Cynthia Varady's Blog, page 2

Sale Ends Friday

Hello, Readers!

That’s right. There are just three days last to cash in on my Fall Book Sale.

Get your ebook copy of The Girl with the Uninvited Ghost for under a dollar.

I Want That
Become a Patron Member (it’s free)

Get in on the exclusive content posted to my Patron. To pique your interest, I’ve left you a few breadcrumbs.

Get to know Benny Hogna aka Benny the Groundhog, our backyard neighbor (he lives under our deck).

If groundhogs aren’t your thing, here’s a short story created for Furious Fiction’s monthly contest.

Become a member for free and get the key to unlocking exclusive content.

Thank you for your support!
Happy reading!

Become a MemberMore Delicious Fall Reads to Check OutFrom the mind of Jann Franklin comes Muffalettas and Murder, a delicious whodunnit.

Small Town – Big Secrets

Evangeline Delafose is finding Graisseville, Louisiana, just as she remembered—boring and uneventful. Until her brother, Nate, asks her to help solve a murder.

 Follow Ev as she navigates clues, dead bodies, and quirky small-town residents to solve a mystery. And of course, show her little brother that she’s still got it.

 You’ll laugh, cry and roll your eyes at the antics of this charming small-town Southern sleuth and her exasperating private investigator.

 This book is the first of the Small-Town Girl Mystery Series.

Find it Here

The post Sale Ends Friday appeared first on CYNTHIA VARADY.

Fall Into Your Next Book

Hello, Readers!

I hope summer treated you kindly. It’s almost time to say goodbye to heat waves and long nights and usher in the changing of the leaves and the golden light of autumn by curling up with a good book and a warm drink.

Fall Sale

To add to your reading list, The Girl with the Uninvited Ghost will be discounted for the first two weeks of August. Enjoy the ebook for less than a dollar!

Start BuyingExclusive Content

Did you know that by becoming my Patron, you gain access to exclusive content? How do short stories, video updates, and early releases sound? If they sound pretty good, head over to Patron and look around.

Join Patreon

Thank you for your support!
Happy reading!

Catleesi, Mother of Cats
Girls Will be Girls

The post Fall Into Your Next Book appeared first on CYNTHIA VARADY.

May Flowers and Updates

May is in Bloom!

That old rhyme wasn’t kidding when it said April showers sure bring May flowers. The Pacific Northwest looks like Pride float at Mardi Gras, and the pollen is thick. A yellow-green tint coats everything that stands still longer than five minutes. Everyone has the sniffles and red, itchy eyes, but the tradeoff is lovely; flowers everywhere!

I truly love how lush Oregon is this time of year. It reminds me of Kauai’i and its green canopies creating living tunnels over the roadways, and air so fresh air you could slap it. I’m almost sad to leave. Almost.

In five weeks, we will complete our move to Missouri. I’m both excited and dreading the cross country drive with two high strung cats. At least I have a rocking play list planned. There’s also this little insect situation. You may have heard. It’s been in the news.

The duo emergent cicada broods are in full effect in Missouri. One can find abandoned exoskeletons stuck to every surface and hear their ruckus from miles away.

I hope the winged deluge will have quieted before my son arrives. He is of the bug-phobic nature.

Missouri will offer both welcome and unwelcome changes.

An Author to Watch

Ambrosa R. Harris brings this standalone novella in the Demons and Mortals series. A rollicking yarn packed with humor, witty dialogue, and some spicy situations that will leave you wanting more.

More about, I Summoned a Demon to be a Best-Seller:

Tia Comeaux is having trouble finishing her latest book. She has hopes and dreams, like any indie author, to become a best-seller. But with a day job and no attention grabbing ideas, she doesn’t have the time she wished to improve her skill. That is until a midnight guest appears with a simple request. A bowl of her prized shrimp gumbo for the skills she desires.

Yes, pleaseThe Girl with the Uninvited Ghost

Mahogany, a relics collector must uncover a family secret to solve a wizard’s murder before his apprentice’s ghost drives her crazy, or she becomes the next victim.

Praise for The Girl with the Uninvited Ghost

“Thank you for writing this little bundle of joy and I hope I get to see our crew of magical sleuths solve more crimes with even higher stakes!” — Gauravaaditya Kulkarni

“That is AMAZING! I love that book!” — Evel Siouta

I want that!

The post May Flowers and Updates appeared first on CYNTHIA VARADY.

New Words. Fresh Experience.

All of us have bowed to the porcelain god a time or two in our lives, but only about half of us have left faint while experiencing a rerun of last night’s chicken Kiev.

Vie Studio / Pexels

While having a violent fit caused by one of many stomach viruses, my body took it a step further. Not only did I feel myself go faint, but I actually passed out. I woke up at an undisclosed amount of time later on the bathroom floor saying, “What’s this? What’s this?” Like Jack Skeleton when he finds himself in Christmas Town.

I had Experienced Vasovagal Reflex.

There are two processes at work with vasovagal reflex: “vaso” refers to the blood vessels and “vagal” refers to the vegas nerve. The vegas nerve is the larges nerve in the body and runs from the brainstem to the chest and then into the stomach and helps regulated digestion, blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate. Some really important stuff.

When stress or straining triggers the vegas nerve (like my dry heaving), it can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, causing one to feel lightheaded, or even pass out altogether. When one passes out, this is called vasovagal syncope, and is the most common cause of fainting.

Isn’t learning fun?

While fainting because of vasovagal syncope isn’t dangerous, the falls can be which parts of my body can attest to.

The first tumble from the kneeling position next to the toilet gave me a small whack on the noggin. Nothing bad of lasting. The second one left me somewhat scathed.

Oh, did I forget to mention that I passed out more than once?

The water to my apartment was scheduled to be shut off again while a leak in the basement was being tended to. A regular and reoccurring pass time at my residence. We’ve had the water shut off more times than I’ve eaten pizza this year, and I like pizza.

No water, I thought. I will find a receptacle in which to take care of business from the comfort of my bed. I hobbled to the kitchen, found a plastic pitcher, and hobbled back to bed. When the wracking pains hit me again, I swung my feet off the bed to sit on the edge and got that feeling again; my hands went cold and numb and my vision tunneled. The next thing I knew, I was on the floor, a terrible throbbing pain in my ear and the pitcher was shattered. Apparently, I had landed on it, cut my ear, and broke the pitcher.

Ah, I thought, this is going to be a thing. Best stay close to the ground.

Mercifully, the water was only off for an hour, and I could carry on my shame in the bathroom like a civilized person. I place a large pillow on the floor next to the toilet and covered it with a towel. I am so happy I did this because I work up no less that five more times on that pillow which gently cradled my head, protecting it from harm, save one time.

The final fainting experience happened several hours later when I thought I was in the clear. I had gotten my child to bed (I was alone all day with my ten-year-old who locked himself in his bedroom so he wouldn’t catch what I had), and all that moving around was too much.

I awoke on the floor, a lump on the back of my head and a bruise on my jaw. I can only speculate what happened because I came to on the pillow. The toilet is probably to blame. I must have hit my head as I fell.

Takeaways from this learning experience

Stay hydrated. The vegas nerve gets particularly triggered by dehydration. If you are ill, try to have some sort of sports drink on hand. It makes a world of difference.

Dreams caused by lack of oxygen to the brain are akin to psychotropic drugs. The weird hallucination-like dreams were out of this world. In one, I was standing in the rain on a street corner, wondering how I got there. This might not seem strange, but the detail was something else. I could smell the rain, feel the damp dirt of the sidewalk under my shoes, and feel the rain. When I came to, my left hand was swimming in the toilet like s misplaced fish.

This year has not been a healthy one for me. In January, I caught COVID and had horrible flu symptoms for a week with sinus congestion that finally subsided. After that, incredible sinus pressure forced me to get a prescription of prednisone. By this time, the residual COVID crap had traveled to my upper respiratory system, giving me a wracking cough. This led to a sinus infection and bronchitis, which required antibiotics. The entire process was several months long. Then, finally when I was feeling fit again, bam! Norovirus or rotavirus took me down again.

I feel like Oregon is hazing me. When we first arrived from California, we were all sick for months. Now that we’re leaving, Oregon wants to get one more jab in before we skip town. With spring, I hope that the worst of the viruses are in my rearview.

Stay healthy. And for the love of all that is holy, stay hydrated.

Photo credit: featured image: Luna by Alex Guerrero / flickr.

The post New Words. Fresh Experience. appeared first on CYNTHIA VARADY.

The Girl with the Uninvited Ghost is in Print!

In Print, You Say?

Happy Spring, everyone!

The sun is on the return.

Flowers are blooming.

Birds are singing.

And The Girl with the Uninvited Ghost is in print.

After wrestling with trim sizes, fonts, and spine text, it’s finally here!

If you’ve forsworn the eBook and waited to find out what Mahogany and the gang are getting up, your wait is over!

Turn Pages, Not ScreensIn Case You’ve Forgotten

Mahogany, a human living in the magical town of Pandemonium, Oregon, has taken a job collecting enchanted relics from deceased magical folk. While on a routine collection, Mahogany finds the wizard and his apprentice murdered. But that’s not the worst part; the murderer is still in her house! Mahogany narrowly escapes with the help of her demon spider Bazgul, only to discover that she is now haunted by the apprentice’s ghost until she solves his murder.

With the help of Bazgul and her new ghost, Mahogany breaks into police evidence to retrieve the enchanted objects before the Guild of Myth and Magic discovers that the relics have fallen into human hands. But Mahogany gets more than she bargained for when she uncovers a clue to her family’s past that intrinsically links her to the murdered wizard. Now Mahogany must race to find the murderer before she becomes the next victim.

Praise for The Girl with the Uninvited Ghost

“Thank you for writing this little bundle of joy and I hope I get to see our crew of magical sleuths solve more crimes with even higher stakes!” — Gauravaaditya Kulkarni

“This is AMAZING! I love this book!” — Evel Siouta

I Want That!

The post The Girl with the Uninvited Ghost is in Print! appeared first on CYNTHIA VARADY.

The Deer Woman by Courtney Vaughn | Review

The Dear Women is a short story by Courtney Vaughn, which tells the tale of Sarah and her husband, Pastor Jacob. The couple, not yet blessed with a child, struggles to make ends meet on the wild plains of the great American Midwest. On the horizon, much needed rain is on its way, as is a mysterious carriage driven by a man fleeing something terrible.

As the storm rages outside, Jacob and Sarah tuck into a dinner of vegetable soup when a crash has them running outside. A stagecoach has tipped over in the storm, leaving the driver dead. Inside the carriage is a wrapped bundle containing an unharmed infant.

Word circulates out about the dead man and the baby, but as the days turn into months, Sarah and Jacob become more and more attached to the baby. Then one evening, a woman with flaming red hair comes to town for the baby. Sarah is heartbroken the to give up the child she thinks of as her own, but makes her way to the town doctor’s home anyway to do the right thing. Once she arrives at the doctor’s, Sarah witnesses something horrific that sends her running with the baby.

The Deer Woman

I’m a huge fan of folklore, legends, mythology and fairy tales. Having never heard of The Deer Woman, I was both excited and intrigued. Here’s the skinny.

The Deer Woman is an Ingenious American story about a begin forest spirit in the guise of a beautiful young woman or, you guessed it, a deer. While she’s predominately aligned with fertility and love, there are tales of her luring lustful young men to their deaths. Much like the how the Kiowa banish Deer Woman in Vaughn’s short story, the Ojibwa used chanting and tobacco to send Deer Woman on her way.

Deer Woman is akin to sirens in Greek mythology who lure sailors into rocky shores with their intoxication song. Much like how a succubus kills men by pulling their spirits from their bodies through intercourse as they sleep, Deer Woman lures horny men into the woods and then kills them. Somewhere here, there’s a lesson, I think.

The Deer Woman in Vaughn’s story sways more towards a succubus than a siren. Overall, the effect is creepy and a little unnerving. Vaughn ramps up the climax of the story, making the reader wait until the last second for a resolution.

Some Minor Issues

There’s a large emphasis on religion, as Jacob is a pastor. It felt preachy and unnecessary, especially since introducing the succubus is a mere flash in the pan. If Vaughn had played up the evil succubus more, it would have balanced out the praying, but we never even get a good look at Deer Woman or speak with her. I wanted more evil buildup.

Another issue is with the Kiowa people. Sarah and the town doctor trade with the Kiowa for medicines, yet our only glimpse into the tribe is through a white woman who Kiowa adopted as a child and held onto English as her second language. I would have liked more insight into the Kiowa people and their beliefs.

My last nitpick is with the Kindle blurb. Sarah, the main character, isn’t mentioned. The blurb makes the reader think they’re delving into a story about Jacob, the pastor.

OK, that it. I’ve said my peace. I enjoyed The Deer Woman and look forward to reading more by Vaughn.

The post The Deer Woman by Courtney Vaughn | Review appeared first on CYNTHIA VARADY.

How to Write a Synopsis

For many, writing is an escape. We throw our hearts onto the page and later pick through the debris and edit down so the words contain a cohesive narrative. Some of you have done this over and over again, completing short stories, essays, and even full-fledged novels. But when it comes to summing up thousands of words into a pithy synopsis, we don’t know where to begin, especially if we want to woo agents and publishers.

Let’s start with the basics.

What is a synopsis?

A synopsis is a written summary that relates to the reader the basic plot and arc of the story. These tend to be the staple content of elementary book reports. But the real question is how to write one that will leave an agent or publisher itching to sign you and rep your book.

The goal of a well-written synopsis is two-fold. First, it imparts your story’s plot and second, it should compel publishing gatekeepers to want more. To do this, the beginning needs to hook the reader with a sense of urgency that makes potential publishers and agents battle to read your book. unique

A Synopsis Isn’t a Blurb

A blurb is a brief description of your work for marketing. A blurb runs around 100 to 150 words and can be found on the backs of books, wikis, IMDB, etc. A synopsis sets itself apart from a blurb by containing:

the whole story arc;your voice;unique story elements;the story’s resolution. Length matters

While the length and number of pages of your synopsis will vary depending on the project, the ballpark averages around 500 words–one to two single-spaced typed pages, or two to five double-spaced pages.

In case an agent or publisher requests a “brief” summary, you’ll want to have one prepared. These briefs are boiled down to one page or less.

Laying the Foundation

Your synopsis will need to present your complete, well-crafted plot and story arc. To achieve this, lay your foundation before you begin writing your synopsis.

Make a List of the Main Plot Points

Listing your book’s main plot points will help summarize the story. Items to Include:

The inciting incident – how did the central conflict in your story start?Rising action events – what events take place to build tension between the inciting action and the climax?The climax – the climax is why people are reading, it’s the most exciting part of your book.The resolution – as stated earlier, the synopsis doesn’t need to create a mystery for the reader like a blurb, agents and publishers expect to learn how it ends.Character Motivations

Don’t get too bogged down with the details here. Space is limited. Instead, briefly mention character motivations at both the beginning as it leads to the inciting incident and the end to tie up the resolution.

Beginning of synopsis: The three sisters have wondered their whole lives about their real parents and the strange powers they are developing [motivation]. When they are old enough, they set out to find where they come from and if there are more people like them [inciting action].

End of synopsis: At the end of their journey, they find the village where they were born and their grandmother who is waiting for them [resolution], feeling confident and at peace that their questions were answered about their magical powers [restated motivation].

Much like a book review or report, the contents of your synopsis should be written in the third person, present tense regardless of the point of view of your book.

What’s your voice?

Your writing voice is one of the key elements that will make you stand out in the pack. Your voice makes your story one of a kind. That being said, your writing voice can be one of the hardest elements to get across in a synopsis due to its short length. Choose your words carefully and with purpose to reflect your unique writing style. Your voice should come through in the synopsis, reflecting the tone of your novel.

Plot Twists

If your novel includes a few good twists, emphasize them in your synopsis, but don’t be coquettish. Give your twists attention at the beginning of your synopsis. Use your exquisite way with words to highlight that something may not be as it seems from the outset. This will help hook the reader into wanting to know more.

Point of View

Does your narrative contain a unique point of view? If so, mention it by saying, “This book is told from the point of view of a mouse in a castle.”

This approach is most compelling when your novel employs an exceptionally special point of view. Additionally, it’s also useful for run-of-the-mill narrators. If you have several different points of view, be sure to mention the individual narrator’s quirks as well as any biases or flaws such as an unreliable narrator.

Edit for Clarity

Don’t beat around the bush. Agents and publishers are busy. They want you to get to the point. Tell them what happens in your book. Don’t be afraid to delete to make your synopsis as concise as possible.

Tell, don’t show. This concept is contrary to what we writers have had drilled into us, but you need to get your point across as succinctly as possible. While editing your synopsis, pay attention to sentences that don’t belong, or can be construed as disconnected, especially in the initial paragraphs. There should be no literary-esque mysteries in the phrasing of your synopsis. Shoot for Earnest Hemingway, not James Joyce.

Edit for Length

If your synopsis is tolling in at over two pages, it’s time to make some critical cuts. Minimize sentence length and remove subordinate clauses (parts of a sentence that can’t stand on their own) and reinforce the main clause of the sentence).

In addition, remove details that aren’t important and don’t lead to the next sentence. Every sentence counts.

Flow Like a River, Not a Sidewalk

The final draft of your synopsis should flow seamlessly. It should read like an expertly-written review of your book. Every major plot point should be accounted for in a concise and clear manner.

Get A Second (or third) Set of Eyes

No writer works in a vacuum. Get others to read your synopsis, either a friend or an editor if possible. Objectivity gets lost in our own writing and we need outside feedback to make sure all the t’s are crossed the the i’s are dotted. Ask them to specifically look at word choice, transitions, and details to cut and those to keep.

Check Out What Others Have Written

Stay away from reading other synopsis before you begin your own. attempt to craft yours first. This will help your writing stay fresh and hold your unique voice. Make sure the synopses you read are professions. Choose a best-selling book or an author you admire.

Recap

A synopsis can make or break whether an agent or publisher picks up your novel. No matter how expertly crafted your query letter may be, your synopsis tells agents and publishers what your book is about, why they want to read it, and if it will make money.

Crafting a great synopsis is an art that must be honed, just like writing itself. The more you practice, the better you will become and soon you’ll be knocking the Manolos off your dream agent/publisher.

The post How to Write a Synopsis appeared first on CYNTHIA VARADY.

Year End Review and What’s Next

2023 In Review

What a wild ride.

We witnessed many political upheavals (which is the new normal). Inflation hit is hard in the pocketbook, making trips to the grocery store painful. On a personal note, 2023 was a journey I would rather not replicate.

My husband was laid off, and searched for employment for the better part of the year.

Our son had to have emergency surgery to remove his appendix.

One of our cats got sick.

And I broke a tooth and needed a crown.

All in all, it was a pricey year and I’m glad to see the back of it.

A Fresh Start in 2024

In the final days of 2023, my husband received an offer from the Missouri University of Science and Technology. Of course, he said yes, as it was his ideal position. The only downside is that the job is in Missouri, and not even St. Louis, but the tiny town of Rolla.

The job started on the 8th of January, so off he headed on a solo cross-country drive while Odin and stayed behind to finish out the school year.

Props to all the single parents out there. This job is already hard, but going it alone can be soul crushing.

The town of Rolla, Missouri, population 19k will have three new residents come July.

Am I excited about moving from rainy Portland to the Ozarks?

I’d lie if I gave a resounding yes. I oscillate between excitement and fear.

Long-haul moves are no fun, especially to locations sight unseen.

On the flip side, Missouri is filled with natural beauty and Rolla is home to a myriad of tech related activities, which will be great for Odin.

The Bright Spots

Everyone is healthy, despite nature’s best effort to the contrary.

I published my first book, The Girl with the Uninvited Ghost.

I read some amazing pieces of fiction including, but not limited to, Treasure Island by Daniel Defoe, Fablehaven by Brandon Mull, The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart, The Bitter Root series by David F. Walker, Holes by Louis Sachar, The Dragon with the Chocolate Hear by Stephanie Burgis, and Real Hero Shit by Kendra Wells.

All in all, it was an exceptional year for books and reading.

On Twitch, I gained 130 new followers, and 16 subscribers, and I streamed 173 times. I am so happy I started streaming.

I have met the most supportive writing community on Twitch.

On Sale Now

A relics collector must uncover a family secret to solve a wizard’s murder before his appetence’s ghost dives her crazy indefinitely…or she becomes the next victim.

Praise for The Girl with the Uninvited Ghost

“Thank you for writing this little bundle of joy and I hope I get to see our crew of magical sleuths solve more crimes with even higher stakes!” – Gauravaaditya Kulkarni

Paperback coming in 2024

The post Year End Review and What’s Next appeared first on CYNTHIA VARADY.

What Does That Mean? Five Phrases and Their Meanings pt.2

I enjoyed this so much the first time I had to do another. Heck! I might even make it a semi-regular thing. With no further ado, here are five phrases and their meanings.

Damp Squib Cologne Cathedral, Germany by from Pixabay

I first heard this saying on The IT Crowd when Roy said “squid” instead of squib. My ears perked up. A new saying to add to my vocabulary? Hurray! Now, what in the world is a damp squib, and more importantly, why does it matter if it’s wet?

Turns out, squib has two meanings. The first is a type of fireworks. As you can imagine, incendiaries work better when dry. This goes with the definition of having great expectations for something while the results were more than a little disappointing. Much like trying to light a damp fuse on an explosive.

Additionally, ‘squibs’ were also short, satirical literary compositions. Both types of squibs were coined in the 1520s, but as to which came first, your guess is as good as scholars, well, probably not. Scholars are pretty learned. Not to say you aren’t. Ahem. Moving on.

Salad Days Image by Christine Sponchia from Pixabay

Cleopatra: My salad days,
When I was green in judgment: cold in blood,
To say as I said then! But, come, away;
Get me ink and paper:
He shall have every day a several greeting,
Or I’ll unpeople Egypt.

I thank a faithful reader for this one. Indeed, Ryan, what does salad days mean, and how in the world can it possibly allude to the good ol’ days? The intrepid bard of historic fame, William Shakespeare coined this little gem in Antony and Cleopatra (1606):

According to The Phrase Finder, salad days can refer to either youth or our golden years, both of which are supposedly free from care. Anyhow, Cleopatra’s use of ‘green’ queues us she’s referring to the first definition; fresh, a newb, Greenhorn, or wet behind the ears (sayings for another day). My two cents on this saying have to do with salads themselves. Salads are not food that keeps well, especially if you factor in the Egyptian heat. One does not keep salad for leftovers. It’s eat it now, or feed it to the compost heap.

Pencil Neck Geek Ringling Brothers Circus – Sideshow bannerline advertising a “rooster orchestra” in 1894.

This is my favorite on this list. Not because of its meaning, but due to its origin. This fun pejorative owes its creation to WWII Veteran and renowned pro wrestling heel, Freddie Blassie. Back in 1935, Blassie invented the saying to refer to the sideshow Geek he worked with who bit the heads off chickens and snakes. Blassie said the Geek had a long, skinny neck. During his forty-year wrestling career, it became Blassie’s catchphrase. In 1975, Johnny Legend (not to be confused with John Legend, who is a much different musical artist) featured Blassie in his song, Pencil Neck Geek. Blassie even used the phrase for his autobiography: The Legends of Wrestling: “Classy” Freddie Blassie: Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks, which became an instant best-seller, naturally.

Yellow Belly

We all know this one. Two gunslingers meet at high noon, swagger and bravado wafting on the hot desert air like skunk musk. One outlaw raises his chin, the sun catching his bloodshot eyes. “You yellow-belly. You ain’t got the guts,” he crows to his opponent. As you can guess, yellow belly is a derogatory term used for a coward or a traitor, but this wasn’t always so.

Image by Mohan Nannapaneni from Pixabay

Phrase Finder states that yellow-belly first found its way into print via Grose’s A provincial glossary; with a collection of local proverbs etc, in 1787. The original meaning referred to residents of the English Fens who “have yellow bellies, like their eels.” This description is so filled with classism, I don’t even know where to begin. To compare a group of people to eels is incredibly crass and problematic. A General Dictionary of Provincialisms, (1839) by William Holloway, states:

“Yellow-belly, A person born in the Fens of Lincolnshire (From the yellow, sickly complexion of persons residing in marshy situations.)”.

A General Dictionary of Provincialisms, (1839) by William Holloway

While it’s plain that neither of these definitions refers to cowardice, it is easy to see there is still a bit of name-calling going on. For the word to take on its now infamous meaning, we have puddle jump over to Texas. Here we find the US at the brink of the Mexican-American war. The Wisconsin Enquire reported in April (1842):

We learn from Capt. Wright, of the N. York, that it is the intention of the Texans to “keep dark” until the Mexicans cross the Colorado, and then give them a San Jacinto fight, with an army of 5000 to 7000 men. Godsend that they may bayonet every “yellow belly” in the Mexican army.

The Wisconsin Enquire reported in April (1842)

It is unknown whether racism, an allusion to ill-health, or likening the Mexican army to the underside of lizards and snakes motivated Captain Wright’s comment. Whichever it is, yellow belly used to refer to cowards and traitors is independently tied to the American West.

Go for broke

All in. Do everything possible. Risk it all. ‘Go for broke’ comes out of Hawaiian Pidgin, specifically with the dice game, craps. Someone went for broke when they wagered all they had on one toss of the dice. Popularized during WWII, ‘go for broke’ became the motto of the US Army’s 442nd Infantry, one of the most decorated military units in history, which was comprised of Japanese of American descent. A fitting motto for men who served their country while back home, their families faced internment camps. Takes ‘go for broke’ to another level.

Every April 5th, known as National “Go For Broke Day,” is celebrated in honor of the sacrifices the members of the 442nd Infantry made for their county.

Members of the Army’s 442nd Regimental Combat Team play “galloping dominoes” upon the bed of a truck at Camp Shelby, Miss., circa June 1943. Photo courtesy of the US Department of Defense. VIRIN:430601-O-ZZ999-695

All right, folks. There you have it. Five everyday phrases that have more than a little interesting origins and meanings. Well, at least I think so, and I hope you do too.

The post What Does That Mean? Five Phrases and Their Meanings pt.2 appeared first on CYNTHIA VARADY.

Five Holiday Books to Get You Into the Seasonal Spirit

Whether we’re ready or not, the holidays are upon us. With so much bad news in the world, escaping with a good book is top of the list. And what better escape to get us into the seasonal spirit than holiday books? Here is a short list of five of my favorite holiday books.

The Hogfather

Topping the list at number one is Sir Terry Pratchett’s fancily from through Discworld. The Hogfather is sure to please with its alternative version of Christmas and Santa Claus. On the evening of Hogwatchnight which falls on December 32, no one can find the Hogfather. Death, the best character in any book ever, fills in for the Hogfather. Susan, Death’s witty and wise-cracking granddaughter, tries to locate Hogfather and save Hogwatchnight.

Pratchett weaves elements of the absurd, dry British wit, and pure fantasy into his novels, and The Hog Father is a fantastic holiday treat.

Schmuck the Buck

This adult picture book by EXO Books tells the tale of Larry the only Jewish caribou in Santa’s workshop. While Larry balances the books, (he’s the accountant) his peers subject him to mean-spirited taunts, dubbing him Schmuck. Yet, it’s Larry’s tech-savvy, quick thinking that saves Christmas and earns him the respect he deserved all along. Filled with clever rhymes, playful stereotypes, and a twist ending, Schmuck the Buck will become a holiday tradition in your household.

The Battle for Christmas

If you’d like to know more about the history of Christmas and how it became a commercial holiday, look no further than Stephen Nissenbaum’s The Battle for Christmas. Did you know that Christmas was once a debauch, drunken free-for-all? The have-nots demanded figgy pudding, money, and liquor from the wealthy citizens. It wasn’t until the late 1800s in New York City that the Christmas we know today was born.

Nissenbaum’s tireless research into the history of Christmas delivers a wealth of knowledge about how traditions begin and change over time. 

Bone House

Betsy Tobin weaves a sultry folktale filled with mystery and superstition in Bone House. Dora is a plump sex worker whose charisma and voluminous curves capture the hearts of both men and women in a sleepy Elizabethan village. When the village discovers Dora dead in an icy ravine, rumors take hold, sending the village into a dark spiral of religious retribution. Rich in historical context, Bone House is the perfect read for a cozy night, wrapped in a warm blanket.

South Pole Station

While technically not a winter book, South Pole Station takes place on one of the coldest continents in the world. Cooper Gosling is searching for something to bring the spark back to her art after a family tragedy. She sees an opportunity and signs up to be part of a Polar research team. Earning an art grant, Cooper sets out to recapture her zest for life and forget what she’s lost. South Pole Station is a character-driven novel with some of the most colorful characters I’ve ever experienced on the page. Ashley Shelby does an amazing job balancing all her spinning plates in this wonderful debut novel.

If you have a favorite holiday novel, please leave a comment with the title and author and why you love it.

The post Five Holiday Books to Get You Into the Seasonal Spirit appeared first on CYNTHIA VARADY.