Kaye Lynne Booth's Blog: Writing to be Read, page 58
June 22, 2023
Small Wonders by Kaye Lynne Booth #Poetry #BookReview #Blog Tour
Today we’re over at Carla Loves to Read for Day 4 of the WordCrafter “Small Wonders” Book Blog Tour with a guest post, a poetry reading and a delightful review. Come join us and leave a comment for a chance to win a free digital copy of my debut poetry collection, “Small Wonders”. I hope to see you there.
Welcome to my stop on the Blog Tour for Kaye Lynne Booth’s Poetry book: Small Wonders, Reflective Poems. Scroll down for a guest post, a reading of one of her poems, a giveaway and my review.
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June 21, 2023
Day 3 of the WordCrafter “Small Wonders” Book Blog Tour
It’s Day 3 of the WordCrafter Small Wonders Book Blog Tour and we have a double stop today. We’ll be hanging out both here on Writing to be Read, where I will share some of my poetry with you from the Small Wonders collection, and on Un dawnted, where DL Mullan interviews me and offers a review of my debut poetry collection, Small Wonders. You will want to leave comments to enter the giveaway. You can get to her stop by clicking on the link here, so be sure to check out the interview and review there when you finished the post here:
You’ll find the tour schedule below for your convenience. You can follow the links to each tour stop, but they won’t work until the post is live.
Tour ScheduleSmall Wonders , by Kaye Lynne Booth – June 19-23
Monday – June 19 – Opening Day – Post “My Moment of Fame” w/ reading “Aspen Tree”– Writing to be Read
Tuesday – June 20 – Guest Post “Fun with Poetry” w/ reading Tanka poem– Robbie’s Inspiration
Wednesday – June 21 – Introduction & Comments – Writing to be Read/Guest Post “I’m a Bird Watcher” w/ reading “Bird Watching”, Interview & Review – Undawnted
Thursday – June 22 – Guest Post “Someone to Look Up To” w/ reading “To Be A Cat” & Review – Carla Loves to Read
Friday – June 23 – Final stop – Post “I Like to Grow Things” w/ reading Haiga Poem- Writing to be Read
The Small Wonders GiveawayThree free digital copies of
Small Wonders
are up for grabs. Follow the tour and make a comment at each stop,
so I know you were there and you’re automatically entered.
One entry per stop.
Winners selected in a random drawing. (Really. I draw them out of a hat, literally.)
About the Book
The world is filled with amazing things, if we will just stop a moment and take notice. In this vast universe, we are but tiny individuals, filled with awe and amazement. From reflections on first love, to reflections on growing old. The poems within these pages express a lifetime of unique reflections in Small Wonders.
Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/b6WZ6E
I’m a Bird WatcherThose of you who follow my blog, Writing to be Read, and in particular the “Tales from the Bird Sanctuary” blog series, know that I am a bird watcher. I am fascinated by the feathered friends, more and more each year, which visit my mountain yard, and I share my fascination through photos in the blog series. In Small Wonders, I also share it through my poetry, as my bird friends have been a great inspiration.
Roger RavenRoger Raven was camera shy
Whenever he saw the small black box,
He’d take to the sky
His big black wings would beat the air
Ruffling up the camera lady’s hair
Then Heather Hummingbird came around
The lady pointed the box and Heather acted the clown
She swoop and flutter and hover about
Roger Raven gave her a shout
“Hey! Get out of there!” he said,
“That camera lady wants your head”
“Silly bird. She’ll make me a star.”
The picture appeared right before Roger’s eyes.
“When she prints my photo, I will go far.”
Roger Raven watched in awe.
“She’s captured you!” he said with a caw.
“Bird Watching” – an acrostic poemAn acrostic poem is one in which the first letter of each line spells out a word, usually the title of the poem. I’d like to share in a poetry reading, my acrostic poem, “Bird Watching”, from the Small Wonders collection. Please take a moment to give a listen. (If you like it, you can also subscribe to the WordCrafter YouTube channel.)
Poetry Reading – “Bird Watching”_________________________________________________________________
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June 20, 2023
Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet and author, D.L. Finn and a book review #TreasuringPoetry #bookreview #poetry
My June Treasuring Poetry guest is the talented poet and author, D.L. Finn. Welcome Denise.
Why do you write poetry?I write poetry for many reasons but the most important one is that I can describe what I’m seeing or feeling in ways I am unable to when I speak. Poetry also expresses or records the world as I see it or want it to be. I can use poetry to convey the pure awe of nature, share my thoughts, or vent frustrations. Writing poetry is not only a wonderful vehicle to communicate my emotions but I like that my perspective can be interpreted differently by the readers.
Do you think poetry is still a relevant form of expressing ideas in our modern world? If yes, why?I do think poetry is still relevant. It is a beautiful art form that allows us to glimpse the world in new ways like any good painting would but through words.
Which poem by any other poet that you’ve read, do you relate to the most and why?The first poem that captured me was A Road Less Traveled. I have the poem framed on my wall so I can enjoy it every day and appreciate that it can have a more layered meaning, and interpretations.
The Road Not TakenBY ROBERT FROST
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44272/the-road-not-taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Which of your own poems is your favourite and why?I have two from when I first started writing poetry. So, these poems have a special place in my heart.
The Bearded Old ManThe bearded old man
Walks across the quiet desert,
His hooded white robe
Protecting and sheltering him
From the burning sky.
His feet are silent against the sand.
He walks day and night,
Going to a place that he knows exists.
He beckons strangers to join him
As he keeps walking toward…
That place he calls home.
Fingers of the SeaThe weightless world of the beach engulfs me
As the long, extended fingers of the sea
Gently
Stroke me—welcome me,
Enticing with its salty breath,
Satisfying my deep, hidden hunger.
Slowly
The fingers curl back
An invitation,
Beckoning toward the heart of the sea.
Beneath my gaze on the cold, wet world
Its subjects are sent out to tempt,
Screeching and scurrying
Above and below me,
All in a frenzied orchestrated rhythm.
The sea’s haunting song
Urgently
Seduces my soul.
All of my resistance floats away
Like the curling waves,
As I blissfully clutch
The fingers of the sea.
Is writing poetry easy for you compared to prose or do you do a lot of editing and revision of your poems?Poetry does seem to come easily to me. I will usually write the poem by hand and then later put it on the computer. Editing comes later when I use the poem for my blog, a challenge, or a book. Each poem is different but when it feels and sounds right to me—it’s done. It is a different process for free verse over symbolic. In free verse I let the words flow naturally, while in symbolic poetry I need to make my words fit a pattern. I do enjoy writing both types of poetry and challenge myself to pen poetry in many different places. This includes the back of a Harley, underwater, or on a crowded plane. In writing prose, I need a quiet space and an idea to get me writing so it’s very different process from poetry.
What mode (blog, books, YouTube, podcasts) do you find the most effective for sharing your poems with poetry lovers and readers?I share my poetry on my blogs, newsletters, and challenges. I also have a book, Just Her Poetry, and working on another one right now. I least like to read my poetry but will still do it.
My review of Just Her Poetry Seasons of a Soul (Poetry)
Picture caption: Cover of Just Her Poetry Seasons of a Soul by D.L. Finn. Features a wooded area with snow on the ground.This book, packed with exquisite poems, is divided into two main sections, namely, Just her poetry about nature and the author’s experiences investigating sites of natural beauty from her seat behind the driver of a Harley and Seasons of a soul which includes a variety of passionate and evocative poems about the author’s emotional state during various experiences and circumstances she has faced during her life.
I was attracted particularly to the second section of poems and was captivated by the author’s depictions and descriptions of the states and stages of life. I selection of my favourite lines are as follows:
“I am alone
Yet the voices from my past sit with me.
They can haunt me – or comfort me.”
From Now
“It’s time to let go of the things I’ve collected.
Leaving room for my heart to shine through my smile.
Then my peace will be complete within my soul.”
From Simply Gone
And this extract from my favourite poem:
“I’m figuring out why I keep repeating the same issue over and over,
Like walking by a shoe in the middle of the room, tripping over it daily,
But not moving it or even taking another route so I don’t fall over that shoe.
Then it became guilt for me, always been there, while I kept tripping on it.”
From The Shoe.
This particular poem really spoke to me and I could relate to it completely. That, for me an avid reader of poetry, is a rare and wonderful thing.
Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NVZ7FPF
My review of In the Tree’s Shadow (short story collection)
Picture caption: Cover of In the Tree’s Shadow by D.L. Finn. Depicts a wood area with a misty background.In the tree’s shadow is an entertaining collection of horror, paranormal and sci-fi short stories that is well worth reading. The stories all revolve around themes of self worth, love and relationships and use dark twists and turns to demonstrate the strength of love and its ability to overcome impossible seeming odds. The stories are of different lengths with some being quite long and detailed and others being 99-word flash fiction.
My favourite story was the first in the book called ‘End of the road’. The main character’s dismal life was well described and the reach of her grandmother’s love from beyond the grave was welcome and heart warming.
‘The Playdate’ and ‘A Man on the pier’ were both unexpectedly dark with most interesting twists that gave me quite a shock.
Another tale that I found particularly pleasing was ‘The Dolphin’. It was not dark, rather heart warming and unique.
All the stories are well written and the characters are nicely drawn.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Trees-Shadow-collection-stories-nightmares-ebook/dp/B0BWL7LX9K
About D.L. Finn
Picture caption: Author picture of D.L. Finn, peeping out form behind a tree and wearing a hat and a huge smileD.L. Finn is an independent California local who encourages everyone to embrace their inner child. She was born and raised in the foggy Bay Area, but in 1990 relocated with her husband, kids, dogs, and cats to the Sierra foothills in Nevada City, CA. She immersed herself in reading all types of books, but especially loved romance, horror, and fantasy. She always treasured creating her own reality on paper. Finally, being surrounded by towering pines, oaks, and cedars, her creativity was nurtured until it bloomed. Her creations vary from children’s books, young adult fantasy, and adult paranormal romance to an autobiography with poetry. She continues on her adventures with an open invitation for her readers to join her.
About Robbie Cheadle
Award-winning, bestselling author, Robbie Cheadle, has published thirteen children’s book and two poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.
Robbie also has two novels published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
The ten Sir Chocolate children’s picture books, co-authored by Robbie and Michael Cheadle, are written in sweet, short rhymes which are easy for young children to follow and are illustrated with pictures of delicious cakes and cake decorations. Each book also includes simple recipes or biscuit art directions which children can make under adult supervision.
Robbie’s blog includes recipes, fondant and cake artwork, poetry, and book reviews. https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/
Tour Correction – Small Wonders
We all make mistakes, and this one was mine. I sent the wrong reading to go with the post at today’s stop on Robbie’s Inspiration. The video you saw today is the same one you’ll see tomorrow and makes no sense under the Tanka poem portion. The reading that went with today’s post is below. My apologies.
Robbie’s Inspiration – Day 2 of the WordCrafter “Small Wonders” Book Blog Tour
We’re over at Robbie’s Inspiration for day 2 of the WordCrafter “Small Wonders” Book Blog Tour, with a guest post and poetry reading. Be sure to drop by and leave a comment for a chance at a free digital copy of my debut poetry collection, “Small Wonders” in the giveaway. I do hope you will all join us.
Today, I am delighted to welcome poet and author, Kaye Lynne Booth, to Robbie’s Inspiration to chat about her new poetry book, Small Wonders, Reflective Poems.
Fun with poetryI’m not an artist. I never have been. I lack the skill to make the paint do my bidding on the canvas and I am unable to transform the pictures in my mind into something that is shareable with others. When I try to draw or paint… well, you might be able to figure out what it is I am trying to portray, if you really look at it, but observers shouldn’t have to work that hard to make sense of what they are seeing.
But with poetry…
With poetry, I can paint a picture with words. This is probably why Haiku poetry is so appealing to me. I fell in love with Haiku when we studied it in the fourth…
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June 19, 2023
Welcome to the WordCrafter “Small Wonders” Book Blog Tour
Welcome to the WordCrafter Small Wonders Book Blog Tour. This week we have a great tour planned, with guest posts from me, an interview and reviews, and the reading of a different poem at each stop. Plus we have a great giveaway and there will be three winners. Follow the links in the tour schedule below to visit and enter at each stop.
Tour ScheduleSmall Wonders , by Kaye Lynne Booth – June 19-23
Monday – June 19 – Opening Day – Post “My Moment of Fame” w/ reading “Aspen Tree”– Writing to be Read
Tuesday – June 20 – Guest Post “Fun with Poetry” w/ reading Tanka poem– Robbie’s Inspiration/Roberta Writes
Wednesday – June 21 – Introduction & comments – Writig to be Read/Guest Post “I’m a Bird Watcher” w/ reading “Bird Watching”, Interview & Review – Undawnted
Thursday – June 22 – Guest Post “Someone to Look Up To” w/ reading “To Be A Cat” & Review – Carla Loves to Read
Friday – June 23 – Final stop – Post “I Like to Grow Things” w/ reading Haiga Poem- Writing to be Read
The Small Wonders GiveawayThree free digital copies of
Small Wonders
are up for grabs. Follow the tour and make a comment at each stop,
so I know you were there and you’re automatically entered.
One entry per stop.
Winners selected in a random drawing. (Really. I draw them out of a hat, literally.)
About the Book
The world is filled with amazing things, if we will just stop a moment and take notice. In this vast universe, we are but tiny individuals, filled with awe and amazement. From reflections on first love, to reflections on growing old. The poems within these pages express a lifetime of unique reflections in Small Wonders.
Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/b6WZ6E
My moment of fameThe phone rang.
“Hello.”
A male voice with a very strong English accent came through the line, asking for me.
“This is she,” I replied.
The voice at the other end identified himself as Mitch Barrett, an artist who I had gone to great lengths locating his contact information and emailed, asking permission to use the image of one of his paintings in my poetry display. Of course, it was. Who else could it be with an accent like that. And he was calling me. All the way from London!
I had contacted Mitch Barrett via email, about using one of his paintings, “Voices”, as a background for my poem of the same name in my poetry displays, which I was creating for participation in a small, local writers & artists’ fair, the first I had ever attended or participated in.
I had a booth, but no book, so I collected a few of my favorite poems and put backgrounds behind them, selling them for $5 a piece. I had written a poem called “Voices”, about all the different voices that make demands upon us, and when I found Mitch’s painting, by the same name, depicting the same concept… well, call it serendipity, if you like, but I knew it was more than just chance. This was the background for my poem and I knew it, but of course, I had to gain permission from the artist.
Of course, Mitch granted me permission to use his painting in my display, but that phone call was the beginning of a longer correspondence, one in which Mitch informed me of a pair of paintings he was working on, in which he wanted to incorporate poetry, and he asked me if I would write a poem for him to use with them.
From that conversation, I wrote “Intimacy & the Harlequin Dance”, which he used in one of the paintings, “Intimacy”. I don’t think the second painting was ever finished, but that first painting was placed on display at the Kaleidoscope Gallery at Battle Sea Park, in London, in 2010, with my poem, until someone eventually bought it.
I didn’t make any money from that poem, but that didn’t make me any less proud to have it featured in Mitch’s painting. Thanks to him, I had a special accolade which not many poets had. My work was featured in a work of art, my second publication, so to speak. I had had one poem published at the time for which I had received $5. I was proud of that, too, but this… this was something really special.
And now, “Intimacy & the Harlequin Dance” is featured in Small Wonders, so that everyone can enjoy it.
Intimacy and the Harlequin DanceWe dance through the masquerade of life
Disguised to fit the music
Of so many different melodies
That at times, we forget which tune
Holds the heartstrings of who we really are.
Then one day, we find the perfect dance partner,
But to attain the perfect rhythm
We must open ourselves up and reveal our souls.
Intimacy requires that we relinquish the mask
To expose the genuine self that lies beneath.
After all the years of dancing to false tunes
Will we be able to keep time
To the genuine dance and the original rhyme?
Or shall we don the mask once more and continue to
Keep time to the false melody of the Harlequin dance?
“Aspen Tree”I’d like to share with you one of the poems included in the Small Wonders collection. This is a minimalist poem, and the goal is to paint a picture in as few words as possible. It was first published in Colorado Life Magazine (2016). Hopefully, it describes for you my favorite tree. It is titled, “Aspen Tree”
Poetry Reading – “Aspen Tree”That’s it for today’s stop on the WordCrafter Small Wonders Book Blog Tour. I hope that you’ve enjoyed this first stop on the tour enough to want to follow the tour and viosit each stop along the way. You can do that through the links in the schedule above, but remember that the links won’t work until each post goes live. Be sure to leave a comment so that I know you were there, and I’ll give you an entry in the giveaway. Tomorrow we wil be over at Roberta Writes/ Robbie’s Inspiration with a guest post and poetry reading by me. I hope to see you there.
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June 16, 2023
Book Review: Hex in the City
About the Book
HER LOVE WILL BRING ABOUT HIS DEMISE.
Michael Andrews and Gail Sommers have finally found the love that had eluded them for so long.
But their romance has uncovered an ancient evil curse neither of them could have anticipated. It does more than bring down a plague on their houses – it unleashes something far more sinister that can destroy humanity.
Now they must choose: battle the evil forces out to destroy them, or continue to meet in secret while the rest of the world burns.
If you like thrilling action, paranormal adventure, and quirky humor, you’ll love Hex and the City. Read it today!
Though this is book six in a series, it can be enjoyed as a stand alone novel. A “the story so far” summary is available for readers.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Hex-City-Canadian-Werewolf-Book-ebook/dp/B0B1XPGVHZ/
My ReviewHex in the City, by Mark Leslie and Julie Straus, is Book 6 in Mark Leslie’s Canadian Werewolf series. Admittedly, I have read all of the novels which came before this one in the series, so I had a pretty good idea of what to expect, but Leslie and Straus never fail to fill their pages with supernatural surprises.
After listening to the audio version of the first book Leslie co-authored with Straus, Lover’s Moon, they became the voices of Michael Andrews and Gail Sommers for me. As I read the digital version of Hex in the City, I could hear the authors’ voices in my head, I swear, and that made the story ever so much more real for me. In book 6, Gail and Michael have found each other once more and are determined to be happy together. But, once again, forces beyond their control just seem to get in the way.
But in this book, more is revealed about two of the supporting characters, who have been there, but taken a back seat, all along, Gail’s BFF, Isabeau, and her brother, Ben. And in learning more aboutn these two, many of the missing pieces of Gail’s past fall into place. And we also learn a thing or two about Michael’s mysterious traveling friend, Buddy, who always seems to show up in the right place, at the right time. After reading this book, I have more of the pieces to the puzzle, I still hae the feeling that there is so much more to this story.
Enjoyably entertaining, as are all the books in this series. It’s so much fun to watch the story unfold between the two main characters, who by book 6, are starting to feel like good friends. I give Hex in the City five quills.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review here.
June 13, 2023
Growing Bookworms – Meet children’s fiction and adult fiction and non-fiction author, Toni Pike and a review #growingbookworms #childrensfiction #bookreview
Today, I am delighted to introduce children’s and adult fiction author, Toni Pike. Toni is a prolific writer with at least two non-fiction books, six adult thrillers, one women’s fiction, and two children’s books, all available from Amazon. Today, we are focusing the discussion on Toni’s two children’s books in the Brody Cody series. I’ve read both and they are wonderful for middle school children.
I love your books about Brody Cody as they are filled with excellent, age-appropriate humour without resulting in facetious child characters which is a pitfall with many modern children’s books. Is there any particular children’s book author whom you admire and consider to be a role model for your writing?Thank you so much for your lovely comments, Robbie – I’m delighted that you liked my characters. That means so much to me, coming from such a wonderful writer.
Roald Dahl is my favourite children’s author – his irreverent stories and characters are so wickedly delightful, and his plots are so beautifully constructed. I find children love this irreverence, and I was horrified to read recently that his stories were to be “sanitised” for the modern world. I think young readers could only benefit from enjoying his classic stories.
One of my other favourite role models is Judy Blume – I love the characters and familiar situations in “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.”
Is Brody Cody entirely fictitious or are some of his characteristics based on real life models?I always say that they are entirely a figment of my imagination – but quite a few aspects of Brody’s character are drawn from various real-life situations. In particular, I drew on memories of my own children and their friends, and also some snippets and ideas from children I taught at school. Having said that, nothing would be recognisable. I also drew on my own experience of childhood – even though that was a very long time ago! Two examples were Brody’s reluctance to get involved with extra-curricular activities, and also his insecurities, things Brody and I have in common.
How do you go about ensuring the language and flow of ideas in your children’s books are appropriate for the target age group?Whether it’s for adults or children, I always try to write fast-moving stories that are plot-driven to keep the reader turning the page. That style seems suit me best, and it’s one of the reasons I like writing thrillers. To keep the language age-appropriate, I tried to think of how my children spoke when they were that age. I also made sure I used simple words and sentences, and always attempted to add humour. The setting was Australia, which of course is my home, so I knew the local idioms. I didn’t worry too much about the latest slang expressions – I tried to avoid that.
The theme of your first book, Brody Cody and the Stepmother from Outer Space, is very relevant in our modern age of frequent broken families and remarriages. Was there anything specific that compelled you to write this type of story? What were your aims with this book?I wanted to write about a little boy who had lost his mother, because that immediately created sympathy for the character. I wanted it to be both scary and funny, but to have a very positive message about children and parents. I know there are a lot of blended families these days, so I hoped it would strike a chord but also be something all children could enjoy.
What are your goals for the Brody Cody series? Can we expect another book in this series soon?I have a list of ideas for future Brody Cody stories, and want to add to the current two-book series. However, I also love writing books for adults, and I’m currently working on another thriller – which is still at a very early stage. I feel torn between the two, and don’t want to disappoint my grown-up readers who’ve followed me for a few years now. So, for the moment, I think my adult writing is winning.
Books for children are harder to market than books for adults. How do you go about marketing your books and what works best for you?Attracting readers for the series has been far more difficult than I anticipated – much more so than for adult books. Of course, that’s only my experience and other writers may not find that. I was thrilled with the response from those who did read them, and many of the reviews were wonderful. But I would prefer to find a wider audience.
I use the same techniques for marketing that I used for my other books The first essential is to have some reviews – and I send out advance copies for that. I enrol my books in Kindle Unlimited, and have both the ebooks and paperbacks on Amazon. I find reads on Kindle Unlimited account for a fair proportion of my royalty income. Occasional free days, especially for the first book in the series, helps to boost subsequent sales of all books in the series and also helps to get some reviews. I also use Amazon sponsored ads, targeting similar books and authors. I do, however, keep a tight rein on my budget for that.
The best marketing tool of all, though, is a supportive writing community. I’ve become good friends over the last few years with other writers like yourself from all over the world, and supporting and sharing each other’s writing and blog posts is a great way to spread the word. Your Growing Bookworms series about children’s writing is a great inspiration for children’s writers, and a great learning tool for parents.
My review of Brody Cody and the Stepmother from outer space
This book is a hilarious and fun read for young readers aged 7 to 13 years old. It is quite reminiscent, with its quirky and slightly dark humour, of Roald Dahl’s books, in particular, it reminded me a bit of James and the Giant Peach where James’ parents are eaten by a rampaging rhinoceros.
Cody, the young hero if this book, is raised by his relaxed and nonchalant father after his mother is mowed down unexpectedly by a runaway bus. Cody is spared because he flies out of his pram and across into the hands of the police constable who catches him like a baseball.
Cody is a happy boy who lives with no rules and little parental intervention. His father works from home in the afternoons, and is not given to checking on Cody’s homework or making sure it is done. They have an interesting diet too that comprises of sweet and sickly cereal in the morning and some fabulously unhealthy father created meals in the evenings.
Cody is happy and doesn’t believe he needs a mother like other children have. He has freedom and he is happy living with his father.
One day, Cody’s father needs to go away to an out-of-town conference. Cody cannot go with him and is sent to his friend’s home for this period. Cody’s friend has a mother and she sets about trying to mend Cody’s lackadaisical ways. Just before Cody is due to go home, he gets a quick call from his father telling him he has met and married a woman he met at the conference.
Cody is horrified and returns home quite determined to reject this new mother, but things don’t go quite according to plan. Cody discovers things about his new mother than lead him to believe she is an alien.
This really is a rollicking good story and young children will love it.
My review of The Magnus Covenant
The Magnus Covenant is an exciting thriller that starts of with an unusual and strange murder. From there the excitement and pace just keep increasing, keeping you on the edge of your seat.
Jotham Fletcher and his girlfriend, Antonella Pavoni, a lecturer at the University of Rome, arrive at a famous Catholic Church where Jotham is expecting to deliver a lecture about Simon Magnus just in time to view the body of an elderly man in a black cape who may have committed suicide. As an expert on Simon Magnus, a cult leader from the time of Jesus, who thought he should be the head of the church and who was believed to have been a magician, Jotham mentions to the police the similarities between the deaths of Simon Magnus and this old man. Unfortunately, Jotham’s comments and interventions make him a prime suspect for murder.
Jotham does give his lecture and is the recipient of an extraordinary question from a journalist who subsequently disappears. He is also the recipient of antagonistic comments from a young Catholic brother who is also a member of the audience.
Shortly after the delivery of the lecture, Jotham is kidnapped and becomes embroiled in a complicated intrigue involving the members of the Simon Magnus cult, which has been in existence for 2,000 years, a brotherhood of extreme Catholics and a wealthy individual who may be the cause of all the agitation through the discovery and restoration of an ancient document. Jotham quickly realises that he can’t trust anyone he knows or meets and that his life is in danger.
Jotham is a great character. He has suffered personal loss through the deaths of his wife and child and is struggling with his faith. He’d thrown himself into researching Simon Magnus as a distraction from his loss and emotional turmoil. The deception of many people around him comes as a complete surprise to Jotham and he gets himself into a mess. He is able to pull himself together, discover his survival instincts and set about unravelling the intrigue all around him.
I thought the plot of this book was clever and interesting and the action kept me interested throughout.
About Toni Pike
Toni Pike is a multi-genre author who enjoys writing page-turning fiction for adults, hilarious books for children, and non-fiction. She also loves travelling and being with family and friends. She lives in Australia and firmly believes that coffee and long walks are an essential part of any day.
Do you like books that you can’t stop reading? Pike is the author of LINDA’S MIDLIFE CRISIS, DESOLATION BLUFF, DEAD DRY HEART and The Jotham Fletcher Mystery Thriller Series: THE MAGUS COVENANT, THE ROCK OF MAGUS, THE MAGUS EPIPHANY and HOLY SPEAR OF MAGUS.
The Brody Cody Series is for children aged 6-9: BRODY CODY AND THE STEPMOTHER FROM OUTER SPACE and BRODY CODY AND THE HAUNTED VACATION HOUSE.
She’s also the author of two non-fiction books. THE ONE WAY DIET is a no-nonsense guide to losing weight. HAPPY TRAVELS 101 is a short book of travel tips with advice for anyone who wants to travel overseas.
To find out more, her website is tonipike.com.
About Robbie Cheadle
Award-winning, bestselling author, Robbie Cheadle, has published thirteen children’s book and three poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.
Robbie also has two novels published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
The ten Sir Chocolate children’s picture books, co-authored by Robbie and Michael Cheadle, are written in sweet, short rhymes which are easy for young children to follow and are illustrated with pictures of delicious cakes and cake decorations. Each book also includes simple recipes or biscuit art directions which children can make under adult supervision.
Robbie’s blog includes recipes, fondant and cake artwork, poetry, and book reviews. https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/
June 12, 2023
Bonanza!
Old Ore Stamping Mill, Bonanza, Colorado – Photo by Kaye Lynne BoothHistoryBonanza, Colorado is an old silver mining town, settled in 1880, which I have visited for many years. Originally, purported to have over 100 buildings, including 36 saloons and 7 dancehalls. It also boasted a post office, a drugstore, a hardware store, a town hall, a schoolhouse, a furniture store and two hotels. As the silver mines were played out the population dropped, but the town got a second wind when the Rawley mine was discovered in the 1920’s and they carried the ore out to the mill in Shirley by cabletram. The town was virtually abandoned after ore production fell off in the 1930s.
Bonanza TodayNow, just a small number of year round residents, (17 in 2020 according to wikipedia), some of the old mining buildings are still standing beyond the township. Although the town is kind of cool, these mining structures, which can be found beyond the town up a four-wheel-drive road, are what has always interested me more than the town itself.
The old ore stamping mill, seen in the photos above, is now crumbling down in disrepair, but in years past I explored the interior with my children. Most of the staircases were intact when I first explored the remains of Bonanza, and at one time, I climbed all the way to the top of the mill, but today only two short stairways are even passable. The equipment that was to large and too heavy to be carried off by scavengers and vandalls, such as the large stamps used to crush the rock so they could seperate the ore, and the engine which ran the pulley system that brought the ore up from the mine remained thirty years ago, but today even these items have been hauled out by those determined enough to collect the scrap metal fee from them.
ExchequervilleAbove Bonanza there exists an old cabin, which is the only remians of the townsite of Exchequer, or Exchechequerville. On the hill above is an old cemetary, which caught my interest, so I’ve visited there two or three times. I’ve always wondered what the story was about this little mining town. Whenever I’ve visited, I’ve felt like there was a story there, and it has made me curious. I found very little information about this strange place with one building and a cemetary to attest that it ever existed at all.
All I did find was a tidbit to make an interesting aside, probably of more interest to female authors. According to a site called Haunted at Timberline, Exchequer fame is attributed to three female authors wrote books using Bonanza and Exchequer as their setting. Anne Ellis wrote a sereis of letters chronicaling the pioneer life of she and her family, much of which took place around Exchequer, and the collection is housed in the University of colorado Boulder Libraries. Her book, titiled “The Life of an Ordinary Woman”, is a part of a triad of famous books written by female authors during the gold and silver rushes in the mid-to-late 1800s, including Father Struck it Rich, by Evalyn Walsh McLean and Tomboy Bride, by Harriette Fish Backus. Ellis, her mother and her two brothers are all buried in the cemetary above the old townsite.
Site SeeingAt an elevation of 9, 470 feet, Bonanza is a favortite spot to visit for fall colors, as well. With several four-wheel-drive trails which venture into the hills above, including the Ottis Mears Toll Road, there is plenty of trees and open space for picnicking, hiking, riding, camping, or however else you choose to enjoy the great Colorado outdoors.
References“Bonanza, CO Ghosttown – By Villa Grove”. Uncover Colorado. Retrieved from https://www.uncovercolorado.com/ghost-towns/bonanza/
“Bonanza, Colorado”. Western Mining History. Retrieved from https://westernmininghistory.com/towns/colorado/bonanza/
“Rawley Mine, Bonanza, Colorado”. onX maps. Retrieved from https://www.onxmaps.com/offroad/trails/us/colorado/rawley-mine-bonanza
Bradford Harrison. “About Exchequer Cemetary”. Haunted at Timberline. Retrieved from http://hauntedattimberline.com/about/exchequercemetery.htm
“Anne Ellis Papers Collection”. University of Colorado Boulder Libraries. Retrieved from https://archives.colorado.edu/repositories/2/resources/96
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