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THE WORTHLESS PAINTING
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We are a small group of authors who write various genre books and blog together.
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Friday, October 4, 2019
Messenger
When the Raven calls, listen!
Supernatural thriller, now available for pre-order.
99 cents introductory price.
Get your copy before the price goes up
Supernatural thriller
Lauren has everything she’d ever wished for. Great career,
financial security, loving husband, and devoted friends.
When her Raven spirit guide warns her of impending danger, she
takes the omen seriously, but she doesn’t have enough time to perform the
protection spell her grandmother taught her. Someone breaks into her office and
after the brutal attack and the Raven’s repeated warnings, she knows her life
is in danger.
Who wants her dead and why?
Friday, September 6, 2019
Friday, August 30, 2019
Reblogged by P. J. Mann - This ghost have a sad story to tell... The Wandering Writer
Here I am once again to tell you about ghosts, the real ghosts. Differently, than those narrated in my latest novel, those have once been living in this Earth, and they died. Nevertheless, they refused to leave for the eternal peace, believing to have still something left undone in this world.
The story I am going to tell you in this weekly post is the one of Guendalina Malatesta, born as the daughter of Ugolinuccio di Montebello and Costanza Malatesta.
The tale says that little Guendalina was born albino around the year 1370. At that time, albinos were considered having the mark of Satan. Fearing the superstition, and the reaction of the people, not to mention the risk for the very lives of those people, they were kept hidden for their whole life. The same happened to Guendalina Malatesta, whose parents tried to keep her away from everyone outside the castle.
The story goes on telling that she was regularly followed by two guards, to avoid that anything happened to her. Despite this, during the summer solstice, the 21st of June 1375, Guendalina was playing with a rag ball together with her two guards. During their play, the ball rolled away, down the stairs that lead to the 'nevaio,' which was an underground storage where the ice was kept to preserve food that was easy to decay (a sort of nowadays fridge).
She followed the ball down to the storage door and disappeared. The guards followed her, but she was never found, not alive or dead. She simply disappeared.
Now, one thing to be noted is that by the popular folklore, the day of the solstice has a powerful magic meaning. It is the day where the doors between the underworld and the real world might be opened and by sacrificing an albino virgin to one or another deity would have granted the members of the sect unusual powers. One of the many superstitions available within humanity...
The most accredited theory is that she might have been abducted with the help of the two guards and sacrificed during one rite.
Some rumors say that she can be heard playing or calling her mother for help, every five years during the summer solstice, but this is something I cannot guarantee.
What I can guarantee is how worthwhile is to pay a visit to the castle of Montebello.
Located close by San Marino between the Marecchia and Uso River in the region of Emilia Romagna in Italy, represent one of the best preserved medieval castles.
Likewise all the fortresses it has a very long and exciting history (ghosts apart). The first construction of the castle is from the Roman age, and it was a square base tower that is nowadays included inside the structure of the castle.
The first documented owner was of the year 1186 when the castle was sold by the family Mataldone to the family of Malatesta.
After this, the castle went through an intense rebuilding particularly concerning the building of the fortified walls, as it was neighbored by the Montefeltro family, ancient enemies of the Malatesta.
In the year 1393, the castle was conquered by the Montefeltro family, but in 1438, Pandolfo Malatesta was able to get it back and owned it until 1464, when the fortress thanks to the intervention of the Pontifical Army, was conquered by the actual owners the counts Guidi di Bagno.
Just like for many other destinations, I cannot tell you how enjoyable is the place and the nature surrounding it. If you are going to visit Italy, you might take your chance and pay a visit to the many castles and particularly to those who have a ghost in it!!
As usual, I wish you an awesome weekend, Stay tuned for new adventures of the Wandering Writer.
The story I am going to tell you in this weekly post is the one of Guendalina Malatesta, born as the daughter of Ugolinuccio di Montebello and Costanza Malatesta.
The tale says that little Guendalina was born albino around the year 1370. At that time, albinos were considered having the mark of Satan. Fearing the superstition, and the reaction of the people, not to mention the risk for the very lives of those people, they were kept hidden for their whole life. The same happened to Guendalina Malatesta, whose parents tried to keep her away from everyone outside the castle.
The story goes on telling that she was regularly followed by two guards, to avoid that anything happened to her. Despite this, during the summer solstice, the 21st of June 1375, Guendalina was playing with a rag ball together with her two guards. During their play, the ball rolled away, down the stairs that lead to the 'nevaio,' which was an underground storage where the ice was kept to preserve food that was easy to decay (a sort of nowadays fridge).
She followed the ball down to the storage door and disappeared. The guards followed her, but she was never found, not alive or dead. She simply disappeared.
Now, one thing to be noted is that by the popular folklore, the day of the solstice has a powerful magic meaning. It is the day where the doors between the underworld and the real world might be opened and by sacrificing an albino virgin to one or another deity would have granted the members of the sect unusual powers. One of the many superstitions available within humanity...
The most accredited theory is that she might have been abducted with the help of the two guards and sacrificed during one rite.
Some rumors say that she can be heard playing or calling her mother for help, every five years during the summer solstice, but this is something I cannot guarantee.
What I can guarantee is how worthwhile is to pay a visit to the castle of Montebello.
Located close by San Marino between the Marecchia and Uso River in the region of Emilia Romagna in Italy, represent one of the best preserved medieval castles.
Likewise all the fortresses it has a very long and exciting history (ghosts apart). The first construction of the castle is from the Roman age, and it was a square base tower that is nowadays included inside the structure of the castle.
The first documented owner was of the year 1186 when the castle was sold by the family Mataldone to the family of Malatesta.
After this, the castle went through an intense rebuilding particularly concerning the building of the fortified walls, as it was neighbored by the Montefeltro family, ancient enemies of the Malatesta.
In the year 1393, the castle was conquered by the Montefeltro family, but in 1438, Pandolfo Malatesta was able to get it back and owned it until 1464, when the fortress thanks to the intervention of the Pontifical Army, was conquered by the actual owners the counts Guidi di Bagno.
Just like for many other destinations, I cannot tell you how enjoyable is the place and the nature surrounding it. If you are going to visit Italy, you might take your chance and pay a visit to the many castles and particularly to those who have a ghost in it!!
As usual, I wish you an awesome weekend, Stay tuned for new adventures of the Wandering Writer.
Thursday, August 29, 2019
On Borrowed Time
On Borrowed Time
Lorraine Carey
~ On Borrowed Time is book 2 in the Women of the Willow
Wood Trilogy.
Here we find our heroine, Daniella Reyes on another
dangerous mission from her Sisters. The ante is upped now that she is rising in
power within her clan.
There have been many secret societies throughout history
but none can compare to the powerful Women of the Willow Wood.
~Some women pay
Top Dollar for a body makeover, but not Daniella Reyes—she’s got a few
supernatural friends that are willing to do this for FREE!
Daniella is led into the sacred cave in the Pecos
Wilderness in New Mexico with Nina, the high Curendera. It is here she will
receive her physical and spiritual transformation~
Excerpt~
I
scanned the open cave with my flashlight, amazed to see vapors seeping through
the cracks in the rocks above me. Nina set her bag down, instructing me to
remove my shoes and clothing. We were on sacred ground here. Modesty goes out
the door when you’re about to take part in a powerful ritual.
"The
vapors from the chasm are the conductors for the magic of the ritual, Daniella.
Our sisters have used this cave for hundreds of years. We must offer a blessing
before we begin." Nina removed her shoes and knelt on the ground.
"St. Muerta, please oversee our safety as we enter into a realm where
protection is needed. We ask for your guidance and protection at this time from
any lower lying entities.
"We
call on the High Priestess Tryrenea from the Oracles of Delphi, the Goddesses
Phoebe, and Themis." Nina removed a sachet from her bag, filled with dried
herbs, which she sprinkled over the cave floor. We honor your presence,
goddesses, on this very important evening. Let our newly appointed guardian,
Daniella Reyes, journey to your realm safely and return safely. We honor and
respect this sacred site to Gaia. So mote it be."
Nina
handed me a white sheath to put on and a white sheet over the ground where I
would lay. I anticipated that a Greek goddess might pop out of thin air at any
moment. Nina had changed into a toga. I was amazed at how she'd managed to fit
everything into her backpack. I wondered what else might be in there.
Nina
had removed a long, wand-like branch from her bag and a jar of what appeared to
be some sort of powder. She asked me to hold the flashlight as she drew a
circle in the dirt with the branch with one hand and holding her long, black
hair in the other. The ground sparked a fire where the branch had etched the
circle. "You know, Daniella, this branch was made from the bark of an
ancient willow tree, which has been used for hundreds of years in rituals such
as this. It’s been blessed and used by many of those who came before us."
I
never stopped being in awe of the new things I learned. Nina had just upped the
ante with her stick-like wand. Here I'd imagined she’d have some kind of glitzy
wand like the Glinda the Good Witch from The Wizard of Oz.
Nina
had instructed me to lie on the sheet, which she'd placed in the middle of the
circle. She set our flashlights down so the light would shine directly onto the
circle. The sparks had died down, leaving behind a circle of smoke. She'd also
bound my hair up in a white, linen turban. Nina took my right hand and slipped
what appeared to be a bracelet of twisted twigs with knots onto my wrist, like
some sort of friendship bracelet from the sisters. I looked into her eyes to
see a golden glow in her irises.
"This
is also made from the willow tree," Nina told me. "I'm going to tell
you exactly what I'm doing as I'm doing it, Daniella. There's no need to panic
or worry. You have a council of some of the most powerful women in this realm
and the next protecting you.
"I'll
need you to take three deep breaths to inhale the vapors, holding for a count
of seven. You'll do three sets of these. After that, you'll be in a very
relaxed state. You'll be conscious but unable to talk. You'll feel your body
changing. We're calling on the Divine Feminine, here. Your heart rate will
increase, your pupils will dilate, your skin will feel warm, and your breasts
will swell. This is all normal. It's part of the changes in the structure of
your DNA as your body heals on a cellular level. We're aiming to raise your
frequency so you'll be able to tap into a higher consciousness and vibrate at a
higher frequency. This is the process of raising the kundalini. It's why we've
performed so many chakra-balancing sessions with you. You'll need this to
assist others in the rescue of their souls and their protection. Once you're in
an altered state, I'll also partake of the vapors and assume the role of a
conduit for your transformation.
"So...shall
we begin, my dear?"
Books
1 and 2 are available on Amazon~
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Reblogged: Sir E. Robert Smythe and writing for Middle-grade
Sir E. Robert Smythe:
Writing for Middle-grade
Christina Weigand
Although many of the characters had already been created, I
felt one more was needed. So I created Sir E. Robert Smythe. He is the Chief
Safety Ambassador for the Galatic Safety Council from the planet Gwill. He works
with Queen Sage and an array of characters that come to Earth to help children
navigate their way through many of the social issues plaguing today's society.
Someone once asked me why do kids need fantastical creatures
to guide them through life? Don't the parents do that? At the time I was so
upset that I could not formulate an answer. ( A problem I frequently have when
in a confrontational situation). Looking back on that evening from this point
of having finished six books with these characters, I think I finally have a
partial answer. So here it is: This is a very unique age group. These kids are
on the verge of teen years where they become more responsible for their
decisions and yet they are at a point that they still want their parents to
give them all the answers. They don't want to listen to their parents and
yet they are in a place where adults are still needed. The fantastical
creatures of the Gwill create an atmosphere for these young people to begin to
formulate the person that they will grow into, provide gentle guidance while still
giving the preteen room to make their own choices.
Anyway that's what the series is all about. Two of the books
are published: Sir E. Robert Smythe and the School Bully and Sir E. Robert
Smythe and the Lost Detective. The third one, Sir E. Robert Smythe Goes Shopping will be released in the next few months
and the remaining three books are with the publisher
with plans of releasing them over the next few years.
God willing these books will serve to help 8-12 year-olds
become aware of social issues and find a way to navigate their way through
them.
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
A Lesson in Life by Rick Haynes
Displayed on the wall of my local pub
As she said, it’s not meant to be taken seriously.
If Julie, Della and Susie go to lunch, they call each other, Julie, Della and Susie. But if, Tommy, David and Mikey go to lunch, they call each other, Toss-Pot, Ginger Knob and Numb-Nuts.
When the ladies receive the bill, the calculators come out. But when the boys decide to pay, they each put in a £20 note as they have nothing smaller and they’d never admit they want any change.
A woman would pay £5 for something she doesn’t really need. Whereas, a man would pay £6 for a £5 item he needs.
A man has about six items in the bathroom cabinet. Toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, aftershave, razor and shaving foam. The average number of items in a ladies’ bathroom is usually over 100. A man would not be able to guess what most of them were.
A woman always has the final word in an argument. Anything a man says afterwards is the start of a new argument.
Women love cats. Men say they do to ensure another argument doesn’t start.
A woman always worries about her future. A man only worries about the future once he’s married.
A successful man is one earning more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one finding such a man.
A woman marries a man expecting him to change but he rarely does. Whereas a man marrying a woman expects she will not change, but she does.
A woman will always dress up to go shopping, take the kids to school and visit friends. Her man will dress up for weddings and funerals.
Men will wake up looking reasonable. Their other half takes an hour in the bathroom to look the same but usually better.
Ladies have an in depth knowledge of their children. What they like, what they hate, their friends and social activities, even their dreams. Their partner has some vague idea of small noisy people running around the house.
Written by K.
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Aquila et Noctua a historical novel - New Release
By P. J. Mann
Aquila et Noctua (The Eagle and the Owl) comes from a story I wrote many years
ago and brings me back to one of my loves in life: History, and particularly
the history of Ancient Rome.
The story tells about a young slave, Saul, coming from
Jerusalem, and the complicated relationship he will develop with his masters
and with the other slaves, who will become a sort of surrogate family; the one
he lost once he was enslaved.
Once again, like in my debut novel "A Tale of a
Rough Diamond," we have the themes of envy, jealousy, conflictual
relationships within the family, and wisdom.
Wisdom is depicted in this case like the Noctua (Owl),
and like in nature happens, the owl is going to bring wisdom, with sudden
chaos.
The Aquila, (Eagle) represents the Roman Empire and
the family who will purchase Saul.
There is going to be a Release party on my Facebook page:
It is scheduled for Sunday 1.9 at 10:00 AM EDT and there will be other authors to help me celebrate the release. If you have more questions about this new release this is the right time to have them answered.
EXCERPT:
The sun shone brightly in the sky on that
late summer day. The successful campaign in the territories of Palestine
brought new glory to the Empire and filled every corner of the city with
celebrations.
The massive military action, planned by Emperor Hadrian, had brought about the final defeat of the rebellious Jews in the third Jewish revolt.
Jerusalem was renamed Aelia Capitolina in honor of the victorious emperor and as an ultimate humiliation to the rebels. The prisoners were sent all over the Empire to be sold as slaves while the Roman generals and commanders were decorated in the public square of the Forum.
It was a joyful period throughout all of Rome, and it should have been no exception for Marcus Tiberius Numida. However, something weighed heavily on his mind and alienated his soul from the revelry.
He wandered through the streets of Rome, not paying attention to where he was going until he found himself in the slave market in the Forum.
Several specimens of males and females, crammed into cages, peered from between the bars, waiting to be yanked out and pushed to line up behind the merchant. Their eyes revealed fear and confusion
Each merchant touted the good properties of each slave they were selling, wildly gesticulating to underline their words to attract customers, as crowds of curious people and potential buyers gathered around.
The sobs of the waiting slaves and the clang of their chains against the bars, combined with the din of the curious onlookers and the raucous voices of the merchants. The stench of bodily fluids melded with the scent of food that was sold in the square.
The massive military action, planned by Emperor Hadrian, had brought about the final defeat of the rebellious Jews in the third Jewish revolt.
Jerusalem was renamed Aelia Capitolina in honor of the victorious emperor and as an ultimate humiliation to the rebels. The prisoners were sent all over the Empire to be sold as slaves while the Roman generals and commanders were decorated in the public square of the Forum.
It was a joyful period throughout all of Rome, and it should have been no exception for Marcus Tiberius Numida. However, something weighed heavily on his mind and alienated his soul from the revelry.
He wandered through the streets of Rome, not paying attention to where he was going until he found himself in the slave market in the Forum.
Several specimens of males and females, crammed into cages, peered from between the bars, waiting to be yanked out and pushed to line up behind the merchant. Their eyes revealed fear and confusion
Each merchant touted the good properties of each slave they were selling, wildly gesticulating to underline their words to attract customers, as crowds of curious people and potential buyers gathered around.
The sobs of the waiting slaves and the clang of their chains against the bars, combined with the din of the curious onlookers and the raucous voices of the merchants. The stench of bodily fluids melded with the scent of food that was sold in the square.
To pre-order the novel, please follow this link:
Author link: https://pjmann2016.wixsite.com/pjmann
Other books: https://pjmann2016.wixsite.com/pjmann/books
I hope I have attracted your attention and see you soon at the release party!
Stay tuned!
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