MaryAnn Bernal's Blog, page 382

Blast from the Past - Van Heerling asks Mary Ann Bernal when was the last time she felt really alive!

http://www.vanheerlingbooks.com/4/post/2012/12/three-questions-with-van-heerling-my-guest-today-is-mary-ann-bernalbritonanddane.html

Three Questions with Van Heerling. My Guest Today is Mary Ann Bernal. @BritonandDane12/03/2012
   Welcome to Three Questions with Van Heerling. This is where you get to meet authors, actors, painters and anyone else that is bent toward the arts, but on a more personal level.Today I welcome Mary Ann Bernal, author of The Briton and the Dane novels.

VH: For what are you grateful?

MAB: I’ve always been lucky with my health and vitality. People tell me I don’t look anywhere near my age. In fact, no one has ever guessed my age correctly, so I guess I can’t complain about anything. I walk the treadmill 4 miles a day and keep as active as I can. When I was in Greece last month, I was racing up stairs carved in 300BC while others in the group decided to sit it out.  And I have pictures of my feet standing on the ancient steps and Roman roads. How can I not be grateful for this gift?

VH: I think you have me beat. 
When was the last time you felt alive? I mean really alive!

MAB: Last month, while visiting Greece. The ruins at Ephesus, Corinth, and Philippi, and the burial mound of King Philip, Alexander the Great’s father...and The Acropolis where The Parthenon towers majestically over the city of Athens...and the Porch of the Maidens, and the list goes on!  My thousand plus photos, yes the number is correct, are available on my shutterfly webpage, and if anyone is interested in viewing them, they may contact me at www.maryannbernal.com for the url link. The weather was fantastic, the company was terrific, and the Moussaka was to die for!

VH: If a zombie virus took over the world, how many days do you think you could last before you were infected? And what would you do to postpone the inevitable?

MAB: Oh I’m tough. Come get some, buster!! The Zombie virus would get nowhere near me. I’m from New York!! We survive anything. I’d be like Charlton Heston in the Omega Man – I’d be the Last Woman on Earth. Not a single microbe would get through the door. But if it was inevitable, I would stock up on Advil and extra Listerine and pass the time until doomsday with a nonstop Spartacus: Gods of the Arena marathon with my heartrhrob Gannicus!! What a way to go…

VH: You paint quite a picture! Thank you Mary Ann. 


After the last of Rome's legions left Britannia to the mercy of the invading barbarian hordes and before the age of chivalry, when knighthood was in flower and troubadours sang of courtly love, there lived a King whose love for his people and the land left a legacy coveted by his descendants who sought to wear his crown. Travel back in time to the late Ninth Century, to the tumultuous days in the reign of Alfred the Great who successfully defeated the Danish Viking King Guthrum and kept his precious Wessex free from Viking rule. Journey to the Burh of Wareham where Lord Richard oversees the training of Alfred's army; where his children, Stephen, David and Gwyneth, swear fealty to their King and support his vision to build a nation to rival the glory that once was Rome in a land ravaged by war and conquest.

US AmazonUK Amazon
Germany AmazonFrance AmazonJapan Amazon
(The Briton and the Dane: Concordia will be available early 2013)

Author Bio:
Mary Ann Bernal, author of The Briton and the Dane novels, is an avid history buff whose area of interest focuses on Ninth Century Anglo-Saxon Britain during the Viking Age.  While pursuing a degree in business administration, she managed to fit creative writing classes and workshops into her busy schedule to learn the craft, but it would take decades before her “Erik the Viking” novel was ultimately published.

Mary Ann is also a passionate supporter of the United States military, having been involved with letter writing campaigns and other support programs since Operation Desert Storm.  She has appeared on The Morning Blend television show hosted by KMTV, the CBS television affiliate in Omaha, and was interviewed by the Omaha World-Herald for her volunteer work.  She has also been a featured author on various reader blogs and promotional sites.

Mary Ann is a New York “expat,” and currently resides in Omaha, Nebraska.



Need More Mary Ann Bernal? 
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Independent Author Index - Book Bio The Adventures of Cecilia Spark - the Brimstone Forest by Ngaire Elder

http://indaindex.com/book-bio-the-adventures-of-cecilia-spark-the-brimstone-forest-by-ngaire-elder/


Ngaire Elder writes from Malaga in Spain.Book Bio: The Adventures of Cecilia Spark: the Brimstone Forest by Ngaire Elder 
Author: Ngaire Elder
Book title: The Adventures of Cecilia Spark: the Brimstone Forest
Book rating: G (all ages)
Publisher: Createspace

Book video:
Independent Author Index (IAI): What is your book about?
Ngaire Elder (NG): This is the story about a girl called Cecilia who is captured by a witch whilst she is bug hunting in her garden. The witch takes Cecilia to her witchwam in the Brimstone Forest and she is locked in a cage. This is the start of Cecilia Spark’s enchanting adventure. As the story unravels we read about her encounter with the snapdragon plants, her entrapment in a dragon’s net and her meeting with the Troglosauruses
IAI: How did you pick the topic for The Adventures of Cecilia Spark: the Brimstone Forest?
NG: I wanted to encourage children to love the great outdoors and inspire them to explore their gardens, imagining themselves having the most fantastic adventures whilst doing so.
Therefore, writing about a young adventurer seemed the most logical step.
IAI: How is The Adventures of Cecilia Spark: the Brimstone Forest different from other books that cover the same or similar information?
NG: Brimstone Forest is an original story, full of delightful chracters and fun adventures. Peter Maddocks’ illustrations bring the story to life!
IAI: What do you like most about writing this book?
NG: Going on the adventure with Cecilia Spark and Soldier the Mouse.

History Trivia -Battle of Crecy - England's Edward III defeats Philip VI

August 25

357 Julian Caesar defeated the Alamanni (alliance of German tribes) at Strousbourg in Gaul.

608 Boniface IV became Roman Catholic pope.

1270 King Louis IX of France (Saint Louis) died in northern Africa while leading the Eighth Crusade.

1346 Edward III of England defeated Philip VI's army at the Battle of Crecy in France.

1549 Kett's Rebellion was a revolt in Norfolk, England during the reign of Edward VI. The rebellion was in response to the enclosure of land. It began in July 1549 but was eventually crushed by forces loyal to the English crown when the Earl of Warwick attacked and entered Norwich on August 25.

The Wizard of Notts Recommends: Mortimer's Hole

Nottingham Castle's cave network Mortimer's Hole Richard Rutherford-Moore
Nottingham’s ancient names ‘Speluncaram’ and ‘Tigguocobauc’ - ‘city of caves’ - reflect the fact that beneath the city remain over four hundred man-made caves.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/content/articles/2006/01/31/mortimers_hole_feature.shtml
 Visitors to Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery are offered a guided tour of the medieval tunnels and caves beneath the Ducal Palace building, including the two most famous of these being “King David’s Dungeon” and “Mortimer’s Hole”.
 Listen to Richard talk about Mortimer's Hole >
Audio and Video links on this page require RealplayerBoth these man-made caves gained their names through a traditional association with actual historical events. I was attracted to “Mortimer’s Hole” as it seemed to offer a good adventure story in principal but seeming to lack plausibility on the practical side.
Local historian Richard Rutherford-MooreThe ‘hole’ itself is actually a vertical shaft dropping vertically into a tunnel over a 150 metres long descending from the top of the castle rock through several turns to reach the bottom of the rock near Castle Boulevard.
The ‘hole’ remains a popular tourist spot due to the connection in October 1330 with the abduction by Edward III of a powerful rebel named Roger Mortimer, Earl of March.
Secret Tunnel
The traditional story has the castle commander letting slip to a friend of Edward III that a ‘secret way’ existed leading to an abduction party entering the castle at dead of night using this ‘secret’ tunnel, killing the guard, surprising the rebel and carrying him off to London for trial and execution (though no mention is ever made of exactly how the abduction party got through a locked and bolted trapdoor).
The tunnel is mentioned in antiquity by several historians who noted the existence of all the tunnels at the Castle from the 16th to the 19th century in terms of exploration, seeking for a carved ‘Passion of Christ’ on a cavern wall. The origins of these tunnels and most accounts are pretty vague, as they were expanded from the start but no real records ever kept of any development.
The top of the ‘hole’ is shown on the sketch made by Smithson in 1617, which in itself is the only plan of Nottingham Castle available to posterity, though archaeology has shown the castle was extensively rebuilt, re-designed and expanded from it’s beginnings in 1068.
The Hole
The remains of the medieval castle itself were largely destroyed after a deliberate ‘slighting’ in 1651 and the creation of the Ducal Palace in 1679 when the upper bailey or upper court of the medieval castle was literally sliced off to make room for the ground plan of the palace ; the ‘hole’ lost around twenty feet of it’s depth in this way.
When the ‘hole’ was originally dug isn’t known; only a vague note from the time of Richard I hints at the creation of the tunnel but that the tunnel was there in 1330 isn’t doubted, and a ‘top secret’ known only to a few people with both entrances covered or camouflaged (to then guard a camouflaged secret tunnel would be a bit odd as people would obviously suspect what the sentries were doing).
The top entrance - very likely covered by a locked or bolted trapdoor and probably within a building - descended thirty feet by a vertical shaft into which was fitted a spiral stair to the narrow tunnel (calculated to be between three and four feet wide and just over six feet high).
During the occupation of the castle by Parliamentary soldiers in 1642-44, the tunnel was used as a ‘sally-port’ and supply route and said to have been both widened and heightened; an indication of by how much can be ascertained by the difference in floor levels of an access tunnel created in 1642 leading to a gun platform, a difference of around three feet in depth.
The remains of the Ducal Palace - which was a hollow shell for forty years after the great fire of 1831, with Mortimer’s Hole seen in the 1860’s filled with debris, stone and earth - were leased to Nottingham Corporation and became a Museum in 1879.
Abduction
Tours of the tunnels were soon introduced and became popular, most of the names of the underground places visited given from a blend of historical notes and hearsay, adding to speculation and differences of opinion since the most recent explorations there in 1863. Evidence suggests that as the largest tunnels were accessible, they became known as the places where the historical events they commemorate occurred (though they didn’t always have the names they have today).
Caves outside Nottingham CastleAn alternative explanation of the abduction in 1330 also exists, and it was this one that I considered the more plausible and practical of the two for several reasons. Proving the abduction party could have gained access to the castle by a far easier route and not having to depend on an ‘inside job’ led to me looking for the ‘postern gate’ of this account - a difficult job as the castle walls were completely rebuilt in 1908.
After studying the archaeological report of 1975, I noted the remains of a collapsed tunnel but which had not been excavated. More research led to a simple calculation in August 2005 involving a compass bearing and a weighted piece of string thrown over the castle wall led to me finding the entrance to this tunnel in a back garden exactly where I expected it to be, and of a size to fit the bill. This made the alternative to the traditional account of the abduction much more acceptable.
The alternative account given is that the castle commander was forced to give information getting the abduction party into the castle by using passwords to get through a ‘postern gate’.
Mortimer
The abduction party met in the Park, but some members got lost in the dark. The abduction still went ahead, getting into the castle by using the passwords and creeping up to the upper court where they were recognised by one of Mortimer’s men, who was killed before he could raise the alarm.
Mortimer was then captured but the escape route was cut-off by the men who had got lost in the dark attacking the main gate in an attempt to get into the castle. It was at that point as panic almost set in amongst the abduction party - who may have planned to kill Mortimer at that point - that the castle commander told the abduction party about the ‘secret tunnel’ which they unlocked and they used to escape down, away from the castle.
The ‘legend’ of the abduction was almost lost during the black plague of 1348 (which killed almost 50% of the people in England). Because of the ‘betrayal’ (in one form or another) of the castle commander, the possibility of a Scots or French invasion and the alleged involvement of his mother - Queen Isabella - in the murder of her husband, Edward II, his father I believe Edward III ‘hushed up’, changed or even suppressed the story of the abduction.
He did a year later publicly forgive the members of the abduction party of any charge of murder. The three men ‘fingered’ for the actual murder of his father Edward II were arrested but never charged.


 

TheWizard of Notts Recommends: Mortimer's Hole

Nottingham Castle's cave network Mortimer's Hole Richard Rutherford-Moore
Nottingham’s ancient names ‘Speluncaram’ and ‘Tigguocobauc’ - ‘city of caves’ - reflect the fact that beneath the city remain over four hundred man-made caves.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/content/articles/2006/01/31/mortimers_hole_feature.shtml
 Visitors to Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery are offered a guided tour of the medieval tunnels and caves beneath the Ducal Palace building, including the two most famous of these being “King David’s Dungeon” and “Mortimer’s Hole”.
 Listen to Richard talk about Mortimer's Hole >
Audio and Video links on this page require RealplayerBoth these man-made caves gained their names through a traditional association with actual historical events. I was attracted to “Mortimer’s Hole” as it seemed to offer a good adventure story in principal but seeming to lack plausibility on the practical side.
Local historian Richard Rutherford-MooreThe ‘hole’ itself is actually a vertical shaft dropping vertically into a tunnel over a 150 metres long descending from the top of the castle rock through several turns to reach the bottom of the rock near Castle Boulevard.
The ‘hole’ remains a popular tourist spot due to the connection in October 1330 with the abduction by Edward III of a powerful rebel named Roger Mortimer, Earl of March.
Secret Tunnel
The traditional story has the castle commander letting slip to a friend of Edward III that a ‘secret way’ existed leading to an abduction party entering the castle at dead of night using this ‘secret’ tunnel, killing the guard, surprising the rebel and carrying him off to London for trial and execution (though no mention is ever made of exactly how the abduction party got through a locked and bolted trapdoor).
The tunnel is mentioned in antiquity by several historians who noted the existence of all the tunnels at the Castle from the 16th to the 19th century in terms of exploration, seeking for a carved ‘Passion of Christ’ on a cavern wall. The origins of these tunnels and most accounts are pretty vague, as they were expanded from the start but no real records ever kept of any development.
The top of the ‘hole’ is shown on the sketch made by Smithson in 1617, which in itself is the only plan of Nottingham Castle available to posterity, though archaeology has shown the castle was extensively rebuilt, re-designed and expanded from it’s beginnings in 1068.
The Hole
The remains of the medieval castle itself were largely destroyed after a deliberate ‘slighting’ in 1651 and the creation of the Ducal Palace in 1679 when the upper bailey or upper court of the medieval castle was literally sliced off to make room for the ground plan of the palace ; the ‘hole’ lost around twenty feet of it’s depth in this way.
When the ‘hole’ was originally dug isn’t known; only a vague note from the time of Richard I hints at the creation of the tunnel but that the tunnel was there in 1330 isn’t doubted, and a ‘top secret’ known only to a few people with both entrances covered or camouflaged (to then guard a camouflaged secret tunnel would be a bit odd as people would obviously suspect what the sentries were doing).
The top entrance - very likely covered by a locked or bolted trapdoor and probably within a building - descended thirty feet by a vertical shaft into which was fitted a spiral stair to the narrow tunnel (calculated to be between three and four feet wide and just over six feet high).
During the occupation of the castle by Parliamentary soldiers in 1642-44, the tunnel was used as a ‘sally-port’ and supply route and said to have been both widened and heightened; an indication of by how much can be ascertained by the difference in floor levels of an access tunnel created in 1642 leading to a gun platform, a difference of around three feet in depth.
The remains of the Ducal Palace - which was a hollow shell for forty years after the great fire of 1831, with Mortimer’s Hole seen in the 1860’s filled with debris, stone and earth - were leased to Nottingham Corporation and became a Museum in 1879.
Abduction
Tours of the tunnels were soon introduced and became popular, most of the names of the underground places visited given from a blend of historical notes and hearsay, adding to speculation and differences of opinion since the most recent explorations there in 1863. Evidence suggests that as the largest tunnels were accessible, they became known as the places where the historical events they commemorate occurred (though they didn’t always have the names they have today).
Caves outside Nottingham CastleAn alternative explanation of the abduction in 1330 also exists, and it was this one that I considered the more plausible and practical of the two for several reasons. Proving the abduction party could have gained access to the castle by a far easier route and not having to depend on an ‘inside job’ led to me looking for the ‘postern gate’ of this account - a difficult job as the castle walls were completely rebuilt in 1908.
After studying the archaeological report of 1975, I noted the remains of a collapsed tunnel but which had not been excavated. More research led to a simple calculation in August 2005 involving a compass bearing and a weighted piece of string thrown over the castle wall led to me finding the entrance to this tunnel in a back garden exactly where I expected it to be, and of a size to fit the bill. This made the alternative to the traditional account of the abduction much more acceptable.
The alternative account given is that the castle commander was forced to give information getting the abduction party into the castle by using passwords to get through a ‘postern gate’.
Mortimer
The abduction party met in the Park, but some members got lost in the dark. The abduction still went ahead, getting into the castle by using the passwords and creeping up to the upper court where they were recognised by one of Mortimer’s men, who was killed before he could raise the alarm.
Mortimer was then captured but the escape route was cut-off by the men who had got lost in the dark attacking the main gate in an attempt to get into the castle. It was at that point as panic almost set in amongst the abduction party - who may have planned to kill Mortimer at that point - that the castle commander told the abduction party about the ‘secret tunnel’ which they unlocked and they used to escape down, away from the castle.
The ‘legend’ of the abduction was almost lost during the black plague of 1348 (which killed almost 50% of the people in England). Because of the ‘betrayal’ (in one form or another) of the castle commander, the possibility of a Scots or French invasion and the alleged involvement of his mother - Queen Isabella - in the murder of her husband, Edward II, his father I believe Edward III ‘hushed up’, changed or even suppressed the story of the abduction.
He did a year later publicly forgive the members of the abduction party of any charge of murder. The three men ‘fingered’ for the actual murder of his father Edward II were arrested but never charged.

 

Actor/co-producer Kathy Krantz Stewart, Queen of Sci-Fi Magazine, Is Vyla/Pamera and the Hag in Ethyrea: Code of the Brethren

http://transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=1207863

Actor/co-producer Kathy Krantz Stewart, Queen of Sci-Fi Magazine, Is Vyla/Pamera and the Hag in Ethyrea: Code of the Brethren Vic and Andy Armstrong Signed on to Co-direct Ethyrea: Code of the Brethren Hollywood 11/19/2012 07:04 PM GMT (TransWorldNews)
Eye on Entertainment                    Kathy Krantz Stewart has just come back from the UK from her big role in the film Pearls of Africa where she played Emily. This was filmed in Boxted Hall, a 700-year-old estate in England, and was also shot in Kenya.  In addition, her sci-fi film, Master Race from Mars, is planned for distribution next year by Ytinifni Pictures. Kathy executive produced and plays Catherine in this film, which her husband wrote and directed.  She is also starring next year in Cowgirl Romance, a family friendly western she is executive producing, shooting in the US. She has other projects planned, including Dolphin’s Song and her role as Lilith. The newest BLOCKBUSTER sci-fi fantasy film series Kathy is thrilled to be part of is Ethyrea: Code of the Brethren. This four part film series has an 80 million dollar budget with big stars attached. She is going to go around the world to many foreign and US locations to shoot this amazing new film, including Hawaii, China, Malta, and potentially the UK, etc.  She plays three roles as Vyla/Pamera and the Hag.  Kathy Krantz Stewart, long time Sci-fi/Fantasy world publisher of The Trekker News and Views, and writer for Fangoria and Starlog and a veritable founder of the Fantasy genre, is also a seasoned, veteran of the screen, who, in addition to co-producing, will also play three separate very unique character roles in the film. An award-winning screenwriter and actress herself, Kathy was completely enchanted by “Ethyrea” and all of its amazing packaged non-profit plans, and plans to involve the fans. “Danica’s story is excellent and follows in the footsteps of the greats before her; like Lord of the Rings, and even the Harry Potter series. Ethyrea brings you into an entirely new world, and each film in the series has the stand alone potential to be a great blockbuster,” says Kathy.  She adds, “I think there will be an explosion of a world-wide fan base following like Star Trek and Harry Potter. And since it is a family friendly film series that has some serious plans to support education, it immediately attracted me.”The latest news is that Vic and Andy Armstrong, whose combined directorial credits span the decades from Indiana Jones to Thor and from   I, Robot, to Rise of the Planet of the Apes, have agreed to team up and co-direct the new Blockbuster Fantasy Action Film series Ethyrea: Code of the Brethren. Based on Old Line Publishing’s popular, young adult book series, The Order of Ethyrea, by author Danica Fontaine, Ethyrea: Code of the Brethren seeks to differentiate itself by delivering the same epic production value we have come to expect from such film sagas as Lord of the Rings,Clash of the Titans, and Twilight, while simultaneously maintaining a commitment to forgo gratuitous violence, sexuality, and coarse language in exchange for an action packed, thrill-ride that will be magical and suitable for all ages. “Andy and I are both honored and excited about teaming up on this project. We see the opportunity to combine our collective experience in directing, producing, and stunt coordination - on many of the world’s biggest budget films - and create something truly epic.  We have not only the technical experience and expertise, but a deep passion for bringing Danica’s vision to life,” says Vic. “And when it comes to horses and action sequences, there is nobody on the planet more knowledgeable and seasoned in the art of heavy action direction than Vic,” says Andy. “I am always keen on Producing and working on massive pictures like this one with Vic.”  Even with Andy in prep on the new Spiderman, and Vic gearing up to Direct Nicholas Cage in the long anticipated remake of The Left Behind Series, they are excited to start working with Danica and world renowned Casting Director, Robyn Owen, on casting the film soon.Filming in China, Hawaii, Malta and potentially in the UK, Danica Fontaine adapted the screenplay from her award winning book series, The Order of Ethyrea. Having recently been awarded the Gold Star Award from Publisher’s Desk for both book one and book two in the series, she was also a nominee for the Shorty Awards as an Author last year. Starting her own production company and building the film crew from the ground up with her Partner, Lou Rawls, Jr, son of the great Lou Rawls, she has slowly assembled some of the brightest minds in the industry into an 80 million dollar Blockbuster film franchise that now has guaranteed distribution, and several household names attached to the project. When asked about her thoughts on the Armstrong’s coming on board, Writer and Producer Danica Fontaine said, “I am honored and humbled by this most amazing turn of events. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that something so amazing and so fantastic could become of my Ethyrea! Vic and Andy Armstrong are icons in the film industry. Their combined experience in directing, producing, and stunt coordination on nearly 30 of the last decade’s biggest blockbusters speak for itself. It just makes sense on every level to bring them on board, and I am beyond confident in their ability to bring the magic and wonder of Ethyrea to the silver screen.”  The film crew Danica has assembled is pretty amazing themselves. Collectively, they have worked on massive productions such as Skyfall, Gladiator, Braveheart, Spiderman, Pirates of the Caribbean, Race to Witch Mountain, Mission Impossible II & III, 300, Red, Salt, Total Recall 2012, War Horse, The Hobbit, Clash of the Titans, Lord of the Rings, Shrek, Armageddon, and even the Twilight series just to name a few. In addition to Vic and Andy Armstrong coming in as Ethyrea’s Directors, are numerous award winning animation studios and individuals, including DQ Entertainment, winner of the 2012 International Animation Studio of the Year award, Legendary Producer Billy Badalato, known for his work on Around the World in 80 days, About Schmidt, Dear John, Alien: Resurrection, Top Gun,Broken Arrow and even Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Visual Effect Supervisor Stephen Sobisky, known for his work on Shrek, Race to Witch Mountain, The Game Plan and Antz, as well as legendary Cinematographer Dean Cundey, responsible for Apollo 13, Jurassic Park, Hook, and theBack to the Future Films.- See more at: http://transworldnews.com/NewsStory.a...

History Trivia - Mt Vesuvius erupts, destroying the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum

August 24

49 BC Julius Caesar's general Gaius Scribonius Curio was defeated in the Second Battle of the Bagradas River by the Numidians under Publius Attius Varus and King Juba of Numidia. Curio committed suicide to avoid capture.

79 Mount Ve
suvius erupted. The cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae were buried in volcanic ash Pliny the Elder died of asphyxiation at age 56 while witnessing the scene from the coast.

410 Alaric, leader of the Visigoths, sacked Rome, but spared its churches. This was first hostile occupation of the city since the fourth century BC.

1113 Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou and ancestor of the Plantagenet kings of England was born.
(Photo from Robin Hood) 1200 King John of England, signee of the first Magna Carta, married Isabella of Angouleme in Bordeaux Cathedral.

Independent Author Index Book Bio - Carla by Mark Barry

http://indaindex.com/book-bio-carla-by-mark-barry/


Mark Barry writes from Nottinghamshire in the United KingdomBook Bio: Carla by Mark Barry 
Author: Mark Barry
Book title: Carla
Book rating: PG-13 (questionable content for children under 13)
Publisher: Green Wizard Publishing

Independent Author Index (IAI): What is your book about?
Mark Barry (MB): A recently released mental patient develops a relationship with a much younger wildlife conservation student earning her tuition fees behind a bar in the beautiful and prosperous town of Wheatley Fields. The relationship between the two, often beautiful and touching, deepens until other parties ensure the unlikely liaison ends in a brutal and tragic conclusion.
Bravely written from the point of view of the ex-mental patient, unflinching in its honesty, almost comedic in parts, Carla is a dark romance and a love story for the modern age.
IAI: How did you pick the topic for Carla?
MB: Sitting in the pub watching an older man talking to an extremely beautiful younger barperson.
IAI: How is Carla different from other books that cover the same or similar information?
MB: To my knowledge, there are very few books of this nature.
IAI: What do you like most about writing this book?
MB: It was extremely difficult to write and I was glad when it was over.

The Wizard of Notts Recommends: Travers Stakes on Saturday August 24 2013 (NBC 4.00 EDT)

Stately Saratoga stages the traditional 3-y-o late summer highlight, the Travers Stakes on Saturday (NBC 4.00 EDT). Nine runners show up for the party, including Kentucky Derby winner Orb and Preakness victor, Palace Malice. 


Neither are favoured though - Pletcher's Verrazano takes those honours. None of the Classic colts convince at the prices, so the Wizard rows in with the majestic colours of Sheikh Mohammed's Transparent, the rapid improver of the race, ridden by Ortiz. A massive price with the English books.

http://betting.racingpost.com/horses/cards/card.sd?race_id=586170&r_date=2013-08-24#racingCard=standard&infoTabs=diomed_verdict
 
Bernardini is the sire of 2013 contender Romansh (20/1 in Britain)

The Wizard of Notts Recommends - Time Machine Special - Arrows "I Love Rock N Roll"

Arrows, "I Love Rock N Roll" featuring lead singer Alan Merrill. The original a-side version from 1975 by the band (Alan Merrill and) the Arrows. The group were produced by British legend Mickie Most, and the tune was written by Arrows Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker. The song was later covered by Joan Jett, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus and many more. Lead vocals & bass guitar by Alan Merrill, guitar & backing vocals by Jake Hooker, and drums and backing vocals by Paul Varley.
The Arrows released both an a-side version and a b-side version of this particular song.
Having their own TV series, the band recorded many versions of their songs for performance on the show, in accordance with musician's union rules at the time.
The video was made in three locations. The park is Berkeley Square, London England, W1, the street scenes are on Charles Street, same area. The performance was filmed on Quay Street in Manchester England, at the Granada/ITV studios.
This clip aired on Granada/ITV in 1976, produced by Muriel Young and directed by Peter Walker.
This version is available on The Arrows "Tawny Tracks" rarities album.
There have been many different recording bands named the Arrows over decades, on separate continents, so in order to keep focus and clarity I have made sure people know this is the Arrows fronted by lead singer Alan Merrill in the headline above.
Clip trivia: The mystery man standing by the tree with the Arrows at the end of this clip is Monsieur Kamayatsu of the legendary Japanese band The Spiders.
Cosmic oddity: Arrows singer Alan Merrill and Joan Jett are both left handed, but play their instruments right handed.
More trivia- Joan Jett was initially introduced to her manager Kenny Laguna by a tv producer named Alan Sacks. Arrows singer Alan Merrill's legal birth name is Allan Sachs, same pronounciation. A little eerie, don't you think?