Suzanne Bowditch's Blog, page 35
June 15, 2016
June 15 Challenge
Day 15 Fifteen Sentences
June 15, 1752. Benjamin Franklin flew a kite during a storm. His experiment demonstrated the link between electricity and lightning.
Today is your chance to experiment! Try a new writing style. Write about anything you wish. But you must write exactly fifteen sentences. No more. No less.
Golden Wonder.
Miles and miles of sand as far as the eye could see.
He adjusted his sunglasses against the glare, wiping the sweat off his brow.
Over the dunes and down again, past the grassy verges and ancient remains. The jeep stopped, struggled and screamed, the wet sand clogging its wheels.
His foot on the floor, he slammed the accelerator. Again and again, it roared, then inched up the slope, over the horizon.
There she stood in all her glory, basking in the heat, her golden back shimmering, seeming to move and shake.
All those years of studying, listening to endless lectures in stuffy classrooms, for this; a chance to study her.
His looked down at the cavalcade of students milling around, their faces rapt with excitement.
He took a moment to savor the scene.
To take in her beauty.
The Sphinx.
June 13, 2016
June 14 Challenge
Day 14 Fourteen Line Poem
June 14, 1578. Fourteen-year-old William Shakespeare wrote his first sonnet.
Actually, I made that up. Shakespeare really was 14 in 1578, and he did write sonnets. But no one knows when he wrote his first sonnet. Today may be the day you write your first sonnet, though.
Write a poem of at least fourteen lines. You may want to try writing a sonnet, but any fourteen line poem will do.
A sonnet is a poem written in fourteen lines with each line usually having ten syllables. There are various rhyming options for sonnets. Shakespeare used the rhyming pattern: ABAB CDCD EDED GG.
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I’d like to say that here’s a sonnet that I rattled up in half an hour, but I have to give credit to the great man himself. My poetry writing is abysmal at its best, non existent at its worse, and I believe my teeth are stopping me from any creativity today.
This is my favorite poem, sonnet 18. Fire away:
Shakespeare’s Sonnet XVlll
SHall I compare thee to a Summers day?
Thou art more louely and more temperate:
Rough windes do ſhake the darling buds of Maie,
And Sommers leaſe hath all too ſhorte a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heauen ſhines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm’d,
And euery faire from faire ſome-time declines,
By chance,or natures changing courſe vntrim’d:
But thy eternall Sommer ſhall not fade,
Nor looſe poſſeſſion of that faire thou ow’ſt,
Nor ſhall death brag thou wandr’ſt in his ſhade,
When in eternall lines to time thou grow’ſt,
So long as men can breathe or eyes can ſee,
So long liues this,and this giues life to thee.
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http://www.shakespeares-sonnets.com/sonnet/18
June 12, 2016
June 13 Challenge
Day 13 Lucky 13June 13, 1944. Prompted by the successful Allied Landing in Europe, Germany launched a V1 Flying Bomb attack on England. Luckily, only four of the bombs hit their targets.
Tell us about a time you were lucky. Or unlucky.
ToothacheI have toothache. I have had it on and off for the last few weeks and have kept away from the dentist (I hate going, even though I drum it into my children to go).
Now, it has become worse, and what started out as a tiny hole in my tooth, has become an even bigger hole that has reached into the nerves and is playing havoc in my mouth. My right ear also aches and I can feel the nerves ends jarring as we speak.
Not sure if I am unlucky or not ( I am) but the fact is that the toothache is self inflicted (toffees) and is my own doing (sweets, candy, lollies, whatever its called, it hates teeth).
So, I have made an appointment at the dentist. Painkillers alone won’t solve the problem so I have to go.
Its an UNLUCKY start to my week.
PS I’ve included a picture of the culprits, courtesy of Google Images[image error]
blog.oxforddictionaries.com
June 12 Challenge
Day 12 Twelve Things You Are Grateful ForJune 12, 1942. Anne Frank received a diary for her birthday.
June 12, 2014. The last time I allowed the 12th to be a day of monthly mourning and depression for me. The next month, when the 12th rolled around, I chose to be grateful for the things and people I have rather than being depressed because of what I had lost.
12 Things I am grateful for:
My family. We moved to the other side of the world exactly 10 years ago last weekend; me, my hubby and my two children. The move has made us stronger as a family unit and I’m forever grateful to have them.
My dog. My little terrier Billy is a rascal, but he is also my writing companion and my support.
My computer. Has enabled me to find my creativity.
My creativity. This may sound quite narcissistic, but I love the fact that I can write. I love to create characters, places and settings and am grateful for that.
My love of books. I have read since I was young, and feel privileged every time I find a new author or a gem of a book.I’m currently reading a Tracy Chevalier book, and am engrossed by it.
Baking. I love to bake with my daughter. We set out most weekends to look through recipes and spend that precious family time together.
The internet. I would be lost without my friend Google, as he is used so much in research. What was life like before the internet? I shudder to think.
My car. Allows me to travel around the beautiful Gold Coast, and search for inspiration.
Dining out. I love to discover new restaurants. As a family we eat out quite a bit; food helps us to connect and bond.
The area I live in. Also, the world and all the gorgeous places in it. We should all be grateful to live on this glorious planet.
My parents. For giving me life and good advice.
Waking up each morning in a warm bed, content and looking forward to a new day. *
June 11, 2016
June 11 Challenge
June 11, 1963. We’ve all seen the pictures: Governor of Alabama George Wallace standing at the door of a building at the University of Alabama in an attempt to block two black students from attending the school. He was not successful. The pictures of the young people standing up for their rights are powerful!
Photographs can tell powerful stories! Can you tell a powerful story with your pictures this week? Try taking even photos that tell a story.
Alternative: Post a picture representing the number 11. It can be eleven items, eleven people (think soccer team), or something showing the number 11. Or post a gallery of 11 photos that have a shared theme.
Photo Challenge – Books
June 10, 2016
June 10 Challenge
Day 10 A Toast to Ten BloggersJune 10, 1935. Dr. Robert Smith (Dr. Bob) takes his last drink and Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in Akron, Ohio, by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob.
Although Bill and Dr. Bob quit drinking alcohol, we can still raise a toast to those who have done a great job!
Share a link to ten blogs you enjoy. Tell us why you think they deserve a toast! You may want to try viewing those blogs in your browser and using the “Press This” feature.
Alternative: Share links to the top ten posts on your blog from last year according to your stats. Include an excerpt from each. Or share your favorite ten posts since starting your blog.
Ten blogs I enjoy:
Sue Vincent – Daily Echo A really good haiku poetry blog
A Kinder Way Lovely blog about kindness
Leanne Cole Excellent photographer who lives in Melbourne
Chronicles of an Anglo Swiss A lovely blog about set in Switzerland
The Story Reading Ape’s blog Interesting feature, articles and dtories
Jane Morley Gorgeous photography from rural France
Jane Doughty Writes A writing blog – need I say more?
Dean J Baker A Canadian poet, lovely inspiring poetry
Hands on Bowie A blog about Mr Bowie a gorgeous yellow eyed cat
June 9, 2016
June 9 Challenge
Day 9 Go the Whole Nine Yards
June 9, 1834. William Carey died. He is considered the Father of Modern Missions. He spent forty-one years as a Christian missionary to India without ever taking a furlough. Being a missionary in China in the early nineteenth century was not easy!
To go the whole nine yards means “to continue doing something dangerous or difficult until it is finished”. William Carey went the whole nine yards.
When have you gone the whole nine yards? Write about it.
Or write a story of someone in a dangerous or difficult situation and how they go the whole nine yards.
Egg and spoon race.
When my son was seven years old, he was entered into an egg and spoon race at his primary school. Normally, my hubby took part in all the sporting events at the children’s school, whilst I would sit on the sidelines with a picnic and lots of encouragement.My hubby relished the once a year events as it gave him the chance to compete against the other dads and swap bruises/stories/ generally brag about how good they were!
This particular year was somewhat different. My hubby managed to pull a crucial ligament in his knee in a ‘friendly’ footy match one cold and wet Sunday morning. I had chosen not to stand in the sidelines that day, so heard about it via a phone call that he was in the hospital. He had surgery within weeks, and was on crutches (and off work) for several months afterwards.
Needless to say, he was unable to take part in Liam’s school sports day. It was left up to, yes, you’ve guessed it….ME!
The egg and spoon race involves carrying an egg on a spoon, and racing to a finishing post. I started off well, my egg stayed put, until another mum came too close to me (not sure if it was deliberate, these school activities can be brutal!), and the egg fell off the spoon. Nevertheless I persevered, and quickly put it back in its place and ran (I use this term loosely) as quickly as possible…and came third!!
My son was thrilled, and my hubby was hoarse with shouting from the sidelines.
I went the Whole Nine Yards, and was not a complete failure….and we still talk about that day.[image error]
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June 8, 2016
20 Questions with Suzanne Bowditch
This is a blog interview that I did recently, Enjoy[image error]
Today we sit down with Australian author (by way of Wales) Suzanne Bowditch. She is going to share her work, inspiration and a bit about herself with us. Please enjoy this installment of 20 Questions.
Q1) When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I won a poetry competition at school. It was a poem about a wild horse, and had lots of alliteration. It gave me the encouragement to want to write. After that, I started to write in my diary and read a lot of books. Writing took a back seat when I had my family, but I have returned to writing over the last eighteen months.
Q2) How long does it typically take you to write a book?
The first book Elen, took about three months to write, but the sequel to that book, entitled Alice’s Secret took me at least five months.
Q3)…
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MORE Beta Love for The Navigators
Reblogged this on suzannebowditch Great story[image error]
This is just a sample of the positive feedback The Navigators is receiving. Not ALL the feedback is positive, but most of it is – and I’m grateful for all of it. You need honest, candid input from your beta readers!
And… it’s nice to bask in the glow, too, and see you did some stuff right.
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“I get excited when I read a REALLY good book…
“This story has so much to like about it. The opening line grabbed me, and didn’t let go… The story is fast paced, yet easy to follow along.
“I normally read romance, yet love a good suspense now and then. So I particularly enjoyed the romantic aspects of the story. This has to be the best line ever:
in that moment it was like the Earth paused to simply allow her to fully find him.
*sigh*
“I absolutely loved the…
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June 8 Challenge
Day 8. Eight legs or Sideways It’s Infinity.
June 8, 1992. The Earth Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, South America. The first World Ocean Day was celebrated.
Did you know that the world’s largest spider is the Goliath birdeater tarantula and it’s found in South America ?
Write a story with eight legs OR turn the eight sideways, and write about Infinity.
Fairy Wrens
On my daily walk with my terrier Billy, my usual route takes me up past the wooded area at the end of my street. The is a patch called a Wetlands, where the housing construction companies have left alone, unable to build on it. It has become a mass of wildlife; I have spotted kangaroos hiding in the bush land, snakes (especially brown snakes) slithering across the ground, plus heaps of birds such as lorikeets, magpies and cockatoos, screeching above my head.
Today, I was thrilled to see a male Superb Fairy wren with his three female companions. According to Wikipedia –
‘The Superb Fairy Wren is notable for several peculiar behavioral characteristics; although socially monogamous, they are sexually promiscuous; although they form pairs – One male, One female, each partner will mate with others, then all will assist in raising the young from such pairings.’
There were three female fairy wrens, following a male intently as they foraged for insects, making EIGHT legs plus a harem that was a surprising learning curve in itself[image error]
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Male and female Superb Fairywren: Courtesy of ian.muirhead namehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wike/Superb_fairywren
Image courtesy of ian.muirhead name
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