Marco Etheridge's Blog, page 8

A Great Gift: Read a Book to a Kid

The holiday season is upon us once again, a time for family, friends, food, and the giving of gifts. Are you looking for an amazing gift for a child, one that will last a lifetime? Allow me to suggest a simple and wonderful thing: read a book to the favorite Kid in your life. They will love it, they will not forget it, and neither will you. Reading aloud to a child is a bonding experience; a bit of time snatched from the hustle, bustle, and distractions of our busy world. Reading a book aloud can be a quiet moment of mutual magic. The story unfolds as one reads it, floating in the air for a little girl or boy to imagine. There is nothing quite like it. Instilling the love of books in a child is a gift that goes far beyond the simple act of reading. A child that is read to will become an adult that reads. That is a gift beyond price. 


But where to start? Listed below is my small primer of great stories for kids, graduated by age. Over the course of years, I have read each of these books to my son Liam. It is my hope that you will enjoy these classic tales for kids. More importantly, I hope that you read one of these to a child in your life. With that said, let's get to it! I have started each entry with some of the publisher's description. My own comments follow the descriptions.

 
The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary

Paperback, 186 pagesPublished January 26th 2014 by Harper Collins (first published 1965) 

"Pb-pb-b-b-b. Pb-pb-b-b-b." With these magic vocables, Ralph the mouse revs up a dream come true--his very own motorcycle. Living in a knothole in a hotel room, young Ralph has seen plenty of families come and go, some more generous with their crumbs than others. But when young Keith and his parents check in to the hotel, Ralph gets his first chance to check out. He has always fantasized about venturing beyond the second floor, maybe even outside. 

My comments... 


This is a wonderful story about overcoming fear and having an adventure. Ralph the mouse is a great character for children as young as four years old. The bond that grows between Ralph and the boy Keith is heart-warming. With Keith's help, the toy motorcycle becomes the vehicle that enlarges and enhances Ralph's world. As an added bonus, there are some great opportunities for sound effects whilst reading this aloud. Go for it! Make the little motorcycle roar, and you will be rewarded with giggles.


 

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

Paperback, Full Color Edition, 184 pagesPublished October 1st 2001 by Harper Collins  (first published 1952) 

Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words in Charlotte's Web, high up in Zuckerman's barn. Charlotte's spiderweb tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, who simply wants a friend. They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur's life when he was born the runt of his litter.

My comments... 


Fair warning, no one is going to get through Charlotte's Web without a few tears. Because of some of the subject matter, I would say this book is best suited for children from six to sixty-five years old. 

The story of Wilbur (Some Pig!) and Charlotte, the wise spider, is poignant and emotional. Even with the inevitable tears, E.B. White weaves a most magical tale. I simply cannot imagine a child growing up without reading this book, or, better yet, having it read aloud. The supporting cast of barnyard characters, some good, some not so good, will enthrall any youngster. 




The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Paperback, 256 pagesPublished 1996 by Random House Bullseye Books (first published 1961) 

For Milo, everything’s a bore. When a tollbooth mysteriously appears in his room, he drives through only because he’s got nothing better to do. But on the other side, things seem different. Milo visits the Island of Conclusions (you get there by jumping), learns about time from a ticking watchdog named Tock, and even embarks on a quest to rescue Rhyme and Reason! Somewhere along the way, Milo realizes something astonishing. Life is far from dull. In fact, it’s exciting beyond his wildest dreams. 

My comments... 


Meet Milo, the boy who has everything. Life has lost its luster: boring, boring, boring. His toys are boring, his games are boring, and there is simply nothing worth doing. Sound familiar? When he discovers a small car and a magic tollbooth, everything changes. Milo has some lessons to learn. He sets out on a allegorical journey, one that will reveal the worth, or lack of worth, in many things. Some of the concepts in this book will be best understood by a child who is a bit older, somewhere in the range of eight to eighty years old.


 

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl  

Hardcover, Borzoi Book Edition, 146 pagesPublished September 10th 2002 by Alfred A. Knopf (first published 1961) 

When James accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree, strange things start to happen. The peach at the top of the tree begins to grow, and before long it's as big as a house. When James discovers a secret entrance way into the fruit and crawls inside, he meets wonderful new friends--the Old-Green-Grasshopper, the dainty Ladybug, and the Centipede of the multiple boots. After years of feeling like an outsider in his aunts' house, James finally found a place where he belongs. With a snip of the stem, the peach household starts rolling away--and the adventure begins!


My comments... 


Roald Dahl is the master of 'Poor Boy Makes Good.' As in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Mr. Dahl creates a magical world. The child has only to enter, and the journey begins. This is a classic tale of the boy who has very little, but is rewarded with riches beyond price: Adventure! Charming characters await inside the giant peach, which continues to grow, bigger and bigger. This story will enthrall small readers of all ages.





Watership Down by Richard Adams 


Mass Market Paperback, 478 pagesPublished June 1975 by Avon Books (first published November 1972) 

Set in England's Downs, a once idyllic rural landscape, this stirring tale of adventure, courage and survival follows a band of very special creatures on their flight from the intrusion of man and the certain destruction of their home. Led by a stouthearted pair of friends, they journey forth from their native Sandleford Warren through the harrowing trials posed by predators and adversaries, to a mysterious promised land and a more perfect society. 

My comments... 



Watership Down is more of a commitment than the other books listed above. This full-length novel is one to be read over the course of many bedtime sessions before sleepy eyes close. It is a complex story, one more suited to children aged ten to one hundred years old. My son loved this story, insisting on long reading sessions before he would even consider sleeping. The story deals with deep bonds of friendship, adventure, and dangers overcome. 



Terror has come to the old warren, forcing the few surviving rabbits to flee. Dogged by their own fears, as well as real danger, they must overcome both to find a new home. The members of their small company each have their strengths and weaknesses. They must learn to work together to survive. Watership Down is a great anthropomorphic adventure, but also imparts some profound life lessons. This book is well worth the time invested


























And, in a quick pause for the cause...

Marco Etheridge is an eccentric world traveler and writer living in Vienna, Austria. He is the author of The Dark Rain Series, a riveting and original tale of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. This post-apocalyptic saga opens with the novella "Clouds Before Rain" and continues in the full-length novel "The Best Dark Rain: A Post Apocalyptic Struggle for Life and Love." Marco's second novel, "Blood Rust Chains," is a stand-alone novel, set in Portland, Oregon. "Blood Rust Chains" was released in 2018. Marco's third novel, a political satire thriller, is complete and awaiting publication. He is hard at work on other projects, including a fourth novel, a three-act play, and a children's book.

To learn more about news, deals, or upcoming projects, please visit my website:

Marco Etheridge Fiction

Book Review: "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay"

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Michael Chabon's novel "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" is a deeply satisfying tale set amidst the heyday of the American comic book. An unlikely setting for a novel? Perhaps, but Chabon is a master of quirky settings, and equally quirky characters.



The story moves between Prague and New York; before, during, and after World War Two. The lives of two young cousins become intertwined, one a Jewish refugee from the Nazis who have occupied Czechoslovakia, the other a smart-aleck Brooklyn kid. As the events of the tale play out, these two form a partnership that will blaze a trail in the new world of the American comic book. Joseph Kavalier is the artist, the young man with the pen and ink. Sammy Clay is the idea kid, the story writer of the partnership. They learn the ropes of the comic book business, abused and taken advantage of by the guys with the money, older men who drain off their talents and ideas.

The comic book business is the vehicle that carries the story, but it is only a small part of the tale. Beneath it all looms the image of the Golem, the anthropomorphic being of Jewish folklore. The Golem of Prague is the vehicle by means of which Joe Kavalier escapes from Prague. The metaphor of the Golem is rooted deeply in each of the characters. Formed from the mud of the river, the Golem of Prague is made animate by the touch of the Rabbi's hand. The mark on the forehead is then wiped clean, leaving a trace. The mark of the Golem follows each of these characters, Joe and Sammy, Rosa and Tommy. The idea of the Golem represents the possibility of transformation, as well as a link to the past. War and peace, community and isolation, hope and despair, the living idea formed of clay is made manifest throughout the events of this sprawling storyline.

The motif of escape plays a large part in this novel. Escape becomes a character in the many references to Harry Houdini, the famous escape artist. Joe Kavalier is a trained lock-picker and escape artist, skills he learned from a mysterious magician in Prague. Yet he cannot escape his past, the truth of which he carries with him no matter where his adventures take him. Nor can Sammy Clay escape his past, his longing for an absent father, or his desire for the true love that society abhors.

Chabon creates complex, highly developed characters with whom the reader can readily identity and care for. As is typical with his work, Chabon inserts historical characters into his narrative, peppering the tale with the likes of Harry Houdini, Max Ernst, Salvador Dali, and the comic book icon Stan Lee. The result is a moving, complex, and fascinating tale.

"The Amazing Adventure of Kavalier & Clay" will appeal to a broad segment of readers. If you are a fan of historical novels, this is a great view of Pre- and Post-World War Two New York. If you grew up dog-earing the pages of comic books, this is a wonderful history of the birth that beloved genre. Readers who like a quirky love story will find both love lost and love found.

I am, admittedly, a big fan of Michael Chabon's work. If I was going to recommend only one of his novels, this would be it.

View all my reviews























And, in a quick pause for the cause...

Marco Etheridge is an eccentric world traveler and writer living in Vienna, Austria. He is the author of The Dark Rain Series, a riveting and original tale of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. This post-apocalyptic saga opens with the novella "Clouds Before Rain" and continues in the full-length novel "The Best Dark Rain: A Post Apocalyptic Struggle for Life and Love." Marco's second novel, "Blood Rust Chains," is a stand-alone novel, set in Portland, Oregon. "Blood Rust Chains" was released in 2018. Marco's third novel, a political satire thriller, is complete and awaiting publication. He is hard at work on other projects, including a fourth novel, a three-act play, and a children's book.

To learn more about news, deals, or upcoming projects, please visit my website:

Marco Etheridge Fiction

Book Review: "Empire of the Sun"

Empire of the Sun by J.G. Ballard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars








First, the disclaimer: I love J.G. Ballard's work. That said, this is a novel that deserves love. This semi-autobiographical saga opens in Shanghai at the beginning of World War Two. An invasion by the Army of Japan is imminent. The wealthy foreign traders who live in the Shanghai International Settlement are scrambling to safety. The stage is set. This is familiar ground for Ballard. He was born in Shanghai in 1930. He and his family were interned by the Japanese occupation forces, spending more than two years in captivity.

The Japanese sweep into Shanghai. Everything is in chaos. The young protagonist, Jamie Graham (The initials in Ballard's name stand for: James Graham,) is separated from his parents and lost in the chaos. This is the set-up to the story: a young boy lost on the floods of war. So, you may ask, what makes this novel different from the many stories featuring children adrift on the tides of war?

What makes this novel different is Ballard's unique style, coupled with his treatment of the main character. Ballard employs a writing style that ignores the sentimental, focusing instead on the bleak environment of life in the internement camp. There is a sense of careless callousness that dogs the heels of the characters. Then enter the child, Jamie Graham. He is not really a very likable little boy. This is not some plucky Dickensian Orphan that we are all rooting for, heartstrings all a-flutter. Jamie has an uncanny ability to see through the smoke screen of adult behaviors, sifting out the clues for a pathway to survival. Along the way, he is not the nicest boy in the world, but then neither are the adults.

To go further into the story would be to write a spoiler. So here is the hook, the reason I think you will love this book: An odd child, adrift in a suddenly deconstructed world, must learn to survive where the adults fail to. You might not want Jamie Graham to play with your children, but I am certain that you will care, very deeply, what happens to him in the course of this magnificent tale. "Empire of the Sun" can be dark, there is no doubt, but it is not bleak: and it is not without redemption. This novel is very near the top of my "Most Highly Recommended Novels" list.

View all my reviews

A Small Universe Expands

When I began my first novel, The Best Dark Rain, it was meant to be a stand-alone tale. The story begins in situ; the world has died, and Seattle has died along with it. The novel dives right into the lives of our protagonists, picking up the tale without any omniscient narration. There are no carefully inserted explanations; no second-rate scientist in a white lab coat, appearing from nowhere. The Best Dark Rain is still a stand-alone novel, but now it has company.

Readers, bless them each and every one, are stubborn creatures. And in this post-modern age, where we are all connected in a great tangle of social media, readers can ask authors questions. And they do; over and over again. What readers ask for, in general, is more background, more details. (Sometimes the ask for naked photos of the characters, but I gently ignore those requests.) 

First there were reader questions, then some badgering, and finally my own need for a shorter writing project. That project became the novella Clouds Before Rain. As my friend Roberto says: "Ta-Daa!"
























Clouds Before Rain: A Prequel to The Best Dark Rain (Full title) is the tale of a world dying, and dying quickly. But the real story revolves around the choices that the survivors are forced to make. It was fascinating to imagine how different groups of folks would react, and then try to set that down in a shorter format. For better or worse, this novella is the beginning of The Best Dark Rain Series. I am sure there will be a sequel. If I've learned anything from the marvel Universe, there is always a sequel. But I'm not promising it will be tomorrow.

Both volumes in The Best Dark Rain series are available as eBooks or paperbacks. The eBook version is available over a wide platform of online booksellers, including Amazon, iBooks, Nook, Kobo, and more. Just click the appropriate link (below) to find your favorite vendor.

Clouds Before Rain can be found at:

Amazon Kindle

Kobo, Nook, iBooks, etc.

The Best Dark Rain can be found at:

Amazon Kindle

Kobo, Nook, iBooks, etc.

Thank you so much for reading, and for being readers. Readers rock my world!! There are more projects in the works, more updates, more book deals. Check out my website for all of the news. 

Marco Etheridge Fiction

Very best regards,
Marco

Northwest Greek Odyssey - The Magic of Zagori

Morning in Vikos Gorge



















Vikos gorge is located in the Vikos-Aoös National Park, in the heart of the Zagori region of Northwestern Greece. It is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the deepest canyon in the world in proportion to its width. While some folks contest this claim, Vikos Gorge is a monster of a canyon, and beautiful. It begins near the village of Monodendri, where we were staying. 

From our village, the descent into the gorge is about 490 meters, or 1,600 feet. Prior to setting out, we fueled up on a huge Greek brekkie. I was laughing about the sign at our hotel: "Immer mit Frühstück" for the German-Speaking guests: Always with Breakfast. Good advice for those setting out on a long canyon hike. Originally the sign had read "Zimmer mit Frühstück" but the Zed had faded away. I will leave you to figure out the joke.



Modern Ikons




















Tramping the stone lanes of the village, we stopped to fill our packs with many litres of water, and an assortment of tasty hiking treats. I was surprised to see the Honda Speedy Woodpecker adorning one of the stone walls outside our chosen shop. The same ikon adorned my little race moto for many years.



The Cool Green of Morning




















Leaving the stone walls of the village, we began the descent into Vikos Gorge. The side canyon we climbed down was in deep shade, exuding the refrigerator coolness of rock slabs chilled during the night. It was a coolness that would not last, not a bit of it. 



The sun finds Vikos Gorge























Emerging from the forest shadows, we found ourselves on the dry, boulder-strewn river bed at the bottom of the canyon. The river is seasonal. By the end of summer, the upper end of the canyon is a dry river bed except for hidden pools carved deeply into the rock. The sun was bright and already hot, a promise of the sweaty hike to come. 

As it happened, we had missed the turning of the trail just above the bottom of the canyon. After perusing our map, and a few false starts, we got ourselves oriented and headed down the canyon. Several hundred meters of boulder-hopping brought us to a side trail. We scrambled up the steep goat path until we regained the main trail. After that, the way was clear and obvious.



Pockets of Coolness




















The first lie I told prior to the hike went something like this: "Since we are hiking downriver in the canyon, it should be downhill the whole way." Yes, well, that is true if one takes the long view. There is indeed an elevation drop from the Monodendri end of the canyon (the upper end) down to the Vikos section of the canyon. The thing is, the trail happily ignores the elevation drop. Instead, it climbs up and down like a drunken goat, climbs over rock outcroppings, cliffs, whatever it feels like climbing. It is a trail that seems to say "Hey, let's go up there, that looks pretty."

The second lie I told was that the canyon would be relatively shady. Good idea, yes, a shady canyon hike on a hot, sunny day. The truth, however, is that once the sun reaches the point of its mid-morning arc, the canyon is bathed in an intense Greek light. Yes, nice and toasty, sheltered from the wind. Remember that bit about carrying many litres of water? Good advice.

Uphill, downhill, hot or not, Vikos Gorge is stunningly beautiful. Look up, and there are rocky vistas soaring above ones head. Look across, and the boulder-choked river bed is full of pure, white light reflected on stone. Look down, and there are exotic flowers, mosses, and ferns enough to stop all forward progress.




Aging Ikons

























In one shaded patch of mossy trees, a stone pillar rose beside the rocky trail. The pillar was worse for the years of wear, leaning a bit. A niche in the pillar held these Ikons; small blessing to travelers on the trail.



Rest for the Weary

























Hiking the canyon between Monodendri and Vikos takes abut six hours; more if one stops to linger. We chose to linger, or rather, the canyon compelled us to linger. It is eighteen kilometers of strenuous hiking, and eighteen kilometers of bliss. The light, flooding the canyon, illuminating the rock cliffs, creating deep shadows in the tangled forests that line the canyon floor; the light alone was worth the hike.



The Full Heat of the Day




















Leaving our lunch stop, the canyon widened, embracing the full sun of a hot late-summer day. We were sweating through the straps on our rucksacks, sweating through our shirts, and pounding down the water to stay hydrated. Everything glistened in the sun, the shimmering pools of water hidden behind boulders, the sheer rock cliffs, and the ribbon of the rocky trail. There were brief respites as the trail climbed a into a forest glade, or through labyrinths of spit rock. Then came the sun once more, baking us as we walked.



Wider Vistas


















As we descended, the canyon opened up, affording wider vistas of the rugged landscape above us. We were dwarfed by huge rock pillars rising into the azure sky. The biggest danger of the trail is paying attention to where one is walking. There is always another view, another rock spire, another massive cathedral of stone puling ones eye from the trail.























As the afternoon drew on, we came to a fork in the trail. This was where we must begin our climb out of the canyon, snaking up under the rock faces to the top of the canyon. The village of Vikos was where we would meet our ride back to Monodendri, but it lay hundreds of meters above us. It was time to climb. The switchbacks leading out of the canyon were fully exposed to the afternoon sun. The sun, reflected off the grey stone walls, and the white stone trail, made the climb more than a bit warm.



The Last Vikos Vistas



















Eventually, more than a little footsore, we emerged at the top of the canyon. There was the tiny village of Vikos, and there was a café. We phoned for our ride and settled in for a well-earned round of Greek coffees.

We shared our table with an Australian couple, comparing notes of the day's hiking adventure. It was agreed that this was it, the gem of Zagori, an incomparable hike that was worth every sore muscle and sweaty step.




Late-Afternoon Goodbye

























One of the brothers from our host family arrived in a ratty pickup truck. By this time, our party had grown to six, all tired and ready for the return to Monodendri. The women sat in the cab, and we menfolk piled into the bed. The forty-minute ride back to Monodendri was a lurching trip over narrow, one-lane roads. We dropped into deep valleys, climbing back up steep switchbacks. By the time we arrived at the hotel, my butt was happy to disembark.




Goat: It's What's for Dinner

























The sweat was showered away, clean clothes donned, and then our attention turned to food. Food, and lots of it. The repast for the evening was a huge Greek salad, a basket of fresh bread, and a delicious bowl of stewed goat meat. Heaven, it was heaven. There was not a crumb left when we finally pushed back from the table.

The planets shown brilliantly, visible even with an almost full moon. Jupiter and Mars were both in the sky, Venus dipping to the black of the horizon. The village dogs barked, the moon lit the rocks a ghostly silver, and the chill of the night washed over us. 

We had found our spot, there was no doubt. Plans were laid for extending our time here in Monodendri. There were more trails to explore, more villages to see, more than enough to hold us here.

























And, in a quick pause for the cause, please check out these great deals on my novels, going on right now:















Kindle Countdown Deal for THE BEST DARK RAIN
USA Readers, get an eBook for only $ 0.99
Hurry, deals end at midnight (PDT) October 28th.

KINDLE COUNTDOWN DEALS HERE!

Amazon Giveaway for THE BEST DARK RAIN
Enter to win a FREE eBook! Hurry, Ends October 30th!

AMAZON GIVEAWAY for THE BEST DARK RAIN
















GoodReads Giveaway for BLOOD RUST CHAINS
Enter to win one of TEN FREE eBooks! This is the BIG ONE!
Hurry, Ends November 25th!

GoodReads Giveaway HERE!

To learn more about news, deals, or upcoming projects, please visit my website:

Marco Etheridge Fiction

Northwest Greek Odyssey - The Road to Zagori

It's Déjà Vu all over again: Ioannina Bus Station















We would get there, we had to get there: the mysterious region of Zagori. There were reports of a bus, a small bus, that serviced the isolated villages of this mountainous corner of Northwest Greece. So we left Igoumenitsa behind, ready to give this thing a try. The bus from Igoumenitsa climbed back into the mountains, leaving the waters of the Aegean far below. We were retracing our route to Ioannina, hoping to find a local bus to the north. 

Zagori, that was our destination, an isolated region with a name more Slavic than Greek. The name means 'The Place Behind the Mountain.' It is 1,050 square kilometers of steep mountains, gorges, and scattered villages of grey stone. Bordered by the Aoos and Varda rivers the mountainous and inaccessible character of this place has contributed to its colorful history. Its is peopled by loggers, ranchers, merchants, blacksmiths, and musicians. Due to the rugged terrain, and the skilled negotiation skills of its peoples, Zagori remained largely autonomous during the long Turkish occupation.

The region prospered during the 17th and early 18th centuries. The local folks built a network of paved roads, steep paths, and stone bridges that stand to this day. Goods from Zagori traveled across Eastern Europe. Caravans carrying trade goods reached far-flung destinations: Romania, Russia, Istanbul, and as far as Amsterdam. Money from trade flowed back into Zagori, helping to build schools, churches, bridges, and stairs. Many, many stairs, as we would discover.

The 19th Century brought hard times for the Zagori people. The Ottomans revoked the region's autonomy in the early 1800's. The 19th Century brought war to the region, with World Wars One and Two, followed by the Greek Civil War. More than forty of the isolated villages suffered the consequences, including Nazi reprisals during World War Two.




Zagori



















Our destination was the village of Monodendri, the gateway to Vikos Gorge. Vikos Gorge is one of the deepest, or narrowest, gorges in the world. It depends on which source you wish to read. Vikos Gorge is in the Guinness Book of Records, and draws many adventurous hikers, including the likes of yours truly.

We arrived at the Ioannina bus station, made our way to the counter, and, Hurrah! we were able to buy tickets to Monodendri. Yes, yes, see the boy over there (vague wave) on that side. I went in search of 'the boy over there.' Instead of the shrug-shrug, I found the most helpful bus driver in Greece. This guy looked at my ticket, looked at me, scratched his head, then leapt from the bus and proceeded to ask every bus driver in line just where in the hell Monodendri was and how did these foreigners get there. A local woman, overhearing the exchanges, informed the driver which bus we wanted, took us in tow to make sure we didn't get lost, then put us on the correct bus. It turns out this same bus would stop at her home village.

The bus left Ioannina, stopping here and there to pick up the local Zagori school kids, the only reason for the bus's existence. Full of chattering students, we angled along the steep mountains north of Ioannina. Leaving the main road at Metamorfossi, the road became a lane, and the bus was climbing in earnest. The remains of villages passed by, beehives of stacked stone blocks. There were signs for the National Park we had just entered. We were on our way!

Students piled out as we stopped in isolated stone villages that looked unchanged by the centuries. Then, at a lonely crossroads, the bus stopped. The helpful local folks took us off the bus, pointed to another bus, and motioned us on. Monodendri? Nodding heads, smiles, waving hands. Okay, it was our turn to shrug-shrug. We boarded the other bus and were soon creeping up hairpin switchbacks on a one-lane road. Hell yes, this was the real adventure, right here: The Road to Monodendri.





Monodendri Street (Really!)



















And then we were there, easing along a narrow lane sandwiched between grey buildings of cut stone. The bus driver waved us off, laughing. The village of Monodendri is tiny, perched on a steep ridge offering an amazing vista of the rugged terrain below. We found our hotel, an unbelievably charming three-storey pile of stone dating to the late 1700's. We were greeted by the host family, escorted to our amazing room, and settled in. 

It was too late in the day for a full-fledged hike, but the tangled lanes and rock paths were too much to resist. We had to a least see Vikos Gorge, sample some of the crazy steep rock lanes, pathways, and stairs. We hiked out of the grey stone hive, and onto the rough, cobbled goat paths that pass for roads.



A Branch of Vikos Gorge



















One hour's hike from Monodendri, a semi-ruined monastery offers an amazing view into the depths of Vikos Gorge. How lucky could we be? A travel day and a hiking day rolled into one! Perched under soaring rock cliffs, we let the late-afternoon wander away. We were content to watch the changing light, the hunting birds riding the thermals, and the lengthening shadows .



The head of Vikos Gorge



















I am here to tell you, Sisters and Brothers, with that view, and a comfortable rock seat, a well-earned cigar never tasted so good. We had done it, found the mystery spot, found the perfect old hotel, the perfect village. This place, this region of Zagori, it would prove to be the lynch-pin of the entire journey.



The Gloaming of the Day comes Early



















The Gloaming of the day brought pangs of hunger. We left our cliff-side aerie, climbing the rough, stone paths back to Monodendri.



Rock Spires







































We spent the evening sampling the local grilled chicken and pork. The ever-present stray cats were there, of course, vying for a tidbit from the table. When the cat combat grew too fierce, our host intervened. Rather than chasing the felines away, he tossed a burned hunks of meat in opposite directions, separating the combatants and being charitable at the same time.

The nights are cool and crisp here, reminding the traveler of the elevation he or she has gained. We watched the stars, listed to the chorus of village dogs, until the chill finally drove us to our bed. Tomorrow we would hike Vikos Gorge!

























And, in a Pause-for-the-Cause, Check out the great deals on my novels, going on right now:

















Kindle Countdown Deal for THE BEST DARK RAIN
USA Readers, get an eBook for only $ 0.99
Hurry, deals end at midnight (PDT) October 28th.



KINDLE COUNTDOWN DEALS HERE!

Amazon Giveaway for THE BEST DARK RAIN
Enter to win a FREE eBook! Hurry, Ends October 30th!

AMAZON GIVEAWAY for THE BEST DARK RAIN
















GoodReads Giveaway for BLOOD RUST CHAINS
Enter to win one of TEN FREE eBooks! This is the BIG ONE!
Hurry, Ends November 25th!

GoodReads Giveaway HERE!

To learn more about news, deals, or upcoming projects, please visit my website:

Marco Etheridge Fiction

Kindle Countdown Deal for THE BEST DARK RAIN

For a limited time, get a great deal on a great novel!  E-Book copies are only $0.99
that's right, get a great read for less than a buck!! Highly-Rated and Reviewed, now is the time to get your copy of THE BEST DARK RAIN

Kindle Countdown deal for USA readers runs October 22nd thru midnight, October 28th (PDT)

To learn more, check out the Book Page on my website:

Marco Etheridge Fiction Book Page

Northwest Greek Odyssey -- Igoumenitsa

Igoumenitsa Sunset


















Countdowns, Giveaways, and New Novels, Oh My! Yes, like the Lions, and Tigers, and Bears, things have gotten a bit busy here in writer-land. But one most soldier on, I suppose. Either that, or find unaccompanied Literary Agents to taunt.  Ahem... Where were we? Ah, yes, on the coast of Northwest Greece.

Igoumenitsa is a busy little port town in the northwest corner of Greece. It is nestled onto a protected bay, sandwiched between the off-shore spine of Korfu, and the rise of Albanian hills to the north. If one is traveling overland in Northwest Greece, there is a good chance one will pass through this town. And, honestly, there are not many reasons to spend the night.





The Harbor at the Gloaming















 

Steep hills hem the town against the Aegean. The main highway, the E55, comes to an abrupt end at the ferry docks. There is no more land for a roadway, thus the reason for the town's existence. It is a port town, pure and simple. The town stretches a few kilometers south to north. The north end of town is cute and quaint; a lovely main street along an aging promenade. The south end of town consists of modern concrete buildings, and more than two kilometers of concrete on the shore side: ferry docks, loading lanes, and low-slung ferry buildings. Huge car and truck ferries leave from Igoumenitsa, bound for Italy and elsewhere. These ferries ply the Mediterranean, bound for Bari, Venice, Brindisi, Ravenna, the list goes on. It is a busy place. But we did not know that. 




Greek Salad, Of Course






















We were in Igoumenitsa due to uncertainty. Every journey requires a mystery destination, an out-of-the-way and difficult to find place, the holy grail of that region. Whether it is the mythical Backwaters of Kerala, India, or the elusive border-crossing out of Palin, Cambodia, no trip is complete without a destination that is difficult, if not impossible, to find.

Zagori, that is where we wanted to go. But the buses, well, the buses that go there leave from Ioannina, maybe, shrug-shrug. Remember that guy, the Greek bus guy? So it was take a chance that afternoon, or leave early the next morning. Having already spent some time in Ioannina, we did not feel like being stuck there overnight. So why not a new town, aye? Why not a cute little port town?





Goofy Self-Portrait in Foil
























So, here is where the honest disclaimer comes into play: You do not need to spend the night in Igoumenitsa. Sorry, but that's the way it is. True, the old center of town is charming. One can walk it in an hour. There are a great variety of cafés, which the residents fill on a nightly basis, or so it seems. Dinner and drinks by the water? No problem. On the plus side, lovely cafés. But then there is the other nightly show.

The other entertainment in town is the nightly ferry show, which we did not know about. We watched the show from our balcony. The ferry show begins in the evening, with hundreds of lorries stacking up at the south end of town. Mixed in with the queues of trucks, there are travelers hauling caravans, motorcyclists, bicyclists, cars with kayaks, you name it. Some sort of mysterious signal is given, which I missed, and then the games begin. Shouting cops, arm-waving ferry workers, pleading drivers, contrary queues, and everyone working at cross-purposes. It is a wildly chaotic, slow-moving train wreck. This went on for hours, just across the street from our balcony. For better or worse, I had a ring-side seat for the show, which runs well into the night. Remember the basic essentials that are always in your traveler kit? This is when the earplugs come in handy. 

A funny little town with a split-personality. In the morning we were on our way, the long stretch of the ferry complex quiet in the sunshine. Today was the day: we would find the mystery bus for Zagori. Failing that, our backup plan was to hitchhike, rent a car, or steal a mule, whatever. But that is the stuff of tomorrow.

Remember to travel often, travel well, and Ciao for Now!

























Marco Etheridge is the author of two published novels, The Best Dark Rain, and Blood Rust Chains.His third novel, a romantic thriller set in Vienna and other exotic locales, is pending publication. For more on Marco's work, go to his website at:


Marco Etheridge Fiction

Clouds Before Rain

Now is the time of waiting. My third novel, "To Break the Bundle," has been submitted to a plethora of literary agents. Nothing much else can happen with this novel project. It is in the nefarious hands of the gatekeepers of the publishing world. It is a time to wait, to gather rejections as they come in. It can be horrible, the waiting, or it can be the time to set out on a new project.

For me, doing is better than waiting. I allowed myself a post-project mope, my standard emotional letdown after completing a project. I invented a few choice fantasies of what I would do if I were king of the publishing world (which it's good that I'm not) and then I decided to get to work. On to the next project!

There are several sketches in the Idea-Box, all of them vying for attention: Two novels, a three-act play, and a promised children's book. I can hear their clamoring. But the most pressing need is a bit of writing coupled with a bit of marketing. One of the truisms of the Indie-Author world is that a savvy Indie recognizes the need for a 'Perma-Free' title. This is the introduction of the Author to the Reader, a way of saying "Hi there, here I am. How about a free book to let you know what I am all about?" Or, to put it in the vernacular of the streets: "The first taste is always free."

The new project will be a prequel to "The Best Dark Rain." That novel began in situ, taking up the story after the world died. Some of the Dark-Army of Beta-Readers, along with some of the lovely reviewers, have expressed the desire to know more about the characters from "The Best Dark Rain." How did they survive when everyone else died? What happened? This prequel, "Clouds Before Rain," will be an attempt to fulfill those desires.

The structure is built, the Scrivener file formatted, so it's time to lay electronic ink to virtual paper. Sixty-thousand words, two months, no problem. You can remind me later that I said that. Fell free to smirk when you do so. Eight weeks, just about the time limit for the pack of literary agents to do their worst. In the meantime, whilst I wait for them to pronounce their doom, I can be productive. Look for "Clouds Before Rain" to be available in January of the coming year.

Thanks for supporting Indie-Authors. While you are here, I have a small favor to ask. Please take the time to check out the great deals currently on offer for my first two novels.

"Blood Rust Chains" Kindle Countdown Deal:

Kindle Countdown Deal - Blood Rust Chains

"The Best Dark Rain" Amazon Giveaway

Amazon Giveaway - The Best Dark Rain

"Blood Rust Chains" Amazon Giveaway

Amazon Giveaway - Blood Rust Chains

Kindle Countdown Deal for BLOOD RUST CHAINS

For a limited time, get a great deal on a great novel!  E-Book copies are only $0.99 or £0.99.

Kindle Countdown deal for USA readers runs October 15th-22nd.
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To learn more, check out the Book Page on my website:

Marco Etheridge Fiction