Gift to My Angel
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Thursday, April 11, 2019
Jasmine's Wish Fulfilled
In 2011, I found myself traveling down a road I never dreamed I would. I have written poetry as long as I can remember. I write whatever comes into my head. All feelings, all problems faced directly. Some were based on personal experiences, others just on observations of the world. I usually write in the first person, so no one would feel targeted should they happen upon one of my notebooks and read a poem. I wanted everyone to know they were not alone, even if I would not let them see my words. Because of one teacher, rarely would I let anyone outside of my immediate family see my scribbles. My daughter, Jasmine did send one of my poems out for a contest. When it was selected to be published, she felt she had proof my poems should be in a book. I let her send them off and when no response was ever received, I declared the proof on my side. She read every thing I wrote and never stopped encouraging me to put them out into the world. But, I never let her talk me into sharing again.
JASMINE'S WISH
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Wednesday, April 10, 2019
The Pesky Rules #1
Learning the English language rules is not easy!
Oh, the joy of learning English!
In March I shared my cheat-sheet about the pesky comma.
I learned English as an adult and the comma became my worst nightmare when I started writing.
Where it's needed and don't need it?
I rely on the editors to catch my mistakes, but I really should use my cheat-sheet more often. I bet my editor would have fewer headaches.
Where it's needed and don't need it?
I rely on the editors to catch my mistakes, but I really should use my cheat-sheet more often. I bet my editor would have fewer headaches.
I will continue sharing my cheat-sheet next week about the use of the pesky comma.
But this week let's talk about some of the pesky rules:
Normally, an apostrophe symbolizes possession: "I took Mandy's purse."
Apostrophes can also replace omitted letters: "I don't, I can't."
When used as a possessive pronoun: "The dog had a toy. I took its toy."
For the shortened version of "it is" use the version with the apostrophe: "It's raining outside."
Fewer or less?
We use "fewer" when discussing something countable: "Fewer than ten people saw the flying object."
We use "less" for intangible concepts: "I spent less than one hour coloring the picture."
Dangling modifiers
These are ambiguous, adjectival clauses at the beginning or end of sentences that often don't modify the right word or phrase:
"Rotting in the pantry, our Mandy threw the onions in the garbage." The structure of this sentence implies that Mandy is a zombie rotting in the pantry.
But when you place the modifying clause right next to the word or phrase it intends to describe:
"Mandy, threw the onions, rotting in the pantry, in the garbage." Then we know the onions went bad in the pantry and not Mandy.
Me, myself, or I?
Me and I always function. as the object.
"My friend and I went to lunch."
"Sara asked Betty and me to go hiking."
"I ate five apples."
When you've referred to yourself earlier in the sentence: "I made myself breakfast."
Who or whom?
It's not always easy to tell subjects from objects but to use an over-simplified yet good, general rule: subjects start sentences (or clauses), and objects end them.
"Who is a bully?"
"Careful whom you call a bully."
Lie or lay?
This is a pretty confusing rule:
The word "lay" must have an object, so we don't say: "I'm going to go lay down." Someone lays something somewhere: "Mandy lays her pen on the table."
You lie. Unless you lay, which means lie but in the past tense:
Present Past
Lie Lie Lay
Lay Lay Laid
Next time we'll talk about nor versus or, than versus then, irregular verbs and a few other things, and I will continue sharing the pesky comma rules cheat-sheet. Don't miss the posts!
In this short story collection I mentioned a few stories about the humorous part of learning a new language along with stories from my nursing years.
Available in eBook and audiobook:
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Sir E. Robert Smythe and the School Bully
Sir E. Robert Smythe and the School Bully
Christina Weigand and Ricci Moore
Nathan and Paul have a bully problem. Billy, the school
bully, has chosen them to be the target of his aggression. Paul along with Sir
E. Robert Smythe of the Galactic Safety Council discovers the root of Billy’s
issues and strives to convince the bully to change his ways.
When Billy runs away from home, Paul goes after him. Billy’s
dad, the cause of Billy’s anger, finds the boys and threatens them. They are
rescued but not before each are injured and Billy’s dad escapes.
During their recovery they learn more about each other and
face Billy’s dad once again. Can they overcome their differences and confront
the bullying going on in their school in before someone gets seriously hurt?
Excerpt
Paul plopped on his bed and stared at the computer screen.
Mom had grounded him and said no computer time, except for homework, for a
week.
The next morning,
he met Nathan and they walked to school together. Paul told Nathan about his
dream, or at least what he thought was a dream. He still didn’t believe that
Sir E. Robert Smythe had been real, even though he had felt the pain of both
pinches to himself.
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Saturday, April 6, 2019
Life in the OAG Gang
Active Member Appreciation Weekend
The OAG gang has a small corner on Facebook where we exchange ideas and help each other with publishing and book promotion. Just as in many other group, we have active members and others who read the posts once in a while. And then a small group of members who read posts but stay in the background and never comment on posts or offer help to others.
We dedicate this weekend to the most active members who take a few minutes almost every day, read and share blog posts, interact with others, and help others with useful advice or just share the book promo posts to spread the news about other group members' books.
I tagged the most active members in a post in our Facebook group and asked them to introduce themselves and add their author links.
Click on the link below to read a little bit about the most active members in the comments of the post:
Please share the Facebook post, or this blog posts, on your social sites.
Let your friends know about this wonderful group of authors.
Video credit: the video designed by author Erika M Szabo at: https://www.goldenboxbooks.com/video-design.html
Watch the videos in our contest and vote for the best videos:
Friday, April 5, 2019
About the meaning of happiness
Certainly, we all have in mind what makes us happy, and perhaps we are working towards a steady direction in our lives towards that goal: happiness.
Nevertheless, today my husband shared with me a post about the world and the real meaning of happiness. The post was actually a page of the book of Matt Haig “Reasons to stay alive.”
Here is a quote from that book shared on Goodreads:
“THE WORLD is increasingly designed to depress us. Happiness isn’t very good for the economy. If we were happy with what we had, why would we need more? How do you sell an anti-ageing moisturiser? You make someone worry about ageing. How do you get people to vote for a political party? You make them worry about immigration. How do you get them to buy insurance? By making them worry about everything. How do you get them to have plastic surgery? By highlighting their physical flaws. How do you get them to watch a TV show? By making them worry about missing out. How do you get them to buy a new smartphone? By making them feel like they are being left behind. To be calm becomes a kind of revolutionary act. To be happy with your own non-upgraded existence. To be comfortable with our messy, human selves, would not be good for business.”
I agree one hundred percent with the statements above, each of them is spot on, but instead of the word “World” I would perhaps use the word “Society.”
The world is not doing anything against people, the world is there and watches us hurting each other, trying to prevail over each other. Society is what we have been building, and that is what makes us unhappy.
I have to say that if everybody were like me, the economy, as we know it, would just collapse, as I live for one simple thing, enjoying the nature and life, and those activities are all free (or almost).
Despite this, I think that most of the people really fall into the trap of what society is expecting from them or what they think it expects from them. With this, they are falsely brought to believe that buying one object, wearing a certain dress, owning a certain car, living in a certain area will make them accepted. The reality is that unless people do not love themselves, accept themselves and start living confidently with themselves, they won’t be loved, accepted, and trusted by anybody else.
I guess that the real secret lies in looking inside ourselves and get to know our inner nature, that little stranger that is inside us, to which we never really talked for long enough.
I admit it that perhaps I also talk too much with myself, and that little stranger is no stranger after all. A personal suggestion is just to live the way each of us wants and forget about what everyone else says.
Do whatever you want, and never harm anyone.
With that in mind, what can possibly go wrong?
Thursday, April 4, 2019
Moonlight Mist
Rebecca Tran
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love all things fantasy and science fiction. Mix in a little romance and you've got me hooked. When I decided to write a stand alone romance for an anthology that I am part of, Moonlight Mist, I stepped away from shifters and turned to Ireland for inspiration. More specifically the fae and Tir Na Nog, or Underhill as most know it, were my muse. Who could resist beautiful creatures and a land of magic? Certainly not me. The result was my newest title Honor Bound.
Blurb
Liam is bored with everyday life in Underhill, the home of the Fae. When you’ve lived as long as he has few things hold any excitement anymore. When a mortal woman stumbles into Underhill all of that changes. She captivates him like none have in ages. Now Liam will stop at nothing to find her and make the mortal his. How far will he go to get what he wants?
Hallie O’Neil thinks she has it all figured out. She has a great career, serious boyfriend, and perfect New York apartment. Everything changes when an Irish Adonis walks into her work one afternoon. As hard as Hallie tries to fight it, Liam insists on inserting himself into her life. There’s something different about Liam that Hallie can’t figure out. Can she discover the truth before she’s in too deep?
Excerpt
Faolin gave Hallie her own room while she was visiting his Uncle’s home. He didn’t want to presume too much. It wasn’t surprising though when she slipped into his room after the house quieted down. Hallie always had a way of lighting his fire. After months apart though her touch was like an inferno. He hated having to return to Underhill even for that short amount of time. Being away from her was torture.
All of Faolin’s attention was focused on Hallie that night. He lavished every affection on her. Faolin brought her to the brink of ecstasy over and over before they both tumbled over the edge together. Hallie lay in his arms afterward content and beautiful. Faolin brushed the stray hairs from her cheek enjoying the fleeting moment.
With a slight growl of frustration, Faolin eased out of bed. He pulled on his pants and went downstairs. His aunt and uncle would still be awake. He found them in the library by the fire enjoying a glass of wine. His aunt studied him a moment, however, it was his uncle who spoke.
“I’m glad to hear the mortal pleases you.” His uncle smiled half laughing.
Faolin knew it meant they heard at least part of their lovemaking. At the moment he didn’t care. “She pleases me more than any woman has in centuries, uncle.”
His uncle stopped smiling, and his aunt set down her wine. “Can it be true?” his aunt asked studying him.
“Faolin I forbid…” His uncle started.
“Don’t, I beg you. When is the last time I asked anything of you?” Faolin asked his uncle.
His uncle snarled, “At least 300 years.” He let out a heavy breath. “It’s too soon Faolin.”
“At least grant me permission to pursue it.” Faolin offered his hand.
“You know the rules.” His uncle warned.
“Better than anyone” his aunt volunteered.
His uncle took Faolin’s hand “Agreed. I Faolin of Underhill swear that I will abide by the rules while pursuing Hallie O'Neil.”
“Honor and Magic bind thee.” His uncle said formally. Faolin felt the magic sweep over him. There was no going back now.
Honor Bound is part of a paranormal romance anthology Moonlight Mist written by many talented independent authors. It is available on Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and other fine retailers.
I am a mother, pharmacist, and author. I love all things fantasy and science fiction. It should come as no surprise then when I say I write fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal romance. I've also tried my hand at horror once or twice. I enjoy watching anime and romance movies. Currently I am working my way through Naruto Shippuden. Summer is coming and school is ending which means I'll spend more time at home with my kids than at work thanks to PTO. If you read my bios or my blog I'll keep you posted on our travels. If you want to find out more about me check out my website, or you can find my books on my store.
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Wednesday, April 3, 2019
Beatrix Potter: Illustrator, Writer, Natural Scientist and Conservationist
Beatrix Potter: Illustrator, Writer, Natural Scientist and Conservationist
Christina Weigand
Before I leave the Inklings I wanted to take a look at an
author that inspired C.S. Lewis. I also realized that throughout this series I
have not explored any women authors, so this is my first in the series about a
woman author. I hope to include more women going forward. Now onto Beatrix
Potter.
Helen Beatrix Potter was born July 28, 1866 and died
December 22, 1943 to Rupert and Helen Potter in Southwest London. Potter and her younger brother Walter Bertram
Potter had few friends outside of their large extended family. They had
numerous animals as pets which they observed, drew and studied. Beatrix would
even take her pets with her on long holidays. Along with the study of animals
she studied and drew nature.
During her teen years
she was known to collect fossils, and study archaeological artifacts from London
excavations. She also developed an interest in entomology. She would draw and paint
her specimens and became quite accomplished at it. Eventually her scientific
interests became centered on mycology (the study of fungi). She was fascinated
with their colors and ephemerality, and delighted in painting them.
 |
| By Beatrix Potter - Armitt Museum and Library, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60072281 |
She explored and developed a theory on fungi germination.
When
Her artistic and literary interests were influenced by fairy
tales and fantasy. Stories from the Old Testament as well as Lewis Carroll’s, Alice in Wonderland were counted among
her many inspirations. Exhibitions at art galleries fed her talents and
developed her critical skills.
To earn money she and her brother printed Christmas cards of
their own design. Mice and rabbits were the most frequent subjects of the cards
and her fantasy paintings. Several of her drawings were purchased to use as
illustrations for verses by Frederic Weatherly titled A Happy Pair. Several more were purchased for another of his books.
The next year frog illustrations were sold for another publication and she
decided she wanted to publish her own illustrated stories.
When Potter was on holiday she would send letters to young
friends that included quick sketches. When she ran out of stories to share with
her young friends four little rabbits named, Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail and
Peter were born.
She patented a Peter Rabbit doll as well as other spin off
merchandise which earned Potter and independent income and immense profits for
her publisher.
Potter began to use her income and a small inheritance to
purchase Hill Top Farm. The tenant farmer agreed to stay on and manage the farm
while she made improvements and learned the techniques of fell farming and
raising livestock. She continued to buy contiguous properties and became
involved in village life.
She married her solicitor in 1913 and continued to manage
her evergrowing farms. She introduced
Herdwick sheep (an indigenous fell sheep) and became one of the largest
Herdwick sheep farmers in the county.
She continued to write and draw, although it was mostly for
her own enjoyment. Her later books included the semi-autobiographical The Fairy Caravan and Sister Anne, ( a tale of Bluebeard).
When she died she left over 4000 acres of land, sixteen
farms, cottages, and herds of cattle and Herdwick sheep to the National Trust.
Most of the original illustrations for her books were also left to the National
Trust. Copyrights were left to her publisher. Her artwork is displayed in her
husband’s former law offices known as the Beatrix Potter Gallery. Scientific
drawings went to Armitt Library and Museum. Public collections of her letters
and drawings can be seen in museums
around the world.
Photo Credits:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Beatrix-Potter/e/B006XVP5O6
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatrix_Potter
To see more posts about authors and dragons go here.
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