Majanka Verstraete's Blog, page 19
November 23, 2018
Author Interview Inside the Chinese Wine Industry
Author Interview
When did you know you wanted to be an author?
I did not grow up with the dream of being an author. When I was little I wanted to be an oceanographer, later a chef, and then a comedian but being a writer never occurred to me. Perhaps one of the reasons is that I was diagnosed with dysgraphia early on so writing was always arduous for me.
It was not until I was in my early twenties that I would catch myself daydreaming about writing books. However, I never wrote seriously until I was 26 when I penned my first short story and began working on a novel. In the process of writing the novel I became hooked and realized that not only I loved to write but I was compelled to do so. I took the novel to a pitch conference in New York City and it was requested by an acquisition editor of a major publishing house. I was dazzled by the entire experience. Although, the novel is still unpublished for a variety of reasons, this is when I was most powerfully struck by the dream of being an author and it never left me.
What inspired you to write this book?
The book grew out of some freelancing work that I was doing. I have worked as a freelance writer for several years. In 2015 I was doing a lot of writing about food, drink, and travel. I stumbled upon this topic and I was fascinated by it. I started writing for an online Chinese travel blog and learning about the Chinese wine industry. I became completely fascinated with the subject.
It turned into an obsession and after about a year of research, I knew that I had to write a book about it. I read everything I could get my hands on about the industry and became more entranced. While doing this research, I wished that someone had written a more comprehensive overview of wine in China. When I could not find what I was looking for, it served as inspiration to write the book I had sought. I hope that it will be useful and fulfilling for others with similar inclinations. Exploring China through the prism of wine is both fascinating and rewarding.
What is your editing process like?
I often write first drafts long-hand and then when I enter those drafts into the computer, this serves as a second draft because I am always adding and changing this as I go along. Then I usually print out the second draft and read it aloud as I edit. It is amazing what the ear can pick up that the eyes miss. Then I continue to rework it for as many drafts as possible until either I am satisfied or I must meet a deadline (sometimes I feel as if I could go on forever). For me the most important part of the editing process is striving to see the work in as many different ways as possible.
Is this your first book? If not, please tell us about your first book.
No, the first book I published was Death: An Exploration and it was published on New Year’s Day of 2016. It is also a non-fiction book. The slim volume explores death in many different ways. The book exceeded my expectations in how well it was received because I never quite know how a book (or any piece of writing for that matter) will be regarded after it is sent out into the world, especially my first attempt at a full book. Many people have told me that it has helped them feel better about their own mortality and to have a more nuanced understanding of deaths around them, which has offered some solace. I am happy that the book has been something that has been helpful in the lives of many people, especially in the face of life’s most feared mystery.
Did you set any writing goals for 2018?
Actually my biggest goal was to finish Inside the Chinese Wine Industry so I am feeling pretty good about 2018. But the second goal was to resume work on a project that I have been honing for eight years, which leads me to your next question…
Are you working on something right now?
Yes, I will soon be back to work on a multi-genre book that I have been honing for many years. Essentially, it is a story that uses journal entries to form a loose narrative skeleton and then other genres in order to flesh out the story. It is something that is different than anything I have ever read or produced so it continues to be an obsession. I hope to have it done sometime in 2019. Additionally, I am taking some time off from non-fiction, after having produced three straight non-fiction books, so that I can experiment with some fiction projects that I’ve had on the backburner for a while.
About the Book
Title: Inside the Chinese Wine Industry
Author: Loren Mayshark
Genre: Nonfiction
The wine business is one of the world’s most fascinating industries and China is considered the rising star. A hidden secret, the Chinese wine industry continues to grow at an amazing pace and is projected to soon enter the top five producing nations, supplanting long established countries such as Australia. Inside the Chinese Wine Industry: The Past, Present, and Future of Wine in China takes you through the growing Chinese wine scene.
Wine has had a meteoric rise in China over the past two decades. The nation is projected to become the second most valuable market for wine in the world by 2020. One recent study concluded that 96% of young Chinese adults consider wine their alcoholic drink of choice. Not only does Inside the Chinese Wine Industry explore current expansion and business models, it journeys back to the past to see where it all began.
There are more than seven hundred wineries in China today. Although it’s bit of an oversimplification, the vast majority of the wineries fit into one of two categories: the larger established producers who churn out mostly plonk to meet the growing demand for inexpensive wine and the newer wineries that try to cater to the tastes of the wealthy Chinese with money to spend on luxury goods like fine wine. In the words of wine guru Karen MacNeil, author of The Wine Bible, “The cheap wines from the very large producers have mostly verged on dismal.” However, this should not be considered a blanket statement regarding every wine from large producers. Also, she has positive reflections regarding the level of wine produced by “cutting-edge wineries” which she finds “far better.” How good are they? MacNeil asserts: “Some of these wines are so good they could easily pass for a California or Bordeaux wine in a blind tasting.”
Author Bio
Loren Mayshark studied Chinese art, religion, philosophy, and history while earning a B.A. in history from Manhattanville College in New York. After graduation, he attended The Gotham Writers Workshop and the prestigious New York Writers Workshop. He has written about the Chinese wine industry for The Jovial Journey and Sublime China.
After college, he supported his itinerant lifestyle by working dozens of jobs, including golf caddy, travel writer, construction worker, fireworks salesman, substitute teacher, and vineyard laborer. Predominantly his jobs have been in the restaurant industry. He cut his teeth as a server, maître d’, and bartender at San Francisco’s historic Fisherman’s Grotto #9, the original restaurant on the Fisherman’s Wharf. While working with a colorful crew of primarily Mexican and Chinese co-workers.
He spent much of his young adult life exploring the wine industry from Sonoma Valley to the North Fork of Long Island, immersing himself in vineyards and learning valuable lessons. He has traveled extensively in South America, Europe, and Asia. He presently splits his time between Western New York and Sweden.
His first book, Death: An Exploration, won the 2016 Beverly Hills Book Award in the category of Death and Dying and was a finalist for book of the year in the 2016 Foreword INDIES Awards in the category of Grief/Grieving (Adult Nonfiction). Inside the Chinese Wine Industry is his third book.
For more information visit his website: lorenmayshark.com.
Keep up with him on Twitter: @LorenMayshark
Links
Facebook Book Page and Facebook Author Page
November 13, 2018
Release Blitz Dearly Beloved
About the Book
Title: Dearly Beloved
Author: Peggy Jaeger
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Colleen O’Dowd manages a thriving bridal business with her sisters in Heaven, New Hampshire. After fleeing Manhattan and her cheating ex-fiancé, Colleen still believes in happily ever afters. But with a demanding business to run, her sisters to look after, and their 93-year-old grandmother to keep out of trouble, she’s worried she’ll never find Mr. Right.
Playboy Slade Harrington doesn’t believe in marriage. His father’s six weddings have taught him life is better as an unencumbered single guy. But Slade loves his little sister. He’ll do anything for her, including footing the bill for her dream wedding. He doesn’t plan on losing his heart to a smart-mouthed, gorgeous wedding planner, though.
When her ex-fiancé comes back into the picture, Colleen must choose between Mr. Right and Mr. Right Now.
Author Bio
Peggy Jaeger is a contemporary romance writer who writes about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them.
Family and food play huge roles in Peggy’s stories because she believes there is nothing that holds a family structure together like sharing a meal…or two…or ten. Dotted with humor and characters that are as real as they are loving, Peggy brings all topics of daily life into her stories: life, death, sibling rivalry, illness and the desire for everyone to find their own happily ever after. Growing up the only child of divorced parents she longed for sisters, brothers and a family that vowed to stick together no matter what came their way. Through her books, she has created the families she wanted as that lonely child.
Tying into her love of families, her children’s book, THE KINDNESS TALES, was illustrated by her artist mother-in-law.
Peggy holds a master’s degree in Nursing Administration and first found publication with several articles she authored on Alzheimer’s Disease during her time running an Alzheimer’s in-patient care unit during the 1990s.
In 2013, she placed first in two categories in the Dixie Kane Memorial Contest: Single Title Contemporary Romance and Short/Long Contemporary Romance.
In 2017 she came in 3rd in the New England Reader’s Choice contest for A KISS UNDER THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS and was a finalist in the 2017 STILETTO contest for the same title.
In 2018, Peggy was a finalist in the HOLT MEDALLION Award and once again in the 2018 Stiletto Contest.
A lifelong and avid romance reader and writer, she is a member of RWA and her local New Hampshire RWA Chapter.
Links
Giveaway
Win one of two $15 Amazon gift cards during the release and tour.
Book Trailer Blitz Inside the Chinese Wine Industry
Book Trailer
About the Book
Title: Inside the Chinese Wine Industry
Author: Loren Mayshark
Genre: Nonfiction
The wine business is one of the world’s most fascinating industries and China is considered the rising star. A hidden secret, the Chinese wine industry continues to grow at an amazing pace and is projected to soon enter the top five producing nations, supplanting long established countries such as Australia. Inside the Chinese Wine Industry: The Past, Present, and Future of Wine in China takes you through the growing Chinese wine scene.
Wine has had a meteoric rise in China over the past two decades. The nation is projected to become the second most valuable market for wine in the world by 2020. One recent study concluded that 96% of young Chinese adults consider wine their alcoholic drink of choice. Not only does Inside the Chinese Wine Industry explore current expansion and business models, it journeys back to the past to see where it all began.
There are more than seven hundred wineries in China today. Although it’s bit of an oversimplification, the vast majority of the wineries fit into one of two categories: the larger established producers who churn out mostly plonk to meet the growing demand for inexpensive wine and the newer wineries that try to cater to the tastes of the wealthy Chinese with money to spend on luxury goods like fine wine. In the words of wine guru Karen MacNeil, author of The Wine Bible, “The cheap wines from the very large producers have mostly verged on dismal.” However, this should not be considered a blanket statement regarding every wine from large producers. Also, she has positive reflections regarding the level of wine produced by “cutting-edge wineries” which she finds “far better.” How good are they? MacNeil asserts: “Some of these wines are so good they could easily pass for a California or Bordeaux wine in a blind tasting.”
Author Bio
Loren Mayshark studied Chinese art, religion, philosophy, and history while earning a B.A. in history from Manhattanville College in New York. After graduation, he attended The Gotham Writers Workshop and the prestigious New York Writers Workshop. He has written about the Chinese wine industry for The Jovial Journey and Sublime China.
After college, he supported his itinerant lifestyle by working dozens of jobs, including golf caddy, travel writer, construction worker, fireworks salesman, substitute teacher, and vineyard laborer. Predominantly his jobs have been in the restaurant industry. He cut his teeth as a server, maître d’, and bartender at San Francisco’s historic Fisherman’s Grotto #9, the original restaurant on the Fisherman’s Wharf. While working with a colorful crew of primarily Mexican and Chinese co-workers.
He spent much of his young adult life exploring the wine industry from Sonoma Valley to the North Fork of Long Island, immersing himself in vineyards and learning valuable lessons. He has traveled extensively in South America, Europe, and Asia. He presently splits his time between Western New York and Sweden.
His first book, Death: An Exploration, won the 2016 Beverly Hills Book Award in the category of Death and Dying and was a finalist for book of the year in the 2016 Foreword INDIES Awards in the category of Grief/Grieving (Adult Nonfiction). Inside the Chinese Wine Industry is his third book.
For more information visit his website: lorenmayshark.com.
Keep up with him on Twitter: @LorenMayshark
Links
Facebook Book Page and Facebook Author Page
November 8, 2018
Book Excerpt and Giveaway Love for Two Lifetimes
Book Excerpt
He looks down at our hands. He’s still holding mine, and I wonder if I should pull away. I definitely should.
I don’t, though, and he doesn’t, either.
“Coming here to Halford, that was your unfinished business, wasn’t it?” he asks me.
“I suppose. Not that it’s finished anything so far. Did I upset your father? Is that what’s wrong?”
“If you did upset him, it’s far less than I have. Not that he didn’t deserve it, but I did the same thing I’ve always done—shut him out without giving him a fair hearing.”
“I’m sure it’s not too late.”
He turns to me, looking broken. “You don’t need to listen to all this. It’s the middle of the night.”
“Not where I’m from. But maybe we should both go.”
“Don’t.”
“Why?” The word comes out hoarse, and I start to pull my hand away.
His fingers tighten on mine, certain and electric. “I’ve no idea,” he says quietly, and I say, “Then we shouldn’t stay,” and the distance between us gets smaller all by itself, or maybe I’m just leaning in and Malcolm’s leaning down and it’s inevitable.
He’s going to kiss me. We’re going to kiss each other. There’s only an instant for the thought to register, for me to notice the little concentration line between his eyebrows and a tiny scar above the corner of his mouth. It’s an instant that fills every cell in my body with awareness, and our lips meet halfway, as if they have no other choice, as if a kiss was always going to define the space between us.
I’ve been kissed before.
It didn’t feel like this.
About the Book
Title: Love for Two Lifetimes
Author: Martina Boone
Genre: Coming of Age / Young Adult
Two generations, two great loves, one devastating lie . . .
When Izzy unexpectedly loses her mother in a car accident, her world shatters. Their relationship has always been so close that Izzy can’t imagine life without her. Nor can she begin to understand when she finds a secret box of love letters that her mother wrote but never sent. The idea of her mother hiding such intense feelings for more than twenty years without so much as a hint makes Izzy question everything she thought she knew–including the identity of her father.
Following a trail of clues overseas, Izzy steps into a world of glamour and English royalty, one which years ago forced her mother to choose between her obligation to her musical gift and her lover’s obligations to his family, title, and estate. It’s a world of secrets and masquerades, of heartache and betrayal. And in the midst of this world, Izzy finds a young man who feels as broken as she does herself. The two are drawn to each other–only to find that their parents’ lies may present an insurmountable obstacle between them.
Thrown together on a coming of age journey of discovery that spans two lifetimes and takes them from a grand estate in the Cotswolds to a hospital bedside in India and ultimately to the Taj Mahal, Izzy and Malcolm try desperately not to fall in love. But some things are impossible…
And some loves are worth any sacrifice…
Uplifting, funny, tragic, and unforgettably, luminously romantic, Love for Two Lifetimes is a tale of two generations of love, a lifetime of friendship, a history of sacrifice, and one last, heartbreaking and hopeful choice revealed in prose, texts, and love letters. Written for young adults and grown-up romantics, if you love the romance of the royal weddings or any story by Nicholas Sparks, Love for Two Lifetimes will have you turning pages late into the night.
“Heartwarming, lyrical, soulful, and with just the right amount of humor: this book sparkles with authentic, layered characters and beautiful, thoughtful prose.” — Jodi Meadows, NYT bestselling co-author of My Lady Jane and My Plain Jane
Author Bio
Martina Boone is the award-winning author of Love for Two Lifetimes and the romantic Southern Gothic Heirs of Watson Island series, including Compulsion, Persuasion, and Illusion for young adults from Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse as well as romantic fiction for adult readers in the Celtic Legends Collection starting with Lake of Destiny. She’s also the founder of AdventuresInYAPublishing.com, a three-time Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers Site. She’s dedicated to encouraging literacy and reader engagement through a celebration of literature, and she’s on the Board of the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia and runs the CompulsionForReading.com program to distribute books to underfunded schools and libraries.
She lives in Virginia with her husband, children, Shetland Sheepdog, and a lopsided cat, and she enjoys writing contemporary fantasy set in the kinds of magical places she loves to visit. When she isn’t writing, she’s addicted to travel, horses, skiing, chocolate-flavored tea, and anything with Nutella on it.
Links
Love for Two Lifetimes is available now in hardcover, trade paperback, and digital. There’s a special early order campaign with exclusive goodies for anyone who orders the book before November 1st. Additional incentives are available if you order from One More Page Books. See here for details.
Or order from your favorite retailer:
Giveaway
October 28, 2018
Author Interview Curse of the Sea and Giveaway
Author Interview
Thank you for visiting my blog again! I previously interviewed you when your book “Noble Magic” was on tour. This was the fourth book in the Chronicles of Eledon series. Is there any connection between that series and this new one—The Admiralty Archives?
Yes, there is a connection. “Curse of the Sea” begins six months after the end of “Noble Magic.” My main character, Alex, has solved the problem in that book, but it’s created another one. Five NATO warships with seven hundred sailors are stranded in Eledon. In order to solve this one, she must leave Eledon, the world of the Elves, and travel to Earth. Even though she’s part mortal and raised by mortals, she’s never been there and has no idea what to expect.
How many books do you have planned in this new series? What was the inspiration for this new series?
There are three books planned for this series. The inspiration came when I first began writing. I always loved the contrast between fantasy and the real world and asked myself, what if Alex ended up in the mortal world? Voila!
Who is your favorite character from “Curse of the Sea”?
I actually don’t like to pick favorites because I don’t want to give one character more attention than the others. By necessity, the main character, Alex, gets most of my attention because she carries the story from beginning to end. But Vice Admiral Sir Malcolm Teller is critical to her mission. By helping her succeed, he does as well.
Have your writing habits changed over the years?
No, I still try to write something every day. What I have improved on is reading. Early on, I was too busy. Now I make time to read and am finding my horizons expanding and my writing improving. So, I would encourage all authors to read books of different genres and styles. It’ll help you write better.
What would you say is your greatest strength as an author? What is your greatest weakness?
My greatest strength is moving the plot forward and keeping the action going. My greatest weakness is descriptive narratives, but I’m working on it.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on the draft for the next book, tentatively titled, “The Edge of Death” and I have a draft for the final book in the series as well. In addition, I’ve also been working on the next series, so stay tuned. There’s more to come.
About the Book
Title: Curse of the Sea
Author: Joni Parker
Genre: Urban Fantasy
A NATO training exercise goes terribly wrong when five warships from different countries are mysteriously transported to Eledon, the Realm of the Elves. The warrior, Lady Alexin, is charged to escort the troops back home to London in the year 2031 with the aid of the Wizard Ecstasy and a magic shrinking potion. Yet, when the authorities question her story, Alex is detained and imprisoned under suspicion of terrorism. Caught in a web of politics, betrayal and bungling bureaucracy, the confusing world of the future will push her magical gifts to their limit, and her own future will hang in the balance, caught between “justice” and the place she calls home.
Author Bio
Fantasy novels are Joni Parker’s writing passion. Thus far, she’s written two series—“The Seaward Isle Saga,” a trilogy, and “The Chronicles of Eledon,” the award-winning four-book series. Her latest project, “Curse of the Sea” is her eighth book and begins a new trilogy. Her work extends beyond novels into short stories with two appearing in an anthology, “Tucson and Beyond” by the Tucson Science Fiction Fantasy writers’ group. Joni’s retired from military and federal government service and devotes her time to writing. She currently resides in Tucson, Arizona.
Links
Giveaway
Win a print copy of “Curse of the Sea”.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 8, 2018
Monthly Goals October 2018
Okay, I’ll be honest. I haven’t done a monthly goals post in a while. The main reason is… I’ve been tired. The whole summer, I’ve felt tired. Stressed. And I needed some time off. A lot of things happened too, things that I’ll talk about on my blog, but not just yet.
Rewrite / Revise Allegro Academy #1 , the first book in the Allegro Academy series. Progress: 4/14 chapters.
Finish writing my reviews for Ind’Tale Magazine (Total: 0/3).
Rewrite / Revise The Sign Of The Serpent , the second book in The Adventures of Marisol Holmes series. This series will be re-published by Firefly Hill Press, and I’m very excited about that.
Prepare for the cover reveal for Murder in Mind . The cover looks amazing, by the way!
Write 5 reviews on my book review blog. (Total: 0/5).
Write two blog posts on my blog per week, starting this week. (Total: 0/6).
Add Murder in Mind on Goodreads.
Add a page for Murder in Mind on my blog.
August 21, 2018
Urban Legends Investigated: Dear David – Part 2 / Is Dear David Real?
Now I told you all about the “Dear David” story in my previous post, let’s dive into some more detail and investigate whether this thing is real or not.
The Polaroids
As proof of his claims, Adam offers some polaroids which are completely black. Polaroids taken of his hallway. He also shows a video of him making the polaroids, but he does this in two different videos.
On one video, Adam takes polaroid pictures of his living room. The pictures develop normally.
Ok, one last thing cause I wanted to double check. Here’s a couple video of me taking photos: pic.twitter.com/JFtqJqdiaE
— Adam Ellis (@moby_dickhead) August 14, 2017
Then, in a second video, he takes pictures of the hallway. The pictures turn pitch-black.
And then the hallway: pic.twitter.com/C4creSBjvO
— Adam Ellis (@moby_dickhead) August 14, 2017
Since the pictures aren’t part of one clip, it’s impossible to determine if he messed with them at first or not. Adam could’ve changed something on the settings of the polaroid, for example.
The Anomolies Research Society mentions in their blog post about “Dear David” that black tape is covering up the flash when he puts down the camera during the second video – this caused the black mass in the second video. Also, the hall light isn’t on in picture two – there is zero light being cast inside the living room from the hallway, like you have in picture one. You can see it clearly just by checking the room, which is clearly much darker in the second picture. I spotted that too.
Take a look at their picture explaining everything here.
The Rocking Chair and Turtle Accident
Despite these videos being really cool, it “is” easy to fake things. Get some rope to pull the chair, to pull the turtle down, and with the overall darkness of the room, you can easily hide your tracks.
Just search for it on Youtube. It’s easy to make some homemade ‘haunted house’ videos.
The Other Weird Stuff in the Pictures
Ever heard of pareidolia, the human tendency to see faces in just about everything? This is a psychological phenomenon most people suffer from (well, suffer, we just have it).
Take for example, this picture Adam took of the hallway, where some people apparently saw a human figure in (see picture on the left).
Easier to see when you do this… And OMG you got the same image! pic.twitter.com/QJdA71VwfN
— Kelly (@youdidntseemeok) August 15, 2017
Yeah, that’s obviously pareidolia – the human figure isn’t really there, it’s our mind trying to discern things that aren’t there.
The Video That Changes It All
Here is the actual game changer, though.
But then, after a few moments, Maxwell freaks out and jumps over something invisible. pic.twitter.com/DIl1O34vPY
— Adam Ellis (@moby_dickhead) September 6, 2017
Check out that video. The jar moves. It freaking moves. And Adam doesn’t even mention it, apparently not having seen it the first time around.
Now, I can easily figure out how the rocking chair could’ve rocked, or the turtle shell dropped down, but that’s a glass table and two cats. I have zero clue how that jar could’ve moved like that. Still, I’m no expert, and maybe there’s a logical solution for all of this. It could also be physics – apparently, wet glasses can move of their own accord using the mysterious power of physics.
Still, sure, a jar can move; but right then? Right when Adam was filming, right when the cat was acting up? I mean, I have two cats and trying to get them to do anything I want when I want it, is a nightmare. They’re not like dogs, they won’t jump when you say jump. Something spooked that cat, and then the jar moved.
The Picture in the Warehouse
When Adam went to investigate the warehouse again, he took a picture of the inside, showing what looked like isolation or something lying on a chair, and a malformed figure in the back, which he believes is Dear David.
There was a bunch of old insulation and what looked like a filing cabinet and a ripped up leather desk chair. pic.twitter.com/Ifzy61Woig
— Adam Ellis (@moby_dickhead) September 17, 2017
The picture doesn’t show much at first, and all I can see is a smudge, not a ghost.
But then, someone edited the picture, bringing everyting up to 100 except brightness and contrast. And for God’s sake, not only is there a dent head figure to the right, there’s also a pair of eyes staring at you from inside the picture. It’s impossible to miss.
So edited the picture brought everything to 100 except brightness and contrast. There’s really a dent head figure. pic.twitter.com/kD1V8ouIzl
— YAle (@AuriYlemania) September 17, 2017
While this looks pretty good, my bet is still on Photoshop, or still pareidolia.
The Peephole Pictures
Let’s take another look at the picture Adam took on October 14, through the peephole of his apartment front door, leading to the hallway.
But as I analyzed it, and started noticing things. Part of a face. An ear, and an eye staring right back at me. pic.twitter.com/OMUPC5jS5T
— Adam Ellis (@moby_dickhead) October 14, 2017
So, I see absolutely nothing in this, to be honest. Some people see something, and tried to enhance or brighten the picture, but I still see absolutely nothing.
The Figure on the Roof
On October 27, Adam allegedly spotted a figure on his roof, posting this:
My phone was in my pocket so I grabbed it and took a photo. It was blurry and dark but I swear someone was out there. pic.twitter.com/HC994WNOmN
— Adam Ellis (@moby_dickhead) October 27, 2017
When you brighten the picture, it looks like this. There’s a figure on the left, looking suspiciously like a doll – is this Dear David? There’s also a figure on the right, but this one can’t be spotted that easily.
Okay, so obviously this isn’t pareidolia. This is either a real ghost, a doll, or Photoshop.
Dear David Attacking Adam
When “Dear David” attacks Adam, in this picture and the following sequence of pictures, it’s definitely not pareidolia. This is something. A ghost or a doll, I’m still leaving that in the middle.
— Adam Ellis (@moby_dickhead) November 7, 2017
Also, on one of the pictures of David sitting on a chair, the picture was clearly messed with. David’s legs also blend in with the bedspread, indicating it was layered on top instead of behind. Credit to Reddit for figuring this out.
David now seems to resemble this type of doll – just with his head caved in. I have to admit the likeliness is remarkable.
The Hatch
I totally don’t buy it that Adam “just” discovered the hatch one day, although living the apartment for quite some time already.
Some items drop from the crawlspace Adam discovers above the hatch, including a children’s shoe (really, really old) and a marble. Still, that’s no evidence – Adam could’ve planted those there himself. We don’t see the marble tumble from the hatch either (the landlord, not in any of the pictures, came with a ladder to inspect the crawlspace, and then retrieved the marble) so he could’ve gotten that anywhere.
The Final Countdown
Then, things get very weird. Adam says he’s fine in one of his tweets, after not communicating with his followers for a while.
everything is fine
— Adam Ellis (@moby_dickhead) February 3, 2018
This was posted at around midnight, and it’s weird. Adam usually starts his sentences with caps, he’s quite articulate. Also, there are two spaces between “is” and “fine”. Could be a coincidence, right?
I’m nervous about what the future holds, but I feel good. I know big things are coming.
— Adam Ellis (@moby_dickhead) February 7, 2018
Until he does it again, here. Two spaces between “feel” and “good”. Twitter at least is convinced that Adam is now working for David.
Adam posts a few cryptic messages in the following days, some cat videos that are slightly eerie, and then he’s quiet again.
The Documentary
Then, there’s the June 6 tweet about Dear David getting its own documentary. And later on, although Adam states he never intended to convince anyone ghosts were real and that, if the story was fiction, he probably would’ve posted more often than once every few weeks, it’s still pretty odd that then, despite not allowing “ghost hunters” in his house, he is fine with a documentary.
Still, publicity is publicity, I guess.
The media has been engrossed with this story, and a lot of outlets posted about the upcoming documentary.
The Verdict
Is the “Dear David” story fact or fiction? Well, although I want it to be true, and it started out like this really awesome, somewhat-plausible ghost story, I have to admit that by now, I’m pretty convinced that it’s all fake. The two major facts that convince me are the documentary that is being made and how it’s now all quiet on the “Dear David” front, and the seemingly doll-like appearance of “Dear David” when he crawls on top of Adam’s bed.
Still, it’s a great story and one worth checking out, and using a new type of media, Twitter, to tell a spooky tale is original and entertaining.
August 19, 2018
Book Excerpt and Giveaway
Book Excerpt
“Can we go to Merabel and go down a—?” But a sudden noise overhead interrupted Amelia’s question. She looked up. A large red spaceship flew past.
“Uglesnoo, what’s that?”
“Oh no. Oh no, no, no. Jumping Jupiter. That’s the Venutons’ spaceship!”
“What? Do you mean they’ve followed us out here?”
“Yes, which means we’re in big trouble!”
“What happening?” asked Tuck.
“No time to explain now. We need to take cover. Let’s get to Merabel and hide. They’ll see us here. Run, Amelia, run! Tuck, Mookie, Leekie, you’ll need to run too.”
Tuck laughed. “We no need to run. We fly. We take you too.”
Tuck and Mookie both grabbed Amelia by the elbow. She rose up gently in the air.
About the Book
Title: Amelia, the Merballs and the Emerald Cannon
Author: Evonne Blanchard
Genre: Children’s Books
Amelia and Uglesnoo land on Mercury. They meet the Merballs, the friendly aliens that live there. All goes well, until an asteroid hits their planet. Amelia and Uglesnoo find themselves in deep trouble. How will they convince the Merballs of their innocence? And how will they manage to collect the flying shoes, escape Mercury and continue their quest to save Uglesnoo’s sister?
Author Bio
Evonne Blanchard was born and raised in England. She met her husband, an American whilst they were both volunteering at a children’s orphanage in Guatemala. The writer lives north of Boston, Massachusetts with her husband and their two daughters, Lydia and Gwendolyn. Other additions to the household include a crazy puppy called Bailey, a lovely cat called Arthur, and lots of fish!
The author has been fascinated by space ever since she was a little girl, mesmerized by clips of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walking on the moon. As a teenager, War of the Worlds, by H.G Wells became one of her favorite books and she adores the movie Mars Attacks.
When it came to creating her own aliens, the author decided on the warm and fuzzy type, rather than the war-like Martians. Uglesnoo, her main alien character is from Pluto. He’s very friendly and nice but a little crazy too! This was the beginning of Amelia’s Amazing Space Adventures, starring Amelia and her alien friend Uglesnoo, from Pluto in a series of ten exciting space adventures for children, ages 5-10.
Uglesnoo’s sister is very sick. The only cure is a repelling crystal from Neptune. To obtain the crystal Amelia and Uglesnoo must travel to the Moon, Sun and all the planets in the solar system.
Evonne’s favorite planet -or to be more accurate dwarf planet- is Pluto, because it has a blue sky and glaciers just like Earth! She was not happy when Pluto was downgraded. Uglesnoo, her alien creation from Pluto is still mad at the decision. “Pluto is the most important place in the solar system. It’s where everyone goes for their vacation!” He agrees with Alan Stern, a leading NASA scientist, “This definition (of Pluto as a dwarf planet) stinks…!”
The author is currently working on the fourth book in the series, Amelia, the Snapperjacks and the Molten Maze. This book is set on the Sun. How will Amelia and Uglesnoo manage to land on the boiling hot Sun, trade with the aliens, find the jars of Snapperjack honey and continue their quest to save Uglesnoo’s sister? Find out… in Amelia’s next amazing space adventure!
Book One: Amelia, the Moochins and the Sapphire Palace
Book Two: Amelia, the Venutons and the Golden Cage
Book Three: Amelia, the Merballs and the Emerald Cannon
Curious about the series? Click here to find out more:
https://ameliasamazingspaceadventures.com/the-series
Links
Book One: Amelia, the Moochins and the Sapphire Palace
Book Two: Amelia, the Venutons and the Golden Cage
Book Three: Amelia, the Merballs and the Emerald Cannon
Website: https://ameliasamazingspaceadventures.com/
Giveaway
Win a signed copy of the book and a $50 Amazon gift card.
August 16, 2018
Urban Legends Investigated: Dear David – Part 1 / The Story
Dear David is one of the latest Urban Legends of the internet, and one of the creepiest to date. It’s creepy for the sheer fact… it might all be true.
The drawing to the left is an image of “Dear David”, as drawn by Adam Ellis, the creator of “Dear David”. All credit for the image goes to him, but I figured, what better way to honor “Dear David” than start the post with an image of how he looks like, as drawn by the person who told the internet all about him.
By now, a documentary is being made, as well as a movie, about the “Dear David” story, and the Twitterer who started it all, comic book artist Adam Ellis, has over 500k+ new subscribers to his account because of the ghostly happenings in his apartment, which he detailed on Twitter. Along with pictures, videos, you name it – and trust me, this stuff is legitimely spooky.
Dear David: The Story – August 7 to August 20
For the full account of all Adam Ellis’ tweets about this, please check out his account or the page he made with a run-down of all the events so far. In my opinion, it’s easier to read on the page.
Here’s a short rundown of what happened, so far. On August 7, 2017, Adam Ellis posted for the first time that he believed his apartment was haunted by a dead child. The first time Adam saw him was during an episode of sleep paralysis, while the child was sitting in a green rocking chair at the end of Adam’s bed. The child has a huge misshapen head, dented on one side, as if he’d been hurt in an accident.
David appeared a few more times in Adam’s dreams, explaining more about how he died. Adam looks for clues online about deaths in the city that could match with David, or different names with a D-, but doesn’t find anything that could explain this. Adam gets a chance to move into a different apartment, because the one on the level above his becomes vacant, and he moves.
A few months go by, and he forgets about David. And then… his cats start gathering at his front door, exactly at midnight, just staring at it, like something is on the other side.
Adam even has a few pictures to back it up.
For the past 4 nights, my cats gather at the front door at exactly midnight & just stare at it, almost like something is on the other side. pic.twitter.com/Y8nnVLv6b4
— Adam Ellis (@moby_dickhead) August 7, 2017
Those cats are indeed behaving like someone or something is on the other side. My cats have weird behavior like this too, sometimes, though–like when a bug is crawling on the other side, or they just hear a weird noise. Still, slightly creepy.
If what he’s saying is true, and the pictures seem to allign with his statements, then his cats did this for six nights in a row, by August 9. I would at least consider if I had a burglar or not.
And judging by the video Adam made on August 9, it really seems as if something or someone is on the other side of that door.
What is going on? pic.twitter.com/30mLSqYhXo
— Adam Ellis (@moby_dickhead) August 9, 2017
I don’t really trust humans, but I trust cats, and that cat is on to something. Next up, Adam takes some pictures with the door open, and later on through the peephole, revealing a weird smudge on the other side of his apartment door.
I wasn’t sure if it was a smudge or something so I took a second photo from inside. There was something out there. pic.twitter.com/NnHepK90aC
— Adam Ellis (@moby_dickhead) August 9, 2017
My suggestions at this point would be: call Ghostbusters and/or Sam and Dean and ask them to come over ASAP.
Adam continues to make recordings with an app of the sounds in his apartment at night. He records, among other thins, a single footstep (although he didn’t get out of bed all night), and at some point, records a weird electric sound between 2-3 AM.
After a weekend on holiday, Adam returns to the apartment having bought a polaroid camera. He snaps shots of his apartment, and all of them look okay, all except for the hallway. The hallway is pitch-black.
The Polaroid developed completely black. pic.twitter.com/glMnAE3TJ1
— Adam Ellis (@moby_dickhead) August 14, 2017
If this were me, I’d be calling an exorcist by now, and oh yeah, moving the heck out of there.
The cats keep on with their strange behavior at midnight, i neach picture of the hallway, it turns out pitch-black, and Adam records himself sleeping for weeks in a row, and always at around 2-3 AM electric static pops up on the sound app.
Dear David: The Story – August 21 until September
On August 21, things get worse. Adam dreams about David dragging him along to an abandoned warehouse. Next, he wakes up with a bruise on his arm, and when going out for coffee, finds a nextdoor warehouse completely empty – a place he was confident was bristling just days before.
The cats move their routine to around 10 PM, sitting at the door for fifteen minutes, howling for another fifteen, and then acting completely normal. On top of that, after the cat stuff, Adam starts getting phonecalls, always at around 10:30 PM. When he picked up, he heard a static sound – kind of like the sound the sleep app picks up on between 2-3 AM.
Then, because he’s going to Japan in a few weeks, Adam bought a pet-cam, because he wanted to keep an eye on the cats while he was abroad. Honestly, with a ghost running loose in my condo, I wouldn’t go anywhere without taking my pets with me, end of story. Still, when Adam tests the pet-cam, all seems to be fine, until the cam catches…
A rocking chair moving on its own – rocking back and forth.
Not just any chair, but the exact same one David was rocking in the first night Adam saw him.
Time to get rid of that chair, Adam. Let’s sell it, throw it away, maybe even burn it. Either way, GET RID OF IT.
In the next video, a turtle shell drops from the wall, that’s been up there for ages. Ghost alert, we have a problem here.
Also, when your cat starts doing this (behavior they usually portray when a predator is around, to appear larger), get them out of there.
Specifically, it recorded Maxwell doing this on and off for hours. pic.twitter.com/bTUKy64d5g
— Adam Ellis (@moby_dickhead) September 6, 2017
The next few weeks, Adam is plagued by nightmares. Anyway, Adam goes away on his Japan trip and LUCKILY, David doesn’t come for his cats while he’s not home. hank God. I wouldn’t go on a trip and leave my cats alone with an otherwordly fiend, I’ll tell you that.
Dear David: The Story – October and November
After his trip, things seem peaceful at Adam’s house, but not for long. The blacklight on his TV acts weird – turning itself and off although that’s not possible. Then, he hears faint scratching coming from the front door, and takes a picture of it through the keyhole.
But as I analyzed it, and started noticing things. Part of a face. An ear, and an eye staring right back at me. pic.twitter.com/OMUPC5jS5T
— Adam Ellis (@moby_dickhead) October 14, 2017
That’s a face. An ear and an eye, at least.
Anyway, Adam finally decides it’s time to do something about this. So, he invites a friend to do some “cleansing stuff”. Cryptic, I’ll tell you that. Some mediums and ghost hunters apparently reached out as wlel, but Adam didn’t want to sensationalize things (only slightly odd since there’s now a documentary about “Dear David”, but whatever).
Things stay quiet for about a week, then Adam notices a figure staring at him from the rooftop of the buidling next door. Adam keeps getting creepy dreams involving David, and even tries to take pictures in his dreams which, surprisingly, seems to work.
November 7 is the day it’s all going down, starting with this horrible picture.
— Adam Ellis (@moby_dickhead) November 7, 2017
There’s a child sitting in that chair, or a creepy-ass doll, but it’s creepy as hell, all right.
That doll is on the move, y’all. I would start running by now. Or start praying.
— Adam Ellis (@moby_dickhead) November 7, 2017
Then, miraculously, after already living in his apartment for months, Adam only now discovers a hatch in the hallway. While, he certainly doesn’t get points for being perceptive, does he? And after discovering the hatch, he starts hearing noise from the “empty space” above his apartment – aka, the attic.
Debris tumbles from the hatch one night, which as opened up (partially) in a mysterious way. My recommendation: do not go on that attic. Do not even try to use a pole to poke around on that attic.
What does Adam do? He grabs a pole to poke around on that attic. Poking around, something drops from the attic.
A children’s shoe.
Nanananana *queue The X-Files music*
Adam calls the landlord, who comes over to investigate, and who finds nothing on the attic. Nothing, besides a marble.
Still weird, slightly less creepy, he should’ve gotten out of there a long time ago.
Dear David: The Story – December
Adam is quiet for a while, letting readers believe that maybe things calmed down. When he comes back, he says he hasn’t been feeling great. Who would, with a child’s ghost haunting your apartment?
Then, Adam wakes up one night with a bad feeling. Same thing occurs the next night. Adam gets the brilliant idea to download an app that automatically takes picture every few seconds.
The first few pictures are normal – Adam asleep in his bedroom (although, his room looks pretty weird from the start, why is there something behind the wall?).
Then, in the next picture, David appears, standing on the chair across from Adam, in his bedroom.
— Adam Ellis (@moby_dickhead) December 13, 2017
It gets worse.
David is standing on top of Adam’s bed, staring down at him sleeping.
Time to call an exorcist, I’d say. Or maybe burn down the entire apartment.
Dear David: The Story – January to March
Adam moves home to Montana for a while around Christmas to visit his family, but David follows him and even leaves footprints in the snow. Tsk, tsk, naughty David.
When Adam returns back home, David is back too. Watching him sleep, crawling on top of him at night.
Then, Adam tells his readers he’s started to lose time. He feels great otherwise (which is weird, considering he’s being stalked by a somewhat-homicidal ghost child) but just… loses time.
Yeah, I know horror movie material when I see it.
Next tweets are weird, because Adam says he feels fine. Then, he’s been quiet because he’s been focusing on work, and nothing strange has happened (back in March).
Uhu, uhu. You can’t tell me you get that much activity and then nothing. I don’t buy that.
All is quiet on the “Dear David” front until June 6, when Adam tweets a documentary will be produced about Dear David.
Come on, Adam, you can’t just let us hanging like that. You have a great build up and an amazing story, and then it just… vanishes?
Somehow I don’t believe that. Somehow, I think David will come back… with a vengeance.
(Stay tuned for my second post in this series, where I will debunk some of the things stated by Adam in his “Dear David” story on Twitter, and where we’ll investigate whether or not “Dear David” is real….)
July 28, 2018
Author Interview Cherished Wings
Author Interview
1) How do I plot my novels and do I outline? I don’t plot, at least not in the formal sense, and I never outline. I’m what’s called a pantser. I write by the seat of my pants. I start with a vague idea for a story and sort of flesh the beginning out a little in my mind then I sit down at the key board and let my fingers do the talking. My characters come alive on the page and write their own story. I keep in mind the basic plotting elements that are needed as I write to make sure I include them. Anything I miss I fix with edits.
2) Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? The hardest part for me is coming up with the minimum words required as I never know where my story is going or how long it is going to be until I get there. My teachers in school always tried to make me create outlines for my essays, but my best work came when I just started writing and shaped the essay in my head as I went. I used to just write anything down in outline form to make them happy, but that is not always how the finished product ended up. I often think it would be much easier to plot a novel, but unfortunately for me the words or ideas don’t come until my fingers hit the keyboard and my characters start speaking. Many times they take me in the direction they prefer to go and not necessarily where I had planned for them to go. Marketing is also extremely challenging for me as I’m quite introverted.
3) What is the favorite part of the writing process for me? I would have to say editing is my favorite part of writing because the pressure is off. The story is written. All I have to do then is fix any problems and smooth it out.
4) What would I like for readers to take away from my book? That’s a tough one as Cherished Wings is a deeply personal story to me, but I hope that when a reader finishes not only Cherished Wings but all my novels that they are left with an “aw” moment. That each story strikes an emotional chord within them and moves them on some level.
4) When did I realize that I wanted to become a writer? I’ve been writing for almost as long as I’ve been reading and as a child thought someday I would write novels. Now many years later, I’m finally doing just that.
5) What is my editing process like? In one word “long.” I edit as I write, then re-edit a dozen or more times. I add the fine details near the end of my edits. I read each story aloud in one sitting if possible so that I can hear the rhythm and find the mistakes that my brain automatically corrects while reading silently. I usually go through three more rounds of edits with my editor than another one with the senior editor and publisher.
6) Did I set any writing goals for 2018? Yes. I finished Book 3 in my “Return to the Home Front Series” and plan to have Book 4 done by the end of the year. I hope to complete two more next year.
7) Am I working on something right now? Yes. I just finished a research trip to Olcott Beach, New York where Book 4 in my “Return to the Home Front Series” is set. I hope to have Book 4 completed by the end of the year.
About the Book
Title: Cherished Wings
Author: Tracey L. Dragon
Genre: Historical Romance
When Sara Kennedy returns to her small hometown in Western New York and visits her dying grandmother, Fran, in the hospital, she asks her about the pair of World War II Navy Wings she found in her dresser drawer.
Her grandmother reluctantly shares with Sara the powerfully love story she had not spoken of in over fifty years. As the tale unfolds, Sara finds herself caught up in a time where things were simpler, yet more complex—where love and war were not compatible.
A story so poignant, it rocks Sara’s world and changes her life forever.
Author Bio
Cherished Wings was inspired by my own mother’s story. Although she never spoke of it, my sisters and I all knew of the World War II wings she kept hidden in her dresser. The wings belonged to a beau who was killed during a mission. Upon my mother’s death, I did not find the wings, but I did, however, find a small envelope containing his photos, one which was cut to fit the size of one of her lockets. She also kept the glass top of an old bottle of French perfume called Bamboo. It was from these items that the idea for Cherished Wings was sparked and the characters Fran and Jack were created. I hope you fall in love with Lt. Jack McOmber as much as I did while creating him. Please visit my website: traceyldragon.com. I would love to hear from you. My books are available at Soul Mate Publishing.com, Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.
Links
