Deidre Mapstone's Blog, page 3

Sigrun: The Bandamann Saga | Book Trailer

So excited to bring to you, my trailer for Sigrun, the Bandamann Saga! Thank you to my family for helping me to create this, and my daughter for her filming and editing genius!Enjoy!

New Release!!! Kelly Hall's the Secret of Strange Waters

Hidee-ho there folks!
It's been a while since I've been here on a regular basis, but that is because I have been ultra busy networking with tons of amazing people!

Way back in January, I self published Sigrun, the Bandamann Saga. Since then, I've been swirling through the world of indie authors, and it has been incredible!

One of the first indie authors I met was Kelly Hall, author of the Light Keeper series. I helped host her release party for the first story in her series, the Legend of the Light Keeper.

By the end of the party, I'd ordered the book, and was super excited to read it! I was not disappointed! It is a wonderful YA story, with lovable characters, and a fascinating mystery! (You can read my review on Amazon, here.)


I have been looking forward to the next installment in the series ever since!Luckily, and I don't know how she did it, we didn't have long to wait!The Secret of Strange Waters was released August 3rd!

Stephanie Latham Stacker and Kelly Hall hosted a fabulous release party on Facebook, and I helped host once again! Of course, I ordered the book, this time for my Kindle, as I didn't want to wait for it! I am super excited to get my eyes on this book! Take a look at why, straight from Amazon:
Unfortunately for Lily Jordan, being a Light Keeper doesn't come with an instruction manual, but neither does being sixteen. While learning to use her powers, she’s confronted with unforeseen obstacles and forced to break her own rules in order to save her circle of friends. With her mom’s wedding on the horizon, will misinterpreted visions create new enemies who could threaten Lily’s exposure? Will death and heartache ruin the big day? For Lily, the answers only lead to impossible decisions. Does she embrace her powers or abandon them for false normalcy? Kelly Hall’s second book, The Secret of Strange Waters, proves paranormal powers aren’t always a blessing.
Today, Kelly has shared with us some of her characters in the story! I am both honored and excited to be able to introduce them to you. Let's take a look!






So many great characters to meet in this series! Trust me when I say, get these books today!

AAAAANNNNNNNDDDDD... in celebration of her release of the Secret of Strange Waters, the Legend of the Light Keeper is only $0.99 in digital form for the month of August! You can find it on Amazon, iTunes and B&N!What are you waiting for???Go start your journey with the Legend of the Light Keeper!

New Things

New Things Coming Soon!

Since the release of my first self-published novel, Sigrun, the Bandamann Saga, I have met more authors than I could have imagined! It's been a true eye-opening experience that I will never forget!These authors are not only amazing in their own rights, but come together to support each other in ways that I never even thought possible. I feel privileged to be a part of it all, and have been welcomed with open arms.


It's been a long while since I've posted regularly here, but that's because I was busy submersing myself into the world of the Indie Author (self published, self marketing authors). It has been a wonderful, incredible ride, and I hope to share more with you very soon!Over the next months, I hope to bring you features on some of my new author friends! I will be blogging on their new releases, old favorites, interviews, or just to say hello!I hope you are as excited as I am to meet some of these amazing, talented individuals! Join us soon!

Memorial Day Memoirs

When I was a young child, old enough to know that there were soldiers and wars and such, I thought they were very brave people. Even though I didn’t know why people would want to fight a war. I was a very girly girl, and didn’t understand what there could possibly be to fight that hard for.

As I entered my teen years, going into the military became something you did if you weren’t going to college. Since I knew I was going to college one day, I didn’t pay the military much attention. I knew we were supposed to respect them, etc, but I didn’t really think about them much one way or another. The only close relative I had involved in the military was a cousin, who was older than I, and that was about all I knew about him at the time.

I got older, went to college, and saw the ROTC men and women. I had respect for them, mostly based on their discipline. I was so very undisciplined at that age, and theirs was most impressive.At that time, I can remember Desert Storm. It was the first time I remember being scared that war might come into my life. Before it was only stories and memories from older uncles. It wasn’t our life. We lived in peaceful times (or so I thought…so young…so naïve). This was the first time I thought of my brothers, and my other relatives and friends. Of course, I keep showing my lack of knowledge of military here, because I was later told there was no longer a draft. I stopped worrying. War went back to the background of my life, with a little more respect for those who actually volunteered.

Growing up in a peaceful generation made the idea of wars and military seem a mere precaution. They were there, just in case. In case of what, I could hardly imagine. Who would have the nerve to mess with the United States?

Three months after the birth of our second child, our first son, my thoughts on all of the above were changed forever. I watched 9/11 unfold live on television after I received a phone call from my dad, telling me to put the news on. (I had blissfully been watching Nickelodeon with my 4 year old daughter, like we did every morning.) I tuned in shortly after the first tower was hit, and watched as the second one was. I thought it was some sort of huge prank. I thought I had just entered the Twilight Zone. I thought it all had to be some sort of nightmare. We all know it wasn’t.To watch events unfold afterward were more than amazing to me. Faith in humanity was strengthened to a degree that hasn’t lost its luster yet with me. Watching the military response put these people at the top of that list of humanity. I watched as the ones already listed fulfilled their duties with a bravery I could never hope to possess. I watched as many others volunteered to defend our great country. I watched the numbers of dead soldiers rise every single day. Crazy, mad respect doesn’t even cover how I felt. I said a prayer every day for the fallen soldiers. Men and women I never knew, fought for me, for my family, for my children.

How do you possibly express thanks enough to these people? How do you tell them that because of them, because of their willingness and sacrifice, you go to bed at night feeling safer? I haven’t quite figured that out, but I silently have the utmost, crazy, mad respect for every single one of them. I add the soldiers of the past to the list too. All the stories from great uncles and other families, suddenly become important and found a bigger place in my heart.

So, this great, long weekend, and unofficial start to summer marks a time when we can all take a moment to remember. Social media is over-flowing with memes, posts, expressions of thanks (this blog included). It is one of the ways that most of us choose to thank every single soldier past and present for what they do. It makes us feel good to be able to express our thanks world-wide.The question that lingers in the back of my head is; do they know? Do they truly understand how truly thankful we are? Are the families of fallen soldiers comforted in the knowledge that they have my crazy, mad respect? The fact that they live with loss every day, makes my thanks seem terribly, terribly small.

Do the soldiers that come home with injuries both physical and mental feel like the glorious beings we see them as? Because they are the true heroes of this world. People who put themselves right into the thick of it, where man is most hostile, and fight to defend a country of people that they don’t even know (well, aside from their families and friends). The ones who make it home, but can’t cope with what they’ve gone through, and decide they can’t make it here, and take their own lives. Didn’t they know that they are heroes of the utmost kind?All of these people, men, women; soldiers. They are heroes. They are our Avengers. They are our protectors. Crazy, mad respect is only the tip of my feelings for each and every one of them. I am sorry that it took a major attack on our country for me to come to this understanding. (It may have come eventually with age and maturity, but coming to this understanding sooner was better.) This little blog is only a tiny way I could possibly begin to express how I feel for them. Thank you is hardly enough, but believe me when I say, it is with my whole being that I say it to you today.
T H A N K  Y O U

The Teen Book Festival As a Hopeful Author

This past weekend I went to our local Teen Book Festival. It was their 10th year at one of our local colleges (one I attended for a semester back in my college days). I had been there before, because of my bookworm daughter. She introduced me to the world of Young Adult books years ago, and this time I was attending as not only a young adult book fan, but also a hopeful, new author. I had spent the week before preparing bookish swag to hand out to every eager teen I came across. My daughter and youngest son volunteered to help me, and we were all set!
I thought I would share the top 10 things I learned while there in a different capacity than just an attendee. So, here we go!

1)    It wasn't as crowded as I thought it would be. I don’t know why I thought there would be more people, there were already plenty.

2)    It was confusing how to tell the volunteers from the festival goers. There were groups of people in the same colored shirts, but there were so many of them. It was hard to tell whether they were volunteers, or just there with a group. I wasn't sure whether to hand them some swag, or ask them directions.

3)    There are so very many Young Adult Authors! It really amazes me every time I see/meet more!

4)    I am better at meeting people online than in real life. I am really quite awful at trying to strike up a conversation with…well…anyone. I should really write questions down ahead of time or something. I gave it thought for weeks before, but I couldn't come up with anything. Quite awful.

5)    It’s always really great to see how many types of “booky” teens there are. They are their own, very unique species, and they should be well cared for.

6)    Always wear my hair up when in a crowd. Dang it was hot! Even if it’s not hot, my stress level rises in crowds, which then makes me hot. I should have remembered this and dressed accordingly.

7)    I definitely over prepared. Not that it’s a bad thing, but I came home with more of my swag than I intended. So, it felt disappointing, even though it went fairly well. I keep telling myself it was better to have too much than run out too early.

8)    Seeing the range of reactions to me walking up and asking someone if they wanted something free was, and is always interesting. We had the full range of reactions. From, “Sure, thanks!” all the way to, “Mmm, no thanks.” I can’t imagine refusing a bookmark at a book festival, but to each their own.

9)    Next festival I really have to find out how to get a table set up. We met a lovely young author with a table set up at the area where you buy the other authors’ books. I wanted to do that, but I wasn't sure how. I really have to get more aggressive when it comes to finding out information.

10)    I was very grateful to my daughter and youngest son for coming with me. Not only did they help, but they kept me company, which was invaluable throughout the day. My oldest son decided he couldn't handle talking to strangers in any capacity, which I thoroughly understood. Apparently it’s a gene.



All in all it was a very good day. My children were so helpful and fun, and even found books to enjoy. My son had his signed by the author, and it made his day, he was so excited! Thank you, Greater Rochester Teen Book Festival! Perhaps one year I will be asked to be a participating author there!

S'mores Oatmeal No Bake Cookies

So, I've been having a hankering for oatmeal no bake cookies lately. Those things are so addictive! With their butter, and their sugar, and their chocolate, and peanut butter!

Then there's the oatmeal, which makes your body think you're eating something healthy!Quite the vicious combination!

So, in the past, I recall some trouble getting the recipe to work. I'd end up with a gelatinous mass, unwilling to solidify. I gave up on it for a while.

This time, when I could no longer resist the temptation, I went back to the recipe, word for word.I have a tendency to tweak recipes.Every. Single. Time.I can't even remember what I did differently last time, but apparently I tweaked a bit too much, and then decided to give up.So, this time, sticking directly to the recipe, I had success!

They turned out perfectly, and the family was oh so happy to eat them right up.So, I made them again. The second time I doubled the recipe, and made them bigger. I also changed some of the ingredients (because I can't help myself).With the usual ingredients, I used half white sugar, and half dark brown sugar, instead of all white.I also added crushed graham crackers and Heath bits along with the oatmeal.

They had been s'moresified ! They were amazing! Spectacular! Stupendous!Majorly addicting!!!So, of course, they went fast, and of course, I had to make them again. (With some more tweaks...which may not have worked as well...but still resulted in deliciousness.)

I thought I'd blog about my incredible discovery...

So, here it is...
S'mores Oatmeal No Bake Cookies (Single recipe)
1 stick butter1 cup white sugar1 cup dark brown, or brown sugar4 tbsp. cocoa powder1/2 cup milk
1 cup peanut butter1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups rolled oats (I use the 5 minute ones)1/2 sleeve graham crackers, crushed lightly1/2 package Heath Bar brickle bits

Melt the butter, sugars, cocoa and milk together in a saucepan on medium low heat.Bring to a boil and let boil for one minute.
Remove from heat and add peanut butter and vanilla. Stir until well blended.Mix in the rest of the ingredients.
Drop by scoop or spoonful onto parchment paper.The mix begins to set fairly quickly, so try to get them dropped in a timely manner. (You don't have to race, just don't waste time.)


Let cool and enjoy!

Will I Remember?

[Let me preempt this blog by saying that I don't obsess about death. These thoughts take much longer to write down than they do to think of in the first place. These thoughts are fast, but important in my life. They are a part of me that I think is worth sharing, but don't necessarily have the place or time to do so.]
A fleeting thought I have from time to time is about previous lives. Ever since my dad told me that some people believe that we have lived previous lives, I've been a believer. I think I was about 8 or so.

When I was in high school, we had a psychology class and the teacher did a session where she hypnotized those of us who wanted to participate. Of course, I was one.She had us relax, and brought us to a place that made us feel good. First, I went to Canandaigua Lake. I spent summers there my whole life, and being in that lake is my heaven. I went to the middle of the lake and floated, looking up at the vast blue sky kissed with wisps of white.
She had us go further on.
I went to Egypt. It was hot, there was sand, and I was sitting on a sphinx statue. I felt the hot sun on my skin, and the rough surface of the statue. The funny thing was, I wasn't Egyptian. I was Native American. I was probably about 11 or 12. I had long black hair in two braids hanging down either side of my head. My skin was very brown. I liked it. (I am basically the opposite of this in my present life; red hair, fair skin.)
It was so vivid, more than any dream or daydream I'd ever had. When I woke up from the trance, I was revived. I can still recall all of this, like a memory rather than a dream. It felt so good.
My friends who were the observers in the class said my eyelids were fluttering like crazy! I guess because everything I was seeing and experiencing was so life-like.

I feel so closely tied to certain time periods, I think that I must have lived there. But I don't really remember. I don't remember actually living before, or being in another place or time. I just have a feeling.That got me to thinking...If I have a future life, will I have a feeling about this life? Will I feel tied to this place and time along with the others I feel now? Will this life be added to my repertoire?

Mind vs. Body

Mind: Yay! A new day! So many possibilities!Body: Shut up, I’m trying to sleep.Mind: Aw, c’mon, get up! The sun is shining, and there are so many things we can do today!

Body: I said shut up. *Rolls over.Mind: Ooh! Let’s bake today! You love to bake! And we can make some yummy things to eat later! You love to eat! Yummy-yum!

Body: *Groans and rolls over again. Watches tv.Mind: See, there you go! Way to open those eyes! Now let’s get going!Body: Dude, I’m not even awake yet. I’m just trying to give you something to do so you’ll shut up.Mind: You know you’re waking up, and you want to get out of bed. Hey! It’s breakfast time! You love breakfast! Don’t you want to eat?

Body: You know I don’t eat for at least another hour. Talk to stomach. She’s still sleeping.Mind: Well, let’s give her some water. That always wakes her up.Body: Not now. Man, just watch tv for a while, would ya?Mind: Oh, all right. But you’re going to have to get up sooner or later, so let’s just make it sooner, okay?Body: Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. *Smiles and rolls over. Keeps watching tv.After this show, okay?Mind: Yay! We’re going to get up! We’re going to do so many things today! It’s going to be such a great day!Body: (That’s what you think.)

Hence the daily struggle continues…

Top 10 Ways To Survive The Harsh Winter

To say I have the winter blues this winter would be a massive understatement. Every winter I get some degree of seasonal depression. I live in a climate where it is cold, snowy and cloudy all winter and then some. Winter is technically 3 months, right? Not here it isn't. Here it's more like 5 or 6. Here, the sun shines a couple times a week through the winter months, if we're lucky. It's very cold, it's dark and snowy.I just want to hibernate.Really.People who live in warmer climates don't get it. They keep right on going with their lives, oblivious to the hardships of living in a cold, snowy climate. They might get a day or two with a sprinkling of snow, or a dip in temperatures to 20, 30, or 40 degrees. (Egad!)Where I live, I would welcome those temperatures with open arms.Especially this winter.This winter has been so cold, I am ready to lose it. And by, "lose it," I mean, I'm not even sure what I might do, or what might become of me. I feel trapped in my house and I just want to sleep all the time. I don't care if I eat, until I actually get hungry. Then, look out. I am like a grizzly bear coming out of hibernation!I don't even want to do things I normally want to do. That's when the siren goes off in my head.I am depressed.I've been depressed a few times in my lifetime, so I know what it looks and feels like for me. I know the signs and can spot when I need to intervene.I'm ready for some winter rescue!This is a list of things I've done, been doing, will try to do to get myself through the rest of this trying winter. I thought I'd share to help the rest of my peeps here in the tundra.




1.  Sunbathe. Get that sun on your skin whenever it comes out. We are so vitamin D starved at this point, we need that sun whenever we can get it. I literally will get as much of my skin as I can into a sunny window. Much like a napping cat, I will sun myself for as long as possible; sometimes that's 5 minutes, sometimes it's up to 30 minutes. Some mornings, it has been the only thing that got me out of bed that day. It seriously helps. Give it a try.


2.  Speaking of vitamin D, let's talk supplements. I take a pretty good variety of them every day. Everything I take, I've built up over the years, finding that each one helps my health in some way. Don't forget these every day. The mornings will happen where there won't be time, or the thought of opening all those bottles exhausts you. Do it. Every day.


3.  A bit more on supplements. Taking care of your skin. Our skin goes through so much this time of year. Winter is as hard on our skin as a desert. The dry heated air sucks moisture from our bodies like a child sucking lemonade from a straw on a hot summer day. You can try the obvious lotions and oils, but these only do so much. They help, but you really need to work from the inside out to really give your skin the upper hand it needs to get through this dry tundra. A good vitamin E, and an omega fat supplement is what you need. I have been taking these for years now, and not only has it gotten rid of the nasty cracks on the bottom of my feet, but my skin is so much softer and able to retain moisture through these harsh conditions. I also use lotion, of course, and I use natural soaps as well, leaving softer skin all around. The less chemicals we expose our skin to, the better off it can breathe properly, and help moisturize itself.


4.  Move. Whenever, wherever you can. You'll have to fight it, because your body just wants to hibernate. If you have a workout regiment, good for you! Keep it up, and try not to slack off (I have basically forgotten how to walk on a treadmill).


5.  After all this talk of taking care of yourself from the outside, let's move on to taking care of your mind and spirit. The mind goes a bit wild this time of year, and it needs attention. Occupy it. Get into your hobbies like never before. It may take a bit of force, as all the brain really wants to do is sleep. But get it going, whenever possible. Read, knit, play an instrument, do a crossword puzzle, play a video game, write a journal. Whatever it takes to use your brain in a way that makes you happy. We all get busy with life, and sometimes we need to be reminded that it's ok to take time for your needs, wants and desires. At this time of year, it is crucial to keep the mind from losing it. Find your happy place for your brain.


6.  Aromatherapy. Stimulate your senses. Get some candles, get some body spray, get some lip balm (after all, your lips should not go outside without it). Start a fire in the fireplace, cook up something delicious. Hot tea, coffee, chocolate. What do you like the smell of? Get it and let it fill your home and/or workplace.


7.  Get out! Make yourself get up and get out of the house. Find places to go; the mall, the movies, a restaurant. Wherever you enjoy, go there.


8.  Get together with folks you enjoy. Friends, family, it doesn't matter. Whoever you like to be with, be with them. Spending time with other people can make the time go by so much more pleasantly. Throw a winter fest. Build some gingerbread houses. Have a hot drink party with tea, chocolate, or toddies.


9.  Get your sleep, but don't overdo it. It's easy to stay in bed 'til noon (believe me, I know). Try hard to stay on your routine. It's definitely acceptable to give yourself a morning in bed if you've been running yourself ragged all week. There's nothing better than a Saturday or Sunday morning snuggled up in a soft, warm bed. But don't make it a regular thing. Because your body and mind will want it every day. If you really find it hard to get out of bed on a particular day, open those curtains, fluff the pillows behind you and sit up. Stay in bed and watch a good movie, or read a good book. (Sigrun, anyone?)


10.  If you can't beat it, join it. Get outside! Go frolic in the snow! No, not when it's zero or below, but when it creeps up to a whole double digits, bundle up and get out there! Just breathing in the fresh but frozen air will do your body good. The great thing about having lots of snow is being able to play in it! Build a snowman, go sledding, skiing, snowshoeing, color spray designs in the snow! Build an igloo or other snow sculptures. There are so many things to do in the snow. I would rather have a snowy winter than a plain, frozen, gray landscape you can do nothing in.




So, there it is. Ten things you can try to get through the rest of the winter. Try these individually, or better yet, use them in combination for the best impact on your sanity. Stay warm and good luck, my friends, as I do know how challenging it is.

Happy Bloggerversary to Me!

Hey there readers! Today marks one year of blogging for iDDeas! Not sure how we got this far, but I'm so happy to celebrate it with you!In honor of one year of blogging, I will be giving away one signed copy of my book, Sigrun, The Bandamann Saga, with a Sigrun bookmark to match!
Haven't I mentioned, I wrote a book? Shame on me! But...
I write...
so...
there it is.

This whole writing journey has been an amazing experience, it will be my pleasure to share something in return.

Entering is easy as can be! Follow the copter below!
Happy Bloggerversary
For more information on my book, please follow the link to my website, here.