Sloane Taylor's Blog, page 15

YOU SAY TOMATO, I SAY TOMAHTO

 from Linda Lee Greene,Author/Artist

 

Ididn’t plant tomatoes this season, but at summer’s end, little bundles of themin paper or plastic bags will show up at my back gate, the largesse of my sweetneighbors and friends. I am prepared for the bounty better than in previousyears, because I came across an intriguing and simple recipe to preserve themfound in the Spring/Summer 1995 issue of “The Cook’s Garden” catalog that hasbeen tucked away and forgotten among my cookbooks all this time. Sadly, atleast from my perspective, the “Cook’s Garden,” the mail-order and seed supplyhouse of Londonderry, Vermont has since been assimilated into the W. AtleeBurpee Company. I am therefore, so happy to still have in my possession thisedition of the catalog as a memento of the innovative and famous organic growers' enterprise.              

Founderof the “Cook’s Garden” and author of the catalog Shepherd Ogden writes thatthis recipe for oven-dried tomatoes promises to be as good as anything found ina store. A further benefit is that it is so easy to prepare. Once properlydried, the tomatoes will keep in the refrigerator for several months, to beused as the base for tomato sauce, tomato-based soups, topping on pizza, tomatopowder, tomato chips, and tomato pesto. Rehydrate the tomatoes by marinating in a bit of salad dressing andthen enjoy them in salads or on sandwiches. 

These dehydrated wonders are good to have on hand to perk upyour dishes throughout the year, even during winter. 

OVEN-DRIEDTOMATOES

4pints of Principe Borghese or San Marzano tomatoes or other Roma heirloomvarieties1tbsp. sea salt2cups fresh basil leaves1cup olive oil2sterilized jars (pint-sized canning jars with lids and seals, or canning jarswith self-sealing lids) 

Preheat oven to 150° F

Slicetomatoes in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds. Place on cookie sheets, flat sideup. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt. 

Set in a warm oven. When tomatoesare completely dry (12 to 24 hours), pack in pint jars, alternating with alayer of basil leaves. Continue to build layers of tomatoes and basil leaves,and at the top of the jars, drizzle in olive oil until all contents are coated.Place in the refrigerator where the tomatoes will stay fresh for severalmonths.    

Rich and spoiled-rotten Olivia Montoyo Simms wouldn't know how to cook up a meal even if she was so hungry that "her belly was gnawing at her backbone," to borrow an old-timey expression. But Olivia has no match in the ways of wooing a man to her risky schemes. A gorgeous stranger at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas has all the goods to satisfy and girl's appetite, but unknown to Olivia, he just might be the one guy who also has what it takes to wrangle her comeuppance. 

Was it chance or destiny’s hand behind the movie-star and gambler’s curious encounter at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas? The cards fold, their hearts open, and a match strikes, flames that sizzle their hearts and souls. Can they have the moon and the stars, too? Or is she too dangerous? Is he? Can their love withstand betrayal? Can it endure murder?

While the cards at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas fail to distract them from their troubled pasts, on the side, the actress and the gambler play a game of ‘will they won’t they’ romance. Meanwhile, an otherworldly hand also has a big stake in the game. Unexpected secrets unfold brimming with dangerous consequences, and finally, a strange brand of salvation.

Amazon Buy Links Paperback - Kindle

Multi-award-winning author and artist Linda Lee Greene describes her life as a telescope that when trained on her past reveals how each piece of it, whether good or bad or in-between, was necessary in the unfoldment of her fine art and literary paths.

Greene moved from farm-girl to city-girl; dance instructor to wife, mother, and homemaker; divorcee to single-working-mom and adult-college-student; and interior designer to multi-award-winning artist and author, essayist, and blogger. It was decades of challenging life experiences and debilitating, chronic illness that gave birth to her dormant flair for art and writing. Greene was three days shy of her fifty-seventh birthday when her creative spirit took a hold of her.

She found her way to her lonely easel soon thereafter. Since then Greene has accepted commissions and displayed her artwork in shows and galleries in and around the USA. She is also a member of artist and writer associations.

Visit Linda at her online art gallery and join her on Facebook . Linda loves to hear from readers so feel free to email her.

Weeping Mulberry

From Emma Janis Lane

When we moved a mile out of the village to enjoy a bit moreacreage, my thoughtful roommate (hubby) brought home a weeping mulberry tree.He didn’t want the children to miss the one next door where they had munched onthe berries from toddlerville time. The new one is planted right outside myoffice window where, long after the children have fledged, I enjoy therighteous festival of backyard birds. 

As July nears and the outside air takes on that hot,breathless quality of full summer, red berries appear on the long strands ofthe mulberry. Left alone the streamers (weepers) would eventually reach theground, but our resident and gracious deer families keep them neatly trimmed. 

The backyard feast begins each year when the red berriesappear. I wonder the secret of the amazing elixir Mother Nature offers up freefor the taking. My children found those low hanging treats when they werebarely out of diapers. Disappearing underneath and nearly giving me a heartattack, they would reappear unapologetically with stained fingers and smeared redlips with chubby cheeks and wide grins. 

Mulberries are tasty, no doubt about it. Right now, as Ipeek out the window, I see a gray squirrel, robin, catbird, cardinal, and aEuropean starling munching away contentedly and in complete harmony. They areeating the red berries not waiting for the dark black fruit with rich purplejuice of the ripe ones. There are no guarding thorns. The berries hangunderneath the foliage, hiding I presume. The taste is sweet and juicy,flavorful but mild compared to a blackberry for instance.  

Mention of mulberry trees appears in certain verses in theBible. China cultivated them as a favorite food for the silkworm’s business. UKimported them hoping to replicate the silk trade but choose the wrong type,black berries instead of the white ones beloved by the silk caterpillars.  Shakespeare mentions a lass falling asleepunderneath the tree. My weeper has been dwarfed, cultivated to stay small andcascade gracefully. 

The foliage is dense, and no doubt appreciated by all thesmall visitors. I once witnessed a Cooper’s hawk sit on an outside branch frustratedas it was too large to push through the tightly woven branches. Perhaps nothungry for berries, he flew away finally empty-beaked.

A chick-a-de circled and came in hot for a navy ship typelanding. It ducked inside quickly. The branches are quivering here and there asfirst one and then another partakes of a free lunch. Highly recommend amulberry to your home garden. Once a year, it becomes a lively and interestingplace to view nature at its finest.    

E Janis Lane

Abby Naycomb, wildlife photographer, found more than scintillating images of the birds of Central Florida. A handsome park ranger turns her world upside down even as a criminal stalker seeks to threaten her life.

Who knew trespassing in the restrictive area of a Florida State Park to get the perfect shot of the sand hill crane family would wind up with Abby Naycomb, wildlife photographer extraordinaire, meeting the most handsome park ranger in the world? Mating/nesting birds were the subject of her quest but finding those intense blue eyes in the lens of her camera was distracting and hormone inciting.

Adam Rawlings, millionaire park ranger, was as shocked as Abby when she accidentally discovered a murdered man buried in a shallow grave in the sand.
Face to face with an exciting relationship with Adam, the perfect man, leaves her no excuse for backing away from a growing intimacy. Vagabond Abby must consider relocating if she wants to continue an invaluable relationship with Adam, the original home town hero.

Abby struggles as she continues to work deep in the breathtaking wilds of Central Florida while trying to ignore the menace of a serious and threatening stalker. Her task was to reexamine long held premises and prejudices while admiring the southern flora and fauna through the lens of her camera. Bird and nature lovers alert.

SHORT TEASER
Busted in Bird land. Still...what a calendar he would make with that uniform, that smile, those shoulders. She stifled a sigh of pure visual pleasure.

You had better stop it, Miss Smarty. He has the authority to fine and kick you out of the park permanently if he so chooses. Holy Moly-- love a uniformed hunk!

Stoppit!

She stifled a giggle which was riotously rolling around deep inside her, threatening to break out. He continued to loom, gazing thoughtfully while she fidgeted in her warm nest sheltered by the dune. Surrounding them, the sporadic wind blew the smell of something baking in the sun. With her face turned upward and her eyes half-closed against the glare, she awaited her fate. She offered a weak smile while trying to bring into focus his face which was back lit by the bright sunlight. It couldn't hurt, she thought, and tried for puppy dog eyes pleading for mercy.

"Leave this area, and I'll forget your lapse of good manners--this time. Don't let me catch you trespassing on restricted lands again. This is a nature preserve. Visitors may not wander about-- especially during nesting season," he added giving her a stern look. "And that goes for well-meaning, good-looking, lady photographers as well."

BUY LINK
Janis Lane is the pen-name for gifted author Emma Lane who writes cozy mysteries as Janis, Regency as Emma, and spice as Sunny Lane.

She lives in Western New York where winter is snowy, spring arrives with rave reviews, summer days are long and velvet, and fall leaves are riotous in color. At long last she enjoys the perfect bow window for her desk where she is treated to a year-round panoramic view of nature. Her computer opens up a fourth fascinating window to the world. Her patient husband is always available to help with a plot twist and encourage Emma to never quit. Her day job is working with flowers at Herbtique and Plant Nursery, the nursery she and her son own.

Look for information about writing and plants on Emma's new website . Leave a comment or a gardening question and put a smile on Emma's face.

Stay connected to Emma on Facebook and Twitter . Be sure to check out the things that make Emma smile on Pinterest .

A TASTE OF MEXICO

 from Catherine Castle

The other day I wanted a quick easy meal, so I peeked into the pantry to see what I had on hand. I found cans of chicken, green chiles, corn, black beans and cream of chicken soup, and some tortillas, so I set out to create something. Here's what I came up with. We liked it, and I hope you will too.

Quick Oven Quesadilla

2-12.5-oz canned chicken, drained and broken up1-4-oz can diced green chilies1-2.5-oz can sliced black olives, drained1-15-oz can black beans, drained and rinsed1-11-oz can whole kernel corn, drained1 can cream of chicken soup¼ or less cup water, start with a smaller amount. You only need enough water to mix soup other ingredients.1 cup finely shredded Mexican style cheese.   1 to 1½ tsp. taco seasoning, or to taste if you like it spicier.1 cup shredded cheddar cheese2 high-fiber large tortillas (or corn tortillas) or enough to fit a straight sided cake pan, or 2 high-fiber street tacos to make individual servings in a smaller pan.

Preheat oven to 350° F

In a skillet over medium high heat brown the tortillas on both sides.

While tortillas are browning, mix chicken, corn, beans, chilies, olives, soup, cheddar cheese and water. Heat the mix in a large saucepan stirring until well mixed and beginning to bubble.

Lightly spray the bottom of a cake pan or baking sheet. Lay one tortilla in the pan, top with about ¼ cup mix (for a large tortilla, less for smaller tortillas) onto top of browned tortilla, spreading mix almost to the edge. Top with ¼ cup of finely shredded Mexican cheese. Repeat with other tortilla and 3/4 cup mix. Save left over mix for another day’s use, or you can double the tortillas and make a bigger meal the first time.

Bake about 10-15 minutes or until cheese on top has melted and you can see filling bubbling. (I’ve also baked this for a shorter time at a higher temp when was in a hurry.) Turn off oven and switch to the high broil setting on the oven and broil until cheese on top begins to brown.

Remove from oven. Cut and serve with shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, onions, guacamole, salsa or other Mexican side toppings.

If you want to make several stacks at a time lay the base tortillas on a baking sheet and assemble as many as your ingredients allow. Number will depend on the size of your tortillas.

If you only make one stack, or 2 smaller individual servings, the first time you can use the remainder of the filling for a second quesadilla meal or as filling for enchiladas. It will make about 4-6 enchiladas depending on the size of your tortilla. Warm your ingredients before assembling the stacks or enchiladas to cut down on heating time in oven. Make a cheese sauce, or other Mexican sauce to cover the enchiladas and top with shredded cheese. Heat in a 350° oven until cheese has melted and is beginning to brown.

While your dinner is cooking, check out Catherine’s multi-award-winning Inspirational Romantic Suspense The Nun and the Narc. Partially set in Mexico, the heroine, Sister Margaret Mary, an adventurous novice, dines on some unusual marketplace snacks. 

Where novice Sister Margaret Mary goes, trouble follows. When she barges into a drug deal the local Mexican drug lord captures her. To escape she must depend on undercover DEA agent Jed Bond. Jed’s attitude toward her is exasperating, but when she finds herself inexplicably attracted to him, he becomes more dangerous than the men who have captured them by making her doubt her decision to take her final vows. Escape back to the nunnery is imperative, but life at the convent, if she can still take her final vows, will never be the same.

Nuns shouldn’t look, talk, act, or kiss like Sister Margaret Mary O’Connor—at least that’s what Jed Bond thinks. She hampers his escape plans with her compulsiveness and compassion, and in the process makes Jed question his own beliefs. After years of walling up his emotions in an attempt to become the best agent possible, Sister Margaret is crumbling Jed’s defenses and opening his heart. To lure her away from the church would be unforgivable—to lose her unbearable.

Amazon Buy Link
Multi-award-winning author Catherine Castle has been writing all her life. A former freelance writer, she has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit (under her real name) in the Christian and secular market. Now she writes sweet and inspirational romance. Her debut inspirational romantic suspense, The Nun and the Narc, from Soul Mate Publishing, has garnered multiple contests finals and wins.

Catherine loves writing, reading, traveling, singing, watching movies, and the theatre. In the winter she loves to quilt and has a lot of UFOs (unfinished objects) in her sewing case. In the summer her favorite place to be is in her garden. She’s passionate about gardening and even won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club.

Learn more about Catherine Castle on her website and blog . Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter . Be sure to check out Catherine’s Amazon author page and her Goodreads page . You can also find Catherine on Stitches Thru Time and the SMP authors blog site .

Spot "Telling" in Your WIP

from C.D. Hersh 

We’ve all heard the admonition “Show, don’t tell.” When we show we are producing better writing that will capture our readers. Showing, instead of telling, lets editors and agents see you are not an amateur.

In spite of hearing the phrase over and over, many writers don’t know how to recognize “telling” writing. Writing that tells analyzes, generalizes, editorializes and summarizes instead of making the writing interactive and sensory for the reader. Naturally, there will be some generalizations and summarization in your writing, but you need to make sure these elements are in the minority, not the majority of your book. You need to show what’s happening so the reader can create in her own mind the picture you, the writer, want to share.

To locate telling writing look for: • Passive sentences. Often passive sentences, especially those with the word was in them, are a tip-off you might be telling instead of showing. The sentence Sally was angry, is telling.Sally’s lips drew down into a thin, taut line, her jaw working side to side, shows us Sally’s anger. We can deduce from the picture that is painted how Sally feels because we know that look. • Passages that have very little sensory information. You can tell us the woman smelled good, was sexy, and she knew it, or you can show it by sayingJohn turned to watch her as she strolled between the restaurant tables, her hips swaying like a belly dancer in slow motion. As she neared she tossed her hair behind her shoulder, casting the scent of violets and vanilla in waves toward him. The fragrance made him salivate. Her perfectly manicured nails trailed along his shoulder as she passed by. He shuddered under her touch and she smiled as he looked up at her. Here we know what the woman smells like, how she walks, how John reacts to her and how she reacts to him. Much stronger than just saying she was sexy. • “LY” adverbs. ‘LY” adverbs rob sentences of conciseness and force, making your writing weak. Which sounds stronger? The man yelled loudly orThe man roared, the sound drowning out the radio. The dog’s tail wagged happily orThe dog’s tail wagged in time to his barks as he bounded around the room. The taxi drove very slowly down the street, orThe taxi crept at a snail’s pace down the street.

Get the picture? By adding active verbs, sensory information and using fewer “LY” adverbs, you are showing the reader a snapshot of what’s happening.

Here are a few telling phrases. Choose one, or two if you’re ambitious, and see if you can come up with a better picture.

• disgruntled employee• old paper• fanatical nun• skinny lunatic • frazzled mother

Share in the comments what you’ve come up with so everyone can see what you created.

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:

Website

Facebook

Amazon Author Page

Twitter

COOK UP SOMETHING DELICIOUS

fromLinda Lee Greene

HALLULAH! Cast-iron cooking isback on the burner of the world’s kitchens, its barbeque pits, and its campsitefires—and nothing fries up more delectably in the iconic cooker than greenapples, or apples of any color, and even peaches. 

Dating back to the 18thcentury, apple and peach orchards have been a constant feature of farm-life ofmy American ancestors, and of my European forebears, I imagine. Apples pickedright off the tree or hauled topside from underground cellars and fried up inan iron skillet, a vessel that was passed down from mother to daughter, hasbeen a staple of my family through those generations and to the present. Store-boughtfruit will do, too, of course.  

Down-Home Fried Apples & Peaches½ cup butter6medium unpeeled firm apples, sliced4very soft unpeeled peaches, sliced ¾ cup cane, coconut, or brown sugar¾tsp. ground cinnamon (optional)¼ cupapple juice, 100% juice2 tsp.vanilla extract

Over low heat, melt butter in alarge cast-iron or heavy ovenproof skillet. Add apples and ½ cup sugar. Mixwell, cover, and cook 20 minutes or until apples are fork tender. Stirfrequently. 

Add optional cinnamon),remaining sugar, apple juice, vanilla extract, and peach slices. Cover and cookfor another 10 to 15 minutes over medium heat.   

Serve with iron-skillet gravy and country biscuitsat main meals, or with vanilla ice cream for dessert. 

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 

Multi-award-winning author and artist Linda Lee Greene describes her life as a telescope that when trained on her past reveals how each piece of it, whether good or bad or in-between, was necessary in the unfoldment of her fine art and literary paths.Greene moved from farm-girl to city-girl; dance instructor to wife, mother, and homemaker; divorcee to single-working-mom and adult-college-student; and interior designer to multi-award-winning artist and author, essayist, and blogger. It was decades of challenging life experiences and debilitating, chronic illness that gave birth to her dormant flair for art and writing. Greene was three days shy of her fifty-seventh birthday when her creative spirit took a hold of her.

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.

A LESSON IN FLOUNDER PUBERTY

from Anne Montgomery
I grew up watching Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, a TV show that explored the animal world. (And now you know how old I am.) I mention this because I continue to be amazed by the strangeness and beauty of the animal world. Take the peacock flounder for example, one of my all-time favorite creatures to meet when I’m scuba diving.

Peacock flounder are lovely creatures that work very hard at growing up.

As cooks might know, flounders are flat fish with eyes that tend to point in different directions. But did you ever wonder how they became flat? It might surprise you to know that flounders are born just like most other fish, but when they hit fishy puberty, they flop over on one side. This can be rather problematic at first, since that means one of their poor little eyes is now facing down. But no worries. The brilliant flounder can make its bottom eye crawl around its head where it ends up next to the other eye. As I mentioned earlier, the eye positioning is not perfect, which gives the wee guy a bit of an off-kilter look. Still, they adjust and eventually the teenage flounder starts swimming sideways.

Why, you ask? It’s an evolutionary thing. Flounder figured out that it’s easier to hide from predators if they can lie flat on the bottom of the sea. Blending in is important in their watery world, which brings me back to the peacock flounder. These guys have magnificent turquoise spots and purple edges when they’re swimming, but as soon as they alight on something, they change color to blend in, just like their land cousin the chameleon. Isn’t that cool?

Magically, the peacock flounder can turn colors instantly to blend in with its surroundings.

I often thought of the flounder in my high school classroom, where the changes associated with human puberty sometimes popped up in conversation. I realized it was a tough time in the lives of the young people I taught, something we adults understand as we all somehow survived that often tumultuous life change.

Whenever students seemed overwhelmed, I would tell them the story of flounder puberty. I hoped it might make them understand that things could be worse. I mean, imagine if your eye had to crawl to the other side of your head.

Often, the tale elicited a shocked silence, as they tried to wrap their heads around a sideways-swimming fish with a migrating eye. While I thought it was a perfect teachable moment, I sensed the kids just thought me strange.

But we teachers hold on to the hope that maybe, someday, our charges will understand our reasoning, an a-ha moment that will make them remember what we said and why.

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 .

 

WAKE UP YOUR TASTE BUDS

 From Stella May 

Summertime is always welcome in our house because my family loves freshvegetables and fruits. The following recipe is one we especially enjoy as a side-dish or spread ontoasted bread or crackers. It’s easy to make and lasts several days in thefridge.

 

Eggplant Salad 2 mediumeggplants1 smallred onion (or half of a large one)1 greenpepper (not hot)11 smallcan whole tomatoes, skinned½ tsp.saltA dash blackpepperA dash paprika2 tbsp. extravirgin olive oil½ cup cilantro, chopped½ cup choppedparsley, chopped½ cup dill,chopped

Preheatoven to 350° F. 

Prickeggplants with a fork all over, then place on a baking sheet. Bake 2 hours inthe oven. You can grill the eggplants if you prefer. Be sure your grill isheated to medium temperature. Check the softness often, and turn eggplants overevery 5 min. 

After 2hours, check eggplants for softness. They should be very soft. Remove from oven and let eggplants completely cool. 

Clean theskin off with the knife, chop coarsely, and scoop into a bowl. 

Finelychop red onion and green pepper. Sprinkle on salt, pepper, and paprika. Addolive oil. Mix well, then pour over eggplant mixture.

In aseparate bowl smash the tomatoes with a fork. Add them to the above mixture. You can also use small or grape tomatoes and leave the skin on.

Cascadefresh herbs over bowl, stir gently, then serve.

A jaded CEO. A fiercely focused ballerina. A love that defies all society’s rules.

SoHo,1962

JJMorris, successful CEO, leads a secret double life, playing saxophone to his heart’scontent in his hole-in-the-wall dive bar. Yet he can’t escape the feeling he’sslowly petrifying into just another jaded millionaire. 

Then agorgeous blonde steps into his bar and shakes up his world. Certain this fiercelittle swan of a woman is exactly what’s missing in his life, he maps out aplan to wed her by Christmas. With or without his snobby mother’s approval.

Mostwomen would be thrilled to learn that the tall, handsome bar musician is, infact, a wealthy prince charming. Verochka Osipoff is less than impressed. She’sfocused on becoming a prima ballerina, and everything hinges on her next audition.She can’t afford distractions, especially a rich playboy slumming it in SoHo.

Yet theheat of their attraction melts Verochka’s heart like warm chocolate. But JJ’sworld is a cold, glittering nest of vipers. And their venom could destroy theirlove song before the first movement ends.

EXCERPT

The sound of asaxophone halted her steps. That deep, velvety voice grabbed her by her throat,and refused to let go. Holding her breath, mesmerized, Verochka stopped, then pivoted. Where did it come from? Strainingher ears, she looked around, searching the almost empty street. Guided by herhearing, she glanced at the closed doors on her right. The Broome Street Bar.Inside, the sax murmured its enchanting tale, sad, and touching, andheartbreaking.

Mon Dieu! What must one feel to play like that?

Verochkaclosed her eyesand swayed to the music. Her arms by their own volition lifted and moved in a lazy,unhurried wave. She visualized the dance in her mind, something slow andsensual. Strange, but she never paid attention to jazz before. Then again, she wasnever partial to any music except classical.

To her there was nothing and no onecompared to Tchaikovsky. But the soulful notes of that sax fascinated her asmuch as the famous opening theme from Swan Lake. When the sound trailed off,she felt almost bereft. She craved to hear more. Will the musician play again?Oh, she hopped so. She’d wait for it.

Outside?On the sidewalk at almost ten at night?

Unwise, not to mentionquite dangerous. Granted, this spot in SoHo was not prone to crime. But still.A young woman alone was bound to attract some attention.  Verochkalooked at the closed door of the bar, biting her lip.

To go inside, orcontinue on her way? The wisest thing to do, of course, was to turn around, andgo home, to her tiny apartment. It was late. She must rest before her wake-upcall at 5:30 AM. All morning classes of Madame Valeska started at precisely 6AM, and God forbid if any of the dancers were late even by a minute. The wrathof her teacher definitely equaled to her worldwide fame as a former principal dancerof The Royal Ballet.

Tired after the longday of classes and rehearsals, then cleaning the premises, Verochka barely kept upright. She hated her after- hours janitorialobligations, but promise was a promise. And VerochkaOsipoff never broke her word.

No matter how spentshe was, each and every evening, after all the dancers went home, and theschool was closed, she headed to the closet for a broom and a bucket. At first,she didn’t mind it at all. It was an arrangement made in heaven. An eighteen-year-oldorphan from France, determined to reach her dream, Verochka arrived at the doors of the famous New York ballet schoolwith nothing but fifty dollars to her name and a small satchel that belonged toher father.

After her initialshock faded, the formidable Madame Valeska, the owner of the school, ordered Verochka to change into her leotards,and dance.

Her final verdictdelivered in a grumbling voice was like a heavenly music to Verochka’s ears.

“You have a potential,Miss Osipoff. I’ll take a chance on you, and let you stay for a probationaryperiod of three months. After that, we’ll see.”

Verochka’selation was huge,but temporary. The school was obscenely expensive. No way she was able to affordthe tuition. There was a stipend, but applying for it took only God knew howlong, with no guarantee that it will be granted in the end.

On top of it, she wasa foreigner, all alone in the strange country, and barely able to speakEnglish.

Madame Valeska, quicklyassessing the situation— more accurately, feeling sorry for her— offered Verochka a deal: the education inexchange for cleaning services. A tiny room in the attic as a temporary placeto live was added to that offer. To Verochka,it was like a Christmas gift she could never have dreamt about.

Overwhelmed, moved totears, Verochka grabbed theopportunity with both hands. After a while, she got her stipend for the giftedand unprivileged students, thanks to Madame Valeska’s help, and was able tocover most of her tuition.

The convenience ofliving on the premises saved her the expense of a rent, and occasionalparticipation in corps de ballet’s performances made everything elsemanageable. She didn’t need a lot of food, as her extremely strict diet fell mostlyinto yogurt and fruit category. As to clothes— she learned at her dancing parentsknee the skill to mend tears and repair pointe shoes.

Two years later, Verochka was still living in the attic,and still mopped the floors, and cleaned the premises. But it didn’t matter. Hermain goal to become a prima ballerina of The Royal Ballet took the precedenceover everything else.

Ambitious? Maybe. But,as her father always said, you must dream big. Otherwise, what was the point? So,she dreamed big, and worked like a woman possessed in order to reach thatdream. She was content, and happy, and along the way, fell in love with NewYork, her new home. Her only home. She learned English, and became quite fluentin it, even though her accent stubbornly refused to be erased.

Of course, she missedFrance, and Paris, and small street cafes, and long strolls along the Seine. Oh,the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sprinkled with powdered sugar beignets!Sometimes, she could smell them in her dreams.

But most of all, shemissed her parents. She was sure they were looking at her from heaven, smiling,proud of her accomplishments.

Her occasional nostalgiawas usually sweet, and short, like a children’s lullaby.

But not tonight.

After finishing herduties, Verochka was ambushed by a sadnessso huge, she almost doubled down with it. Suffocated in the large emptybuilding that housed the ballet school, she was lonely, isolated, until shecouldn’t bear another minute longer locked inside. Hence, her impromptu eveningwalk that brought her in the middle of SoHo, to the Broome Street Bar.

The plaintive soundsof sax reached her ears again.

Oh,yes, please.

Listening to thoseseductive low rumbles, she wondered about the player.

Who was he? Or was it ashe? Why was that melody so sad, so sorrowful?

Available at BOOKStoREAD, AMAZON, and GOOGLE PLAY BOOKS.

Stella May is the penname for Marina Sardarova who has a fascinating history you should read on her website.

Stella writes fantasy romance as well as time travel romance. She is the author of 'Till Time Do Us Part, Book 1 in her Upon a Time series, and the stand-alone book Rhapsody in Dreams. Love and family are two cornerstones of her stories and life. Stella’s books are available in e-book and paperback through all major vendors. 
When not writing, Stella enjoys classical music, reading, and long walks along the ocean with her husband. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband Leo of 25 years and their son George. They are her two best friends and are all partners in their family business. 
Follow Stella on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. 

 

Summer Holidays, Family, and the Writing Life

from Sharon Ledwith
Wait. You're staying how long?We Canadians loveour summer holidays, and other than major holidays such as Christmas orThanksgiving, it’s the only time when we can get together with our families andjust chill. This begs me to ask the question: Is it possible to write duringthe summer months? Um. Yeah. It’s a toughie, but I did manage to get some writing done. And I have been busyediting the second book in my young adult time travel series, The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret.So there’s a thumbs up for that. But when I read a recent post from MirrorWorld Publishing’s blog entitled It’sOkay Not to Write, I decided to put aside any guilty feelings of ‘not’writing regularly in the summer, and just enjoy this hot, sunny season and timespent with my family.

The first Mondayin August is our Civic Holiday, which is a roundabout way of saying ‘Public’Holiday. It’s not a statutory holiday in the province where I live (Ontario),but if your employer is on the generous side, then you can probably book thatlong weekend away with no problem. The Civic Holiday weekend also marks themiddle of summer—halfway to fall and five weeks till school starts. Sorry,kids!

When we lived atour cottage, it seemed like the busiest weekend of the summer, and since wewere on a medium-sized lake, you had to take turns going out water skiing ortubing. Our kids usually ambushed visited us that weekend for food andfun-in-the-sun, and somehow they left their children behind. LOL! Thankfully,there was a lot to do around the cottage for the grandkids with swimming,fishing, boating, tubing, canoeing, reading on the beach (yes, I have a fewreaders), watching movies, and campfires. We found that the week just flew by!I truly miss those days, and I’m grateful for those cottage memories with ourfamily and friends.

Now that we live inthe ‘Banana’ belt of Canada (think Florida weather), and farther from some ofour family, we see the kids less. Most of the grandchildren have their ownlives now. Sigh. The bright spot is we do get to see our youngest grandchild(now ten), and have her for the week of the Civic Holiday. Yay! So I’vecompiled a list of things to do around in this area to keep the little minionbusy, happy, and motivated. Read on…

1.      Bakingwith Grandpa (Grandma doesn’t do baking)

2.      Aday at the beach…HolidayBeach to be precise!

3.      Movienight at SilverCity in Windsor; granddaughter’s pick!

4.      Walkingthe Riverfront and catching a boat tour with Windsor River Cruises.

5.      Coolingdown at the Toddy JonesPark Slash Pad, then heading over to the Waterfront Ice Cream Parlor.

6.      Visitingthe Amherstburg Freedom Museum.This is a win-win, as I get to do some research for my next time travel book too!

7.      Headingto my brother’s pool for a swim. Thank God for relatives with pools!

8.      Catchingup on Disney shows! (Grandpa is looking forward to this!)

9.      Keepingcool at the Devonshire Mall in Windsorwhere I’m sure someone is bound to score a gift or two.

10.  If timepermits, going to AdventureBay Family Water Park in Windsor. After a few hours there, we’ll bewater-logged for the week! LOL!

Now, if we playour cards right, our granddaughter will look like this each night:

Nighty, night. Sleep tight.

I hope you have a safe and happy holidaywith your family or friends and enjoy the rest of your summer! Remember lifeis short, and no one who is on their death bed says that they wished they couldhave spent more time at work. Think about it. Relationships truly matter. Cheersand thank you for reading my post!

from Sharon Ledwith

Here’s a glimpse of the premises of both my youngadult series.

The Last Timekeepers Time Travel Adventures

Chosenby an Atlantean Magus to be Timekeepers—legendary time travelers sworn to keephistory safe from the evil Belial—five classmates are sent into the past torestore balance, and bring order back into the world, one mission at a time.

Children are the keys to our future. And now, children are theonly hope for our past.

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 startto happen.

Welcome to Fairy Falls.Expect the unexpected.

The Last Timekeepers 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 ׀

Legendof the Timekeepers, prequel BuyLinks:

MIRRORWORLD PUBLISHING ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES& NOBLE׀

Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls TeenPsychic Mystery Series:

Lostand Found, Book One BuyLinks:

MIRRORWORLD PUBLISHING ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES& NOBLE׀

Blackfliesand Blueberries, Book Two BuyLinks:

MIRRORWORLD PUBLISHING ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES& NOBLE׀

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, and a moody calico cat.

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

 

 

INSPIRATION

by Leigh Goff

Whatinspires a writer?

Forme, it was a perfect storm of three factors. Simultaneously, I suddenly hadmore time to devote to personal projects, I enrolled in a world mythologycourse at my university, and there was a story spiraling to life inside me. 

Inthe course, I learned about the common elements in myths across many cultures,the hero cycle, and how the characteristics of ancient heroes are the same asthose of modern-day heroes.

Itwas fascinating to find out that nearly every culture has a flood myth toexplain that there are consequences for disobedience and bad choices. I lovedthe course, and it inspired me to get my story down on paper—digital paper thatis. 

Thestory I was working on was Disenchanted. My hero was a sixteen-year-oldgirl who had to break her ancestor’s true love curse carried down throughgenerations onto a boy she was destined to fall in love with. The setting, OldWethersfield, Connecticut, is the home of the first American witch trials (notSalem). Witch trials--talk about consequences for bad choices! I was inspiredby one of those Wethersfield witches who went to trial, so I cast her as theancestor that curses the family of the witch trial judge. 

Sourcesof inspiration are different for everyone. If you’re seeking inspiration forwriting or creating, unplug from social media, take a class like I did, changeyour environment even for just an hour, visit a museum, or take a nap anddream. Let the wonders of the world around you spark your imagination! 

Leigh Goff is an author of three published young adultnovels and is represented by Lauren Bittrich. She is working on her next novel,a young adult thriller, while her current manuscript, Wicked Sweet, is on submission. 

Leigh Goff is an author of three published young adult novels and is represented by Lauren Bittrich. She is working on her next novel, a young adult thriller, while her current manuscript, Wicked Sweet, is on submission.

You can find her current published novels at Audible | Amazon | Apple   

Learn more about Leigh Goff onher website and blog.Stay connected on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkTree

FREE DOWNLOAD FOR WRITERS

from Sharon Ledwith

Tips,Tools & Tricks for the Tenacious Writer is the perfect resource forwriters who want to know the ins and outs of what it takes to be a publishedauthor. Available Free for download… https://www.sharonledwith.com/tips-tools-tricks-for-the-tenacious-writer/

Forward…

It begins with INTENT. Backwhen I started blogging, I was so green and didn’t have much to offer writersor even knew what to say. I was scared, insecure, and filled with tons ofself-doubt. BUT I moved forward with tenacity and embraced the desire to be apublished author, and dare I say, Bestselling author. I’ve built myblog, and my writing career brick by brick, word by word until I’ve amassedquite a collection of helpful and heartfelt content to assist anyone who isremotely interested in delving into the murky, yet exciting world of writingand all the challenges a writer might face. Today, I still have a long way togo, but I’m definitely on the right track with my goals and aspirations as ayoung adult author. 

It is my hope that you find thefollowing compiled content insightful, inspiring, and illuminating as you beginyour writing journey or just need some tips, tools, or tricks to help you shinein this crazy publishing business. All the best. All the success. 

All Systems Go…

First, let me introducemyself—my name is Sharon Ledwith and I write young adult fiction. My genresinclude: time travel mysteries (kind of like a mesh of fantasy with a splash ofsci-fi meets Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys), as well as paranormal storieswhere teens deal with psychic powers like psychometry, telekinesis, animalcommunication—stuff like that. 

My intention of this blog isto:

#1 Get you to know me as awriter, and post my experiences as an indie publisher of eBooks.

#2 Introduce and showcase mystories and characters. 

In a nutshell—market myself andpromote my work. 

That’s it really. You see,writing is all about the reader. My goal is to influence and empower today’syouth—the next generation—through the stories I create. I believe everyone ishere at this time with a mission and a purpose, and every child has somethingto add to our evolutionary advancement. Children truly are the keys to ourfuture. It is my hope to unlock this portal.

To Grow or Not To Grow…

I am a dinosaur. I freely admitit. No, no, not the kind with fangs and scales—although my kids may havesomething to say about that—I’m talking about keeping up with the times.Technology is my biggest and scariest hurdle. It is harsh, unknown territory,and yet without computers, the internet, social networks, texting—I could goon, but you get the drift—there would be no growth, no challenges for ourwonderful evolving lives. And let’s face it technology DOES make our lives aheck of a lot easier! Dinosaurs had to make way for humanity (actually, theyhad no choicein the matter), and so, I too must bow to the changes and challenges technologyoffers OR become like the scaly beasts of the past and disappear forever. 

Here’s a glimpse of the premises of both my youngadult series.

The Last Timekeepers Time Travel Adventures

Chosenby an Atlantean Magus to be Timekeepers—legendary time travelers sworn to keephistory safe from the evil Belial—five classmates are sent into the past torestore balance, and bring order back into the world, one mission at a time.

Children are the keys to our future. And now, children are theonly hope for our past.

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 startto happen.

Welcome to Fairy Falls.Expect the unexpected.

The Last Timekeepers 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 ׀

Legendof the Timekeepers, prequel BuyLinks:

MIRRORWORLD PUBLISHING ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES& NOBLE׀

Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls TeenPsychic Mystery Series:

Lostand Found, Book One BuyLinks:

MIRRORWORLD PUBLISHING ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES& NOBLE׀

Blackfliesand Blueberries, Book Two BuyLinks:

MIRRORWORLD PUBLISHING ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES& NOBLE׀

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, and a moody calico cat.

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