintenance team on keeping campus facilities in excellent condition. Blocker says that if you’re looking for an authentic, whimsical young adult book, Treasure of the Magical Mine Moppets is the perfect book for you. Enter a magical world where corn grows as high as the clouds, and salt can be worth more than gold.
Blocker describes the writing process as challenging. He found himself creating characters and mystical worlds when he was 19, something he calls an escape from a dysfunctional family. To begin the Moppets process, Blocker began developing a storyline and assembling a powerful team of editors. His wife and children also worked closely on the project offering their feedback as the book progressed.
And though the nights may be long, and the days may be bleak, I will not surrender, to the curse that seeks. For in my heart, a flame will burn bright, ever defiant, against the curse's might. Signal my curse, but know this to be true, I will overcome, and emerge anew..
Reviews for "The Curse of Signal: Finding Clarity in Today's Communication Landscape"
1. John - 2 out of 5 stars - Signal my curse was a major disappointment for me. The storyline was confusing and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with the characters. The writing style felt forced and at times it was hard to understand what was even happening. I was expecting an engaging and thrilling read, but unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations.
2. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars - I was really excited to read Signal my curse based on the promising synopsis, but the execution was a letdown. The pacing was incredibly slow, and the story dragged on for far too long. The characters were underdeveloped and one-dimensional, making it hard to care about their fates. Overall, the book felt like a missed opportunity and I wouldn't recommend it to others looking for a captivating read.
3. Alex - 1 out of 5 stars - Signal my curse was a complete waste of time for me. The writing was convoluted and confusing, making it impossible to follow the plot. The characters were unlikeable and lacked any depth, making it hard to invest in their journey. I found myself skipping pages just to get through the book, which speaks to how uninteresting and lackluster the story was. Save yourself the frustration and skip this one.
4. Emily - 2 out of 5 stars - I had high hopes for Signal my curse, but sadly, it didn't deliver. The writing style was mediocre and lacked the finesse I was expecting. The pacing was all over the place, with moments of intense action followed by long stretches of boredom. The plot had potential, but it was poorly executed, leaving me feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and well-crafted story.
5. Andrew - 1 out of 5 stars - Signal my curse was a complete letdown. The characters were flat and uninteresting, and the plot was predictable and uninspiring. The book lacked any depth or originality, making it a forgettable read. I was hoping for an exciting and thought-provoking story, but instead, I got a cliché and unimaginative narrative. I would advise anyone considering this book to look elsewhere for a more engaging read.