MaryAnn Bernal's Blog, page 421

This Week in Tennis 5-4-2013 Martina Navratilova: The Real LGBT Pioneer

http://thisweekintennispodcast.wordpress.com/2013/05/04/this-week-in-tennis-5-4-2013-martina-navratilova-the-real-lgbt-pioneer/   On this week’s edition of This Week in Tennis hosts Phil Naessens and Craig Doyle answer listeners questions regarding homosexuality and doping, congratulate Martina Navratilova on being the pioneer of LGBT athletes and Craig tells us what it’s really like as a professional photographer covering a professional tennis event.

History Trivia - Yorkists defeat Lancastrians at Battle of Tewkesbury

May 4

1256 The Augustinian monastic order was constituted at the Lecceto Monastery in Tuscany when Pope Alexander IV issued a papal bull Licet ecclesiae catholicae.

1415 Religious reformers John Wycliffe and Jan Hus were condemned as heretics at the Council of Constance.

1471 Wars of the Roses: the Yorkists defeated the Lancastrians at the battle of Tewkesbury.

 1493 Pope Alexander VI divided the New World between Spain and Portugal along the Line of Demarcation.

Authors Database - Mark Barry - author of the week

Authors Directory Mark Barry
Mark Barry                                                            Written by Mark Barry     March 06, 2013                                                     
Author DetailsBloghttp://greenwizard62.blogspot.co.ukTwitter@greenwizard62Facebook Accounthttp://www.facebook.com/wiz.green.9Facebook Pagehttp://www.facebook.com/greenwizardpublishingGood Readshttp://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6564598.Mark_BarryBioMark Barry, author of "The Ritual", "Kid Atomic", "The Illustrated Woman", "Hollywood Shakedown", "Ultra Violence" and "Carla", is a writer who writes across genre. He has been writing since he was twenty one, having his first tentative pieces published in 1986 in "Knave" and "Razzle" magazines.

Currently, Mark is a full time fiction writer and author interviewer. He runs a critically praised Author Interview blog called "The Wizard's Cauldron". He has been interviewed on several Radio talk shows - including The Phil Naessens Show-

http://phillipnaessens.wordpress.com/...

http://www.philnaessens.com/apps/blog...

http://www.philnaessens.com/apps/blog...

where he has given readings of his work. His work has been featured in The Sun and Daily Mail and he has also been interviewed on Television.

Mark resides in Southwell, NottinghamshireWhere I LiveSouthwell, NottinghamshireShout OutAuthor interviews: http://adventuresofceciliaspark.blogs...

Author interviews: http://maryannbernal.blogspot.co.uk/

Newspaper Book reviewer: http://inthemidst-km.blogspot.co.uk - examiner.com

Radio DJ: http://thewritersshow.wordpress.com/2... CategoriesAction & AdventureCrimeGeneralHorrorLesbianLiteraryMen's AdventureMystery & DetectiveOccult & SupernaturalPsychologicalRomanceSatireSuspenseUrban LifeVisionary & MetaphysicalBook DetailsRankings & Awards

Book ReviewsThe Ritual: From Amazon US. "Incredible! Step aside Anne Rice, Mark Barry describes places and events like you only wish you could. A nail biter, on the edge of your seat, page turner if I've ever read one. I am usually pretty good at figuring out who, what, when and where, but I was surprised time and time again. Incredibly erotic! Gruesome! Perverted, twisted and sick! Exactly as it should be! It makes no sense that this is not on the best seller list! Not a slow point in it anywhere.

Carla: Amazon US. "Carla is a compelling, modern-day love story which is packed full of dark humour, believable eccentricity and heartrending twists and turns. Set in a familiar English landscape, I found Carla moving, affecting and impossible to put down until the very end."

Hollywood Shakedown: Amazon US. "Hollywood Shakedown was a phenomenal read; compelling, wonderful, outstanding! Fast-paced with carefully crafted characters. Thriller, a bit of sex/romance and a massive amount of intrigue weaved into a well thought out plot. The ending is unforgettable and suits the story very well. Mark Barry has created a novel that few writers could only dream of authoring. The only downside, the story came to an end. A must read for all adults"
My Amazon Book Listhttp://www.amazon.com/Mark-Barry/e/B008479RWI/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1343569938&sr=8-1Mark Barry, author of "The Ritual", "Kid Atomic", "The Illustrated Woman", "Hollywood Shakedown", "Ultra Violence" and "Carla", is a writer who writes across genre. He has been writing since he was twenty one, having his first tentative pieces published in 1986 in "Knave" and "Razzle" magazines.

     Book Covers

  http://www.authorsdb.com/authors-directory/1438-mark-barry

Diane Turner - London Rocks - 03-05-2013

Diane Turner - London Rocks - 03-05-2013

The Phil Naessens Show 5-3-2013 New York Mets, Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Dodgers Weekly Reports

http://phillipnaessens.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/the-phil-naessens-show-5-3-2013-new-york-mets-oakland-athletics-and-los-angeles-dodgers-weekly-reports/   On Fridays show Blogging Mets Mark Berman joins Phil to talk about Matt Harvey and David Wright, Athletics Nation lead writer Alex Hall joins Phil to sing the praises of Josh Donaldson and Yoennis Cespedes and True Blue LA Managing Editor Eric Stephen joins Phil to talk about the return of Hanley Ramirez and more Dodger injuries during the guys weekly reports.

History Trivia - Happy Birthday Niccolo Machiavelli

May 3
 612 Constantine III, Byzantine Emperor was born.

 996 Gregory V was consecrated as pope. The pontificate of Gregory was brief and turbulent, and was interrupted by the installation of John XVI as antipope.

1415 Cecily Neville, mother of Edward IV of England and Richard III of England was born.

1469 Niccolo Machiavelli was born.

Devilish Dreams and Saintly Shenanigans - an interview with author C.L. Foster

Ngaire Elder
Author of the new children's series The Adventures of Cecilia SparkPresents: Friday, 3 May 2013
Devilish Dreams and Saintly Shenanigans! 
C.L. Foster is a writer with big dreams and lots of avenues she wants to travel.
Originally from Florida, she has lived all over the world, but has settled down in Pennsylvania.... for now!
She has a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, with Psychology and Forensics. Which means you don't want to cross her because she knows how and where to hide a body so it's never found!
She proudly admits to hearing voices in her head, but at times, her characters' impromptu visits can be
rude and annoying. Thankfully, she has adequate patience for their shenanigans and can out ninja them
any day of the week.




 Author, C.L. Foster



Bluffing the Devil is C.L. Foster's debut novel full of suspense, paranormal and romancedue for release May 10th!


Excerpt from Bluffing the Devil by C.L. Foster :

    He slithered his way across the casino floor and instantly his predacious gaze locked onto me. In a spontaneous act of avoidance, I burrowed into the crowd a bit deeper and tunneled my way through the unsuspecting human-shields and headed toward the mock-safety of the elevators. Not that I am afraid of him, far from it, I just cannot stand cocky bastards that think they are God's gift to the game. Especially when it's obvious that the only reason he chats me up so often is he is trying to learn my strategy and make a place for himself as poker royalty. Not on my watch, chump. But wait, I am not prey in this situation! I am never going to be someone's doormat or stepping stone ever again! Resolve hit me suddenly and I pivoted on my heel quickly, nearly slamming into his eye-level chest. Man, he was fast! And tall, geez. When did he get so tall? How had I never noticed that before? Ahh yes, always sitting at a poker table and only having to deal with his consuming gazes. This was a new level of freak-out.

    "Is there something I can help you with, Rey?" I said as I craned my neck to see the tower of man before me, "Or were you on a mad dash to bilk someone of their life savings or rob some unsuspecting college girl of her panties and possible virtue tonight?"

    "You wound me, truffle." He drawled with his gorgeous Latin accented "r".

    Seriously? What is up with everyone and their nicknames for me lately?

    "I decided at the last moment to switch to this hotel so I could be away from the action over at Caesar's and as I was registering I couldn’t miss your glorious essence calling to me from the crowd."

    As if I was "calling" to him? Pssh. As if!

    "And I just had to come speak to you and make sure you are doing well. Are you busy? You seemed in a hurry."

    Rey could fool most people into thinking he was innocent or sweet or whatever façade he wanted to wear today but I know poker players and I know men and he was not fooling me one bit. He always stayed at Caesar's, which was one of the most important reasons I never did. Had he followed me? There would be no point in that. I have to stop being so paranoid.

    "I was in a hurry yes, I.. uh.. have a date." It was sort of the truth. I was planning on going to my room for a nap before the tournament and was also praying that I would have a few moments with my Dream Guy, that always settled my nerves and gave me a little something extra to smile about.

    A flash of something crossed Rey's face. Amazingly, I couldn't decipher if it was anger, confusion, or some other emotion. Even though I have been training to read people's faces, actions, words, and other characteristics for years now, he somehow managed to show an emotion I hadn't seen before. Weird. Well-played, sir. Game on.





To view the splendid book trailer for Bluffing the Devil click on the link ... https://plus.google.com/u/0/114878364855189677879/posts/P3TW2AN51zM#114878364855189677879/posts/P3TW2AN51zM

To find out more about author, C.L. Foster please visit:

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCLFoster
https://twitter.com/CLFoster1
http://www.amazon.com/C.L.-Foster/e/B00A5GV1OS/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_3
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1920252.C_L_Foster


Bluffing the Devil is due for release 10th May ... a book worth reading!

Kentucky Derby stirrings from The Wizard's Cauldron

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Psst... Kentucky Derby info: Get yourself down to the corner OTB and put a massive great wedge of tasty greenbacks on this, because on Saturday, it's your lucky day.

Itsmyluckyday - straight from the stable...    

Mary Ann Bernal stirs The Wizard's Cauldron

The Wizard's Cauldron http://greenwizard62.blogspot.com/2013/05/from-main-nottingham-mcdonalds-its-my.html Wednesday, 1 May 2013
http://greenwizard62.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/an-interview-with-mary-ann-bernal.html

Oh, and I didn't tell her to dress up like Capt.Kirk's wife! Mary Ann did it all of her own volition.

______________________________________________________________________________



Greetings Wizardwatchers - it is my pleasure to host this week’s interview with Elisabeth Marrion.

For the Wizard’s followers on the UK side of the pond, there is a six hour difference from the central time zone neck of the woods in  Omaha, Nebraska - yes, the mid west - land of the wide open spaces - Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Billy the Kid, Buffalo Bill - and let’s not forget the ladies - Belle Starr, Stagecoach Mary, Annie Oakley, Calamity Jane - but then, I digress.  
Besides, what does a city slicker, that’s right, a New York transplant, know about the great outdoors, and growing corn and supporting the Cornhuskers - well, now that you ask - resistance is futile - I have been assimilated - RED ALERT - we are now off course.  
An American Star-Trek version with unknown characters which
doesn't star Capt. Kirk and Mr Spock and therefore cannot
be a real Star Trek. Spot the famous character in the right hand bottom
corner.But fear not, my communication channel is open, so let’s welcome Elisabeth.
Chichester's Elizabeth Marrion
Mary Ann:   Hi Liz, welcome to The Wizard’s Cauldron.
Liz: Hi Mary Ann, it is a pleasure to be invited
Mary Ann:  It’s such a delight to have you featured today, but before we forge ahead, perhaps you could tell the Wizardwatchers a little bit about yourself. 
Liz: I was born in Germany in 1948. We lived in the North of Germany, which was occupied by the British, after WWII . My father was a corporal in the RAF ( Royal Air Force ) and was stationed in our town, Hildesheim . There he met my mother, who had lost her husband on the Russian front, during the last days of the War. 
I have 2 half brothers and 3 half sisters all older than myself. I moved to England in 1969, intending to stay for one year, but loved it and stayed. There I met my husband, David. Together, we formed an importing clothing Company. Through this company we worked many years in the Far East and the Sub Continent.
 Mary Ann:  Since I am an avid history buff, and am not limited to the 9th Century, please tell us about your fascination with Rommel and way you chose to write a book about this intriguing personality.
Liz; My mother’s husband, Karl, was a young officer serving under Rommel during WWII. After Rommel’s death, Karl was sent to the Russian front at the end of the War, but he did not return. My mother kept his memories, and the memory of Rommel alive, by telling us about their lives and showed us the photos she had kept. I was the youngest, and after moving to England, my mother stayed with me every year for up to two months, and during those weeks together, she told me her story.
The Desert Fox
Mary Ann  It is my understanding that “The Night I Danced with Rommel” is a fictionalized account of what happened when your mother met the infamous German Field Marshal aka The Desert Fox.  Are there any insights handed down by your mother that were not included in the book?


Liz: The account in the book is as my mother told it to me. I changed only some of the names and some places. Most of my brothers and sisters still do not know some of the things my mother trusted me with. So I wanted to write this book that my extended family would realize, and what made my mother the strong woman that she was. 
But then, I realized that not many people know what life was like for families in Germany during that period. I now want share her story with a wider audience.
Mary Ann:  You are also translating the book into German.  How is that project coming along?
Liz: I am half way through. I would like the first translation to be finished by the end of May 2013. After I do the initial translation, I forward each chapter to my School friend, Waltraut. From there, it goes to my niece Susanne. Later, we print it out and read it again, but after that, I will have to find a German proof reader. I would like to have it ready at Christmas, to give to my brothers and sisters, whose English is limited.


Mary Ann:  You are also writing the sequel, “The Liverpool Connection.”   Tell us a little about this second installment.
Liz  Again, this is based on facts, and tells about life in Liverpool at the same period as “The Night I Danced With Rommel,” between 1926 – 1945.  David, my husband comes from Liverpool and so did my father. My father’s aircraft bombed and flattened my hometown a month before the end of WWII. After the War, it was my father who kept my mother and siblings alive.
A flattened Liverpool during the blitz
 Mary Ann:  Have you come up with a title for the third installment of this series?
Liz: Yes the Cuckoo Clock. It is the story of Jewish emigrants from my home town going to America.
Mary Ann:   Your father was a Corporal in the RAF and stationed in the British occupied Zone in Western Germany after World War II where he met and married your mother.   What was it like growing up in an occupied country?
Liz:   We were lucky . we lived in the British Zone. Germany was divided into  four parts. British, American , French and  Russian . The Russian zone was totally enclosed. This was where most of my mother’s family lived. We could never visit there. And if one of my aunts or uncles would get permission to come and see us, they would have to come alone, without any other family member. This confirmed to the Communist party over there that they would return. Also, they would come as they stood, no money or clothes, just with one bag and just for a few days. Originally, movements were also restricted in the other zones. You could not travel from the British  to the American or French zones. But over the years, we managed to live side by side .The zones still exist today and American and British Armies still have their bases over there.
A divided and colonised Germany in 1945
Mary Ann:  You were also fortunate to work on the sub-continent and Far East.  Would you be willing to share a few of your stories with us?
Liz: Yes, through our work, David and I spent a lot of time abroad. This strengthened our love and understanding for different cultures . That is actually where I fell I love with my husband, in India, Mumbai, and at that time, was still called Bombay. 
The best of India
We worked for different companies back then. I was working for an importing company as their expert in India, and David was a director at a large men’s clothing chain. It was hate at first sight! We could not stand each other. See where it got us! Later we worked a lot in Bangladesh, and there, together with our manufacturer, we built a school in the rural part of the Country.
A Bangladeshi garment factory
Mary Ann  Your mother instilled your love of theater, and it is my understanding that both of  you have performed on stage.  This is quite an exciting reference on a resume.  Theater stories are the best; what insights might you divulge?
Liz:  My mother performed back in East Prussia and myself in the Theater in Hildesheim until I left in 1969. I was in a couple of Ballet performances in West London. If memories can be measured on the Richter scale, Theater memories would get a 10! Even today, when I go to see a show, in my mind, I am up there with the performers. The best smell in the world is when the curtains open, and a warm sweaty smell hits you, sitting in the audience. Sorry!  In ‘The Night I Danced With Rommel’, my mother meets a famous German Actress, Lil Dagover. I also met her later on stage back in Hildesheim.
Work in a theater was different then. Everybody was employed  by the theater, and you would be in many performances during the year. It would range from Opera, Musical, Plays, Christmas, pantomime. Say each show had about 20 – 30 performances a year. These would be staggered.Like a musical tomorrow, a play the next day, and so on. Quite often, I would be in a Christmas Pantomime, with shows on weekends, at 11 am and 3 pm. 

Heartbeat's That Nick Berry - coming soon to a panto
near youAt 8 pm, I would be in a Musical. No wonder I got on so well with my mother, she never saw me. In between, I had to go to school, and later, college. On other occasions, if the Musical group played in the home town, the acting group would be a guest performance somewhere else. There was constant juggling around.
Big friend of mine, racehorse breeder and
Newark punter, TV's Frazer Hines plays the indolent Jack in "Jack and the Beanstalk"
I've no idea who the rest are. A personalised 100 word
sonnet to the first person to tell me who any of these people might be.
Mary Ann:  Can you list five fun facts that people don’t know about you?
Liz  I can only lists things my husband knows about , otherwise that would be telling! (Oooer, missus - Ed!)
Well, the following is true, albeit embarrassing: When we moved house, the time before last. into a small village west off London, I was slightly confused about my new surroundings.  On my first day at the new house, I took the dog out for a walk, and as luck would have it, I met several of our new neighbors. I stopped and introduced myself, and made small talk. Later, in the bedroom back home, some items of clothing were on the bed. I went  to my husband and said, “I am definitely going mad now, I cannot remember having taken my running shorts off.” He shrugged his shoulders and said,: “That is because you never had them on.”Yes, I went through the village, introducing myself to people in my underwear and a t-shirt.  Don’t worry, years later, I became chair person of the Village Committee, I guess they forgave me.


Elisabeth's rediscovered shorts
Because of our business, we travelled a fair amount. On one occasion, when David went to Bangladesh without me, upon returning, he asked me whether everything was alright at the office. I told him I bought a travel agency. “What do we know about the travel agency business?”  Told him that we did not need to know since it came with staff of 12 people.
Now these are stories I can freely tell, can you imagine what my others story would be like. Are you sure you want five ?
Mary Ann:   These are sufficient, Liz.  Am still chuckling from envisioning the running shorts, or lack thereof, confession. If you could have dinner with anyone who ever lived, who would you invite, and what would you serve?
Liz : I would invite Margaret Thatcher. (Boooooooooooooo...Ed! ) When I was still working and trying to sell our latest ranges to big departmental stores in the 80’s , people would refer to me as ‘Maggie’. There could have not been a greater compliment. I would cook an East Prussian Dish ‘ Kohlrouladen’ Cabbage leaves, stuffed with meat, rolled together and cooked in the oven. I would serve it with a small portion of mashed potatoes. It is delicious and I am quite sure, she would have appreciated some simple home cooking.
Vegetable based German delicacy
Mary Ann  Oh dear, there is a time warp in Federation space, the Nexus will soon whisk you into its extra-dimensional realm.  As you are swept away, you will be able to bring with you 3 books, 2 CDs and 1 DVD.  What will you choose?
Liz:  I assume, wherever I am whisked  off  to, I would have plenty of time to read. In this case I would take ; 
The complete Works of William Shakespeare.  
Oscar Wilde : The importance of being earnest and other Plays
Brilliant Cerebus cycle featuring Sebastian Melmoth,
Wilde's post-gaol personae, an identity who refused to write for profit after
his treatment by the vicious homophobe and bully, the Marquis of Queensberry
Rabbit proof fence by Doris Pilkington.  CD: I would take songs by Hildegard Knef; many of her songs have real meanings and there is truth and conviction in her songs. Again, survival against all odds.
The other CD I would take is Ultimate Hits, by Garth Brooks. This would remind me of happy stays in the USA.
DVD: I would take the Erich Kaestner Collection.  Erich Kaestner was one of the banned authors during the Nazi regime.  Most of his children stories were made into film during the 50’s, and are loved by  most adults . They have an underlying message.
Mary Ann:  Elisabeth, we have run out of time on tonight's show, but I'd just like to say that I found all this fascinating and I am sure other's will too. The very best of luck to you!

Liz:  Mary Ann, thank you for the opportunity. It's been a pleasure.

Mary Ann: Wizardwatchers can contact Elisabeth on:

Webpage: http://elisabethmarrion.yolasite.com/
https://twitter.com/Lizziekind 
http://www.writers-room.org/

Mary Ann: Buy:
The Night I Danced With Rommel
Ebook http://www.amazon.com/The-Night-Danced-Rommel-ebook/dp/B00B854ZXY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366308263&sr=8-1&keywords=the+night+i+danced+with+rommel
 Print http://www.lulu.com/shop/elisabeth-marrion/the-night-i-danced-with-rommel/paperback/product-20723600.html

Mary Ann can be contacted on her brilliant magazine style blog...

http://maryannbernal.blogspot.co.uk/

Gallery:


Mary Ann's wide range of historical fiction
Proper Star Trek...with Tribbles...
TJ Hooker - a smash hit in the UK

The Phil Naessens Show 5-2-2013 Farewell to Sexy Jesus!

http://phillipnaessens.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/the-phil-naessens-show-5-2-2013-farewell-to-sexy-jesus/

The Sports Goons Jameyan Smith joins host Phil Naessens to discuss the latest on Jason Collins, Tim Tebow (aka Sexy Jesus) and the NFL draft featuring the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys.