Sandra Cox's Blog, page 75
August 10, 2021
Writerly Wednesday
AND
August 9, 2021
It's Tuesday
Instead of taking new pics of the beauties fluttering around the butterfly bushes, I'm going to recycle pictures of their parents and grandparents.
Well....I couldn't find any of the black swallowtails so I went out and snapped pics again. I don't even want to say who I think is responsible for the partially missing wing. Sigh.
AND...Callie doing a bit of butterfly watching.
AND In The Garden
AND In The Kitchen
I had pumpkin waffles topped with peanut butter. The mix was from Trader Joe's and had a more cake-like texture than mixes I've had in the past. The flavor was purrfect. Not too spicy, with a soft hint of pumpkin.
What about you, blogger buds? Got butterflies? Garden statuary? Waffles?
August 5, 2021
Friday's Great Read: THE FERRYMAN AND THE SEA WITCH
I’m so pleased to welcome Diana Peach to the blog today. She’s an amazing fantasy author and all-round lovely person.
Blurb
merrow rule the sea. Slender creatures, fair of face, with silver scales and the graceful tails of angelfish. Caught in a Brid Clarion net, the daughter of the sea witch perishes in the sunlit air. Her fingers dangle above the swells.
The queen of the sea bares her sharp teeth and, in a fury of wind and waves, cleanses the brine of ships and men. But she spares a boy for his single act of kindness. Callum becomes the Ferryman, and until Brid Clarion pays its debt with royal blood, only his sails may cross the Deep.
Two warring nations, separated by the merrow’s trench, trade infant hostages in a commitment to peace. Now, the time has come for the heirs to return home. The Ferryman alone can undertake the exchange.
Yet, animosities are far from assuaged. While Brid Clarion’s islands bask in prosperity, Haf Killick, a floating city of derelict ships, rots and rusts and sinks into the reefs. Its ruler has other designs.
And the sea witch crafts dark bargains with all sides.
Callum is caught in the breach, with a long-held bargain of his own which, once discovered, will shatter this life.
Short Excerpt
Callum focused the spyglass on the witch. Blood drained from his face, and his mouth turned dry as sand. She swam through the wind-scoured waves, the spines of her fins slicing the water. Her tail undulated like a serpent. White-lipped rage hollowed her cheeks and sharpened the angles of her face. Nictating membranes hooded her unnatural black eyes against the sunlight’s shimmer. Three merrow trailed in her wake, their voices weaving into a ghostly dirge.
And with them came the wind. A strange amassing and curving of clouds rose out of nowhere. The sky bloomed with a greenish glow, drenching the brig in the eerie twilight foretelling a storm.
Callum clung to the rigging as the Brid Clarion officers pulled pistols from their belts. With frantic intensity, they shared a powder horn, loaded their lead, and rammed it tight. The captain pleaded his case with wringing hands, but they brushed him aside. The men marched to the gunwale, sighted along their barrels, and fired.
Lightning flashed in reply. The approaching merrow plunged beneath the waves. Callum yelled his warning, “Captain, they’re diving.”
The captain swore. He climbed to the helm and bellowed orders as Callum searched the waves, the spyglass forgotten. The sea witch’s silver tail slashed through the swelling brine like the stroke of a knife. Fins rippled along her body in a feverish dance. She disappeared beneath the hull.
Bio
Best-selling author D. Wallace Peach started writing later in life after the kids were grown and a move left her with hours to fill. Years of working in business surrendered to a full-time indulgence in the imaginative world of books, and when she started writing, she was instantly hooked. Diana lives in a log cabin amongst the tall evergreens and emerald moss of Oregon's rainforest with her husband, two dogs, two owls, a horde of bats, and the occasional family of coyotes.
Links
Blog: https://mythsofthemirror.com
Book Blog: https://dwallacepeachbooks.com
Amazon Author’s Page: https://www.amazon.com/D-Wallace-Peach/e/B00CLKLXP8
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7068749.D_Wallace_Peach
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Myths-of-the-Mirror/187264861398982
Twitter: @dwallacepeach
August 4, 2021
Did You Know
Did you know, swimming purportedly boosts brain health? It's thought to improve cognitive function and memory. It can help release serotonin and endorphins which improves mood. And it helps blood flow.
August 3, 2021
IWSG Wednesday
The first Wednesday of every month is officially IWSG day. IWSG was formed by Ninja Captain Alex Cavanaugh. Members post about their doubts and fears, discuss struggles and triumphs, and offer words of encouragement to others who are struggling.
This month’s co-hosts:
Cathrina Constantine http://cathrinaconstantine.blogspot.com
PK Hrezo http://www.pkhrezo.com/blog
PJ Colando http://www.pjcolando.com/
Kim Lajevardi http://kimlajevardi.com/
Sandra Cox http://sandracox.blogspot.com/
August 4 question
What is your favorite writing craft book? Think of a book that every time you read it you learn something or you are inspired to write or try the new technique. And why?
Mary Buckham’s WRITING ACTIVE HOOKS (Books 1 and 2) and WRITING ACTIVE SETTINGS (Books 1,2 and 3)
HOOKS available at Amazon
SETTINGS available at Amazon
I found these books to be extremely helpful and feel they really bumped up my writing game. In her active settings Buckham talks about description, conflict, emotion, backstory and anchoring the setting. In her hooks she talks about dialogue, foreshadowing and where to use hooks. I highly recommend these series and now that I think about it, I’m going to have to go back and reread them. I’ll be interested to see everyone else’s recommendations.
July and August reviews in no particular order.
TALES FROM THE GARDEN by Sally Cronin
More charming shorts from author Sally Cronin.
These stories take place in a mysterious garden where fairies rule and stone statues come to life. Two of several delightful stories are about a pregnant doe in danger and a boy running away from abusive parents who saves a goose from certain demise. Both the doe, and the boy and his goose, find sanctuary in the enchanted garden. These are among the magical stories the author shares with us. The captivating tales will appeal to young and old alike. So, grab your iced tea and find a comfortable seat in your own magical garden and settle in to read these wonderful stories.
Available at Amazon
TITANIUM BLUE by Sherri Lupton Hollister
This is the third in the Leeward Files. The story of Jenna and Tar, and their journey to restore their marriage while protecting their young son from the evils that lurk in Leeward. The story has plenty of steam, drama, and characters that draw the reader in. Friendships rule in this well told tale.
Available at Amazon
DOG WALK OF THE APOCALYPSE, a short story by Alexander Pain
Alexander Pain has built a small insulated world called Chattahoochee Run that is fighting the zombie apocalypse. This short is another story of an inhabitant of the complex and he and his dog’s encounter with a zombie. I’m not a zombie fan, but I love everything I’ve read by this author. He has a wry sense of humor that shines through his stories. It’s not so much about the genre as it is about a well told tale and Pain delivers.
Available at Amazon
LAWS OF NATURE by Jacqui Murray
Once again Jacqui Murray creates an epic prehistoric adventure.
Murray’s novels are always filled with a plethora of facts about prehistoric man. What they ate. How they hunted. How they communicated. And how they survived. I can’t begin to fathom the amount of time that goes into researching the worlds she creates. What strikes me the most about her stories is how people—and animals—from different cultures learn to live together. Come together. And form a pack. It’s a wonderful lesson in today’s tempestuous times.
This particular series is about Lucy. A Homo habilis female who takes her place among the men to step up and lead her pack. She does so with both strength and gentleness and earns the respect and loyalty from everyone that follows her.
If you happen to be looking for a book that reaches into the past, has a strong, fearless female, this series is for you. So grab your coffee, put your feet up and prepare to enjoy.
Available at Amazon
Read any good books lately? Got a favorite writing craft book?
August 2, 2021
It's Tuesday And August
The crepe myrtles are in bloom.
The hibiscus is blooming too.
The Brown-Eyed Susans and hibiscus are starting to hide (maybe shield) the garden fairy.
The hydrangeas are making their last hurrah. As you know the color is dependent on the soil. All three of these are just a few feet apart, so I find their final colors fascinating.
You can tell from these pics I haven't turned the mulch nearly as often as I should have. 😐 What do you think it is? The baby girl and I thought tomatoes.
And later. Yup. Cherry tomatoes.
We got six inches of rain in two days. Who'd a thought?
In The Kitchen....
If it isn't easy. I don't fix it. 😊
These apples were easy. Apples, butter, honey and cinnamon cooked on top the stove. I used two tablespoons of honey with honey crisp apples, which for me--with these particular apples--made them a little too sweet. But still good:)
AND I brushed sweet corn with olive oil, added salt and braised it in the skillet. The meatless item is a steaklet and one of the best plant based meat(less) items I've had.
AND
Okay I'm officially and totally grossed out. I was pulling the various 'junk' (that normally consists of leaves) out of Frank's bushy tail and discovered I was pulling out a slug. Ack. Ack. Ack. It wasn't a small one either.😧That tail is like a feather duster for the great outdoors.
What about you, blogger buds? Got flowers? Cats? Easy meals? Slugs?
July 29, 2021
Friday's Great Read
I’m thrilled to have Balroop Singh visiting with us today. Balroop is a lovely friend and talented writer. If you like haiku you are in for a treat.
Book blurb:
When I stumbled upon haiku – a Japanese form of poetry, I scoffed it away, thinking it to be too short and easy to write. My hubris got a setback when I was challenged to write it! My earlier efforts show how I struggled with the syllables that could convey a meaningful message. Slowly I discovered this art form, which I revere now. I’ve taken some liberties with the rules though.
The poetry in this collection is not traditional haiku and tanka but inspired from them. This collection focuses on micro-poetry, inspired from haiku, senryu, tanka and acrostic poems. Brevity and discipline is the hallmark of these poems.
US UK DE FR ES IT NL JP BR CA MX AU IN
Excerpts:
Haiku:
sun spreads divine gold
creates fusion of colors
illumines life.
~
serrated peaks kiss
a demure dawn is smiling
scattering some cheer
~
dusk trots complacently
knocks supremacy of the sun
smiles of stars follow
~
full moon still lingers
trees delight in divine light
blissful spectacle
~
Senryu:
drenched in divine light
we walk through paths of life
an exquisite joy
~
magic dust holds us
when we dance so blissfully
our love evolves
~
all storms of life melt
when they meet your serene face
our boat goes steady
Tanka
Nature's rocky staircase
surrounded by lush green canopy
Majestic trickles
as water flows from the turf
and the squirrels watch awestruck.
~
I embody desires
My power can never be calmed
I breathe moments
that flow through timeless terrain
to add glory to wilderness.
Acrostic poem:
Spring
Scintillating and smiling beauty,
Placid and pristine,
Revered by all,
Impartial in disseminating joy
Nurtures love for surroundings
Glimmers in her ephemeral gown.
***
Meet the Poet:
Balroop Singh, a former educator always had a passion for writing. She would jot down her reflections on a piece of paper and forget about them till each drawer of her home started overflowing with poetic reminders, popping out at will! The world of her imagination has a queer connection with realism. She is a poet, a creative non-fiction writer, a relaxed blogger and a doting grandma. She writes about people, emotions and relationships. she is the poet of Sublime Shadows of Life , Emerging From Shadows, Timeless Echoes, Moments We Love and Magical Whispers
– all widely acclaimed poetry books. She has also written When Success Eludes, Emotional Truths Of Relationships Read FREE with Kindle Unlimited and Allow Yourself to be a Better Person.
Her poetry highlights the fact that happiness is not a destination but a chasm to bury agony, anguish, grief, distress and move on! No sea of solitude is so deep that it can drown us. Sometimes aspirations are trampled upon, boulders of exploitation and discrimination may block your path but those who tread on undeterred are always successful.
Balroop Singh has always lived through her heart. She is a great nature lover; she loves to watch birds flying home. The sunsets allure her with their varied hues that they lend to the sky. She can spend endless hours listening to the rustling leaves and the sound of waterfalls. The moonlight streaming through her garden, the flowers, the meadows, the butterflies cast a spell on her. She lives in California.
Connecting links: https://twitter.com/BalroopShado
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Emotional-Shadows/151387075057971
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7340810.Balroop_Singh
Amazon: http://goo.gl/X1NEFf
July 28, 2021
Did You Know
Did you know, that continued exposure to loud noise (airports, etc.) may lead to severe strokes? It stimulates the amygdala, which can trigger emotional response and high blood pressure.
July 26, 2021
It's Tuesday
Well...as you know, we went to Philly for a few days. The main reason we were going was to attend the opening of a gallery showing both the baby girl and her husband's work was in. When we got to Philly, we found out the gallery had decided to Zoom the opening. 😏 We watched the presentation downstairs that the baby girl and SIL were taking part in upstairs. Then went to the gallery the next day. Here is some of their work. (Some of Meghan's may be a repeat from pictures of her last showing.)
And here's pictures from the zoo. Some animals seemed comfortable in their environment. Some I hated seeing enclosed.
What about you. What are your thoughts on zoos?July 22, 2021
Friday's Great Read
I am thrilled to welcome good friend and author Jacqui Murray. Jacqui specializes in prehistoric writing and if you haven't read her yet you are in for a treat.
Tagline introduction
A boy blinded by fire. A woman raised by wolves. An avowed enemy offers help.
Summary
In this second of the Dawn of Humanity trilogy, the first trilogy in the Man vs. Nature saga, Lucy and her eclectic group escape the treacherous tribe that has been hunting them and find a safe haven in the famous Wonderwerk caves in South Africa. Though they don’t know it, they will be the oldest known occupation of caves by humans. They don’t have clothing, fire, or weapons, but the caves keep them warm and food is plentiful. But they can't stay, not with the rest of the tribe enslaved by an enemy. To free them requires not only the prodigious skills of Lucy's unique group--which includes a proto-wolf and a female raised by the pack--but others who have no reason to assist her and instinct tells Lucy she shouldn't trust.
Set 1.8 million years ago in Africa, Lucy and her tribe struggle against the harsh reality of a world ruled by nature, where predators stalk them and a violent new species of man threatens to destroy their world. Only by changing can they prevail. If you ever wondered how earliest man survived but couldn’t get through the academic discussions, this book is for you. Prepare to see this violent and beautiful world in a way you never imagined.
A perfect book for fans of Jean Auel and the Gears!
Excerpt:
South Africa
Lucy
Fresh blood streaked Short-tooth’s muzzle, her golden eyes alert to every movement around her as she munched on Gazelle’s meaty carcass. Each movement made the Cat’s tawny fur ripple over the powerful muscles beneath her skin. She raised her head, chewing slowly while studying the grass field in front of her, especially toward the back where it blended into the forest. She couldn’t see Mammoth but smelled it, close to the Uprights, maybe protecting them. Despite being the size of a boulder, this pachyderm could outrun most predators and would think nothing of crushing them beneath its massive feet.
Short-tooth wasn’t interested in the Uprights. Their bodies had little meat and less fat. Gazelle was more satisfying.
Cat ripped a slab of fragrant meat from the hind leg. Snarling-dog—to the far side—slapped the ground. He was hungry but wouldn’t eat Gazelle until Short-tooth finished. Cat purred loudly, close to a snarl, and Snarling-dog withdrew, but not far. Carrion-bird overhead tightened its circle and a tiny shrew the size of Short-tooth’s paw waited patiently, out of Cat’s range, eyes bright, nose twitching. A shred from the carcass was all it needed.
None of these creatures mattered to Short-tooth. She was the apex predator in her savannah habitat.
Sticky yellow globs of Mammoth dung slid down Lucy’s back and plopped to the dry thatch. The dung coat was melting under Sun’s intense heat, exactly as Lucy planned. Its purpose was to confuse Short-tooth Cat. The hotter Sun became, the stronger Mammoth’s smell.
Lucy and her young pairmate, Garv, lay motionless, like Snake sleeping, bodies pressed into the prickly grass, oblivious to the feathery feet that scurried over their backs. She and Garv, too, wanted what Short-tooth didn’t consume. They were more patient than Snarling-dog but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t eat first. The first to arrive got the best of the leftovers.
Lucy rubbed her raw eyes, bleary from watching Cat bite, rip, and chew. If Short-tooth knew of their presence, it was not because she saw them. Lucy and Garv blended into the landscape. Their skin was the color of dirt and dry grass, impossible to find if you weren’t looking. No part of their bodies moved except their narrowed eyes as they scanned the surroundings, evaluating each new arrival to the feast. The dominant scents never changed—Snarling-dog, Short-tooth Cat, something decaying in the nearby forest, her pairmate Garv’s sweaty body, and Gazelle’s ripening offal.
Sun’s relentless heat washed over Lucy in waves. Sweat dripped down her face, over her pronounced brow ridge and into her eyes, but for reasons she didn’t understand, despite his fur pelt, Snarling-dog was dry. He reminded Lucy of Ump, her tribe’s Canis member. Even on the hottest days, Ump didn’t sweat. Instead, he panted more.
Today, Snarling-dog panted hard.
Short-tooth raised her feline head, inspecting her habitat as her jaws crunched through the fresh carrion. She reeked of malevolence which meant scavengers like Lucy and Garv willingly waited their turn.
Sun climbed through the cloudless blue sky. The morning haze had burned off long ago. The dew Lucy hadn’t licked off the leaves, Sun’s heat had. Her throat was dry, lips cracked, but that mattered less than securing scavenge. Her tribe was hungry.
Lately, unexpectedly, when Lucy sat quietly as she did now, a tingle deep inside her chest told her Raza, her former pairmate, was in trouble. The first time she experienced this tingle, what Garv called “instinct”, it churned through her body as a current does in a stream. She thought she was sick until Garv explained this was instinct and it warned of danger, not illness. He told her always to listen, but how was she to do that? Raza had been captured by the tribe’s worst enemy, a formidable Upright called Man-who-preys. She didn’t know where they’d taken him. As often as she brushed the feeling away, it returned, each time stronger than the last.
Cat’s yellow eyes snapped open and her methodical jaws slowed. Something caught her interest, maybe Snarling-dog’s impatience or Carrion-bird’s relentless approach. After a warning hiss, Short-tooth shook her big head and pawed her face. A swarm of black flies lifted, buzzed briefly, and then resettled where they’d started, again gorging on the blood and carrion that stuck to Short-tooth’s face
The flies are thicker than usual.
Short-tooth returned to her meal and Lucy sniffed, wondering what drew Cat’s attention. She didn’t expect to see Man-who-preys here, but took nothing for granted. The tall, big-headed, hairless enemy always carried a long stick which he used to kill prey. Sometimes, he didn’t eat the animal, just watched it die. This unpredictability, that he followed no norms, made him more treacherous than other predators.
She inhaled, but didn’t smell his stench so turned her attention back to the hunt.
Carrion-bird floated overhead, feet tucked beneath its sleek body. The longer Cat ate, the more of the huge birds arrived. They thought their powerful sweeping wings, sharp claws, and piercing beaks made them the mightiest among the scavengers. What they didn’t realize was that Lucy and Garv possessed an even greater weapon: They could plan. Before Carrion-bird or Snarling-dog got too close, Lucy and Garv would take what they needed and flee.
They always did.
In the edging forest, Cousin Chimp hooted, the pitch and length describing the location of a tree newly bearing fruit. Leaves rustled as his band raced away. Lucy hoped they would leave enough of the succulent produce for her and Garv.
She hunkered deeper into the tall waving stalks, tracking the other scavengers and noting again how far away the trees were in case she needed to flee. A snake slithered over her foot, through the thatch and out of sight. She and Garv had been motionless for so long, Snake probably viewed them as dirt mounds in its path.
Garv tweaked an eyebrow and Lucy motioned, hands a tight circle in front of her chest, well hidden, “Dull colors, no knobs on snake’s tail—no danger.”
Her kind—Man-who-makes-tools—used a sophisticated blend of communication including body language, hand gestures, facial expressions, mimicking, and vocalization. One of their greatest defenses in this brutal world was the ability to become part of their surroundings. Voices were unusual sounds heard nowhere in nature except from Uprights, mostly the big-headed Man-who-preys. Lucy’s kind occasionally whispered and Tree-men, like Boah who was part of Lucy’s tribe, rarely made any sounds beyond huffs, grunts, howls, and moans. Only Man-who-preys jabbered endlessly.
Author bio:
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular prehistoric fiction saga, Man vs. Nature which explores seminal events in man’s evolution one trilogy at a time. She is also the author of the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers and Building a Midshipman[image error], the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. Her non-fiction includes over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, reviews as an Amazon Vine Voice, a columnist for NEA Today, and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. Look for her next prehistoric fiction, Natural Selection, Winter 2022.
Social Media contacts:
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jacqui-Murray/e/B002E78CQQ/
Blog: https://worddreams.wordpress.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacquimurraywriter/
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/jacquimurray
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/askatechteacher
Twitter: http://twitter.com/worddreams
Website: https://jacquimurray.net
