Fiona Ingram's Blog, page 24

Book Feature: Why Your Child Should Read to Their Pets

Author AJ Kormon offers her take on why kids should read to their pets!

 

A few years ago, I saw a news clip about kids who were reading to shelter dogs. I couldn’t help but think what a fantastic idea this was, both for the kids and the dogs. Then I started noticing our dogs were always around when my husband or I would read to the kids. The minute we’d sit down to read a book, the dogs were on the couch or the bed, jockeying for the best spot to see the book. This was no accident. While the benefits of having pets have been known for quite some time, researchers are now looking more specifically at the benefits of reading to animals. What’s amazing about this practice is not only can reading to animals boost kids’ literacy skills, but the animals benefit from socializing with the kids too.

Kids Practice a New Skill Set

Reading aloud requires a different set of skills than reading silently. I certainly trip over my words a lot more when I read to my kids than when I read to myself. When kids read aloud, especially if they are choosing the same book to read to their pets each time, they improve their reading speed and fluency. Because pets respond to kids’ voices and the time they get to spend with them, kids become motivated to read with their animals. The behaviour becomes self-reinforcing because they are spending quality time together.

Pets are Non-Judgmental

Let’s face it, nobody likes to make mistakes. As often as I tell my kids mistakes are how we learn, they have never liked sounding out words in front of me. When I ask them why, they tell me it’s because they think they’re going to get the word wrong. When they’re reading alone with their pets, they have no choice but to sound out the word, because there’s nobody there to tell them what the word is. Having to continue with the story builds confidence for the reader even if they haven’t read the word correctly. They can keep going without focusing on the more difficult words they didn’t know.

It’s Fun!

When kids read to their pets, their connection with the animal grows and they begin to feel a sense of duty to read to them. This can be a great motivation for your kids to continue reading with their pets. I have overheard my kids asking their dogs what they thought of the story or relaying their own thoughts about characters in the books they’ve read.

 Our dogs sure look forward to reading time too (as evidenced by their climbing all over my kids to get a good look at the books). Animals love attention as much as kids do, and in their world, this equates to snuggling next to (or on) their humans while listening to a familiar voice. If your kids don’t have any pets, there are opportunities for them to practice reading aloud too. You may be able to borrow a family member’s or friend’s pet, or maybe your community has a program like the one I saw on the news. Reading to stuffed animals can have the same benefits too!

 Regardless of how they make it work, I hope your kids try this combination of reading and connecting with animals—a winning combination!

As a former accountant, AJ Kormon, started writing books about money to help explain the concept to her kids. As her kids got older, they showed signs of not wanting to read, so she enlisted their help creating a series for resistant readers. This is how the Halloway Hills Middle School Mysteries were born. When AJ isn't writing and cartooning, you'll find her losing to her kids at Uno.

TV Series: The Indian Detective

The Indian Detective is a comedy-drama caper about Doug D’Mello (comedian Russell Peters) who goes to visit his father Stanley (Anupam Kher) in Mumbai for a month, after being suspended for incompetence in a Toronto drug bust gone wrong. Once there he becomes embroiled in a web of international crime, drugs trafficking, corruption in the construction industry, and various other nefarious activities. Although not exactly a detective in Toronto (just a police officer), by the time Doug arrives in Mumbai he finds his reputation has been significantly embellished by his doting father in the way of all doting parents. This has elevated him to the status of detective. Almost by accident he gets involved in sorting out various crimes, at first resisted and then assisted by a stern-faced inspector (Meren Reddy) and the ravishingly beautiful lawyer Priya (Mishqah Parthiephal). Hi-jinks and action ensue as Doug tries to conceal his feelings for Priya while getting to the bottom of several murders and various crimes committed by well-connected and funded criminals.

Don’t expect a big budget affair with plenty of special effects and sweeping vistas, a polished script, and consummate directing. In fact, you won’t get any of that. The plot has so many holes it is like Swiss cheese, the directing is downright sloppy, and often one gets the feeling the capable actors are doing it themselves. However, there are plenty of pluses to make this an enjoyable romp providing you don’t think too hard about it. Set in India, Toronto, and South Africa, the director/DOP decided in their lack of wisdom to give flashes of scenery in a very jarring effect, so the audience won’t realise it is not all India. Please… give me a break. As a South African, I spotted every flash of a Cape Town scene and picked up every South African Indian accent. Not that these details matter once you get involved in Doug’s odyssey of bringing justice to the victims.

In every movie or series there is always one or a couple of characters who steal every scene they are in. Meet Stanley the Manly, Doug’s dad, who is concealing a heart condition from his son. He used to be a glamorous high-flying airline pilot, but these days he takes flight only in his memories. In an effort to relive his salad days, he wears a truly awful wig. I have seen awful wigs in movies where you know the budget could have shelled out for a decent one, but here the very horribleness of the wig is part of Stanley’s ‘manly’ charm. His banter with his manservant/old friend/butler, Dattu, ably performed by Fahruq Valley Omar, is hilarious. These two bicker like an old married couple and have you in stitches with the best lines. Other familiar faces include UK actress Christina Cole who looked a bit out of her depth and veteran actor William Shatner who proves that age is just a number!

But don’t try to find the flaws, just enjoy the story. Doug D’Mello is an appealing character, and it looks as if we’ll be seeing more of The Indian Detective. 4/5

 

Book Feature: The Butcher's Prayer

  

The most anticipated NOIR novel of the year...

By Anthony Neil Smith

THE BUTCHER'S PRAYER, Crime Fiction/Noir, Fahrenheit 13, 275 pp.

Rodney Goodfellow watches his friend kill a man, and then volunteers the unthinkable – to carve up the body with his butcher’s knives in order to get rid of the evidence. But the victim’s girlfriend escapes halfway through the butchering, sending Rodney and the triggerman, Charles, on the run.

Charles is unhinged, flying high on meth. When it’s clear that escape isn’t a realistic possibility, he chooses chaos. He goes back looking for a little revenge, with Rodney and the girlfriend first on his list.

Hosea Elgin is a fallen preacher turned police detective…and Rodney’s brother-in-law. When he realizes Rodney is involved, he’s sickened, but he’s got to keep searching for his fugitives. He weighs loyalty to his job against loyalty to his family.

Rachel Goodfellow is Rodney’s wife and Hosea’s younger sister. She worries that Rodney might come looking for her in his time of need. He’s the father of her two children. Could they ever be a family again? Will her love for him overcome her revulsion, or will she be the one to turn him in?

And what about Hosea’s father, a Pentecostal pastor, and older brother, the pastor’s right hand man? Would they choose family over justice and give Rodney refuge in spite of Hosea?

Hosea and his partner are on the prowl, trying to find Rodney and Charles before they can kill again, but he never expects his own family to stand in his way. Ties are strained, faith is tested, and there has to be a breaking point.

PRAISE

“The Butcher’s Prayer is wine-dark noir, with a hammering and bloody heart. This is Smith at his bleak and soulful best.” — Laura Benedict, Edgar-nominated author of The Stranger Inside

“Anthony Neil Smith is a massive talent. One of the very best crime writers I’ve ever read.” — Allan Guthrie, author of Kiss Her Goodbye and Hard Man.

“Visceral, propulsive writing that cuts like a razor. Think Elmore Leonard with an injection of Southern Gothic. Heady stuff.” — Dan Fesperman, author of Safe Houses.

“Crime-fiction veteran Anthony Neil Smith wields a smooth yet serrated style that’s carved him two decades worth of fierce material, now being re-discovered by a younger upstart audience of modern noir enthusiasts. He possesses such an acute, vivid feel of time and place in his subjects, his stories immediately burrow into my memory and remain long, withstanding the static storms of our contemporary attention-deficits. It’s challenging stuff, yet wholly accessible; with spiking dark humor that confirms sure you still have a pulse.” — Gabriel Hart, author of Fallout From Our Asphalt Hell

 

June 8th, 1996

Forgiveness was out of the question. Not after what he’d done.

No matter he’d been filled with the Holy Ghost, spoken in tongues, washed in the sweet blood of the Lamb.

Rodney Goodfellow was fucked.

Four in the morning. He fled the scene in his pickup soon as they saw the girl had escaped. He left Charles behind, let him find his own way out.

Blood on Rodney’s clothes. His butchering tools abandoned in Charles’ garage on a vinyl boat cover, the work they’d done once the meeting went bad.

Rodney’s truck was steamy, no A/C. His glasses fogged up. He rolled down the window. The June air on the Mississippi coast rushing by at seventy miles per hour was as cool as it was going to get all day. Most of his sweat was from fear, though.

They were coming for him. Bet the call had already gone out: Rodney’s name, description, make and model of the truck. Armed and dangerous? He was neither, but that’s what they’d tell all those cops out there, itchy with adrenaline.

Supposed to go different. Supposed to be a simple negotiation.

Charles’ fault. Charles had pulled the trigger. Charles had ended the man’s life. All Rodney did was…

So, yeah, no forgiveness. God himself was like, “Dude, sick.”

Amazon →  https://amzn.to/3ALPDW3 

Anthony Neil Smith is an English professor and crime novelist, born and raised in Mississippi, now teaching at  Southwest Minnesota State University. The Butcher’s Prayer is his fifteenth novel. He loves cheap red wine and Mexican food.

You can visit his website at http://www.anthonyneilsmith.com or connect with him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Sponsored By:

Book Feature: The Inspiration Behind Spirituality for Badasses

 

J. Stewart Dixon, award-winning, best-selling humor and self-help author of Spirituality for Badasses has a bone to pick with conventional therapy and pharmaceutical companies concerning our collective bounce back and healing from the stress, anxiety and depression of Covid-19. Asserts Mr. Dixon in the introduction to his book: “So you see…I really do get it. I used to be depressed, anxious, too smart for my own good, opinionated and unhappy…a real loveless, badass-hole. But now I’m just a spiritual badass.   Spirituality removed the hole. I transformed. I changed. I grew up. I learned some hard lessons. And I did all this without ever losing my cool, integrity, smarts, libido, sense of humor or soul. And that’s just what this book is going to help you do."

I’m self-published and 100% happy to be self-published. I wouldn’t touch a book publisher (small or large) with a 39-and-a-half foot pole (shout out to Dr. Seuss) these days. How did I get the inspiration to for my book? Well, I’ll let the introduction to the book answer that:

“I get it. I really do. 

You’re a badass.

Cool, hip, down-to-earth, together, sane, practical, tough, smart, confident, fringe, alternative, creative, funny, athletic. However, you want to quantify your badass-ness.

You’ve been this way your whole life, or maybe it took a couple of decades for you to cultivate it, or maybe it just kicked in yesterday at 3:09 pm. Who knows…and who cares, right? 

Because something is missing.  

It seems that being a badass just isn’t—enough.

Is it? 

Let me make this easy for you. I’m also a badass…

…except that for most of my adult life I’ve been involved with spirituality. And maybe you can relate here—this badass has always had…um, a slight issue: He doesn’t really love spirituality, being spiritual or hanging out in spiritual circles.

 No thank you.

This badass…well, eh... he loves beer.

There—I said it! I love beer. Dark beer. Craft beer. Locally brewed beer. I also love fly fishing and kayaking and hiking in the mountains. I love making fart jokes with my twelve-year-old son. I love smoking the occasional cigar (or other things) in my hot tub. I love great sex. I love head massages. I love making lots of money. I love cool cars. I love taking vacations in tropical places. I love hanging out with friends and being potty mouthed. I love watching Netflix. I love sitting around on the weekends and doing absolutely nothing. There are a lot of things this badass loves.

But spirituality? No, I don’t love spirituality.

But...I do like it. I really like spirituality—a lot. 

Spirituality has served this badass well. Here are a few of the benefits I gained from my years involved with spirituality:

·     I used to be depressed. I am now depression free— because of spirituality.

·     I used to be deeply unhappy most of the time. I am now happy most of the time—because of spirituality.

·     I used to be unaware and off balance about lots of things. I am now very aware and mostly balanced about lots of things—because of spirituality.

·     I used to be a mindless idiot caught, obsessed and jerked around by the thoughts in my head. I am now a mindfulness master who realizes that the thoughts in my head are mostly irrelevant, neurotic and frivolous—because of spirituality.

·     I used to be timid. I used to avoid conflict. I used to deny certain emotions. I am now outspoken, unafraid of conflict, and I fully embrace all emotions whether they feel good or bad—because of spirituality.

·     I used to believe that all existence was a flat, one dimensional, dead end. I now know from repeated experience that life—existence—is a multi-layered, vibrant, and mysterious realm—because of spirituality.

·     I used to believe that death meant the end. I now know, also from repeated experience, that death is not the end and some part of us continues—because of spirituality.

·     I used to believe that who I was, was this separate individual named J. Stewart. I now know that the real me springs from this same timeless, limitless ONE that we all are—because of spirituality.

So you see…I really do get it. I used to be depressed, anxious, too smart for my own good, opinionated and unhappy…a real loveless badass-hole. But now I’m just a spiritual badass.

Spirituality removed the hole. I transformed. I changed. I grew up. I learned some hard lessons. And I did all this without ever losing my cool, integrity, smarts, libido, sense of humor or soul. And that’s just what this book is going to help you do.

You and I are going on a road trip, starting in my hometown and then traveling across the United States. Along the way, we’ll visit some amazing places, take a few high-risk adventures and experience some strange shit. But what we’re really doing is exploring and where we’re really going is into the vast uncharted territories of your deepest soul.

Will it be easy? Nope. Will it be uncomfortable? Yep. Will it shake your world up like a three-hundred-foot drop on a Six Flags roller coaster? I hope so.

But you’re a badass and can handle this shit, right? Hell, yeah.

“Come to the edge," he said.

"We can't, we're afraid!" they responded.

"Come to the edge," he said.

"We can't, We will fall!" they responded.

"Come to the edge," he said.

And so they came.

And he pushed them.

And they flew.”

― Guillaume Apollinaire

Okay. You’ve now read the introduction. Buy the book and let’s get started.

About the Author; J. Stewart’s new book, Spirituality for Badasses, blossomed out of J. Stewart’s life as a spiritual seeker, finder and coach/teacher. He teaches based on his direct experience, twenty-nine years of interaction with numerous nonduality-advaita-zen-unorthodox teachers, his ongoing education / certification in modern mindfulness and a degree in communications / engineering from Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY. He makes his home in Virginia.

Visit his website at http://www.spiritualityforbadasses.com or connect with him on Facebook.

 

Book Review: Bunny Romero’s White House Adventure

New to the USA from Mexico, young immigrant Bunny Romero has a dream. An unusual one, to be sure, but it is her dream. Bunny wants to visit the White House, but more than that, she wants to eat her favorite cookies – her Mexican nana’s Hamantashen – in the White House kitchen. It sounds impossible, but then the unexpected happens – Bunny’s second-grade class will be touring the White House just before Thanksgiving! However, is the kitchen a part of the tour of the White House? Join this young dreamer in Bunny Romero’s White House Adventure: The Whole Megillah! by Margie Blumberg and find out if Bunny can make this very special dream come true.

 The book includes a glossary of different words and their pronunciations right up front which I think is an excellent idea, preparing the reader in advance for understanding the meanings. Languages included are Spanish, English, Yiddish, Hebrew, and English. The author has interspersed them throughout the text in a very natural way. The illustrations by Renee Andriani are absolutely delightful and so detailed that one could almost follow the story with the imagery alone. The double-page chaotic search scene when everyone looks for Bunny will have parents nodding their heads.

Parents and teachers will be delighted at the depth of themes conveyed in this lovely book. Not only is it a story of a young person’s dream coming true, but the story indicates the historic importance of immigrants, and how their presence – their culture, language, and talents – enhances the strength of a nation. Margie Blumberg has included just enough detail of two important holidays, Thanksgiving and the Jewish Purim, to teach young readers about these celebrations. The author advises parents and teachers to get young readers involved by looking for images that represent the two holidays featured in the story. More fun facts can also be found on the author’s website. This is a great idea to get kids interested beyond just reading a story and closing the book. Kids love to learn and to explore for themselves. This would be a super way to get those little minds working. There’s a lot for adult readers to learn as well, such as how the different colors of the rooms in the White House got their names. There is enough detail here to encourage youngsters to do some extra research.

 A Dream Diary at the back of the book will encourage young readers to start making their dreams a reality. A very good way to get children to think about what they want in life, where they want to be. The fun historical end section has just enough history to pique readers’ interest as they learn more about Lincoln, Emma Lazarus, the Statue of Liberty and Bunny’s ancestry. Let’s not forget the Hamantashen! Hamantashen cookies sound delicious and it’s no wonder because these are very special cookies and deserve to be eaten in a very special place, like the kitchen at the White House. Hamantashen have a very old history attached to them and kids will be intrigued to learn about the biblical Queen Esther and what Purim is all about. And yes, there is a recipe included which could make for a fun family baking session! It sounds like a lot for a young reader to take in, but the story is so well constructed and so charmingly packaged that kids will turn the pages while enjoying themselves, finding out more about history, traditions, and people, and learning when they don’t even know it. Margie Blumberg’s cute rhymes tell the tale in a fun, rhythmic way that will have advanced young readers really enjoying reading aloud. A great addition to any child's bookshelf. Five stars!

 

Book Feature: Odyssey of Love

Tired of only ever reading about 20-somethings in chick lit romance? Now for a romance that is different and relevant. This is the kind of romance novel many women will relate to.

About the Book: When Linda doesn’t receive the marriage proposal she had long been expecting from her boyfriend on her 41st birthday, she reluctantly visits a psychic, Angelica, who predicts that Linda will soon leave him for a romantic and music-filled Odyssey in Europe. There, a “Russian icon” will lead to her future husband, a “tall man with glasses.” Skeptical at first, but eager to explore her Eastern European roots and reignite her passion for music, Linda moves to Hungary, the land of her idol, composer-pianist Franz Liszt. In Budapest, she reinvents herself as an English teacher and joins a chorus. Soon, she’s performing at the Liszt Academy of Music and Tel Aviv’s Opera House. With Angelica’s vision in mind, Linda vows to “settle down, not settle for,” but is tempted by romantic close calls: Gabi is gorgeous but too immature; David in Amsterdam fits Angelica’s description to a T, but his British reserve needs some defrosting. Liszt look-alike Ádám has it all, including a wife. With her teaching and singing gigs ending, Linda flies to Finland for one last trip before moving back to Boston. But is her Odyssey truly over, or is it just beginning?

About the Author: Linda Jämsén is an American ex-pat writer-musician living in Finland. She grew up in New York, holding a book in one hand while exploring the piano keyboard with the other. Mesmerized by her mother’s playing of the Romantic repertoire, she soon studied piano with her and later graduated with a B.A. in Music from Bard College. Linda is also an avid choral singer and has performed in Hungary, Finland, the UK, and Israel. During her years in Boston, Linda raised funds for a variety of philanthropic causes and completed the graduate management course at Radcliffe Seminars/Harvard. However, longing to return to her musical roots, in 2001 she moved to Budapest, land of her musical idol, Franz Liszt. There, she volunteered for the Music Academy in his name and received a CELTA certificate from International House, where she then taught English as a foreign language. Her musical, romantic, and travel adventures abroad inspired her to write Odyssey of Love: A Memoir of Seeking and Finding , her literary debut.

 Fill in the Rafflecopter in the link to win a free giveaway! Odyssey of Love Blog Tour & Giveaway | WOW! Women On Writing Blog (wow-womenonwriting.com)

MG Book Review: Ronin Cleans His Room Like a Ninja

When Ronin’s parents go on what is possibly a well-deserved cruise, Uncle Max comes to stay to take care of Ronin, their son. Uncle Max is a pretty cool guy who gets ideas across without nagging or sounding boring. Ronin doesn’t like cleaning his room, putting his things away, eating dinner when he is told to, taking a bath when he doesn’t feel like it, and lots of other annoying stuff. Ronin can’t wait to grow up so people would stop telling him what to do. Ronin decides he is going to become a ninja, but he has no idea what is involved. Uncle Max does, though, and he very cleverly teaches Ronin what a ninja needs to understand and weaves some significant life lessons into the story. This has an incredible impact on Ronin and suddenly everything falls into place.

What a great way to teach kids the basics of life such as responsibility, determination, respect, and maturity using a concept that kids will relate to and enjoy. Ninjas need to know how to conduct themselves properly if they want to be a true ninja. The best way to get a kid to do something is help him want to do it because he enjoys it. Ronin finds that with the ninja concepts firmly in his mind, he cleans his room, does his homework, and makes decisions for the better.

Author Chris Roy understands kids. He presents Ronin Cleans His Room Like a Ninja in short, quick sentences, much like ninja moves I guess, and there is no preaching or pontificating about the right thing to do. The message is cleverly woven into Ronin’s aim to become the best ninja. The book works very well visually with illustrations by artist Lucas Romão. I also liked the page layout with one side being images of Ronin’s eloquent expressions/actions and Uncle Max and the other being the text laid over various images of Ronin’s room. The colour palette will appeal to boys as well with vibrant shades of blue. 

Parents will be delighted to purchase this book for their child who maybe has issues cleaning their room or generally tidying up. Kids will admire Ronin’s aim and hopefully come to realise that “Cleaning like a ninja is fun!” But it’s not just about cleaning up. The book cleverly highlights the important foundation stones of life and how one grows up to be a good, responsible person, and where one learns these lessons. Great fun for all young readers and highly recommended. You can find Chris on Twitter @ChrisRoyCrime. Five stars!

 

TV Series review: The White Lotus

 The White Lotus is an American satirical comedy drama series. “The series details a week in the life of vacationers as they relax and rejuvenate in paradise. With each passing day, a darker complexity emerges in these picture-perfect travelers, the hotel's cheerful employees and the idyllic locale itself.” (Wikipedia)

 

When I saw the series image, I naively thought this was a charming, somewhat different take on The Best Marigold Hotel with stories of the antics of quirky guests but this time in a Hawaiian setting. I was wrong. To say this is satirical comedy misses the mark. This is deep, dark, biting satire with characters that you will absolutely hate but cannot stop watching.

The opening scene of a coffin being loaded onto a plane and a character, newly wed, saying that his wife had died, intrigued me. Aha, murder mystery? Sort of. The lives and loves and loathings of several people/families intertwine in the most horrible way. I say horrible because these characters are so realistic that often you want to jump through the TV screen and punch someone’s lights out. The wokery and hypocritical piety of the socially conscious rich are shredded and ridiculed. You cannot believe that people actually espouse this nonsense, but then you realise that they do. I don’t think anyone has any redeeming qualities, apart from one or two characters who are genuinely nice. The characters on the whole are shallow, narcissistic, self-centered and materialistic, which is sadly what many people are like.

But the series is utterly brilliant in the way it savages social hypocrisy. The actors are absolutely riveting in how they portray these awful characters. Familiar faces include Steve Zahn, Jennifer Coolidge (who is utterly hysterical and always watchable), and Connie Britton. I have to mention Aussie actor Murray Bartlett who is superb as the ‘fallen off the wagon’ hotel manager as he surrenders to his vices. He is, in a word, magnificent. Much as I loathed the characters, I found myself turning into an ambulance chaser. I could not stop watching them. I had to know whose body was in the box marked ‘Human Remains’ from episode one. You’ll never guess. I thought I knew. I was wrong.

The photography is outstanding, absolutely beautiful. The music score is fantastic with a mix of old and new, modern and classical scores. Do yourself a favour and see it. Grin and bear it because the very clever script writers get the message across, and the ending has a moving epiphany for the most unlikely character. A five-star series.

Fae Creatures in Mythology from Around the World

Fae Creatures in Mythology from Around the World by
H. R. Conklin (author of The Eternity Knot in the Celtic Magic series)

Fae creatures are found in many forms and show up in a variety of stories around the world. The most commonly recognized Fae creature is the fairy, tiny humanoids with flamboyant butterfly wings. Though in actuality, the Fae come in all sizes, abilities, and attitudes and are found in every culture, though called by many different names. What ties all Fae to a singular group is that they are supernatural beings. These creatures are not always seen by humans, blending in with their natural surroundings, often have varying magical abilities, and sometimes deciding the fate of the humans they encounter.

The most commonly known Fae creatures are the European fairies. Their title is in the very stories they can be sometimes be found in, fairy tales. Fairy tales such as Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Thumbelina have magical humanoid beings with colorful wings. Aurora (a.k.a. Sleeping Beauty) is raised by three little fairies who transform into old women, so they can hide her away in a little cottage on the edge of the forest. Or in an older version, there are thirteen fairies who affect Aurora’s future when they are invited (or not invited, as is the case with the thirteenth fairy) to her christening. Cinderella has a fairy godmother that uses her magic to transform Cinderella from a scullery maid into a beautiful princess. And Thumbelina herself is the size of a tiny fairy, and soon attracts the attentions of a flower-fairy prince. What these fairies all have in common is that they help determine the fate of the human characters they interact with.

It is in reading Celtic tales of fairies that we come to begin to understand the complexity of the fairies and their other fellow Fae creatures. In Celtic lore, the fairies are divided into two types of fairies, the Seelie Fae and the Unseelie Fae. The Seelie Fae are of the Light, the Summer-fairies, and the kinder of the two types. Many have lovely wings and care about the humans they interact with, though they can be full of tricks, so humans best beware. A popular story is of Thomas the Rhymer who crosses paths with what many a scholar assume to be the Seelie Fairy Queen, also called The Queen of Elfland. His fate is completely changed by this interaction, and perhaps for the better. On the opposite end of the fairies is the Unseelie Fae, the Winter Fairies, and the fairies of the Dark. Their queen is colder, crueler, and so are her subjects. Some of the more famous are the Pixies, winged creatures with claws, who bite and scratch. Or the Red-Capped Gnomes, who are not the kind, yard gnomes many think of, but are war-hardened Fae who dip their pointy caps in the blood of their enemies. The Unseelie Fae Queen can be found in such stories as Tamlin, in which she takes her human prisoner to be used as a sacrifice for the seven-year tithing.

In other cultures, such as in the countries of Africa, we find Fae creatures, some similar and some different. In the country of Benin, there is known to live in the forests a shy fairy with possibly butterfly wings and/or a furry body called the Aziza. There is very little known about them and I’ve yet to find an old story told of their behaviors, but a team of authors in the UK have written a few books based on these little Fae creatures. (Aziza's Secret Fairy Door written by Lola Morayo and illustrated by Cory Reid for those who are interested.) There is another Fae creature found in Senegal, West Africa called the Yumboes. The only known original reference is from an Irish writer in the 1800s, Thomas Keightley, who learned about the Yumboe from a woman living in Senegal. Still, they are described as two-foot-tall, white colored creatures that sneak into one’s home and steal their coos-coos, as well as going fishing for their food. Considered the “good people” (similar to the Celtic people who call the Fae “good neighbors”) the Yumboe were thought to be the souls of friends who had died. Again, I have not found any original old stories around these particular Fae, though they are referenced in Pottermore, the extended world of Harry Potter. There are still many more supernatural beings, such as Anansi the Spider, in Africa. It is, after all, a very large continent. 

In North America, there are numerous original Fae creatures to be found. The most well-known are the illusive Bigfoot of the Pacific Northwest, living amongst the Redwood trees and the forested mountains. These creatures are hairy, well over six-feet-tall, and seem to be a cross between humans and apes. Stories are centered on rare sightings and possibly causing harm to humans. The Native American tribes in that region report having seen them for centuries and use their own names for Bigfoot, the Yurok tribe calling them O’mah and the coast Salish calling them se'sxac (Sasquatch.) The interesting thing about this particular supernatural being is that similar creatures are reported to have been seen in China (the Chinese Wildmen) and the Himalayas (the Abominable Snowman or Yeti.) These Fae creatures seem to fall on the “shy” end of the spectrum when it comes to human interaction, so sightings are rare and actual stories are about such sightings.

 These are just a few samples of the diverse Fae creatures that can be found around the world. Truly, each country on every continent could fill an entire book on their own about their unique supernatural creatures. Many are not as well-known as the Celtic Fae, of which there are numerous books written and stories told, but slowly more and more stories are being shared. Hopefully we will come to one day understand that the many cultures of our world share much in common, one example being the Fae creatures we seem to share our planet with. At the very least, all of these Fae creatures give inspiration to many a writer. These are the creatures that fantasy-fiction books are made of, as I did in my Celtic Magic series, and especially in my book, The Eternity Knot.

About the Book:  The Eternity Knot : Mairi has been shown the future and knows humans must change their ways. Continuing on their path of disconnect with Nature will cause the destruction of human life. Tasked by the Seelie Fae to save the human world, Mairi and friends seek out ancient wisdom in the stories of old. The Queen of the Unseelie Fae decides humans have to prove themselves worthy of the Earthly Realm, or die trying. Dark magic makes Mairi push harder to find the answers she needs, but the Undersea Faerie Queen is weighing in and Mairi is uncertain whose side she is on. When young people representing cultures from all of the continents share their knowledge, Mairi finally feels the seeds of hope. Deadly faerie magic is working against humanity, but humans and faeries are working together like never before. As humans begin seeing the earth through ancient views, they are waking up to their dormant powers. Now Mairi must put all the pieces together before time runs out for human life on Earth, and for once she's starting to feel worthy of the task. Join Mairi and friends in this exciting conclusion to the Celtic Magic series. 

 The Celtic Magic series is a unique tale connecting modern day California to the Scotland of centuries ago. Join Mairi during a life-changing year in this eco-heroine's journey, following the Celtic wheel of pagan holidays through the seasons and time as she meets druids, witches, and faeries of both Light and Dark. Discover what role mythic stories play in saving the Earth from imminent destruction, and what happens when the world is inclusive of all people. This series includes The Trinity Knot, The Witch's Knot, The Faerie Knot, and just finished is book 4, The Eternity Knot! This book is perfect for teens and adults of all ages who enjoy a modern take on myths and fairytales! 

About the Author: H. R. Conklin grew up in the rural mountains of Northern California where her mother gardened and her father played the bagpipes, as well as spending long hours in the theater where her parents were a dancer and an actor. This undoubtedly led to her overactive imagination and love for nature. She currently lives in San Diego with her husband, two adult children, and three dogs. She used to teach kindergarten at a public Waldorf charter school in which she told many fairy tales to the children and made up stories in her spare time. Now she is a Story Circle Leader and guides parents in homeschooling at a private Waldorf school.

 

Movie review: The Ice Road

“An explosion at a mine in Manitoba traps 26 miners. Mike McCann and his brother Gurty, an Iraq War veteran suffering from PTSD and aphasia, work for a trucking company until Mike punches another trucker for referring to Gurty as a "retard", and they are both fired. Mike hears about ice road truckers needed in Winnipeg, and they apply. Jim Goldenrod, another trucker, agrees to lead a rescue mission to deliver wellheads to the mine. He hires McCann and Gurty, along with a young woman, Tantoo. Also joining is actuary Varnay, responsible for insurance risk assessment for Katka, the company which owns the mine. The prize money of $200,000 is split between the four truckers, which will be redistributed among the survivors if anyone dies. Meanwhile, the miners are communicating with Katka executives, and Katka General Manager Sickle transmits a message that they plan to free the men by blasting a tunnel.” (Wikipedia)

I had no idea what an ice road was, so I looked it up. Wikipedia (again!) says: “An ice road (ice crossing, ice bridge) is a winter road, or part thereof, that runs on a naturally frozen water surface (a river, a lake or an expanse of sea ice) in cold regions. Ice roads allow temporary transport to isolated areas with no permanent road access. They reduce transportation cost of materials that otherwise would ship as expensive air freight, and they allow movement of large or heavy objects for which air freight is impractical.” It sounds dangerous. It is very dangerous, as you will see when watching this movie.

Yes, the movie plot is simplistic and even predictable in places but with Liam Neeson and Laurence Fishburne heading up the cast, it is eminently watchable, not matter what the critics say. There is enough tension and suspense to keep you riveted, plus lots of feel-good moments. While the rescue mission seems altruistic, of course big corporations have no intention of keeping their word and it is a race against time and the baddies to reach the mine before the trapped miners breathe their last. I am a fan of both these stars, and I always find their performances realistic and passionate. They give their all. There are some familiar faces amongst the other cast members. There is even a surprise member; Skeeter, a pet rat. You will be clutching the edge of your seat and shoveling down the popcorn while you watch. PS: Against all odds, and there are plenty, Skeeter survives! A five star recommendation from me.