MaryAnn Bernal's Blog, page 458

RaShelle Workman: The Novelette and the Novella Rule!

RaShelle Workman: The Novelette and the Novella Rule!: You may be asking, "What the heck is a novella? Novelette?" Simply put, a novella is a novel. Only shorter. And, kewl-er. =) Word ...

Veetu Industries and Rae Gee: Inspirational Interview 4 - Kitty

Veetu Industries and Rae Gee: Inspirational Interview 4 - Kitty: Hi Kitty! Thanks for agreeing to talk to me. It's great to have you here! First off, tell us a little about yourself. ...

Ngaire Elder: Author, KIM SCOTT, hosts a big giveaway for Lilian...

Ngaire Elder: Author, KIM SCOTT, hosts a big giveaway for Lilian...: I took the weekend off from social networking to give my head a rest, spending my weekend relaxing   with family and special friends. Tuesd...


The Briton and the Dane Concordia Kindle edition is included in this giveaway

Gladiator's Pen: Author Chat with james crawford on Gladiator's Pen...

Gladiator's Pen: Author Chat with james crawford on Gladiator's Pen...:  Gladiator's Pen welcomes james   crawford  to the ludis ! No, the lowercase lettering in his name isn't a typo it's his trademark. james ...

Emma Edwards featured on The Examiner

http://www.examiner.com/article/author-emma-edwards-spotlighted-1

The Phil Naessens Show February 19, 2013: Blade Runner (Oscar Pistorious) Busted!

On Tuesdays Phil Naessens Show The Sports Goons Jameyan Smith joins Phil to discuss Jameyan’s daily Black History Month moments, the Cosby Show, Different World, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, Oscar Prestorious facing muder charges, the 2013 NBA All Star Game and The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

http://phillipnaessens.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/the-phil-naessens-show-february-19-2013-blade-runner-oscar-pistorious-busted/

Author Mark Barry - Goodreads Spotlight

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6564598.Mark_Barry

Mary Ann Bernal reviews of Mr. Barry's novels:
   Carla is the story of a perceived mentally-ill person, John Dexter, who shares his story truthfully about his psychiatric illnesses, hospitalizations, and his obsessive love for a woman half his age. He speaks to the reader, as if writing a blog, sharing painful memories with acceptance, his writings cathartic, purging his fear.  The story held my interest to the very last page and I look forward to reading more novels by this author.   Hollywood Shakedown:  The author has expertly woven a tale of greed and lust into a compelling story of a ruthless man’s quest to obtain a missing manuscript.  The wealthy Mortimer Saxon coerces Buddy Chinn to do his bidding, tempting the alcoholic writer with money, but threatening his life and the life of his woman, Monique, should he fail.  We are introduced to many worlds in this thriller, from racetracks and bars to chess tournaments and British football.  Mr. Barry immerses the reader quickly into the intrigue, an enjoyable page turner that is difficult to put down.  I look forward to reading more of this author’s work.  Kid Atomic is a story about Kevin Taylor who has joined a protest group on University, and soon finds himself dangerously involved with a radical faction whose sole purpose is to destroy Great Britain.  Mr. Barry expertly weaves into story the complexities of coming of age as Kevin deals with a myriad of emotions, from dealing with bullies to falling in love.  Once Kevin becomes the keeper of the Device, the opportunity for vengeance suddenly is a reality, but could he destroy everyone, including himself in the process?  No spoilers here.  An enjoyable story.   The Illustrated Woman is a story about a young woman’s choices in the game of life.  Despite Emily’s normal upbringing, extenuating circumstances leaves her on her own, struggling to raise her 8-year-old daughter with a limited income.  Emily’s obsession with having her life’s story told on her body via various tattoo designs is the catalyst for her descent into the seedy world of prostitution.  Despite Emily’s chosen profession, she still dreams of being married to the man she loves, knowing he will never make the commitment.  Mr. Barry manages to shed light into Emily’s psyche - the reader knows why Emily makes poor choices, eliciting sympathy rather than condemnation.  An excellent story for this genre.   The Ritual is an interesting take on a satanic theme whereby the devil returns to earth and claims a human bride.  The story begins when Phillippa and her daughter Jennifer travel from the US to Wheatley Fields, England, so that Phillippa could be near her brother, Damon, in his darkest hour.  Mother and daughter are seen at the airport, quite by chance, by a member of religious cult who believes Phillippa resembles the woman that had been instrumental in establishing the Church’s formation in the last century, and plans are quickly put into place to prepare for the sacrificial rites, and the return of Satan to rule the world.  Mr. Barry’s story captivates the reader with its twists and turns - a page turner that builds up to a suspenseful crescendo, which culminates in an unexpected ending.  An excellent horror story that will cause nightmares, if one is not into horror and the occult.     Ultra Violence:  Mr. Barry delves the reader into the bygone days of British football where team followers of Notts County clash with the myriad of opposing fans, resulting in violent clashes on game day. The story revolves around a middle-aged man whose life is in turmoil - a failed marriage, a disinterested son and a career on the line.  He suddenly finds himself reunited with friends from his youthful past, and while nostalgic memories are forefront, replicating events from an earlier era becomes a reality. I enjoyed this story and recommend it to both men and women.  *** Find out more about Mr. Barry at: http://greenwizard62.blogspot.com/http://greenwizardcarla.blogspot.co.uk/  To purchase Mr. Barry's novels: UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mark-Barry/e/B008479RWI/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
US http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Barry/e/B008479RWI/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1343569938&sr=8-1
                  

The Hourglass by Mary Ann Bernal featured in the Literary Underground Anthology entitled Time

 
Free on Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...  
The Hourglass By Mary Ann Bernal Excerpt

Flair opened her eyes and glanced upon the sand filtering through the hourglass as her life ebbed away.  She was grateful for the moonbeams that filtered through the solitary window as she pondered her fate in the darkened chamber while watching the crystalline particles trickling, ever so slowly, through the slender neck into the lower chamber. Her breathing was raspy, her body racked with pain as the contagion spread throughout the mortal vessel that held her soul.  She knew in her heart there would be no escape and Death would claim her for himself, yet she had no reservations about honoring the terms of her covenant with the feared reaper because Death had kept his word and Brice thrived.
***
Gentle sea breezes embraced the shoreline and rippling waves broke softly upon the beach, leaving frothy bubbles in its wake.  Seagulls foraged for food in the shallow waters near the massive cliffs, their squawking sounds mingling with the melodious tunes of the rolling breakers against the jagged rocks.
Flair ran barefoot along the water’s edge as she made her way towards the hidden cove where Brice waited, but she occasionally looked over her shoulder since she feared she might have been followed.  She hummed her favorite songs as the wind whipped through her hair while the sea mist embraced her face and sea salt lingered on her lips.  She laughed when she noticed two birds fighting over a dead fish that had washed upon the shore as she skirted the jagged coastline and headed towards the concealed inlet where she found Brice basking in the sunlight, his face hidden from her view.
Flair stopped abruptly when she noticed that Brice appeared to be asleep.  She quietly sat beside him, not wishing to disturb his rest as she watched the storm clouds gathering over the horizon.  Her thoughts returned to the day when she had taken shelter in a nearby cave when nature had unleashed its fury and rain pummeled the earth.  She remembered the faint sound of trickling water and soft cries of disturbed creatures scurrying about the darkened cavern as she ventured deeper into the cave while trying to find the source of the translucent stream of light that illuminated the earthen walls.  She shivered and her hands became sweaty when her mind’s eye saw, once again, the hourglass nestled amongst the serrated rocks, its whitened crystals glowing in the darkness, the sparkling grains falling at a snail’s pace through the narrow neck, the lower chamber floor scarcely covered by the remnants of time.
Flair could still envision her shaking hand as she tried to touch the ornately-carved wood, and she relived her mounting fear when she recalled how his shadow had shrouded her entire being as he wrapped her against his ice-cold essence before pulling her towards him.  She had stood still while beads of sweat dripped down her face and a cold chill ran up her spine, but his voice had been soothing when he whispered comforting words into her ear as his fingers caressed her neck before he had encased her with his cloak.  It was while she had been in this unwanted embrace that everything became clear.  The hourglass held her life in its glass enclosure, each fine particle representing a period of time, whether seconds or years, she did not know.
Flair had tried to escape his firm hold, but Death would not set her free, showing her instead snippets of a life yet lived and promises of a love to be embraced.  He had spoken ever so quietly, his breath a cool mist that enveloped her very essence, his words enticing her soul as visions of Brice’s bloodied corpse passed before her.  Within that brief moment, she had understood why, and she knew what Death expected of her.  Yes, she had willingly agreed to remain with Death once the grains of sand filled the lower chamber, but only if Brice survived the battle.
 

History Trivia

February 19 197 Roman Emperor Septimius Severus defeated usurper Clodius Albinus in the Battle of Lugdunum, the bloodiest battle between Roman armies.

  356 The Christian Roman emperor Constantius II issued a decree closing all pagan temples.

 607 Boniface III was elected Pope.  1408 The revolt of Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, against King Henry IV, ended with his defeat and death at Bramham Moor.  1473 Nicolau Copernicus, the father of modern astronomy, was born.

 

Booksessed: Review: Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowan

Booksessed: Review: Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowan: Book: Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowan ( Nightwatchers #1 ) Published by Harlequin Teen; May 2012 352 pages Format: ebook Genres:YA/parano...