Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 271
July 16, 2013
#Thriller: THE ROGUE GENTLEMEN is #FREE today
Here's a treat for readers who love thrillers, lively banter and lots of action! THE ROGUE GENTLEMEN is FREE today so grab it while you can and, of course, if you enjoy the book, don't forget to leave a review. It's the best gift readers can give to authors and every one of them is most appreciated!
Book blurb:
International adventurer Steve Dane never should have set foot in Italy. Witnessing a young woman’s kidnapping, he is drawn into the decades-old vendetta behind the crime.
Hired by the girl's father, racing against time as her life hangs in the balance, Dane battles the mafia who want him dead and the police and international agents who want him out of the way. With the help of his lover, Nina Talikova, Dane plunges along a path that leads him past a mere kidnapping and into an ever-more complex world of high stakes, ruled by a powerful and mysterious woman known only as The Duchess.
Life, it seems, is getting cheaper than Dane could ever imagine and The Duchess has put a price on the ultimate weapon that will make it worthless. Only he and Nina have the power to stop a clock that is ticking away the life of both the girl and the world.
Amazon link:
Book blurb:
International adventurer Steve Dane never should have set foot in Italy. Witnessing a young woman’s kidnapping, he is drawn into the decades-old vendetta behind the crime.
Hired by the girl's father, racing against time as her life hangs in the balance, Dane battles the mafia who want him dead and the police and international agents who want him out of the way. With the help of his lover, Nina Talikova, Dane plunges along a path that leads him past a mere kidnapping and into an ever-more complex world of high stakes, ruled by a powerful and mysterious woman known only as The Duchess.
Life, it seems, is getting cheaper than Dane could ever imagine and The Duchess has put a price on the ultimate weapon that will make it worthless. Only he and Nina have the power to stop a clock that is ticking away the life of both the girl and the world.
Amazon link:
July 15, 2013
Book Tour Blast: THE KEEPER AND THE RUNE STONE by Paige Pendelton
The Keeper and the Rune Stone by Paige W. Pendleton
The Black Ledge Series
The secrets of the Red Paint People have haunted Maine for 7000 years. From the vast fjords of Norway to the shores of New England, ancient standing stones mark a trail of betrayal, greed, and murder...
The Keeper and the Rune Stone, Book One
An unholy ritual, a ticking clock. Four children discover there are things that go bump in the night ...
Centuries ago a group of Elves committed an unholy ritual. But the ritual was a spectacular failure. It transformed the Elves into the Noctivagi - the beings we know as vampires.
Striving to maintain a fragile peace, the ancient Elves and Dwarves negotiated an Accord, which they've renewed every year on the Summer Solstice. The ceremony depends on the magical Rune Stone, but it's missing. If it is not found—and quickly—the consequences could be dire, and not just for Elves and Dwarves.
Four children, Rob, Jack, Eleanor, and Flora, stumble into a world of magic and mayhem when they move into Black Ledge, the old estate on the Maine coast, and discover they aren’t the only ones who live there.
Buy The Keeper and the Rune Stone on Kindle
By The Keeper and the Alabaster Chalice, Book 2 on Kindle
About the Author
The secrets of the Red Paint People have haunted Maine for 7000 years. Paige W. Pendleton is busy writing those tales.
Follow Paige: Blog | FaceBook | Twitter Goodreads | Pinterest | Literary Addicts
Follow the Book Tour
Enter the Contest
a Rafflecopter giveaway
July 14, 2013
#Review: THE WEDDING HAZARD by Regina Duke
5 of 5 starsAshley Clair is devastated with her beloved father dies of cancer. She drives to Eagle Toe to let her estranged mother know the news, but what she finds at her childhood scares her enough that she seeks help and protection from a security expert. Thor Garrison runs a small security firm in town and when Ashley walks through his door, he wants nothing more than to protect the beautiful young woman. Throw in an attempted kidnapping, a crazy ex-girlfriend and an overbearing mother and you have a fast-paced mystery, thriller and a budding romance that will keep you turning the pages.
I loved this story especially the developing romance between Ashley and Thor. It was a wonderful slow build-up of their feelings for each other despite their "marriage of convenience" contract. The Britney Beth character added much to the story with her obsession of marrying Thor herself. The dialogue is snappy and, of course, who doesn't love a great dog in the story. Can't wait to see what the author has planned for the next story in the Colorado Billionaires series. All in all, this is a delightful read and fans of romance will thoroughly enjoy it. Highly Recommended.
July 12, 2013
Book Tour Blast: 32 GOING ON SPINSTER by Becky Monson
Thirty- Two Going On Spinsterby Becky Monson
"According to Webster’s dictionary,
A spinster is:
1: an unmarried woman of gentle family
2: an unmarried woman and especially one past the common age for marrying
3: a woman who seems unlikely to marry
4: me
Julia Dorning is a spinster, or at least on the road to becoming one. She has no social life, hates her job, and lives in her parent’s basement with her cat, Charlie.With the arrival of Jared Moody, the new hire at work, Julia’s mundane life is suddenly turned upside down. Her instant (and totally ridiculous) crush on the new guy causes Julia to finally make some long-overdue changes, in hopes to find a life that includes more than baking and hanging out with Charlie. But when the biggest and most unexpected change comes, will the new and improved Julia be able to overcome it? Or will she go back to her spinster ways?"
Buy on Amazon
About the Author:
By day, Becky Monson is a mother to three young children, and a wife. By night, she escapes with reading books and writing. In her debut novel, Becky uses humor and true-life experiences to bring her characters to life. She loves all things chick-lit (movies, books, etc.), and wishes she had a British accent. She has recently given up Diet Coke for the fiftieth time and is hopeful this time will last... but it probably won't.
Becky runs a large on-line book club called "This Chick Reads". Check it out on Facebook!
Follow Becky: FaceBook | Goodreads | Blog | Facebook - This Chick Reads
Follow the Book Tour!
The author is offering a $50 Amazon Gift card as a tour prize. Fill out the form below to enter and be sure to pick up her book!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
July 11, 2013
MIDAS: THE GOLDEN TOUCH by Michelle Snyder
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zSHeHhGcN_w..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zSHeHhGcN_w..." width="227" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The story of King Midas and his golden touch is
told today as a tale of the price of greed, and in some, the rewards of
repentance. This is how the first part of his story is generally told today:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Midas was
a king of great fortune who ruled the country of Phrygia, in Asia Minor. He had
everything a king could wish for. He lived in luxury in a great castle. He
shared his life of abundance with his beautiful daughter. Even though he was
very rich, Midas thought that his greatest happiness was provided by gold. He
would spend many days counting his coins. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One day,
Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry, passed through the kingdom of Midas. One
of his companions, a satyr named Silenus, got lost along the way. Silenus got
tired and decided to take a nap in the famous rose gardens surrounding the
palace of king Midas. He was found there by the king who recognized him
instantly and invited him to spend a few days at his palace, where they feasted
and rested. After that, Midas took him back to Dionysus. The god of
celebration, very grateful to Midas for his kindness, promised Midas to satisfy
any wish of him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Midas
though for a while and then he said: “I hope that everything I tough becomes
gold.” Dionysus warned the king to think well about his wish, but Midas was
positive. Dionysus could do nothing to dissuade him and promised the king that
his wish would start the following day. Everything he touched would turn to
gold. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The next
day, Midas, woke up eager to see if his wish would come true. He extended his
arm touching a small table that immediately turned into gold. Midas jumped with
happiness! He then touched a chair, the carpet, the door, his bathtub, a table
and so he kept on running in his madness all over his palace until he got
exhausted and happy at the same time! He sat at the table to have breakfast and
took a rose between his hands to smell its fragrance. When he touched it, the
rose became gold. "I will have to absorb the fragrance without touching
the roses, I suppose," he thought in disappointment. Without even
thinking, he tried to eat a grape but it also turned into gold! The same
happened with a slice of bread and a glass of water. Suddenly, he started to sense
fear. Tears filled his eyes and that moment, his beloved daughter entered the
room. Giving Midas a hug, she turned into a golden statue! Despaired and
fearful, he raised his arms and prayed to Dionysus to take this curse from him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The god
heard Midas and felt sorry for him. He told Midas to go to river Pactolus and
wash his hands. Midas did so: he ran to the river and was astonished to see
gold flowing from his hands. The ancient Greeks said they had found gold on the
banks of the that river. When he turned home, everything Midas had touched had
become normal again. Midas hugged his daughter and decided to share his great
fortune with his people. His people led a prosperous life and when he died,
they all mourned for their beloved king.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is more to the mythology, none of it
complementary to the king. There are a few variations of details; many tellers
add morals and speculation to the myth as a tale to teach virtue. Turning his
daughter to gold was a later palimpsest, told by Nathanial Hawthorne in 1852. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Historically there were several kings named
Midas; the common reference is King Midas from the 8th century BC, who ruled
Pessinus, Phrygia. He was married to a Greek princess, daughter of Agamemnon.
According to Greek and Assyrian sources he traded with the Greeks, and many
other nations.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span>
</div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Was it
Greed? Or Science!</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_Oju6fXdrQI..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_Oju6fXdrQI..." width="254" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In order to decode this legend we must look at the electromotive series.
History tells us the Greeks found gold on the river banks where Midas washed
the curse from his hands. This may be the most significant statement for
decoding this story. If you take a tin cup and place it in water that is
downstream from a copper mine or processing plant, in a while, with the proper
liquid medium, you will have a copper cup. Iron turns to copper, copper to
silver, and silver to gold. This is called the electromotive series, and is, in
general, how batteries work. In the Smithsonian Museum there are two silver
Llamas which fell into a river where silver trace was, and they turned to
silver, well preserved to the detail. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A man found in a
Danish bog preserved as copper.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SwZSZ-B0TP0..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SwZSZ-B0TP0..." /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In
order to decode this legend we must look at the electromotive series. History
tells us the Greeks found gold on the river banks where Midas washed the curse
from his hands. This may be the most significant statement for decoding this
story. If you take a tin cup and place it in water that is downstream from a
copper mine or processing plant, in a while, with the proper liquid medium, you
will have a copper cup. Iron turns to copper, copper to silver, and silver to
gold. This is called the electromotive series, and is, in general, how
batteries work. In the Smithsonian Museum there are two silver Llamas which
fell into a river where silver trace was, and they turned to silver, well preserved
to the detail. It is this process that is symbolized by Midas turning
everything to gold, and washing the gold off in the river. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It
is also important to look at what was happening at the time of Midas. Turkey
used young children to mine tin, as they were smaller and could go deeper into
the mines. Some died and were left in the mines. If the mine collapsed, or
flooded, the children were left there. One mine did flood with water that held
gold sediment, and a young girl about five years old was preserved as electrum;
a silver & gold child. Pristine details remained: Her eyelashes were
preserved to the hair, and the flowers in her basket still had their petals.
The story of Midas turning his daughter into gold likely comes from records
about the discovery of this young girl. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So
how did the story become so detrimental to the reputation of King Midas? </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Another
significant thing to know about Midas was that he invented coins for standard
measurement. Well, his wife invented the idea and he had them made. Great! you
might say. It was. Trade in precious metals and stones were big business and it
was full of thieves and cheats. The coins prevented Midas and others from being
swindled in transactions, and the swindlers hated him for it. The king’s
reputation became one of greed and avarice, a reputation which spread rapidly as
stories made up by angry traders. In the stories about his daughter she
has been called Marigold (a name derived from Mary of the Catholic tradition).
That name would not have been used then, if he had a daughter, more likely her
name would have been Elora, or Lura. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Palimpsest
about many legendary and mythological characters arise from similar slander.
The monster Medusa was a result of stories told to tear down the power of the
Vanir navigators. It is said that Athena turned her into the snake headed
creature – in theory, she did. Stories are powerful. They can create a persona
that is hard to correct. Peeling away layers of information and looking at each
in historic context helps determine what is valid and what is layered into history
for deconstructive purpose. Midas was subject to just such storytelling. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-umHN10aEOaY..." style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Michelle Snyder, M. Phil, Symbolist</span>
</a></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zSHeHhGcN_w..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zSHeHhGcN_w..." width="227" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The story of King Midas and his golden touch is
told today as a tale of the price of greed, and in some, the rewards of
repentance. This is how the first part of his story is generally told today:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Midas was
a king of great fortune who ruled the country of Phrygia, in Asia Minor. He had
everything a king could wish for. He lived in luxury in a great castle. He
shared his life of abundance with his beautiful daughter. Even though he was
very rich, Midas thought that his greatest happiness was provided by gold. He
would spend many days counting his coins. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One day,
Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry, passed through the kingdom of Midas. One
of his companions, a satyr named Silenus, got lost along the way. Silenus got
tired and decided to take a nap in the famous rose gardens surrounding the
palace of king Midas. He was found there by the king who recognized him
instantly and invited him to spend a few days at his palace, where they feasted
and rested. After that, Midas took him back to Dionysus. The god of
celebration, very grateful to Midas for his kindness, promised Midas to satisfy
any wish of him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Midas
though for a while and then he said: “I hope that everything I tough becomes
gold.” Dionysus warned the king to think well about his wish, but Midas was
positive. Dionysus could do nothing to dissuade him and promised the king that
his wish would start the following day. Everything he touched would turn to
gold. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The next
day, Midas, woke up eager to see if his wish would come true. He extended his
arm touching a small table that immediately turned into gold. Midas jumped with
happiness! He then touched a chair, the carpet, the door, his bathtub, a table
and so he kept on running in his madness all over his palace until he got
exhausted and happy at the same time! He sat at the table to have breakfast and
took a rose between his hands to smell its fragrance. When he touched it, the
rose became gold. "I will have to absorb the fragrance without touching
the roses, I suppose," he thought in disappointment. Without even
thinking, he tried to eat a grape but it also turned into gold! The same
happened with a slice of bread and a glass of water. Suddenly, he started to sense
fear. Tears filled his eyes and that moment, his beloved daughter entered the
room. Giving Midas a hug, she turned into a golden statue! Despaired and
fearful, he raised his arms and prayed to Dionysus to take this curse from him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The god
heard Midas and felt sorry for him. He told Midas to go to river Pactolus and
wash his hands. Midas did so: he ran to the river and was astonished to see
gold flowing from his hands. The ancient Greeks said they had found gold on the
banks of the that river. When he turned home, everything Midas had touched had
become normal again. Midas hugged his daughter and decided to share his great
fortune with his people. His people led a prosperous life and when he died,
they all mourned for their beloved king.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is more to the mythology, none of it
complementary to the king. There are a few variations of details; many tellers
add morals and speculation to the myth as a tale to teach virtue. Turning his
daughter to gold was a later palimpsest, told by Nathanial Hawthorne in 1852. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Historically there were several kings named
Midas; the common reference is King Midas from the 8th century BC, who ruled
Pessinus, Phrygia. He was married to a Greek princess, daughter of Agamemnon.
According to Greek and Assyrian sources he traded with the Greeks, and many
other nations.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Was it
Greed? Or Science!</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_Oju6fXdrQI..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_Oju6fXdrQI..." width="254" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In order to decode this legend we must look at the electromotive series.
History tells us the Greeks found gold on the river banks where Midas washed
the curse from his hands. This may be the most significant statement for
decoding this story. If you take a tin cup and place it in water that is
downstream from a copper mine or processing plant, in a while, with the proper
liquid medium, you will have a copper cup. Iron turns to copper, copper to
silver, and silver to gold. This is called the electromotive series, and is, in
general, how batteries work. In the Smithsonian Museum there are two silver
Llamas which fell into a river where silver trace was, and they turned to
silver, well preserved to the detail. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A man found in a
Danish bog preserved as copper.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In
order to decode this legend we must look at the electromotive series. History
tells us the Greeks found gold on the river banks where Midas washed the curse
from his hands. This may be the most significant statement for decoding this
story. If you take a tin cup and place it in water that is downstream from a
copper mine or processing plant, in a while, with the proper liquid medium, you
will have a copper cup. Iron turns to copper, copper to silver, and silver to
gold. This is called the electromotive series, and is, in general, how
batteries work. In the Smithsonian Museum there are two silver Llamas which
fell into a river where silver trace was, and they turned to silver, well preserved
to the detail. It is this process that is symbolized by Midas turning
everything to gold, and washing the gold off in the river. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It
is also important to look at what was happening at the time of Midas. Turkey
used young children to mine tin, as they were smaller and could go deeper into
the mines. Some died and were left in the mines. If the mine collapsed, or
flooded, the children were left there. One mine did flood with water that held
gold sediment, and a young girl about five years old was preserved as electrum;
a silver & gold child. Pristine details remained: Her eyelashes were
preserved to the hair, and the flowers in her basket still had their petals.
The story of Midas turning his daughter into gold likely comes from records
about the discovery of this young girl. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So
how did the story become so detrimental to the reputation of King Midas? </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Another
significant thing to know about Midas was that he invented coins for standard
measurement. Well, his wife invented the idea and he had them made. Great! you
might say. It was. Trade in precious metals and stones were big business and it
was full of thieves and cheats. The coins prevented Midas and others from being
swindled in transactions, and the swindlers hated him for it. The king’s
reputation became one of greed and avarice, a reputation which spread rapidly as
stories made up by angry traders. In the stories about his daughter she
has been called Marigold (a name derived from Mary of the Catholic tradition).
That name would not have been used then, if he had a daughter, more likely her
name would have been Elora, or Lura. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Palimpsest
about many legendary and mythological characters arise from similar slander.
The monster Medusa was a result of stories told to tear down the power of the
Vanir navigators. It is said that Athena turned her into the snake headed
creature – in theory, she did. Stories are powerful. They can create a persona
that is hard to correct. Peeling away layers of information and looking at each
in historic context helps determine what is valid and what is layered into history
for deconstructive purpose. Midas was subject to just such storytelling. </span></div>
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July 10, 2013
Book Tour Blast: TANGLED UP by Olivia Hardin
Tangled Up in Trouble by Olivia Hardin
Lynlee Lincoln isn’t just a witch, she’s also a Neutralizer. Her job is a juggling act to keep magical and undead clients out of trouble. But getting back together with her old flame throws one more ball into the mix and romance with a guy who has two kids can get complicated. When her old mentor asks her to investigate the goings-on of a dark witch, things turn messy. The witch is stalking supernatural creatures to collect ingredients for a potion that Lynlee can’t seem to figure out.
To keep those closest to her from becoming the next victims, she may have to confront the demons within herself.
Purchase on Amazon / B&N / iTunes
The first book Trolling for Trouble is forever FREE .
Get caught up on the series.
About the Author
When Olivia Hardin began having strange movie-like dreams in her teens, she had no choice but to begin putting them to paper. Before long the writing bug had her and she knew she wanted to be a published author. Several rejections plus a little bit of life later, and she was temporarily “cured” of the urge to write. That is until she met a group of talented and fabulous writers who gave her the direction and encouragement she needed to get lost in the words again.
Olivia has attended three different universities over the years and toyed with majors in Computer Technology, English, History and Geology. Thenl one day she heard the term road scholar and she knew that was what she wanted to be. Now she “studies” anything and everything just for the joy of learning. She's also an insatiable crafter who only completes about 1 out of 5 projects, a jogger who hates to run, and she’s sometimes accused of being artistic.
A native Texas girl, Olivia lives in the beautiful Lone Star state with her husband, Danny and their puppy, Bonnie.
Connect with Olivia and Get information about releases, contests, news and more here:
http://oliviahardinwriter.com
http://twitter.com/oliviaH_writer
http://www.facebook.com/oliviahardin
Follow the Tour
The author is giving away three prize packs containing a signed paperback with a bookmark from the Book Swag Shop. $50.00 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Certificate.
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July 9, 2013
Book Tour Blast: A HUNKA HUNKA NURSING LOVE by Kathryn Maeglin
A Hunka Hunka Nursing Love
by Kathryn Maeglin
Imagine a visiting-nurse service with hot young guys as caregivers. What golden girl wouldn't dig that?
Valerie Palka is a savvy businesswoman who is obsessed with keeping her elderly mom, Helen, safe from all the lethal disasters that can befall widows living alone. Helen thinks the workaholic Valerie should focus on having as much luck in the bedroom as she does in the boardroom. But when Helen takes a spill and is rushed to the ER, a handsome male nurse, Keith Nuber, strikes her fancy, and she tells her daughter, “If you could get a handsome devil like that to take care of me, I'd be willing to consider it.”
So Valerie creates a care agency, Home Health Hunks, staffed by attractive younger men.
Valerie's idea is filled with potential … and potholes. As she navigates the tricky road to satisfying her mom as well as her own ambition, she falls in love with one of her employees--Keith--and learns about the true meaning of success.
Buy on Amazon [ASIN: B00DMP7IC8]
About the Author:When Kathryn was a little girl, she wanted to be a nurse. However, she quickly discovered that was not a wise choice, since she couldn't stand the sight of blood. Next she wanted to be an actress.
Unfortunately, her only talent onstage was that she could be heard in the back row.
Finally she decided to become a journalist. Her original goal was to be Jane Pauley's replacement on the “Today” show. Alas, she didn't have Jane's looks, poise, confidence, skill or wisdom. In fact, the only thing they had in common was that they were both corn-fed blondes from the Midwest. In Kathryn's case, much more corn had been consumed.
So she ended up being a print journalist for 24 years. She worked for daily newspapers in Rock Island, Ill., and Madison, Wis.; for a Chicago-based trade journal that covered the radio and TV industry; and as special projects editor for the Indianapolis Business Journal.
She started a couple of special sections for women, one of which won two state awards, while the other won a national award.
She now writes fiction for women. She's happily married and has two overfed, underemployed cats.
She loves to hear from readers, so you can e-mail her at kathryn@kathrynmaeglin.com You can also read her humorous current-event poems on Facebook and Twitter or visit her website at www.kathrynmaeglin.com
Ten percent of Kathryn's net royalties will be donated to two charities that serve people dealing with cancer: Cancer Support Community and Pink Ribbon Connection.
Prize: $50 Amazon gift card
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July 7, 2013
#Review: SHAMAN SISTER SORCERESS by M. Terry Green
5 of 5 stars"Shaman Sister Sorceress" continues the story of techno-shaman Olivia Lawson. She has fled LA after a simple kiss with her handler SK turned disastrous. She finds herself in Hopi Indian lands in Arizona and if she thought her life would be peaceful here, she's sadly mistaken. She is surrounded by shamans and not all welcome Livvy's arrival. When she is abducted from her tour group, she is thrown into the middle of a centuries old struggle for their very existence, but who can she trust?
The author has written one of the best fantasy series I've had the pleasure to read. Her blending of folklore and fact is seamless and the multiverse is an absolute gem of her imagination. Her attention to detail brings the characters alive. You feel every emotion that Livvy experiences--her fears, her longing and her determination to right an ancient wrong. I can't wait to read what Ms. Green has in store for Livvy and SK next. Highly Recommended.
July 4, 2013
Happy 4th of July!
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, and political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the national day of the United States.
During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United States independent from Great Britain. After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4.
A day later, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:
The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.
Adams's prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.
There is no question that July 4, 1776 is the date that the Congress approved the final official document, having voted to declare independence two days earlier. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin all later wrote that they had also signed it on that day. However, most historians have concluded that the Declaration was signed nearly a month after its adoption, on August 2, 1776, and not on July 4 as is commonly believed.
In a remarkable coincidence, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as Presidents of the United States, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration. Although not a signer of the Declaration of Independence, but another Founding Father who became a President, James Monroe, died on July 4, 1831, thus becoming the third president in a row who died on this memorable day. Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President, was born on July 4, 1872, and, so far, is the only President to have been born on Independence Day.
July 3, 2013
#Review: APOCALYPSE CULT by Alex Siegel
5 of 5 starsAaron Glade is a disgraced cop who is working as a PI to make ends meet when he is recruited by a secret group known as the Gray Spear Society. What Aaron doesn't know is that they are God's warriors whose mission is to destroy God's enemies at all costs. His first mission is to eradicate The Church of One Soul before it wreaks havoc on Earth.
This book grabs you from the opening pages and is non-stop action. The author does a great job of fleshing out the characters and especially Aaron. He's a flawed man, has made mistakes in the past and will do so again while he tries to understand what he's gotten himself into by joining this group. The secondary characters are just as interesting and I was intrigued to learn their stories as well. This was a fast read and definitely piqued my interest to find out what other adventures the author has in store for the Gray Spear Society. Readers of thrillers and action adventure will thoroughly enjoy this book. Recommended.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
