Linda Maye Adams's Blog, page 80
September 4, 2016
The Healer’s Tent
Magic and muzzle loaders blaze on the battlefield.
Healer Nalani gets the aftermath—the injuries, the complaints, and the people needing help.
But even though she’s in the rear, she’s finding she’s not immune to war either.
Who helps the healer?
Available on Amazon and your favorite booksellers for 99 cents.
Filed under: Books Tagged: fantasy, Short Stories
August 31, 2016
Devaluing the Writer
It seems like more and more, magazines and publishers are trying to get writers to give away their work so the companies can make tons of money. It’s always been a problem–it was common for me to run across a magazine that said “We don’t pay, but we’ll give you exposure.”
It screams that they don’t think the writer is all that important.
And this morning, I saw something along this line that floored me.
It was a workshop being given by an editor of a publishing company. And the headline advertising it was along the lines of: “Books become best sellers because of the editor.”
Nowhere in there is the writer who created the story and learned the skills to make a good story.
Nowhere in there is that even an editor can’t turn a horrendously bad book into a best seller.
Nowhere in there is that without a writer to provide a story, the editor wouldn’t have a job.
And we’re not all that important, hmm?
Filed under: Writing Tagged: editors, stories, writing for free
August 29, 2016
A soldier and her Kevlar helmet
When I was in the Army, I wore a helmet that was made of Kelvar. We called it a Kevlar, rather than a helmet. Like any piece of a soldier’s uniform, it took on a second life, and there were some tall tales …
Rumors were sometimes passed down the convey lines during Desert Storm. One of the soldiers was said to come from a convoy, removed his Kevlar and discovered a bullet hole in it. Doubtful if it was true—if it was hard enough to lodge in the Kevlar, he would have felt the impact.
Another story that circulated—much to the chagrin of the woman soldier who was in my unit—was that she had mixed up her Kevlar with a four star general’s, so she was wearing his. It was not true. Trust me, she would have noticed. Just soldier boredom.
But an interesting fact is that the material used for our Kevlar helmets, and in the flak vests was invented by a woman, Stephanie Kwolek.
Filed under: History, Military Tagged: Army, Desert Storm, Soldiers, Uniforms
August 28, 2016
Words of Rain and Shadows
Irinia can hear the rain talk.
But when the rain talks, the Shadow Folk come, and people die.
Her only chance to save her people is convince them she can hear the voices. But a jealous seer has convinced the village that women can’t hear the Shadow Folk.
And time is running out …
Available from your favorite bookseller for $1.99. Amazon.
Filed under: Books
August 24, 2016
Between Black and White
Returning home from Desert Storm, Mary doesn’t recognize the place she grew up.
Or her father. But it’s her that’s changed, too much.
Can she find herself in the past, or is who she was gone forever?
Filed under: Thoughts
August 22, 2016
View of the Blue Angels
Earlier this year, the Blue Angels were in Washington, DC, and they were doing some aerial photography—so they would be flying overhead. The first time I heard the jet engines, which were quite distinctive, it hit me that it was them. By the time I got to the window, they were long gone.
The second time I heard the engines, I moved a lot faster and just saw the tail end of the jets. They move very fast.
My father sent me this video. It’s a stunning view of the Blue Angels, taken from inside the cockpit. Go all the way to the end and check out the names and ages of the pilots. Not one of the pilots is under the age of 31. Experience does count.
—
After this post, I’m going to stop doing posts every day and revert back to a 2-3 times a week.
Filed under: Military, Thoughts Tagged: Blue Angels, Navy, Washington DC
August 21, 2016
Sky Hair
Following the death of her wife, Pitarra is hoping time at an artist’s colony on another world will help restore her creativity so she can start painting again.
But it’s harder than she expects. The other artists are jealous of her, and her only friend is one of the resident scientists.
As she struggles to regain her creativity, she discovers she is being watched. Not by one of the artists.
By something else that will change how she thinks of her art.
Available from your favorite booksellers.
Filed under: Books, Thoughts
August 20, 2016
Arlington County Fair
Today, I checked out the Arlington County Fair, and there was some interesting sightings along the way …
The yard sale folks put this out to catch the eye of all the people walking to the fair. Yard sale wasn’t much by the time I got there, but the sign was eye catching. I wasn’t the only one taking a picture.
There be dragons, and they are my favorite color.
When pigs fly …
Or when pigs drive …
Spiderman’s got a hot Camaro.
Checking out the inside of the Camaro. Awesome.
And a shot of me on the way back. It was a hot day out!
Filed under: Entertainment, Photos Tagged: Arlington County, Arlington County Fair, Camaro, dragons, Spiderman, Summer, Virginia
August 19, 2016
August 17, 2016
Rocket to the Stars
This looks like a fun movie on NASA’s first African-American women–who were also engineers and mathematicians. And I liked Taraji P. Henson from when she was on Person of Interest (and a war veteran!).
Filed under: Entertainment Tagged: Hidden Figures, NASA
