Suzanne Bowditch's Blog, page 27
November 3, 2016
Free Giveaway this weekend: Elen A Celtic Trilogy
In preparation for my new Murder Mystery available just in time for the Christmas rush, I have made my first book Elen A Celtic Trilogy available as a FREE GIVEAWAY until Monday. Link available by clicking on the title above…..
Enjoy your weekend, all
November 1, 2016
Tuesday Quote: 6
JK Rowling“No story lives unless someone wants to listen” – JK Rowling
This week’s Tuesday quote comes from one of the most (if not the most) successful writers in recent years.The author of the Harry Potter series of children’s books, her stories about the boy wizard have given millions of children joy, and enhanced their lives.
I remember being so excited to have the latest Narnia book bought for me as a child, so I can well relate to the obsession that many children had with the books. I sometimes envy their excitement, as I was an adult, married with a child, when Rowling first published Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (published as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in the US).
Did you know?
JK Rowling was born Joanne Rowling in Gloucestershire, England, but now resides with her family in Edinburgh, Scotland
She has no middle name; the letter ‘K’ has been added, and stands for Kathleen, a relative of hers. Her publishers thought that using initials for a boy based series of adventure books would sell better than a female author’s name
She also works under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, and has written adult books under this name
Her story is regarded as a modern day “rags to riches.” She went from claiming benefits to billionaire status within 5 years
She wrote the first Harry Potter book on a train from Manchester to London, then continued the rest in cafes around Edinburgh
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, released on 21 July 2007 is the fastest selling book of all time (11 million copies in one day)
The series has won numerous awards, including the Nestle Smarties Book Prize; Children’s Book Award and the Hans Christian Anderson Literature Award
October 28, 2016
Haiku
Pacific Fair, Gold Coast
Coloured umbrellas
A shopping experience
Coffee and cheesecake
Suzanne Bowditch, 2016
October 25, 2016
Tuesday Quote: 5
Photo Credit: Wikipedia“I’ve learned that something constructive comes from every defeat”
– Tom Landry
This week’s quote comes from sportsman Tom Landry (1924-2000), one of the greatest and innovative coaches in the National Football League (NFL).
Born in Texas, Thomas Wade “Tom” Landry had an illustrious career with the Dallas Cowboys. Amongst his achievements:
Two Super Bowl titles
Five NFC titles
Thirteen Divisional titles
He was named the NFL Coach of the Year 1966, and the NFC Coach of the Year 1975
In his 29 year tenure with the Dallas Cowboys, he invented the popular 4-3 defense and the ‘flex defense’ system.
A very inspirational sportsman, his quote could be used to inspire all kinds of people struggling for motivation in their chosen fields
October 23, 2016
14 Reasons Why We Love Reading Historical Fiction #SundayBlogShare #HistoricalFiction — BlondeWriteMore
There is something magical about reading historical fiction. After interviewing historical fiction writer Evie Gaughan yesterday, I am taking a moment to celebrate historical fiction. Here are the reasons why I think we love reading stories from this fabulous literary genre: It is a form of mental time travel. There is nothing more pleasurable than […]
October 20, 2016
Haiku
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Haiku
He sits, and waits
A whisper in the wind
For something special
Suzanne Bowditch, 2016
October 18, 2016
Tuesday Quote : 4
I am pleased to quote this great actress who starred in one of the most iconic films of all time (and I don’t think I’m exaggerating here), The Wizard of Oz.
Who among us has not seen and enjoyed that film? From the red shoes of Dorothy, the little dog Toto, the Tin Man and the Wicked Witch, and who could forget the Munchkins; all memorable characters, and a classic story.
So, one of Judy Garland’s quote is thus:
“Always be a first rate version of yourself, instead of a second rate version of someone else”
Judy Garland 1922-1969
Did you know?
She was born Frances Ethel Gumm
She was just 4 ft 11 ” tall
She was married five times, notably to Vincente Minnelli
She was frequently ill, suffering from nervous breakdowns
Her singing voice faltered in her later years
She had three children the most famous being the Hollywood star Liza Minnelli
She was the third choice to play the part of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Shirley Temple being the original choice
She died in London, at the age of 47 years from a drugs overdose
October 17, 2016
Short Story : The red dress
The woman in the dress shop had told her mother it fitted perfectly. ‘This is so in now you know,’ she’d said, standing next to her in front of the ornate mirror. ‘Red is the colour at the moment, haven’t you seen it on the best cat walks?’
Her mother shrugged, pulling the dress down over Rosie’s knees. A whisper of gauze underneath, to complete the look.
‘Please mom, can I have it, please?’
The ring of the bell on the way out, the parcel tucked under her arm, a grin across her face.
*
Now, in the shade of her bedroom, she wasn’t so sure. The taffeta clung to a bosom that was still as unfamiliar to her as the teenage spots that had appeared on her face practically overnight. The dress fitted just below her waist, straining across her stomach; puppy fat and wobbly thighs hidden underneath its folds. She pulled at the thick unyielding material, supposedly meant to fit across her shoulders in a chic 50s style. She groaned, rubbing at the ugly red marks where the sleeves dug into the tops of her plump arms like a vice. Turning sideways, the patterned black and red flowers seemed to mock her, spread as they were across her back and finishing on her bottom, making her feel like an overgrown rose garden, fallen into disrepute.
‘You look lovely, Rosie,’ her mother stood in the doorway. ‘A good choice.’ Her slim arms were folded across her chest, her jeans snug across slender hips and thighs.
She smiled encouragingly. Pushing long locks across a face that was barely lined.
For the thousand time, Rosie cursed her own well rounded body, a throwback to her father’s mum, her granny Beatrice. Why couldn’t she be long limbed too?
As if adding insult to injury, her older sister Taylor bounded in the room, the image of their mum. Taylor wore teeny denim shorts, a seersucker top and tanned legs that seemed to go one forever. She sat down onto Rosie’s bed, her limbs tucked under her like a young gazelle.
‘You look like a flowerpot!’ she giggled, exposing a set of iron braces across her gums. A sprinkle of freckles across a perfectly upturned nose and sparkling blue eyes completed fifteen-year-old Taylor’s look. Naturally gorgeous without even trying!
Rosie turned away, her brown eyes filling up. I can’t show I’m upset; I can’t! she thought, glancing at her reflection for a second time. If the flowerpot look was in vogue, she’d win it, hands down.
Taylor had a point.
Her mother looked at her watch, encased around a slim wrist. ‘You’d better hurry, Rosie, or Amber will be waiting. Dad’s downstairs. Come on.’
She grabbed her around the waist in a familiar hug. Rosie’s blonde hair fell across her cheek and for once she was glad that her unruly locks betrayed the hurt she’d felt by Taylor’s remark.
‘Thanks mom,’ she smiled, the remark rolling off plump shoulders.
That was her, ever the trooper, the solid one, who let everything slide, like water off a duck.
*
The party was just starting. Music blasted from somewhere inside, mixed with the shrieks and laughter of people arriving, chatting, having fun. Rosie clambered out of her dad’s car and smoothed the folds of the dress, staring at the bows on her pumps. How she wished she’d chosen to wear the brown dress instead! Colour did not suit her, she knew that, especially not the Scarlett look. The brown one had been worn, it was an old faithful, but she felt comfortable in it.
An arm hooked under hers, and Amber smiled at her. ‘Don’t look so scared Rose; we’ll have a drink and a dance and forget all about anyone else, you’ll see. Bye Mr Gardener,’ she waved to Rosie’s dad as he drove away.
A couple of giggling girls ran past, dressed in bright colours and flouncy skirts; a flash of skinny legs in pumps.
‘I’m starting to think that the 50’s were the least flattering time in history!’ she moaned.
‘Come on, you look fine.’ Amber frowned, and pulling at her arm. ‘You know how cool Lily Anderson is, and her parents are well loaded. We were lucky to get these; everywhere in town is sold out,’ she remarked, pushing her coiffured bangs away from her eyes. Her deep blue dress looked well fit on her petite frame. ‘Trust Lily to be the trend setter of the parties.’
‘It’s okay for you. You look as if you’ve not eaten for a week! Whereas me……,’ she sighed, pulling on the off the shoulder sleeve for the hundredth time.
A dark haired boy walked up the path in front of them, hidden from view by a large rose bush in front of Lily’s house. His head was down, hands in pockets, shuffling his feet.
Why was Alex, the science nerd, invited?
‘Hey Amber, get you a soda?’ Blake Magill slid up behind them, and Amber giggled.
‘See you later, Rose,’ she called over her shoulder as they ran the path.
Great.
Now she was truly on her own. Just as she was thinking of calling her dad, Alex appeared. She could see him approach from the corner of her eye, and her heart sank.
This was turning out to be an awful night.
‘Hi Rosie,’ he stammered, looking awkward. Did she want to spend time with a geek?
‘Hi Alex,’ she answered, then stopped herself. From this angle, his eyes looked deep blue, his eyelashes thick and dark. He was wearing a baseball jacket and sneakers, a 100% improvement on the nerdy bowtie and sensible lace ups that he normally wore on a school day.
‘You look lovely,’ he smiled.
This close, he didn’t look half bad.
‘Say, why don’t we try that new frozen yoghurt place down by the pier? I can get my dad to drop us; he’s just around the corner in his shop. Then we can take a walk along the beach…. if you want to that is.’ He stammered, and in the darkening light she could see the blush on his face.
Rosie had to think. Ice cream down the pier, against an awkward party?
She smiled.
*
Suzanne Bowditch, 2016
October 13, 2016
Tiffany & Co.
The huge Pacific Fair shopping complex is, now, after masses of renovations, re open to the public. It now houses a mix of ‘normal’ stores, such as your Target and K Mart, plus another 50+ stores, including a very refined section where Tiffany & Co. rubs shoulders with Ralph Lauren, Christian Louboutin and Hermes.
We had to go there.
A friend of mine pointed out that the shoppers were thronging around K Mart and Big W, whereas there was barely a soul in the ‘posh’ part, just the odd ‘older woman dripping in jewels and Versace mini skirts, trying to look 18 again.’
Hilarious.
But, hubby insisted that we at least look as if we shop there, hence the photo, taken just beyond the eagle eyes of the security guard at the Tiffany entrance..
Then we trotted over to Target……:)
October 11, 2016
Who Hoo! Free Book! — Nutsrok
Free Book offer from Linda Swain Bethea – the cover is awesome, and it looks really funny! Too good to miss
