User:Bullmouth/sandbox

Ryan Meffert is the author of two fictional books The Law of Free Spirits and The Scarlet Scriptures. Ryan work's for a telecommunications company full-time and offers his expertise in network and technology along with business leadership. Ryan also publishes business articles under the blog Bullmouth Business which has been featured in part in We Are Smarter Than Me. Ryan's blog is based on business without rules and features ideas and techniques that counter standard business management practices.

The Law of Free Spirits
The Law of Free Spirits was inspired during the events after 9/11. During this time videos of stoning's and honor killing became rampant on the internet and the beliefs behind these murders were further investigated by Ryan. The book was initially going to be based on a supernatural heroin that rebelliously seeks revenge on individuals who were taking part in these customs, however, the true story behind them became the basis for this fictional piece. One video that sparked an obsessive need to write this story featured the family of a girl who was stoned to death partaking in the custom of their own daughter. Within the crowd was a little girl who watched as her sister was stoned to death. These characters became the basis for this story.

Synopsis
A thirteen-year-old girl finds her world caught in a tailspin of oppressive laws and new violent wars being waged throughout the country. Honor killings, rape, children soldiers and a loss of hope are consuming the hearts of a people, who have been pushed backwards into civil war and religious extremism.

Rajaa, the eldest daughter, experiences the tolls of this war when her father changes from the loving idol she worshiped, to the religious bigot whose mind is twisted by the relentless struggle to fit in to old religious customs. In order to feed the family, Rajaa’s mother who is no longer able to work as a professor, decides to do the unthinkable and prostitute herself in the markets for a mere eight dollars a day. Soon, this secret is discovered, thereby opening Pandora’s box of doom and changing everyone’s life forever. In order to keep respect for the family name, Rajaa’s father submits to the pressures of religious leaders, by initiating the Islam tradition of honor killing, and stones his own wife to death in front of his daughter’s eyes.

Rajaa and her sister escape from their father’s wrath with the help of close relatives and brought to a foundation known as the WFFI (Women’s Freedom Fights of Iraq). This organization is where Rajaa and her sister spend years of their lives witnessing the increasing and horrid treatment of women who are trying to escape the abuse of their husbands and society. Here Rajaa is able to use the foundations resources and training to inspire a message of hope and freedom. Her political message is quickly squashed as the religious extremists initiate a violent attack on the center, taking many lives and destroying the only place of refuge left for women.

After the raid Rajaa and her close friend are captured. The captors reveal their plan to make a political message to the world by beheading Rajaa and her friend on film. Despite the persecution, Rajaa finds her courage and peace at the face of death and does not let up on her quest to free her country from oppression. As they prep for emanate death, an Iraqi military force rains down upon the terrorists and takes Rajaa and her friend into custody.

Years later, a young girl takes the stage midst hundreds of women in Iraq. This young girl, the sister of Rajaa, shy but devoted to keeping her sisters message alive, tells the cheering crowd the story of Rajaa and how she died fighting to see this day, a day she would have never believed to have come in her lifetime. The president takes the stage and announces the new strict laws regarding the oppression of women in Iraq, naming it ‘the law of free spirits’. There the WFFI foundation is re-opened in the heart of Baghdad and women all around the world celebrate the freedoms that a young girl spent her whole life fighting for.

Publishing
Ryan's books are available on online stores for e-book readers

Personal Life
Ryan was born September 7, 1981 in Akron, OH but grew up in Naples, FL. Ryan has a son Ryker Meffert born on February 14th, 2013 on Valentine's day. Ryan's wife Jacqueline Meffert plays an important role in inspiring Ryan to remain focused and continue his writing career. Ryan is a fan of Star Trek and Sci-Fi related material. His hobbies include: gaming, reading, writing, blogging, and web-design. Ryan's is inspired by authors like Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut.