Sloane Taylor's Blog, page 12
November 20, 2023
THE COMING HOLIDAY
from C.D. Hersh
In honor of the coming day, we would like to share a quote we came across: George Washington, October 3, 1789
“Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor . . . I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being . . . That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks . . . And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions.”
Here is a little about out shapeshifter series that will be five books with four already out on Amazon.
TITLE: The Turning Stone Chronicles
GENRE: Urban fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
HEAT LEVEL: Sensual
Three ancient Celtic families. A magical Bloodstone that enables the wearers to shape shift. A charge to use the stone’s power to benefit mankind, and a battle, that is going on even today, to control the world. Can the Secret Society of shape shifters called the Turning Stone Society heal itself and bring peace to our world?
Find out in The Series The Turning Stone Chronicles
Book one of the chronicles titled “The Promised One” available on Amazon
In the wrong hands, the Turning Stone ring is a powerful weapon for evil. So, when homicide detective Alexi Jordan discovers her secret society mentor has been murdered and his magic ring stolen, she is forced to use her shape-shifting powers to catch the killer. By doing so, she risks the two most important things in her life—her badge and the man she loves.
Rhys Temple always knew his fiery cop partner and would-be-girlfriend, Alexi Jordan, had a few secrets. He considers that part of her charm. But when she changes into a man, he doesn’t find that as charming. He’ll keep her secret to keep her safe, but he’s not certain he can keep up a relationship—professional or personal.
Danny Shaw needs cash for the elaborate wedding his fiancée has planned, so he goes on a mugging spree. But when he kills a member of the secret society of Turning Stones and steals a magic ring that gives him the power to shape shift, Shaw gets more than he bargained for.
Book two of The Turning Stone Chronicles titled “Blood Brothers” available on Amazon.
When Delaney Ramsey is enlisted to help train two of the most powerful shape shifters the Turning Stone Society has seen in thousands of years, she suspects one of them is responsible for the disappearance of her daughter. To complicate matters, the man has a secret that could destroy them all. Bound by honor to protect the suspect, Delaney must prove his guilt without losing her life to his terrible powers or revealing to the police captain she’s falling for that she’s a shape shifter with more than one agenda.
The minute Captain Williams lays eyes on Delaney Ramsey, he knows she’s trouble. Uncooperative, secretive, and sexy, he can’t get her out of his mind. When he discovers she has a personal agenda for sifting through all the criminal records in his precinct, and secretly investigating his best detective, he can’t let her out of his sight. He must find out what she’s looking for before she does something illegal. If she steps over the line, he’s not certain he can look the other way for the sake of love.
Book three of The Turning Stone Chronicles titled “Son of the Moonless Night” currently available on Amazon.
Owen Todd Jordan Riley has a secret. He’s a shape shifter who has been hunting and killing his own kind. To him the only good shifter is a dead shifter. Revenge for the death of a friend motivates him, and nothing stands in his way . . . except Katrina Romanovski, the woman he is falling in love with.
Deputy coroner Katrina Romanovski has a secret, too. She hunts and kills paranormal beings like Owen. At least she did. When she rescues Owen from an attack by a werebear she is thrust back into the world she thought she’d left. Determined to find out what Owen knows about the bear, she begins a relationship meant to collect information. What she gets is something quite different love with a man she suspects of murder. Can she reconcile his deception and murderous revenge spree and find a way to redeem him? Or will she condemn him for the same things she has done and walk away from love?
Book four of The Turning Stone Chronicles titled “The Mercenary & the Shifters” available on Amazon.
A desperate call from an ex-military buddy lands a mercenary soldier in the middle of a double kidnapping, caught in an ancient shape shifter war, and ensnared between two female shape shifters after the same thing ... him.
The first four books of their paranormal romance series entitled The Turning Stone Chronicles Series page are available on Amazon. Their standalone novella, Can’t Stop The Music, is in the Soul Mate Tree collection with twelve other authors from various genres.
Putting words and stories on paper is second nature to the husband and wife co-authors whose pen name is C.D. Hersh. They’ve written separately since they were teenagers and discovered their unique, collaborative abilities in the mid-90s while co-authoring a number of dramas, six which have been produced in Ohio, where they live. Their interactive Christmas production had five seasonal runs in their hometown and has been sold in Virginia, California, and Ohio. As high school sweethearts, Catherine and Donald believe in true love and happily ever after. Which is why they write it!When they aren’t collaborating on a book, they enjoy reading; singing; theatre and drama; traveling; remodeling houses (Donald has remodeled something in every home they’ve owned); and antiquing. Catherine, who loves gardening, has recently drawn Donald into her world as a day laborer. Catherine is an award-winning gardener — you can see some of her garden on their website.
They are looking forward to many years of co-authoring and book sales, and a lifetime of happily-ever-after endings on the page and in real life.
You can see excerpts of their books, connect with, and follow C.D. Hersh at:
November 12, 2023
Tis the Season to Go Dutch
Stamppot: Oneof the best-known Dutch dishes is stamppot, an old-style Dutch dish. It is madeof mashed potatoes mixed with one or more vegetables like kale, carrots, endiveor sauerkraut. Stamppot istraditionally served during the winter and enjoyed best with rookworst (smoked sausage).
Broodje kroket: The‘kroket’ is a deep-fried roll with meat ragout inside, covered in breadcrumbs.The original Dutch ‘kroket’ is made from beef or veal, but there are manydifferent flavors like chicken satay, shrimps, goulash or even a vegetarian‘kroket’. You can eat a ‘kroket’ as a snack, but most of the time they areserved on sliced white bread or hamburger buns with mustard on the side—evenfancy restaurants serve them. Caution: the ‘kroket’ can beextremely hot inside.
Bitterballen: Translatedas bitter balls When you go for drinks or visit a birthday party it is mostlikely that these little, round, often dangerously hot snacks are served. They are battered in a crunchy breadcrumb coating and filled with a gooeymixture of chopped beef, beef broth, flour, butter, herbs and spices. They aretypically served with mustard for dipping. The red-white-and-blue flag is alsonearly mandatory while serving them!
Stroopwafel: This deliciouschewy cookie the stroopwafel—translated as a syrup waffle—was first made in thetown of Gouda in the Netherlands during the 18th century. In fact, until 1870stroopwafels were made only in Gouda and there were about 100 bakeries sellingthese treats in that city alone. This sweet waffle made from two thin layers ofbatter with a sticky syrup filling in the middle. They can be purchased inpackages at nearly every grocery store and bakery in the Netherlands, as wellas freshly made at street stands at markets and festivals.Andthis food choice somehow made me cringe…
Fries (Patatje Oorlog): Whilefries are popular in nearly every corner of the world, in the Netherlands theyeat them with everything onit. And with everything they mean Patatje Oorlog (Frieslike War). Fries with peanut butter, sauce, ketchup, mayo, onions and if youwish, you can put curry on it too! Um…I think I’ll stick to gravy or ketchup.Thesetreats are just a sampling of what the Dutch have to offer. So why not trysomething a little different and go Dutch for the upcoming holiday season? Doany of these foods whet your appetite? If so, which ones? What other ethnicfoods do you savor for the holidays? I would love to know, so please share inthe comments below! Cheers and happy holidays!
Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls Teen Psychic Mysteries…
Imagine a teenagerpossessing a psychic ability and struggling to cope with its freakish power.There’s no hope for a normal life, and no one who understands. Now, imaginebeing uprooted and forced to live in a small tourist town where nothing muchever happens. It’s bores-ville from the get-go…until mysterious things start tohappen.
Welcome to Fairy Falls.Expect the unexpected.
The LastTimekeepers Time Travel Adventure Series:
The LastTimekeepers and the Noble Slave, Book #3
MIRROR WORLDPUBLISHING׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE ׀
The LastTimekeepers and the Dark Secret, Book #2 BuyLinks:
MIRROR WORLDPUBLISHING׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE ׀
The LastTimekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, Book #1 Buy Links:
MIRROR WORLDPUBLISHING׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE ׀
Legend ofthe Timekeepers, prequel BuyLinks:
MIRRORWORLD PUBLISHING ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES& NOBLE׀
Sharon Ledwith is the author of themiddle-grade/young adult time travel adventure series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS,and the award-winning teen psychic mystery series, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM FAIRYFALLS. When not writing, reading, researching, or revising, she enjoys anythingarcane, ancient mysteries, and single malt scotch. Sharon lives a serene, yetbusy life in a southern tourist region of Ontario, Canada, with her spoiledhubby, and two shiny red e-bikes.
Learn more about Sharon Ledwith onher WEBSITE and BLOG. Look up her AMAZONAUTHORpage for a list of current books. Stay connected on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, PINTEREST, LINKEDIN, INSTAGRAM, and GOODREADS.
BONUS: Downloadthe free PDF short story The Terrible, Mighty Crystal HERE
November 5, 2023
PERFECT YOUR ART
from Anne Montgomery
Writers Need toPerfect the Art in their posts if they want to sell books. Authors tend to think inblack and white. We are words-on-paper people who weave our worlds for readersin print. However, when sharing book posts on the Internet, we need to dobetter in regard to the art we use, me included.
Think of how much timeand effort you spend choosing cover art for your books, an often-laborious taskthat has us second-guessing our choices, even the moment after we hit the sendbutton giving the final go ahead.
In the Huffington Poststory, “Yes, We Really Do Judge Books by Their Cover,” Smashwords founder MarkCoker said, “A book’s cover is the first thing a potential reader sees, and itcan make a lasting impression. Our brains are wired to process images fasterthan words. When we see an image, it makes us feel something. A great cover(can) helps the reader instantly recognize that this book is for them.”
The same idea holds truefor blog posts. The picture you share is what catches the reader’s eye, notyour clever verbiage. So, if you post a fuzzy photo or one that looksamateurish, the chances of readers getting to the meat of your post lessendramatically.
Authors should want to beperceived as professionals, even if they’re writing that novel in the wee hoursafter the kids are put to bed and before that ear-splitting alarm signals it’stime to head off to their day job. Shoddy artwork instantly symbolizes theblogger is an amateur.
“But I’m not aphotographer,” I can hear you mumble.
No worries, because welive in the world of Google images. However, it’s extremely important that whenyou scan those images, looking for just the right fit for your post, you do asafe search. It’s simple. Just enter in the type of picture you’re looking for,then click on images. On the tool bar, you’ll see Settings. Click and scrolldown to Advanced Search. At the bottom of the page you’ll see Usage Rights.Because you’re an author selling books, you’ll need to choose Free to Use orShare, Even Commercially. Then go back to your images. While the choices aresignificantly pared down, the images remaining are free to use, without therisk of running afoul of the art’s owner, an adventure that might includelawyers and lawsuits and a big hit to your wallet.
Whensearching for images online, it’s imperative that you only use pictures thatare marked Free to Use or Share.
You must then size yourart. Often, authors post art that’s too small, leading to those blurredpictures. And remember, different social media platforms require differentsizes of art. What looks great on Twitter might be blurred Facebook. For anin-depth look at sizing for various social media platforms, check out https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/social-media-image-sizes/.
Before taking your ownpictures to post, locate images you’d like to emulate online. Then read DavidPeterson’s “ Six Classic Design Elements for Outstanding Photographs”: http://www.digital-photo-secrets.com/tip/2679/six-classic-design-elements-for-outstanding-photographs/.
Note that it’s the littlethings that can ruin a picture. Take food photos, which are notoriously toughto shoot. Is the tablecloth the food rests on wrinkled? Is there an errant dabof catsup on the plate? Are there shadows covering those scrumptious cookies?“The Serious Eats Guide to Food Photography” might help: http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/03/beginners-guide-to-food-photography.html.
For those of you who are,like me, a bit older, try not to be scared off by the technology. Over the course ofyour lives, you learned new things. You got better at them with practice. Thesame applies here.
If you peruse thewebsites of well-known, successful authors, you’ll see the art is first rate.You’ve labored vigorously to perfect your writing. It makes sense than, if youwant people to find your books, you’ll do the same with those images you’reusing to market your work.
Please allow me to give you a brief intro to my latest women's fiction novel for your reading pleasure.
The past and present collide when a tenacious reporter seeks information on an eleventh century magician…and uncovers more than she bargained for.
In 1939, archeologists uncovered a tomb at the Northern Arizona site called Ridge Ruin. The man, bedecked in fine turquoise jewelry and intricate bead work, was surrounded by wooden swords with handles carved into animal hooves and human hands. The Hopi workers stepped back from the grave, knowing what the Moochiwimi sticks meant. This man, buried nine hundred years earlier, was a magician.
Former television journalist Kate Butler hangs on to her investigative reporting career by writing freelance magazine articles. Her research on The Magician shows he bore some European facial characteristics and physical qualities that made him different from the people who buried him. Her quest to discover The Magician’s origin carries her back to a time when the high desert world was shattered by the birth of a volcano and into the present-day dangers of archeological looting where black market sales of antiquities can lead to murder.
Former television journalist Kate Butler hangs on to her investigative reporting career by writing freelance magazine articles. Her research on The Magician shows he bore some European facial characteristics and physical qualities that made him different from the people who buried him. Her quest to discover The Magician’s origin carries her back to a time when the high desert world was shattered by the birth of a volcano and into the present-day dangers of archaeological looting where black market sales of antiquities can lead to murder.
Amazon Buy Link
Anne Montgomery has worked as a television sportscaster, newspaper and magazine writer, teacher, amateur baseball umpire, and high school football referee. She worked at WRBL‐TV in Columbus, Georgia, WROC‐TV in Rochester, New York, KTSP‐TV in Phoenix, Arizona, ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut, where she anchored the Emmy and ACE award‐winning SportsCenter, and ASPN-TV as the studio host for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. Montgomery has been a freelance and staff writer for six publications, writing sports, features, movie reviews, and archeological pieces. When she can, Anne indulges in her passions: rock collecting, scuba diving, football refereeing, and playing her guitar.
Learn more about Anne Montgomery on her website and Wikipedia . Stay connected on Facebook , Linkedin , and Twitter .
October 31, 2023
Let the Holidays Begin!
Roasted Turkey Turkey 8 tbsp. (114g) butter2 leeks including some green, chopped 2 large onion, chopped 15 baby carrots, chopped 4 tomatoes, chopped 1 tbsp. (15ml) dried thyme 1 tbsp. (15ml) dried marjoram 1 large bay leaf Bacon strips to cover breast Chicken stock Disposable pan Cooking rack Cookie sheet – for stability Place unopened turkey on a cloth lined cookie sheet and thaw in refrigerator 7 hours per pound or one day for every four pounds of frozen turkey. So, if you have a 20-pound (9K) turkey it will take 140 hours or a least 5 days to thaw in the fridge.
Thanksgiving MorningIf the turkey isn’t completely thawed, set in a large pot of cold water to complete. Dispose of packet inserted in cavity. Rinse well, then pat dry with paper towels.
Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
Cooking Times10 – 18 lbs. (4.5 – 8kg) 2 - 2½ hrs. 18 – 22 lbs. (8 – 10kg ) 2½ - 3 hrs. 22 – 24 lbs. (10 – 11kg) 3 - 3½ hrs.
Melt butter in a large frying pan. When the foam subsides, lay turkey, breast down, and brown first one side then the other until skin is golden. Be careful moving the turkey around, it’s heavy and awkward.
Set disposable pan on cookie sheet. Scatter chopped vegetables onto pan bottom. Insert cooking rack. Place turkey on rack breast up. Lay bacon slices over breast to cover well. Pour in enough chicken broth to cover the pan bottom by 1 inch (2.54cm). Cover turkey and pan edges with aluminum foil, crimping sides well.
Remove from oven at the predetermined time. To test if the bird is done, use a paper towel or pot holder and shake hands with its leg. The leg should move freely. Tent with foil and allow to rest 30 - 45 minutes before carving.
Remember – turkey, like all other meat, continues to cook long after it is removed from the oven.
Stuffing Stuffing is a winter food for us. I make a huge batch and freeze the unbaked extra in serving-size containers. Throughout the winter I’ll serve it with pork or chicken.
1 package bread stuffing cubes, plain or seasoned ½ lb. (250g) breakfast sausage in a tube or bulk 8 tbsp. (1 stick) (114g) butter, melted 1 rib celery, chopped ½ medium onion, chopped 1 egg, lightly beaten 1½ tsp. (7.5ml) dried sage 1½ tsp. (7.5ml) dried thyme 2 cups (450ml) chicken stock, maybe a little more
Empty bread cubes into a large bowl.
Fry sausage in a medium-sized skillet, breaking meat into small chunks, until no longer pink. Add sausage and its juice to bread cubes.
Melt butter in same skillet. Add celery and onion when the foam subsides. Sauté 3 – 4 minutes until translucent, be careful not to let it brown. Add vegetables with all their juices to bread cubes. Mix well.Pour egg onto stuffing. Sprinkle sage and thyme across the top. Mix well.
Stir in chicken stock until mixture is very moist, but not soupy.
To Bake as a Side Dish Spoon mixture into an ungreased baking dish. Do not pack it in. Cover tightly with foil. Refrigerate stuffing until you are ready to bake it, but no longer than two days.
To Freeze Spoon mixture into freezer bags, label, and pop in freezer no longer than 3 months. I use several small bags that serve 2 at a single setting.No matter which route you take, remove stuffing from the refrigerator/freezer early in the day to allow it to come to room temperature.
Preheat oven to 350° F (180°C). Bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake until the top is brown.
Mashed Potatoes 1 small russet potato per person Chicken stock Butter Sour cream Milk Pepper
The Day Before Pour 1-inch (2.54cm) chicken stock into saucepan. Peel and quarter the potatoes, then place in saucepan. Add tap water to cover by 1-inch (2.54cm). Put a lid on pan and bring to a boil over medium heat, then lower temperature to a strong simmer. Cook approximately 25 minutes. Test for doneness by poking a fork into a potato. It should insert easily.
Drain potatoes. Mash well without adding other ingredients. Cool completely in a glass or ceramic bowl. Cover and refrigerate.
Thanksgiving Day Remove potatoes from the refrigerator early in the day to allow them to come to room temperature. When you are ready to serve, microwave potatoes until hot. Stir in butter, sour cream, milk, and pepper to the consistency you prefer.
Candied Sweet Potatoes 32 oz. (1kg) can of sweet potatoes½ cup (50g) brown sugar firmly packed 8 tbsp. (114g) butter 2 handfuls mini marshmallows
Preheat oven to 375° F (190°C).
Drain potatoes in a colander. Cut large pieces in half. Lay potatoes into a 13 x 9-inch (33 x 22cm) glass baking dish.
Sprinkle brown sugar across the top, then dot with butter.
Bake 20 minutes.
Scatter marshmallows over the yams and bake for 15 minutes or until marshmallows are brown.
Broccoli Stir-fry 4 mini carrots sliced on an angle ½ cup (50g) olive oil – possibly more ½ medium onion, sliced 1 in. (2.54) piece gingerroot peeled and cut into strips 1 head broccoli trimmed and cut into florets ½ small sweet red pepper cored, seeded and cut into strips ½ small yellow pepper cored, seeded and cut into strips 2 large garlic cloves pressed ½ tsp. (2.5ml) red pepper flakes 2 green onions sliced on an angle, include green 5 mini Bello mushrooms, cleaned and sliced into thirds 1 tbsp. (15ml) lime or lemon juice
Have all ingredients prepped and, on the counter, before you begin cooking.
In a medium skillet, heat oil over medium high heat until it begins to shimmer. Add onion, carrot and gingerroot. Sauté until carrot is almost soft. Test by inserting a toothpick into the carrot. Remove as many gingerroot pieces as you can find. Don’t worry if some are left in the pan.
Add broccoli, red and yellow peppers, and garlic. Sprinkle on red pepper flakes. Stir constantly to ensure broccoli is well coated with oil. Add more oil if necessary. Squeeze on lime or lemon juice. Sauté 2 - 4 minutes, but be sure broccoli and peppers still have crunch to them.
Blend in green onions and mushrooms. Sauté until mushrooms are heated through. Serve quickly.
Serves 4 – 6 so adjust accordingly.
From the corn through the gravy you’ll see just how lazy I was on holidays. And I’m not ashamed.
Canned Corn 1 can of corn per 4 people butter
Drain corn, then pour into microwave safe bowl. Lay 2 or 3 pats of butter across the top. Microwave for 3 minutes, stir and serve.
Cranberry Sauce 1 can of sauce per 6 people
Lay sauce into a serving bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerator until ready to serve.
Gravy 1 jar of gravy for 4 people Juices from the turkey pan
Pour the gravy into a saucepan. Stir in ¼ - ½ cup (58 – 57g) of juice from the roasted turkey pan. Go easy so you don’t thin the gravy too much. Heat through and serve.
Have a happy and safe holiday!Sloane
October 29, 2023
BOO!
May your tricks be creative, and your treats plentiful.
Wishing you all a safe and fun Halloween!
October 24, 2023
PRETZEL BLISS
Looking for a great family snack that’s easy to make and soooo addictively wicked, you’ll need to lock those ranch-dressed, salty bites under lock and key if you want to make them last until your next movie night? Then look no more. Seriously. You’ll be hooked with your first nibble.
And guess what? No baking is required. Even your kids can help with this recipe.
PRETZEL CRACK
32 ounce bag of pretzels
16 ounce bottle of Orville Redenbacher’s Buttery Flavor popcorn oil
1 package of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix (dry)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
2 tablespoon dill weed
1 deep foil tray (from dollar store)
Mix all dry ingredients in a medium size bowl.
Stir in popcorn oil.
Add pretzels and coat evenly, then spoon into a deep foil pan.
Air dry pretzels in foil tray, stirring every 15 minutes or so until dry. This can take anywhere from 2 - 24 hours.
Store your freshly made pretzel crack in freezer bags. Voila. Done. Ready for consumption.
Warning: If you find that you or a family member eats a whole bag in one sitting, it’s time for an intervention. Do what you must. Be firm. Then, since the bag is empty, go ahead and make some more. You know you want it.
While waiting for the pretzel crack to dry, might I suggest you enjoy a trip into the past with The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis ?
Children are the keys to our future. And now, children are the only hope for our past.When 13-year-old Amanda Sault and her annoying classmates are caught in a food fight at school, they're given a choice: suspension or yard duty. The decision is a no-brainer. Their two-week crash course in landscaping leads to the discovery of a weathered stone arch in the overgrown back yard. The arch isn't a forgotten lawn ornament but an ancient time portal from the lost continent of Atlantis.
Chosen by an Atlantean Magus to be Timekeepers--legendary time travelers sworn to keep history safe from the evil Belial--Amanda and her classmates are sent on an adventure of a lifetime. Can they find the young Robin Hood and his merry band of teens? If they don't, then history itself may be turned upside down.
BUY LINKS
Amazon - Kobo
SharonLedwith is the author of the middle-grade/young adult time travel adventureseries, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, and the award-winning teen psychic mysteryseries, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM FAIRY FALLS. When not writing, reading,researching, or revising, she enjoys anything arcane, ancient mysteries, andsingle malt scotch. Sharon lives a serene, yet busy life in a southern touristregion of Ontario, Canada, with her spoiled hubby.
Learn moreabout Sharon Ledwith on her WEBSITE and BLOG. Look up her AMAZONAUTHORpage for a list of current books. Stay connected on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, PINTEREST, LINKEDIN, INSTAGRAM, and GOODREADS.
BONUS: Download the free PDF short story TheTerrible, Mighty Crystal HERE
October 22, 2023
DEPRESSION & ANXIETY VS CREATIVITY
from Linda Lee Greene Author/Artist
“Thepoet Rilke was afraid that if he got rid of his demons, he would lose hisangels as well. Of course the danger of clinging to our demons to save ourangels is that our demons may well take over.”[1]
Boy,do I relate to that statement. I bet a gang of you do, too. My demons began totake over when I was the tender age of sixteen and developed a hyperactivethyroid, wrongly diagnosed at the time, and under-treated for many yearsthereafter. During those most important years of marriage and childbearing,when, if one can possibly arrange it, it’s a good idea to be at ones best andon top of ones game, too much of the time, I seesawed between depression andanxiety, in my case, depression manifesting as feelings of dissatisfaction, andanxiety as restlessness and a sense of uninterrupted urgency. Believe me, I getthe angst of victims of mental disorders.Mychildren grown and on their own, I ventured into New Age Practices, gaveBuddhism a look, tried Yoga, joined a church, read enough spiritual tomes tofill the library of Congress, hunted for a better me in the eyes of lovers whohadn’t a clue (I was divorced by then), all in an effort to just feel better. Ifinally got diagnosed, the lights came on in my brain, and the mood swingsbegan to level out (but not completely). As a result, I have a life-longdependency on Synthroid, a thyroid replacement hormone, which, most of thetime, keeps me just level enough that I don’t tip over into insanity. Now andthen, though, the mood swings get out of control, which requires an adjustmentin the dosage of the Synthroid.
Duringmy famine years, and before I knew there was a bona fide thyroid disorderresponsible for my troubles, I gave various antidepressants a whirl—or moreprecisely, I contemplated giving them a whirl. The truth is, I gotprescriptions for them filled, took them for a few days, and then never touchedthem again. I was afraid of them! Like Rilke, I was afraid they would kill mycreativity, my spark. I was afraid I’d descend, if not into the blackness of full-blowndepression/anxiety, but into the gray gloom of a medicated zombie state. I beta slew of you have also experienced that same fear.
“Blake,Byron, Tennyson, Woolf, Poe, Plath, Kierkegaard, Pound, Hemingway, Van Gogh,Tennessee Williams[2],Stephen King, Robin Williams, to name a few in an endless accounting ofartist-sufferers of depression/anxiety, some of whom are among the eighteenpercent of creative people who have committed, or are more prone to commit,suicide than depressed people in the general population. Other mental disordersamong artistic people present similar terrifying statistics.
Intandem with my faulty thyroid messing with my moods, the fact that I’mprimarily a right-brained individual—an author of fiction, an artist, and aninterior designer, also presents tremendous “real-world” challenges for me.When a fire is burning in my right brain, and its light-filled, stress-free,happy, and packed with understanding people hovering steadfastly in theperiphery of my existence, encouraging me, supporting my efforts, giving mespace and time and freedom to do my thing, life is good for me. But once the projectis finished—the book is published, the artwork is hanging on the gallery walls,the rooms are arranged and decorated down to the last knickknack, my Museretires to her cave. She then pulls its blackout curtain across its door, andwants only solitude and nothing to do with the other side of all her efforts,namely the business associated with them.
Howabout you? Where do you stand on this subject of depression and/or anxiety vscreativity? If you are a seamstress, scrapbooker, photographer, furniturerefinisher, cook, gardener, artist, musician, writer, composer,singer...whatever your creative outlet, do your creative efforts get waylaid bydepression or anxiety? This is your forum to talk about it. Talking helps!
The following is an excerpt of GUARDIANS AND OTHER ANGELS, my book ofhistorical fiction blended with my family’s actual story. The selection depictsan amusing, true incident involving apples and my mother Roma before she was mymother. A delicious recipe for fried apples and peaches rounds out this posting.Enjoy!
One of the most enchantingfeatures of the farm was its peach and apple orchard. Disregarding the fact thatgreen apples gave Roma the “runs,” and convincing herself that she would getaway with it that time, in a fit of gluttony, she set about one hot summermorning to stuff her belly full of the sweet green teasers. Predictably, laterin the day, she found herself in dire need of visiting the “path” as thisfamily called their outhouse, whereupon she sat, for long intervals of time,for several visits in a row. This was back in the day beforefluffy white “Charmin” or any other machine-perforated-roll-perfectly-into-your-handtoilet paper came on the scene; these were the days when pages from magazines,newspapers, and the Sears & Roebuck catalog were special favorites forcleaning the backside. And when paper products ran out, corncobs would do.
This day, Sears & Roebuckwere on duty, and Roma, having gone through a good portion of the catalog,pulled up her underpants, and confident her ordeal was finally behind her, punintended, proceeded to walk to the back door of the house, the door openingonto the kitchen. She lighted into her piled-up kitchen chores, working awayuninterrupted for an hour or more, enjoying that peculiar euphoria that comesto one with the release of all the toxins in one’s body, when she realized thatthe house was unusually quiet, a phenomenon never occurring in thatfilled-to-human-capacity household. Taking a mere glancing note of it, shecontinued to sweep away, when out of the distance she thought she heard whatsounded like a snicker. She hesitated for a moment, listened, but when all wasquiet again, she fell back into the rhythm of her swishing broom. But suddenly,there it was again – a snicker, then two, then three. She realized she hadcompany in the room. She turned to look, and there they all were, all ninemembers of her family, snickering and pointing at her backside. Horrified, sherealized what was the matter, and twisting her head to get a gander at herbackside.
Like a dog chasing its owntail, Roma took off spinning around and around in the middle of the kitchen,howling like a dog, and flapping her hand at the offending article protrudingfrom her underpants. In her haste to vacate the outhouse, the tail of her dresshad caught in the waistband of her bloomers, and with it, a page from the Sears& Roebuck catalog also had fastened itself there, the page waving like aflag flapping in the breeze and ironically hailing its vivid advertisement of womenunderpanties.
Available in paperback and in eBook onAmazon
She found her way toher lonely easel soon thereafter. Since then Greene has accepted commissionsand displayed her artwork in shows and galleries in and around the USA. She isalso a member of artist and writer associations.
Visit Linda on her blog and join her on Facebook. Linda loves to hear from readers so feel free to email her.
[1] TheSun, March 2010, “Tim Farrington On Creativity, Depression, And The Dark NightOf The Soul,” by D. Patrick Miller, p 8
[2] Ibid,p 5
October 17, 2023
SWEET TREAT from the DEEP SOUTH
Here is a dessert I confiscated and made my own. This New Orleans treat is perfect on a special night for two as well as holiday gatherings and everything in between.
Here are a few tips to make preparing this dessert easier:
Soak the raisins in bourbon before you start this recipe. You can even soak them a day or two ahead.
The bread you use should be a little dry. If the bread you are using is fresh, after you cube it, spread it out on a sheet pan and put it in a 200° F oven for 10 minutes.
Go easy on the bourbon sauce. It is strong! But so delicious.
Bread Pudding1 cup raisins
¼ cup bourbon whiskey
1 loaf French bread, at least a day old, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 qt. milk
3 large eggs
2 cups sugar
2 tbsp. vanilla extract
¼ tsp. allspice
¼ – ½ tsp. cinnamon
3 tbsp. butter, melted
Combine raisins and bourbon in a small bowl. Cover and soak for 1 to 2 hours or until the raisins have absorbed most of the bourbon.
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Pour milk into a large bowl. Add bread and press into milk with your hands or a large spoon until all the milk is absorbed.
In a separate bowl, whisk eggs until frothy. Whisk in sugar, vanilla, allspice, and cinnamon. Pour over bread mixture. Add bourbon-soaked raisins, with or without the remaining soaking liquid. Stir gently to combine.
Pour melted butter onto bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Coat the bottom and the sides of the pan well with the butter. Pour in bread mixture then egg mixture.
Bake 35 – 45 minutes, until liquid has set. The pudding is done when the edges are just brown and pulling away from the pan edge.
Bourbon Sauce
½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
½ cup Kentucky bourbon whiskey, amount according to taste
Make the bourbon sauce while the bread pudding is cooking.
Melt butter in a saucepan on low heat. Whisk in sugar and egg. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove pan from heat.
Do not allow mixture to simmer! Or the sauce will curdle. By the way, if your sauce curdles, just take it off the heat and blend it smooth in a blender.
Whisk in bourbon. Whisk again before serving. The sauce should be soft, creamy, and smooth.
Serve with whiskey sauce on the side. This dessert is best eaten the day it is made.
Please allow me to share a sneak peek of my Coming Soon Southern Gothic book while you enjoy your pudding.
Koush Hollow:
Where bayou magic abounds and all that glitters…is deadly.
After her father’s untimely death, Jenna Ashby moves to Koush Hollow, a bayou town outside of New Orleans, dreading life with her wealthy mother.
As the sixteen-year-old eco-warrior is introduced to the Diamonds & Pearls, her mother’s exclusive social club, she comes to the troubling realization that secrets are a way of life in Koush Hollow.
How do the Diamonds & Pearls look so young, where does their money come from, and why is life along the bayou disappearing?
As Jenna is drawn into their seductive world, her curiosity and concerns beg her to uncover the truth. However, in this town where mysticism abounds and secrets are deadly, the truth is not what Jenna could have ever imagined.
Available in Audiobook, E-book, and Paperback
Leigh Goff writes young adult fiction. She is a graduate from the University of Maryland and a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI). Born and raised on the East Coast, she now lives in Maryland where she enjoys the area's great history and culture.
Her third young adult novel, Koush Hollow, a Southern gothic set in New Orleans, will release on September 1, 2020 from The Parliament House.
Learn more about Leigh Goff on her website and blog . Stay connected on Facebook , Instagram , Pinterest , and Goodreads .
October 15, 2023
SHARING EXCERPTS
By C.D. Hersh
Often, we are asked what is our favorite book or author. As writers there is another favorite that we have and that is certain sections of the books we have written. These favorite sections or excerpts become the lines shared to promote interest in the book. Today we thought we’d share some of our favorite lines from our paranormal romance series, The Turning Stone Chronicles Series .Each of these books is a standalone in that there is a HEA in each. However, you will understand the continuing characters and their relationships if you start with the first book in the series.With that said we will start our excerpts with the first book, The Promised One.
Tucking his gift under her arm, she started to leave.“Hey.” He pointed at the other gifts. “Aren’t you going to add yours?”
“Nope. I’ll give it to you later, when we’re alone.”
“Ooh. Something special. Mineral or animal?” His right eyebrow raised, his smile growing.
Alexi laughed. “Just embarrassing.”
“For you or for me?”
“I’m not telling.”
Sidling close to her, he backed her against the wall. “Come on. Just a hint,” he said, a purr in his tone as he placed his hand on the wall next to her shoulder and moved into her personal space with the ease of a lover. One of his famous melt-the-girl looks smoldered in his gaze. The golden flecks in his green eyes lit up like fireworks. Hot fireworks.
Enjoying his closeness and the raw sensuality emanating from him, she lingered for a minute, then slowly moved away. Standing this close she could get burned, and she wasn’t ready to play with fire . . . not yet. She shook her head. “Not a chance.”
He crossed his arms, obviously irked that she hadn’t succumbed.
“My irresistible charms work on everyone else. Why not you?”
Oh, if you only knew. She had to fight to resist him. She flashed him a smile. “Because I’m special. And I’m your partner. Keeping your back safe is more important than getting you on your back.”
He laughed, a deep, throaty, and utterly sexy sound.
She locked her knees to keep from melting into a puddle.
“I like the sound of that.”
Of course you would. She felt her face flame.
Now for the second book, Blood Brothers, excerpt.
Sylvia Jordan Riley winced as Falhman dug into her shoulder and extracted a bullet. He dropped the bullet into the trash and swabbed the wound. “You want to tell me how you got injured?” he asked as he reached for the needle to stitch the gaping hole.“Chasing Promised Ones.” And the man who murdered my ex-husband.
“I hope it was worth this.”
“It was.” She’d torn Baron's killer to shreds, but that wasn’t the best part of her news. “I’ve found someone who shifted with me by using the power from my ring.”
Falhman stopped stitching and stared intently at Sylvia, his eyes glittering with undisguised interest. “Is he a rogue shifter?”
“I don’t think he’s any kind of shifter. He seemed startled when the shift occurred.”
“A non-shifter who can use the ring without the incantation? What’s his name?”
“Temple. Rhys Temple. There’s only one problem.” Sylvia paused then continued, “He’s in love with Baron Jordan’s niece, Alexi.”
“I thought that whole family was dead.”
“She’s the last one left, and I think she's on track as a Promised One.”
Falhman went back to stitching Sylvia’s skin with practiced ease. “Get rid of her and get him. If we can control someone with that kind of power, we can control the world.”
Sylvia looked at her superior. He made it sound simple. Kill Alexi Jordan and lure Rhys to the dark side. Piece of cake? Not if a Jordan was involved. From her recent dealings with Alexi, she knew there would be one heck of a fight if she tried to take her man.
The third book in the series, Son of the Moonless Night, has some new characters but continues the underlying story. Here’s the excerpt:
A head of lettuce and a grapefruit escaped from the paper grocery sack as Katrina leaned sideways on tippy toes to get the topmost lock. The vegetables rolled across the small concrete patio at the bottom of the stairway well and stopped against a leg of the wrought iron café table. Whispering an expletive, she pushed the door open and placed her purse and grocery sack on the entryway table just inside the door. Then she swiveled to get the runaway vegetables.A very pleasant and interesting sight greeted her. A pair of dark trousers caressed a toned posterior of the man bending over to retrieve her vegetables. She fought to rein in the path her mind started down. Been too long, Katrina, she said to herself as the vision straightened and turned around.
“Oh!” he exclaimed. “I thought you had gone inside.”
The way he held the vegetables out in front of him made her wonder what his hands would feel like if he held her breasts in that manner.
“Hello? Are you awake?”
“Ah, ah,” Katrina sputtered as she focused on his face to get her mind out of the gutter.
“Okay. Awake, but not here yet.” The corner of his lips started to rise.
“You,” she breathed when she recognized him. “Where’s my grandmother’s afghan and my Cleveland Brown’s hoodie?”
“Nice to see you, too, and thank you, I’m feeling fine.”
She crossed her arms tightly over her chest. “If you hadn’t run off I’d have known you were okay.”
The smile inched up the side of his cheek, lighting his electric blue eyes. “You worried about me. How sweet.”
“Sweet, my patootie. I just . . . You could have bled . . . Oh, crap. Where’s my stuff?”
He took another step closer to her. The deep blue ring around his amazing eyes seemed to darken.
She leaned back from him.
Without taking his eyes off her, he nodded to a brightly colored gift bag on the ground beside the door. “I got blood on the afghan so I had it cleaned. It wasn’t badly stained. The blood came out. The hoodie’s a different story. I couldn’t salvage it, so I bought a replacement.” Balancing the vegetables in one hand he lifted the gift bag to her. “Forgiven? Please?”
Book four, The Mercenary and the Shifters, gets more characters involved in the struggle. Here’s the excerpt:
Mike Corritore wheeled up the circular drive of the impressive house on Lakeshore Road and cut the engine on his motorcycle. After a quick glance around, he shouldered the bags containing his clothes, ammo, pump shotgun, and talwar sword. Then he headed for the carved front door. The doorbell echoed inside indicating the mansion had a cavernous entry hall. He searched the entrance stoop for security cameras and found none.What the heck had he gotten himself into? A rich bitch, with no security on her home, mixed up with a bad syndicate spelled major trouble. With this chintzy level of security, it would take more time than he originally anticipated to make her house and business secure.
After a couple of minutes, the door opened.
“Can I help you?” asked an attractive redhead.
“I’m Mike Corritore. Here to see Fiona Kayler. Will you tell her I’ve arrived?”
The redhead looked him over, then braced her legs shoulder width apart and crossed her arms over her curvy bust. “Do you have identification, Mr. Corritore?”
Mike returned her once-over. Her porcelain complexion blushed pink at his bold examination, and she tossed her mane of wavy, mahogany hair defiantly.Damn, she was gorgeous.
If she thought her insolent pose enough to keep him, or intruders out, she’d better reconsider.
“Hugh sent me.” He stepped forward but she blocked him.
“A driver’s license for your very expensive motorcycle will suffice,” she said, wiggling her fingers at him. When he didn’t comply, she stepped back and reached to the side of the door.
The distinct cachung of a gun cocking sent him flying to the right of the doorway.
“Identification, Mr. Corritore. Please,” she said as she leveled a pistol at him.
Mike dug in his rear pants’ pocket. “Hugh lied,” he said as he held out his driver’s license. “You don’t need protection.”
After inspecting his identification, she lowered her weapon and waved him inside. “For my business, Mr. Corritore. I’m capable of protecting my home, but I can’t draw my gun just anywhere.”
“You should get a conceal and carry license,” Mike said as he entered.
She put the safety on the gun and stashed the weapon in the table beside the front door.
“I take it you’re not the help,” he said, glancing around the entry hall.
She held out her hand. “Fiona Kayler. Nice to meet you, Mr. Corritore.”
“Mike,” he said, taking her hand. Her palm, warm and soft, told him she lived a life of leisure. But her strong grip screamed, No patsy. He held her hand a bit longer than he should have. She wriggled free and waved him to the left.
“Ladies first.”
With a nod, she led him toward a sumptuously decorated room. He followed, his eyes taking in the soft curves of her rear as she sashayed across the marble-tiled floor. Mike’s body reacted to the seductive wiggle of her bottom. She walked as sexy as she looked.
Keep your mind on the job, Corritore. He shifted his gaze away from temptation, searching the ceiling and corners of the entry for security cameras. If she had them, they were well hidden.
The measured click of her high heels on the hard marble tile floor disappeared as they stepped on the thick, white carpet of the living room. This room appeared cozier than the entry. A huge gold, gilt-edged mirror hung over the fireplace reflecting the scene outside the oversized plate-glass window.
She motioned to a seat beside the fireplace. Mike chose a location less exposed to the exterior, where he could watch the entrance to the room. Fiona dragged a side chair across the room to where he sat, positioning it at a right angle to his seat. Two vertical furrows appeared in the carpeting, bisecting their shoe impressions and the vacuumed paths in the thick fibers. Apparently, she didn’t use this room much.
“So, Ms. Kayler—”
“Fiona,” she corrected.
“Fiona, exactly what do you need me to do?” As he said the words, he had a lurid vision of what he’d like to do to this lovely woman. He shook it off. She was Hugh’s friend and in trouble. He had no business screwing around with damsels in distress. They were needy. The last thing he wanted.
“A couple of years ago I had a problem with smugglers. They brought in some hazardous materials which got me in trouble with Homeland Security and the FBI. They cleared me, but my business took a pretty big hit. To keep things afloat, I’ve had to get in bed with some rough characters recently.”
At the phrase get in bed with Mike cocked his eyebrow at her.
“Not literally,” she amended quickly, as a dusky pink blush crept over her pale complexion. “I need my security beefed up, so I don’t have a replay of two years ago.”
“Any good security company could upgrade you.”
“I also need someone I can trust implicitly. Hugh vouched for you, and I trust Hugh.”
“We should start with your home security. I didn’t see surveillance cameras at the door.”
“My home is perfectly safe. It’s my business I’m concerned about.”
Fiona crossed her arms over her chest, her body language closing off to further suggestions. Mike followed her motions. As he did, he spotted a red dot on her chest. The dot wiggled.
“Get down!” Mike shouted as he dove for Fiona.
They hit the floor as the pottery on the raised fireplace hearth exploded, sending shards across the room. Mike shoved Fiona behind the nearest chair then scrambled across the rug to the blown-out window. Removing his gun from his back-of-the-waist holster, he peered over the windowsill. Seeing no one in the driveway, he swiveled around to check on Fiona. The red laser point danced around the room, searching for a target.
We hope you enjoyed this look into some of our favorite lines from our books and maybe got interested to follow along with the story.
Putting words and stories on paper is second nature to the husband and wife co-authors whose pen name is C.D. Hersh.They’ve written separately since they were teenagers and discovered their unique, collaborative abilities in the mid-90s while co-authoring a number of dramas, six which have been produced in Ohio, where they live. Their interactive Christmas production had five seasonal runs in their hometown and has been sold in Virginia, California, and Ohio.
As high school sweethearts, Catherine and Donald believe in true love and happily ever after. Which is why they write it!The first four books of their paranormal romance series entitled The Turning Stone Chronicles Series page are available on Amazon. Their standalone novella, Can’t Stop The Music , is in the Soul Mate Tree collection with twelve other authors from various genres.
When they aren’t collaborating on a book, they enjoy reading; singing; theatre and drama; traveling; remodeling houses (Donald has remodeled something in every home they’ve owned); and antiquing. Catherine, who loves gardening, has recently drawn Donald into her world as a day laborer. Catherine is an award-winning gardener — you can see some of her garden on their website.They are looking forward to many years of co-authoring and book sales, and a lifetime of happily-ever-after endings on the page and in real life.
You can see excerpts of their books, connect with, and follow C.D. Hersh at:
October 10, 2023
The Cassowary: Why We Should Care
From Anne Montgomery
It’s estimated that nearly 500 animal species have become extinct sincethe beginning of the 20th century. Among them the Passenger Pigeon,Japanese Sea Lion, Western Black Rhinoceros, Golden Toad, Caribbean Monk Seal,and Mexican Grizzly Bear, now gone forever.
And yet, for most of us, the absence of these creatures makes no differencein our daily lives. Perhaps that’s why some people roll theireyes when they hear about saving the tiny Snail Darter or thePolar Bear or the Gray Wolf.
But what if a creature existed that could change lives with itspassing? And I mean change in a big way.
Meet the cassowary.
I first became aware of the giant, Australian bird that vaguely resembles anostrich, but which sports a fabulously-colored keratin casque, whilewalking in the Daintree Rainforest – a UNESCO site like the GreatBarrier Reef over which it hovers – that has one of the most complex ecosystemson Earth, hosting species whose ancestors date back 110 million years.“The cassowary is extremely important,” our guide explained. “Withoutthe bird, the forest would not exist.”
Daintree is primordial. Giant strangler figs crawl across the forest floor.Dappled sunlight sneaks though a thick green canopy. Massive ferns sproutfrom leaf-littered soil. The outside world is muted, and the sight ofa dinosaur might not seem strange.
I learned the cassowary is a one-bird master gardener, a creaturethat combs the forest floor eating fallen fruits, even gobbling up plants thatare toxic to other creatures. The bird consumes up to 150 different types offruits. The existence of 70 to 100 plant species depends on thecassowary pooping out their seeds in a pile of protective,compost-like dung, the smell of which repels seed predators. The cassowary is a“keystone” species, which means a species on which others in an ecosystemlargely depend, one that, if removed, would cause the ecosystem to changedrastically.
So, no cassowary, no rainforest. But there’s more. Below Daintree aremangroves, a mucky area rich in bio-matter that filters down from the forest.All types of young creatures - crabs, jellyfish, snappers, jacks,red drums, sea trout, tarpon, sea bass, and even juvenile sharks - thrive inthe protection of the fertile water of the mangroves.
Offshore, the Great Barrier Reef follows Australia’s easterncoast. There, too, the nutrients from the forest help feed the tinycreatures that build the reefs. This fertilizer promotes the growth ofphytoplankton which nourishes the zooplankton on which the coralpolyps dine. Without this sustenance the coral dies, losing the ability toprotect the shoreline from waves, storms, and flooding, which leads to loss ofhuman life and property.
Also consider that roughly 25% of the world’s fish species spend part oftheir lives on the reefs. If the Great Barrier Reef dies – note that half ofthe more than 1,400-mile structure has already perished – vast fisheries couldcollapse leading to starvation that could ultimately affect billions of people.
Which brings me back to the cassowary. It’s estimated that only 12,000 to15,000 of the birds remain in the wild. Loss of habitat is decreasing theirnumbers, as are attacks by dogs. Another problem is humans driving toofast.
Why should we care?
I think the cassowary is but one example of the interconnectedness of life.Perhaps that's something we should think about.
Please allow me to give you a brief intro to my latest women's fiction novel for your reading pleasure.
The past and present collide when a tenacious reporter seeks information on an eleventh century magician…and uncovers more than she bargained for.
In 1939, archeologists uncovered a tomb at the Northern Arizona site called Ridge Ruin. The man, bedecked in fine turquoise jewelry and intricate bead work, was surrounded by wooden swords with handles carved into animal hooves and human hands. The Hopi workers stepped back from the grave, knowing what the Moochiwimi sticks meant. This man, buried nine hundred years earlier, was a magician.
Former television journalist Kate Butler hangs on to her investigative reporting career by writing freelance magazine articles. Her research on The Magician shows he bore some European facial characteristics and physical qualities that made him different from the people who buried him. Her quest to discover The Magician’s origin carries her back to a time when the high desert world was shattered by the birth of a volcano and into the present-day dangers of archeological looting where black market sales of antiquities can lead to murder.
Former television journalist Kate Butler hangs on to her investigative reporting career by writing freelance magazine articles. Her research on The Magician shows he bore some European facial characteristics and physical qualities that made him different from the people who buried him. Her quest to discover The Magician’s origin carries her back to a time when the high desert world was shattered by the birth of a volcano and into the present-day dangers of archaeological looting where black market sales of antiquities can lead to murder.
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Anne Montgomery has worked as a television sportscaster, newspaper and magazine writer, teacher, amateur baseball umpire, and high school football referee. She worked at WRBL‐TV in Columbus, Georgia, WROC‐TV in Rochester, New York, KTSP‐TV in Phoenix, Arizona, ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut, where she anchored the Emmy and ACE award‐winning SportsCenter, and ASPN-TV as the studio host for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. Montgomery has been a freelance and staff writer for six publications, writing sports, features, movie reviews, and archeological pieces. When she can, Anne indulges in her passions: rock collecting, scuba diving, football refereeing, and playing her guitar.
Learn more about Anne Montgomery on her website and Wikipedia . Stay connected on Facebook , Linkedin , and Twitter .
