Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Christmas in Camelot ~ Part 1 #Christmas #Arthurian #Legends #OurAuthorGang


Like a sparrow flying through a Mead Hall…


"...O King...you sit a supper in winter, with your commanders and ministers, with a good fire in the midst, while the storms of rain and snow rage outside..."
The Venerable Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English


Bede's Sparrow in the Hall 

Winter in the Dark Ages was a long, drawn-out affair. There was no magic light switch you could flick on to banish the dark. Days were short. Nights were long. The world was in hibernation. Food was scarce, and it was cold. Winter was hard, and death from illness or starvation was a very real threat. It was no wonder that the pagans wanted to celebrate Midwinter and New Years Day.



Interestingly, it wasn't until the 4th Century when Church leaders in Rome embraced this pagan holiday and made it their own. And over the centuries this pagan celebration has been 'added' to, until we have the Christmas that we know and love today.

What was Christmas like in Arthurian Britain?

I need to make one thing clear before I begin — many of the stories that we know of Arthur and his Knights are just that, stories. There is nothing substantial to them. So a Christmas at Camelot would have been highly unlikely. The 12th Century French Poets certainly gave Arthur a castle for himself and his Knights, but Camelot itself didn't come about until the 15th Century when Thomas Malory invented it in his great work, Le Morte d'Arthur.  Which kinds of puts a whole dampener on “Christmas in Camelot!”



Obviously, our Dark Age ancestors celebrated Midwinter and New Year, but when we are dealing with Arthur, we have to contend with a fictitious Christmas as well.

So today I am going to explore the kind of food you might have found at King Arthur's table at Christmas...


Pottage — which was the staple diet for most, but at a feast, it would have been the best pottage you ever tasted. The Rolls-Royse of Pottage!

Roasted Goose and Partridge may have been on the menu.
Salmon.
Dry cured hams.
A boars head.
Venison.
Cheese.
Eggs — preserved ones, because chickens tend to stop laying during the winter months. It is only how chickens are farmed nowadays that ensures we have fresh eggs throughout the year.
Pastries

The only fresh vegetables would have been seasonal, but back in the Dark Ages and the Middle Ages for that matter, it was not recommended to eat raw fruit and veg, for fear of dysentery – one of the biggest killers of the time.



Of course, they would also have had ale, mead, wine, and beer to wash it all down with! There may well have been one or two rosy faces by the end of the feast!



There would have been music, and entertainment and that is what I am going to explore in my next post because, forget charades, the Knights played something far more interesting...


War is coming to Saxon Briton…

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Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Santa Claus or St. Nicholas? #OurAuthorGang

Santa Claus or St. Nicholas?
It depends on where you live
By Erika M Szabo
Photo from Pinterest
It is fascinating how holiday celebrations evolved throughout the centuries, many different customs combined and new customs begun.

Santa Claus doesn't bring presents for children for Christmas in most European countries, but St Nicholas does on December 6th and Christmas Day focuses on the Christ Child.

Who is St. Nicholas?
Quote from the St. Nicholas Center website:
"The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara. At the time the area was Greek and is now on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.

Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith, was exiled and imprisoned. The prisons were so full of bishops, priests, and deacons, there was no room for the real criminals—murderers, thieves, and robbers. After his release, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. He died December 6, AD 343 in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church, where a unique relic, called manna, formed in his grave. This liquid substance, said to have healing powers, fostered the growth of devotion to Nicholas. The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration, St. Nicholas Day, December 6th (December 19 on the Julian Calendar).

Through the centuries many stories and legends have been told of St. Nicholas' life and deeds. These accounts help us understand his extraordinary character and why he is so beloved and revered as protector and helper of those in need."

Throughout the centuries St. Nicholas has continued to be venerated by Catholics and Orthodox and honored by Protestants. By his example of generosity to those in need, especially children, St. Nicholas continues to be a model for the compassionate life.

On the night of December 5th children in Hungary carefully polish their best shoes and put it on the windowsill or in front of the door to be filled by St. Nicholas, (Mikulás in Hungarian), sometime during the night. The good bishop comes with a big sack full of presents and a large record book with children's good and bad deeds. He used to come with two helpers: a good angel who helped to give out presents and a bad Krampus devil who punished mischief.
Photo from Pinterest
In the night St. Nicholas leaves little bags filled with candy, chocolate Mikulás figures, fruit, books, and small toys. Naughty children find twigs painted gold or a wooden spoon. Most children get some of each as no one is all good or all bad.
Photo from Pinterest
Mikulás-day is also celebrated in schools and day care centers. Children sing Mikulás songs and recite poems. St. Nicholas calls them by name and has a personal message for each child. He may stay to play or watch a movie with the children.

In the cities Bishop Miklós is getting more confused with Santa; it is common to see Santa-type figures with bishop's crozier.

Widely celebrated in Europe, St. Nicholas' feast day, December 6th, kept alive the stories of his goodness and generosity. In Germany and Poland, boys dressed as bishops collect donations for the poor. In the Netherlands and Belgium, St. Nicholas arrives on a steamship from Spain to ride a white horse on his gift-giving rounds. Dutch children leave carrots and hay in their shoes for the saint's horse, hoping St. Nicholas will exchange them for small gifts. Simple gift-giving in early Advent helps preserve a Christmas Day focus on the Christ Child.

My children's book collection makes nice little presents for children 2-17


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Monday, December 4, 2017

When Art Encompasses All Forms #OurAuthorGang

by Author Grace Augustine
photo courtesy of AroundYou.com.au

When you see or hear the word "ART" what comes into your mind? There are so very many forms of art that you may have multiple pictures. Artisans work in a variety of mediums: pottery, wood, iron, food, paints, yarns, textiles, words, notes strung in succession to form beautiful music are only a few ways to express yourself as an artist.






all photos courtesy of Pinterest

As most of you know, I have a creative streak. I design custom jewelry, I edit manuscripts, I've sung in many choirs and led them, I write romance novels, and my current passion is acrylic painting on canvas.

I hadn't picked up a brush in over 40 years until a friend and I attended a local Vino VanGogh event. Once that painting was finished, (the Eiffel Tower--goes with book 2 of my Acorn Hills series) I painted canvases for each of my books. I've given some away, and have kept some for future contests.


  This goes with book 5, Richard's Relics


This was inspired by another painting at a doctor's office.

Each art medium is unique...just as the words strung together in sentences and paragraphs of our books. Each tells a story. Each moves our souls... in different ways. Music transports our hearts and spirits to other places. Books, well, books take us to unknown lands...lands we long to visit or be part of.

I encourage you to take a moment or two and try your hand at something artful! It does lower blood pressure and puts a smile on your face.


On a totally different subject...we have a contest and would love your participation.  If you guess correctly, you could be the recipient of many good things!  Take a look and submit an entry!






Sunday, December 3, 2017

Our Guest Today is Author Kristine Raymond #OurAuthorGang

 Please welcome Author Kristine Raymond to our blog today


Hi there! Nice to meet you. I'm Kristine Raymond, and I write books.

What kind, you ask? Well, I penned THE HIDDEN SPRINGS SERIES--eight historical Western romance suspense novels set in the late 1800's Arizona Territory. Then, there's WRITE WORDS--a short, anecdotal snapshot into my first year as an indie author. After that, I moved on to contemporary romance...sweet with just a hint of spice.

What's next on the agenda? A contemporary romance novella series titled SEASONS OF LOVE; a contemporary drama titled TEMPTED (be looking for that next year), and perhaps a mystery/thriller series.  The possibilities are endless!

Find out what I'm up to by subscribing to my newsletter or visiting my website. You can also find me on Facebook and Twitter.

Thanks for dropping by...and happy reading!

Newsletter:  https://dl.bookfunnel.com/bxfhwpv1k9
Website:      http://www.kristineraymond.com/
Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/KristineRaymondAuthor
Twitter:      http://www.twitter.com/k_raymondauthor


Frankie Denton liked his life exactly the way it was. As the owner of a successful auto repair shop, the idea of adding a wife and kids to the mix never crossed his mind--until the day the sassy redhead he'd met at a friend's wedding informs him she's pregnant, a result of their one-night stand. Resolved to do the right thing, nonplussed when she denies his marriage proposal, he sets out to prove he's not only husband material, but father material as well.

After spending an exhilarating night in the arms of the sexy mechanic she met in Celebration, Roxie Malone discovers she's expecting. Embracing the prospect of motherhood, determined to raise the baby on her own, she's shocked when Frankie steps up, demonstrating time and again that he's eager to be part of their lives. But she has first-hand experience that fathers don't always keep the promises they make, and she's hesitant to put her trust in a man she hardly knows.

Frankie has a lot to contend with in order to win Roxie over; a jealous friend who wants to marry her himself, a complication with her pregnancy, and a misunderstanding that threatens to drive them apart permanently. Faced with the possibility of losing the family he never knew he wanted, he scrambles to find a way to convince her they should be together. With Christmas just around the corner, will he get the gift he wants most?

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Saturday, December 2, 2017

Book Spotlight: Aure the Topaz #OurAuthorGang

By Rich Feitelberg

Twenty-five years ago, invaders captured Andropolis, the capital of Thalacia, and ended the rule of King Leonard. According to prophecy, the invaders can be ousted and the royal line restored only by wielding the Aglaril, seven elven gems of unprecedented power. 

However, the circlet in which the gems were set was destroyed millennia ago and the gems lost. At least, that was the common belief. Evan Pierce, a priest of St. Michael, discovers one of the gems belongs to the town jeweler. He also uncovers a plot to steal the gem and does what he can to keep it safe. But it is not enough. 

Now, Evan must recover the gem by relying on a motley group of adventurers for help. Together, they must overcome a series of obstacles or humanity's one hope for restoring the royal line will be lost forever.


From amazon.com: Five stars. Possibly one of the best books I have read so far this year and the best fantasy I have read in a while. This book read surprisingly quick, it is easily appropriated for younger readers even early teens but it still very much so appeals to adults. There wasn't a lot of detailed world building that you normally expect, it just naturally flows and you learn as you read but don't feel lost at any point. There are a wide variety of characters, each with their own clear back story. There are several storylines going on at once but they mesh so well you don't feel you need to keep track of them. This was a very well written fantasy novel and now I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series!


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Friday, December 1, 2017

Book Reviews and Ratings #OurAuthorGang

Book Reviews and Ratings:

How Many Stars Should I Give A Book Review?
Joe Bonadonna

(Toyota Escondido Information Center)

Someone once commented on the number of 5-star reviews people post on Amazon and Goodreads. “How could a book by an indie writer (such as Joe Bonadonna, for example) earn 5 stars for one of his books when such literary masterpieces as To Kill a Mockingbird, Lonesome Dove, and A Confederacy of Dunces, and when such authors as Stephen King, JK Rowling, and Anne Rice receive 5-star reviews? Does that mean your books are as good as theirs?” My answer: “Oh, God — no way!” Then I was asked how I justify giving a 5-star review to some indie author, some relatively unknown author? The answer to that is simple.

I don’t compare apples to oranges.

I like to differentiate between a western and a horror novel, a spy thriller and a heroic fantasy, science fiction and romance. I know: a book is a book, some might say; genre doesn’t matter. True: a good story is a good story. Period. But every genre has its own unique tropes, and while good grammar, proper punctuation, clarity of writing, and all the other stuff we learned in school and over time are integral to every novel, I review books in a totally different way than many others do. When I read a novel of heroic fantasy, for instance, I reflect on how it affected me, and if there is a comparison to be made, then I compare it to other books in the same genre. I mean, really . . . reading Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, for instance, is not the same experience as reading Raymond Chandler’s Farewell, My Lovely. I love both equally. Reading Ross Thomas’ The Fools in Town are on Our Side is not the same experience as reading Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth. Again, I love both books. I don’t even think about which one is better than the other. As I said, it’s all apples and oranges.

First off, let me say that I am not a literary critic nor have I ever played one on the internet. So I don’t criticize any novel I review. That’s not my job. Remember, I write books, too. When I review a book it’s because that book worked on me in some way, affected me mentally or emotionally or spiritually. It made me laugh or cry, made me think, but above all, it entertained me. I review only those books I enjoyed. A story has to hit me in a certain way. If a novel is not worthy of at least 3 stars, in my opinion, I won’t review it. I don’t point out flaws in an author’s writing or plotting, not in a public forum, at least; I’m not qualified to do that, and as an author, I will not make any negative comments about someone else’s book. 

That’s a job for the Grammar Nazis, the college professors, the literati.

To me, 3 stars is a book worth reading, worth spending time with. 4 stars means it was very good, had many layers and themes to it. 5 stars means I thought it was exceptional, unique, and fired on all cylinders. My criterion for rating books is this: memorable characters, story line and plotting, setting, dialogue, themes, and originality of concept. If a book entertains and hits me with all seven of the above, then I give it 5 stars. And if any book I read has memorable characters, great dialogue and has touched my heart, even if it fails to deliver on plot and originality, I think it’s worthy of 4 stars. If a book is simply a fun, enjoyable read that entertained me with its story, I give it 3 stars. And there are certainly novels by Anne Rice and Stephen King that I’ve read and didn’t think were worthy of anything more than 2 stars.

What it really boils down to is a matter of taste. Many novels are simply plot-drive: action oriented adventures that are not concerned with character arcs, character interaction and introspection. If that’s what the writers set out to do, then they’ve succeeded. Other writers strive to make you think; they write for the brain and not the heart. But I want to have my emotions manipulated. I want to feel what I read. I always tell people that I have two main goals to what I write: first, to entertain; second, to make the reader feel something. I write for the heart, not for the head. If certain themes and concepts creep into my work, rest assured that most of the time it was not a conscious decision. It just happened. If I thrilled you, frightened you, made you laugh, and made you cry, then I succeeded. If I made you think, then I succeeded beyond my intentions and expectations.

I don’t know what criteria others use when reviewing books. Some of the praises I’ve read, as well as the harsh criticisms, are very interesting. I’m often very surprised by what readers like or dislike about a book, especially when it’s one that I’ve read.

But when you read one of my many 5-star book reviews, know that the book scored a TKO with me. Its author nailed down everything that is important to me: great dialogue, interesting setting, a well-plotted story, an original concept, a grand adventure that totally entertained me, and most important of all, memorable characters that touched my emotions.

Well, that’s my two cents worth.


#heroicfantasy  #swordandsorcery  #horror  #spaceopera  #swordandplanet  #amazonreviews 

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Thursday, November 30, 2017

Healing and Relaxing Medicinal Baths #OurAuthorGang

Hungary is called "The country of Thermal Waters"
http://www.authorerikamszabo.com
There are over 500 known thermal baths in Hungary where the water temperature is higher than 30 Celsius degree which is 86 Fahrenheit.

Thermal waters have different types of positive effects.
The physical effect: relaxes the muscles and blood vessels improving the circulation. People with damaged or diseased joints can move their limbs more easily due to water’s buoyancy.
The chemical effect: is due to the high mineral content dissolved in the water. The minerals can easily be absorbed into the circulation through the skin which helps to strengthen the immune system and promote self-healing.
The psychological effect: is due to the baths' and spas' special relaxing microclimate.

These are some my favorites thermal baths
Eger: the medicinal water has the highest radon (has great painkiller effect) content in Hungary and has positive effects on rheumatic symptoms, musculoskeletal diseases, muscle and peripheral nerve problems.
Héviz: the lake and the town are located near the southwest corner of Lake Balaton. It is the world's largest biologically active natural thermal lake.
The water and mud are perfect for preventing or treating osteoporosis. It also has positive effects on rheumatic symptoms, musculoskeletal diseases, muscle and nerve problems, as well as gynecological disorders.
Sárvár: this medicinal water contains hydrogen carbonate and salt, and is effective against skin diseases and gynecological problems.
Végardó: the medicinal water is effective mainly for musculoskeletal and rheumatic problems as well as gynecological problems.
Hajdúszoboszló: the thermal water has a natural healing effect mainly for degenerative diseases, musculoskeletal and rheumatic problems, after orthopedic surgery or stroke, and neuritis.
Miskolctapolca: this is a natural cave system filled with body relaxing thermal water which is the same temperatures all the time.

A few thermal baths in Budapest:



In my Golden Quill Award Winner romantic historical fantasy series magical things are happening in the long forgotten past when my ancestors lived in Jurtas and traveled on horseback.

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