In many ways Kevin Sorbo is a hero

This is one of two stories from our fantastic friend Elisheva in Canada. Will post the other one soon.

Here, she describes what Kevin and Hercules mean to her, and I think she speaks for many of us. Thank you so much, Elisheva!

Our Forever Hercules!

 In many ways Kevin Sorbo is a hero.

Via his life testimony and life experiences, we can all learn many things. Both in his career and real life there is an “authenticness.” At the core of who Kevin is is a wise soul with good, strong ethics and with a strong sense of family/responsibility.

Two words I can say about Kevin are determination and dedication. At the heart and core of this mortal man are both the optimist and the skeptic. The wisest and most intelligent people to exist in the world were often this valuable combination. For example:  the Legend of Hercules, Albert Einstein.

One of the most precious traits a person could have is to be both the student and teacher. With such natural charisma and energy, he attempts to point out the positive directions that can help others improve their lives and inner peace. Kevin does a great job doing that, simply sharing his experience, strength and hope…

I deeply admire Kevin, yes. That much is very obvious! Why truly? He is a wonderful, feeling human being who loves to express his intelligence via light, sarcastic humor.

In many ways, he is carrying the torch, which can temporarily light our path. And we can join him on the path of helping others and helping ourselves. We can all pick up a torch, too, and he loves that when we do: Together as one!

Our Forever Hercules!

(Images courtesy of Kevin Sorbo)

Johnny Maestro and the Power of Music to Heal

This beautiful story from our dear friend Rhonda in Georgia isn’t Kevin-related… Instead,  it’s  a heartfelt sentiment that she wrote following her mother’s passing last February to which I think we can all relate. Our hearts and prayers continue to be with her and her family. God Bless, Rhonda, and thank you for sharing!

The Power of Music to Heal

I don’t recall where it came from, but someone once said that “music heals.” Over the last six months, I have learned just how true this is.

When I lost my mom in February, 2013, it left me emotionally drained, and I needed something to bring me peace and heal the hurt. That something turned out to be music… But, not just any music… It was the music of my youth, the songs I grew up listening to, the songs of the late 1950s and early 60s.

Not only did it bring the healing and peace that I so desperately needed, but it also brought back wonderful memories of happier times in my life.

It had been a long time since I had heard many of these songs, so, in a strange but beautiful way, it was like welcoming back old friends who had been gone for awhile.

One particular song from that time period has come to mean a great deal to me personally. The song is called, “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” I first remember hearing it in the movie, “Carousel” (written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II). It speaks of hope and reassurance in the midst of life’s storms. I had heard it many times, but only in the last few years have I really understood what it meant. I’ve walked through many storms in recent times, but never once have I felt that I was alone during any of them. As this song so beautifully puts it: “Walk on with hope in your heart and you’ll never walk alone.”

It goes without saying, but for a song to bring healing, it has to have the right voice behind it. For me, that voice belongs to the late, great Johnny Maestro. For those of you not familiar with him, he was the lead singer of The Crests during the late 1950s and the frontman for The Brooklyn Bridge from its formation in 1968 until his death in 2010. From the 70s on, the abovementioned song was used by The Brooklyn Bridge to close their concerts.

I first heard his rendition back in the early part of the last decade, and was totally taken with the way he sang every word straight from his heart and in a very comforting way. I heard that same rendition on the group’s 40th anniversary CD earlier this year, and, honestly, it gave me chills. I have several of his CDs, and I play that song as often as I can – it helps me get through the day. And that is what music is supposed to do.

So, next time you are down, put on some of your favorite music and see what happens – I think you’ll find it very uplifting.

Happy Belated 4th Anniversary to Sorbo Writer’s Blog!

This past July marked the 4th Anniversary of Sorbo Writer’s Blog. And whereas I previously celebrated with stories and art from you, Kevin Sorbo’s fans, I did nothing for 2013.

So, I want to celebrate now!

A  little history:  As a freelance writer and long-time Sorbo fan I sought (and continue to seek) outlets for stories about him, things we all know and love, like his work with A World Fit For Kids! and numerous other charities, how well he respects and treats his fans, his many television and film credits (including awards), his love of family and country, his humor and sarcasm that make me laugh, and, following publication of his excellent book, True Strength, his candid confession about the four strokes that almost killed him and how he uses his experience to inspire and motivate others.

Upon not receiving the response from editors for which I had hoped, I decided to do it myself. I consulted some prior and new Sorbo friends about creating a place where fans could express their love for him however they wish (stories, art, vid, etc.). I received much feedback and support for which I am grateful.

One of those friends was Mara from Brazil who runs the Kevin Sorbo Brazilian Forum, as well as creates some beautiful Kevin art, including the monthly calendars that you see here. She was and remains one of my most positive supporters and dearest friends.

So, when I thought about what I should do to celebrate the 4th Anniversary of this blog, I immediately asked Mara if she would create some of her lovely art. Within hours she sent these two images. Aren’t they great? She’s fantastic! Obrigada, mi querida amiga!!!

Kevin Sorbo: He gives me the strength to move forward in life

Greetings, my friends. As Kevin Sorbo fans we have all been influenced by him in various ways, whether by him personally, professionally, the friendships that bind us or all three. Some of us have discovered him by way of very personal experiences, and I am so grateful to you for sharing them with us.

This amazing story is from our dear friend Vanessa in Belgium. It made me cry. Perhaps it will touch your hearts, too.

In 1982, I was involved in a serious accident. I was 5-years-old! My sister Muriel was killed instantly. She was 11-years-old. My left leg was full of scars, causes of serious injury. And my sister I miss so much!

My story with Kevin starts with “Hercules” (when I was) 17-years-old and completely under his spell, of course! Later, I learned (of) his health problems – he had almost died, too. I was upside-down! I admired him even more, and since, it never left me.

He is like an inspiration to me. He gives me the strength to move forward in life, and I dream to meet (him) to be able to tell him.

We are living as we are strong and faith in us.

Love to Sorbo fans!

(Images courtesy of Kevin Sorbo)

Tribute to Kevin Sorbo fan Charline Denis… We love and will miss you…

Hello, friends, I write to you today with great sadness.

Yesterday, October 13, 2013, our beloved Sorbo Sister Charline Denis passed away. Although I didn’t know her personally, I occasionally corresponded with her via email and knew her as a loyal Kevin Sorbo fan, one of our fine Sorbo artists, and a supporter of and contributor to this blog and the Kevin Sorbo Brazilian Forum.

We will miss her, and offer our sincerest condolences and prayers to her family and friends.

Mara from Brazil met Charline at the October, 2009 FACTS Convention in Gent, Belgium, and wrote this beautiful tribute:

I met Charline through Teresa from Spain. Charline was a huge fan of Kevin Sorbo, and so Teresa introduced her to the Brazilian forum…

Charline – when she was able to – would write something nice on the forum or send an artwork or a picture or even make some lovely clips about Kevin’s job, like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNkxw2wNdwE

She was suffering from an illness that kept her in a wheelchair, and meeting Kevin Sorbo was a huge dream for her… and she made it come true in 2009, as Jan wrote on her great blog: https://sorbowriter.wordpress.com/2009/12/06/more-facts-coverage/

She could not meet Kevin again, as she would like, but I’m sure Kevin and Hercules helped to make her life less sad and eased her pain along her sickness.

Yesterday, the pain was over, and now Charline is at peace. Coucou, ma belle!

(Video and Kevin Sorbo photos by Teresa; artwork by Mara, Evelyne, Malena and Vanessa)

Get a FREE download of Kevin Sorbo’s “The Fall of the House of Usher”

Greetings, All,

You remember when Kevin recorded the great audio drama, “The Fall of the House of Usher,” with our good friends at Macabre Mansion, don’t you?

If not, he voiced the Narrator opposite actor Jim O’Rear’s Roderick Usher in the excellent 2011 CD adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s classic Gothic tale of horror and intrigue written, directed and produced by Kevin Herren. Please refer to my previous review for more information: https://sorbowriter.wordpress.com/?s=House+of+Usher

Exciting news!

You can now get a FREE digital download of “The Fall of the House of Usher” with the purchase of Macabre Mansion’s OFFICIAL T-SHIRT until AUGUST 31, 2013! WOW!

The shirt has the CD’s cool tricolor cover design created by award-winning artist, Billy Tackett, and is available at Fast Custom Shirts.

Here’s how to get yours:

1. Head over to Fast Custom Shirts

2. Purchase the official “FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER” shirt before August 31, 2013. You will get an email from Fast Custom Shirts with an order confirmation number.

3: Email your order confirmation number and email address to Macabre Mansion at prizes@macabremansion.com.

Once your shirt has been shipped, the folks at Macabre Mansion will send you a link and instructions for downloading your free digital copy of their Audio Drama, “FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER” – a $10 value for FREE! Offer expires August 31, 2013.

**THERE’S NOT MUCH TIME, SO ORDER TODAY!!!**

It’s an awesome audio drama and really cool shirt! You don’t want to miss this!!

Check it out!

Here’s Macabre Mansion fan Marian Lamer wearing hers. Thanks for the great photo, Marian!

(Kevin Sorbo images courtesy of Macabre Mansion; T-Shirt photo by Marian Lamer)

Kevin Sorbo receives fan-made Andromeda cross-stitch

Kevin’s fans are so creative in many ways from painting and computer art to writing and crafts. This lovely story is from Pilar in Spain, who sent it quite a while ago, and who made an amazing cross-stitch for Kevin. My humblest apologies for posting it so late, Pilar. Enjoy!

In January, 2011, my good friend, Teresa, asked me to make an artwork by using the cross-stitch so she could offer it to her idol, Kevin Sorbo, at the Film Festival in Estepona, Spain, in September, 2011.

She asked me to do it by using the ship of Kevin’s (television) series, “Andromeda,” so, I did it, and wrote “Sorbo/Hunt” on it.

Please take a look at Kevin holding it:

http://recuerdosyregalosenpuntodecruz.blogspot.com/2011/09/ampliando-horizontes.html

For me it feels so good being able to show you the photo right now. I’m very grateful to Teresa for it – it gives me great pleasure looking at my artwork in its owner’s hands.

Here’s Pilar’s beautiful work: