Leon Stevens's Blog, page 52
March 16, 2024
Weekend Wrap-up March 16
There’s just so much history that people don’t know about, so I’ve taken on the task of filling in the blanks of some lesser known events. This is the stuff they don’t bother to teach you in school, because the think it is useless.
They’re right.
Links below if you missed any!
Sunday Six Word Stories
Weird Wednesday March 13: Convenience Foods
Thursday Thoughts: Happy Pi Day!
I bet you are wondering about the origin of St. Patrick’s Day. You’ll just have to wait until tomorrow.
-Leon
On my blog this week:A new review for The View from HereWeekend Wrap-up March 16Free Book Friday March 15th: Just the PromosThursday Thoughts: Happy Pi Day!Weird Wednesday March 13: Convenience FoodsHope you enjoyed the recap! Feel free to share it with others.
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
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March 15, 2024
Free Book Friday March 15th: Just the Promos
Nothing to see here, but stuff below.
Read my latest newsletter:
Lines by Leon Magnificent Bi-Weekly Newsletter ExtravaganzaCan it be that good? Only one way to find out.
The story behind Free Book Friday:I’ve met many authors and readers during my time marketing, cross-promoting, and blogging. I think writers have a responsibility to inform readers about all the indie authors out there in the very crowded world of book publishing. You can’t do it alone, and why would you when you have a supportive group available?
Readers don’t just read one author – they stick with their favorite genres. Therein lies the power in cross-promotion. If one of my readers buys a book from an author I promote, then chances are there will be a reciprocal effect, or so is the hope. Do I want to boost sales? Of course I do. Do I want to boost other’s sales? Why not. It’s called karma.
Some free book offers require a newsletter sign-up, which is a small non-monetary price to pay to try out a new indie author.
Reads From StoryOrigin and BookFunnelStoryOrigin and BookFunnel allows authors to advertise their books to each other’s audience. I hope you have been able to discover a new favorite!
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March 14 to April 18Ending soon!
Current promos: Discover New Authors
Review Copies (These are free!)Review copies: Like reviewing books? Try my two poetry collections: Lines by Leon and A Wonder of Words
Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and receive a free book (poetry or science fiction or both): Leon’s Newsletter
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
March 14, 2024
Thursday Thoughts: Happy Pi Day!
The Story of Pi (You knew it was coming, didn’t you?)
History always takes place in the past. Funny how that works.
It was a warm summer day in ancient Babylonia and Mrs. Mathonia was doing her weekly baking. As she was rolling out her pastry, she feared she was not going to have enough to cover the date pie.
Fortunately, she had three different pie pans, each of various sizes. “Which one to use, which one to use,” she muttered under her breath. She looked at the circle of pastry, then at the first pan. “Too small,” she said to no one in particular. She then picked up the largest one and placed it upside down, covering up the entire pastry. “Too big,” she said to the same no one.
She began to ponder. “If the first one is too small…and…the second one is too large…then it must be…” She pointed at the middle pan. “That one!”
She assembled her date pie and set it in the oven to bake. As she was tidying up, her daughter came in, peered into the oven, then said, “Mommy, what is the surface area of the crust you used?”
“That’s a good question honey. But the ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a pie crust hasn’t been discovered yet.”
“What about pizza?”
“Nope.”
“Tortillas?”
“Nope.”
“What about this Frisbee?”
“Still no.”
Her daughter went to her room and came out two hours later with some calculations on a clay tablet. “Is this right?” she asked.
“Nope.”
“How do you know?”
“That’s a very good question, honey.”
Later that day, when her father came home, she gave it to him with a smile. He looked it over and said, “Thanks, dear.” When she left, he then lit a cigarette and noted to himself that although the intention was there, it was a pretty shitty ashtray…
Later that year, a sanitation worker found the tablet and recognizing it for what it was, turned it over to the culinary department of the local technical college, where it was used to create perfect pastry crusts with no waste.
True story.
Fast forward a few bunches of years, Young Archimedes (soon to be a primetime sitcom on ABC) was making major discoveries with his new Casio calculator. After getting over his case of giggles when he entered 5318008 and turned it upside down, he got to work defining Pi to be 3.14 and some change.
After yelling “Eureka!”, a word he had invented in his bathtub the week before, he declared, “Ninety-nine percent of all people will learn this and never use it.”
Now, that’s a true story you can believe.
-Leon
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
March 13, 2024
Weird Wednesday March 13: Convenience Foods
We never really asked them, did we? What about monkeys? Do they like bananas or is it just a food of convenience?
Early humans ate whatever was available until 7/11 was invented, then it was all Big Bites and Slurpees.
Back in the cradle of civilization, 7/11 was the only convenience store name they could write in cuneiform (being just straight lines and all), so they had a corner on the market.
Fun fact, the phrase, “cornering the market” was coined in 3491 BC when stores could only be located on corners, not because of the zoning laws at the time but because geometry hadn’t been invented yet, leaving gaps in all the city blocks.
True story.
-Leon
My newsletter goes out every Wednesday: Lines by Leon Super Newsletter Extravaganza
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
March 12, 2024
Tuesday Tirade: Spring
If you live north of the 40th parallel in North America (I won’t speak of the rest of the world), you know that there is a phenomenon called the road hole, or in layman’s terms, an insurance company’s nightmare.
Road holes can range in size from small to friggin’ huge, and will often lie in wait under the cover of brown, murky water (the color of coffee with one creamer), for unsuspecting motorists who are driving to fast.
Sometimes they will work in tandem, with smaller, visible ones forcing drivers to veer into the camouflaged predators’ lair.
The growth rate of road holes can vary depending on the feasting frequency and the lack of municipal funding to fill these dangerous creatures, although scientists suspect road holes do enjoy a tasty treat of hot asphalt*
Now you know.
-Leon
*Not to sound dirty, but it is pronounced ass/fault, not ash/fault
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
March 11, 2024
Music Monday 1988: A bit of everything
There is a radio show on CBC here in Canada that occasionally does a feature called SYNTH: Songs You Need To Hear.
Now, I can’t say to someone, “You’ll like this song” (or book for that matter) because I can’t presume that others will share my taste in music (or books), so it is safer to say, “You might like this” and if they don’t like it, so be it.
Maybe you will find a new favorite.
CBC MUSIC, Central · Mornings with CBC Music
1988
When many black musicians were predominantly in rap and hip hop groups, In Living Color was a refreshing change, not to mention the wicked guitar chops of Vernon Reid:
Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians had a big hit with What I Am, but the entire album was chock full of gems. If I had this on vinyl, I would have worn out the grooves. Luckily, I had the cassette…yeah, that eventually stretched a bit.
I didn’t know Bob had a son, but I’m glad he did.
On to one of the most underrated Canadian bands. When you find another TPOH (The Pursuit of Happiness) fan, it’s like a mini family reunion. Their 1988 album, Love Junk, was also chock full of gems.
I have to think that the band Sloan was influenced by this band. (I featured Slone in my Oct 1st Music Monday)
The mid to late 80s was the heyday of the “Guitar Gods”. Eddie started us off at the beginning of the 80s, but many were poised to unseat him from his throne.
You have to be a really good guitarist to think people are going to sit and watch you solo for a whole concert…well, Joe Satriani is pretty good.
The first time I heard this next song, I was mesmerized. I was also new to the orchestral/chamber music genre. Over the years, the “mesmer” has waned from hearing it over and over and over…
But it’s still a beautiful piece with a gazillion versions to chose from.
Fun fact: Apparently, Johann Pachelbel added a footnote on the original score that read, “Not to be used at weddings.” but one of his sons dropped a dollop of mustard from his bratwurst on it and the ink was left illegible.
-Leon
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
March 10, 2024
Sunday Six Word Stories
Hemmingway sits with his buddies at a bar (of course) and is bet that he can’t write a novel in six words. Considering the fact that a novel is defined as: “an invented prose narrative of significant length and complexity that deals imaginatively with human experience.“ he should have said he can’t, but since everyone way drunk, and Ernest needed $20 to pay the bar tab—
“What?! Twenty dollars can’t cover a bar tab for three men.”
It’s 1920.
“Oh. Carry on.”
Anyway, he grabs a napkin, pens six words, and pushes across the table. Before it has a chance to be read, one of the friends (let’s call him…Harold) picks it up an wipes the guacamole from his lips. Undeterred, Ernest rolled his eyes, shakes his head, and proceeds to write another story on the next available napkin—
“Wait. Another story? Why didn’t he write the same one?”
Because if he wrote the same one, I wouldn’t have a funny joke to tell when people asked what was on the first one. So, thanks for ruining the whole point of this humorous anecdote.
“Oh. Sorry. Can we forget it never happened?”
[sigh] We can try…where was I? Oh, yeah. Ernest writes a new story and as he glares at Harold, hands it to Mauro (that’s his other friend), who opens it up and reads the six words:
“Harold is such a dick, right?”
True story.
All jokes aside, in 1906, in the classified section of the newspaper, Terse Tales of the Town, an ad was printed which read: “For sale, baby carriage, never been used. Apply at this office.”
A few years later in an essay, the idea for a story about a wife who lost her baby was titled “Little Shoes, Never Worn.”
Then in 1921, a newspaper column by Roy K. Moulton, printed:
There was an ad in the Brooklyn “Home Talk” which read, “Baby carriage for sale, never used.” Would that make a wonderful plot for the movies?
So, in the end, Hemmingway probably did not write those words, but it does make for a heart-wrenching story.
-Leon
“Wait! What was on the first napkin?”
Guacamole.
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
March 9, 2024
Weekend Wrap-up March 9
This week I explained the US electoral system (badly), gave a history lesson on the origin of a common saying (the true story, not one that I made up last minute), commented on what AI really is (not what you think, or maybe it is), and did an impromptu post of a beautiful piano piece.
Links below if you missed any!
On my blog this week:Weekend Wrap-up March 9Free Book Friday March 9th: AI. AI? Oh…Thursday Thoughts: Moving MusicWeird Wednesday March 6: The US Electoral SystemMusic Monday 1987: Kind of…Hope you enjoyed the recap! Feel free to share it with others.
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
