Sherry Ellis's Blog, page 74

Taking the World by a Storm

Hey everybody!  Ninja Captain, Alex Cavanaugh, is releasing his new book! It launches on Tuesday. I'm helping to spread the word.  So here it is.  You have to check it out!     CassaStormBy Alex J Cavanaugh From the Amazon Best Selling Series! A storm gathers across the galaxy… Commanding the Cassan base on Tgren, Byron thought he’d put the days of battle behind him. As a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the desert planet, Byron’s ideal life is threatened and he’s caught between the Tgrens and the Cassans. After enemy ships attack the desert planet, Byron discovers another battle within his own family. The declaration of war between all ten races triggers nightmares in his son, threatening to destroy the boy’s mind. Meanwhile the ancient alien ship is transmitting a code that might signal the end of all life in the galaxy. And the mysterious probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago could return. As his world begins to crumble, Byron suspects a connection. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…  “I thought the revelation was going to be one thing and I was completely wrong … CassaStorm pushes the limits…”
- Tyson Mauermann, Speculative Reviews

“…mesmerizing story of survival, personal sacrifice, tolerance, and compassion. It’s a rare jewel that successfully utilizes both character and plot to tell a story of such immense scope and intimate passion…” - Nancy S. Thompson, author of The Mistaken

"An exciting, nail-biting read which sweeps the reader off on adventures in another galaxy."
- Nicua Shamira, Terraverum  $16.95 USA, 6x9 Trade paperback, 268 pages, Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C.Science fiction/adventure and science fiction/space operaPrint ISBN 9781939844002 eBook ISBN 9781939844019$4.99 EBook available in all formats Find CassaStorm:Barnes and Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1116848619?ean=9781939844002Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/CassaStorm-Alex-J-Cavanaugh/dp/1939844002/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378484337&sr=1-1&keywords=cassastormAmazon Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/CassaStorm-ebook/dp/B00F2O9QMC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1378811366&sr=1-1&keywords=cassastorm Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17670532-cassastorm  Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design and graphics. He is experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. The author of the Amazon bestsellers, CassaStar and CassaFire, he lives in the Carolinas with his wife. Website – http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/Twitter – http://twitter.com/AlexJCavanaugh   Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4287922.Alex_J_Cavanaugh

      

Cover Reveal and Playing Soccer with the Boys

First order of business today is the big cover reveal for my blog friend, Christine Rains. Doesn't it look great?  It's the complete collection of her 13th Floor Series.  I've read several of these, and they're awesome!  Here's a blurb about all the stories that are in it:

Blurb:
Six supernatural tenants
Living in a haunted apartment building
On a floor that doesn't exist.
Six novellas telling their tales.
A retired demon acquires a price on his head.
A werewolf is hunted by her pack.
A modern day dragonslayer misses his target.
A harpy challenges Zeus for the soul of the man she loves.
A vampire is obsessed with a young woman he can't find.
A banshee falls in love with someone who's death she has seen in a vision.
And a sweet ghost must battle a primal monster to save them all.


All the stories take place at the same time intertwining their lives together on the 13th Floor.

Release date: October 13th, 2013

Now for my story:

Last night, my son and I went outside to play a little soccer.  That was all fine and dandy.  But then our giant German Shepherd came out.

He charged at the ball and grabbed it in his huge mouth.

"Schultz, drop it!" I yelled.  I could just imagine what his sharp teeth would do!

He ran off and plopped down under a tree.  He dropped the ball and watched us.  Drool dripped out of his mouth, down his big pink tongue, on to the ball.

"Schultz, that's disgusting!" yelled Bubba.  

I went over and grabbed the ball.  I kicked it to the other side of the yard.

The cat decided it would be a good time to get involved.  He emerged from his hiding spot and took off after the ball.  (I really didn't know that cat could move so fast!)

Schultz got excited when he saw the cat, so he got up and chased him.

My son got excited when he saw the dog and cat, and chased both of them.

I got excited when I saw nobody had the ball. So I chased the ball and scored a goal. 

And that's how we play soccer at my pad.

The End.

 

Kissing Language

Okay. I wasn't going to participate in this Kissy Blog Fest, because kissing isn't something I normally talk about here. That's for all the romance writers - not a children's writer like me!  But as it turned out,  my son did something funny that is totally related to this.   So, I'm going to share it here and tell you about the blog fest, in case you haven't heard about it and want to participate.


The rules are simple:


1. Sign up on the linky list and post the badge on your blog.
2. On one of the days of the week of September 9th, post a kissing scene on your blog. It can be either fiction or non-fiction.
3. Please do not exceed 250 words.
4. This is a blogfest, so visit the other participants and have fun!
But wait.  There's More.There will be prizes!
The scenes will be judged by these amazing romance authors: Cecilia Robert, Laurelin Paige, Kyra Lennon, and Christine Rains. They will choose three posts to win these awesome prizes.Prize 1 - A critique of a kissing/intimate scene from your WIP (not exceeding ten pages). Critiques will be done by Cecilia Robert, Kyra Lennon, and Christine Rains.


Prize 2 - A critique of a kissing/intimate scene from your WIP (not exceeding five pages). This critique will be done by Laurelin Paige and Christine.

Prize 3 - A critique of a kissing/intimate scene from your WIP (not exceeding one page). This critique will be done by Cecilia and Christine.
BONUS PRIZES:
Cecilia, Kyra, Laurelin, and Christine will each choose one of our favorites to give out some fantastic ebooks.
Cecilia – TRULY MADLY DEEPLY YOU and REAPER'S NOVICE.
Kyra - IF I LET YOU GO
Laurelin - FIXED ON YOU
Christine – All six volumes of the 13th Floor series.
 
SIGN UP HERE!  Now for my story: As part of my son's nightly homework, he is supposed to read for twenty minutes.  Sometimes I let him do it by himself.  But once in a while, I make him read out loud so that I know he's actually doing it.  (My boy has a tendency to daydream!) Yesterday was one of those days that I made him read to me.  I sat next to him as he began.  It started off okay, but then it regressed into smooch sounds: SMOOCH  SMOOCH  ..... SMOOCH SMOOCH SMOOCH SMOOCH....SMOOCH "Bubba, what the heck are you doing?" I asked. "Reading in kissing language." I looked at him funny. "Kissing language?" "Yeah," he said. Then he explained it. " 'I was about to ask why,' is 'SMOOCH SMOOCH....SMOOCH SMOOCH....SMOOCH....SMOOCH....SMOOCH.'  Can't you understand that?" I shook my head. "No, Bubba. I can't.  And there's no way I'm going to listen to twenty minutes of Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters in kissing language!" "But I bet you understand this!" He leaned over and planted a wet kiss on my cheek. I laughed.  "Yes, Bubba.  I understand that.  I love you, too!  Now finish reading - the right way!"    

The Burglar Alarm

My son has been taking an after-school class on forensic science.  I figured that would interest him, since he likes anything having to do with science and making things.

When he came home from school yesterday, he announced that he was going to make a burglar alarm for our house.  "We made one in school, and I know just how to do it."

"Okay," I said.  "Do we have the materials?"

"Yeah.  We need wires, sheet metal, a sensor, and toothpicks."

"Toothpicks?" I asked.  "What are you going to do with those?"

"When the sensor goes off, indicating a burglar, toothpicks will shoot out, right into the intruder's eyeballs!"

Oh.  So, ladies and gentlemen.  You've been warned.  Do not try to burglarize my house, or you will end up with toothpicks in your eyeballs!

The Foot Phone

I walked into the room and saw something very strange.  My daughter had my son's foot pressed against the side of her face.

"Excuse me," I said.  "What exactly are you doing?"

"Using the foot phone," my daughter replied, as if that was the most natural thing in the world to do.

I gave her a quizzical look.  "Does it work?"

She nodded and tickled my son's foot. 

He giggled.

"See?" she said.  "It works just fine!"

(Apparently not all phones are for talking on!)

Fall Fashionista

"Mom, fall is the best time of year," my daughter announced.

"I like fall, too," I said.  "The leaves look so pretty on the trees, and the air has a different smell."

"Yeah, but do you know why I really like fall?"

"Why?" I asked.

"Because of fall fashion! There are new clothes, new shoes, new makeup, and new nail polish colors!"

I looked at the girl.  "Do you really need more nail polish?"

She grinned.

I walked to her room to find out exactly how much nail polish she had.  Do you know how many bottles were lying around?  Twenty-six!

"Girl," I said.  "This is ridiculous!  You absolutely do not need more nail polish!"

"But Mom," she objected.  "Those are spring and summer colors.  I need fall colors!" 

Of course.

The Haunted School

"Mama," my nine-year-old son said as he got off the bus.  "Our school is haunted!"

I looked at the kid.  "Right.  Why do you think that?"

"The lights flickered on and off all day."

"That doesn't mean anything," I said.  "There could've been a power malfunction."

"But the mirror in the restroom shook, too!"

"That could've been caused by a vibration from the air conditioner."

Another kid came up behind us and put his two cents in.  "Mrs. Ellis, the school really is haunted!"

"How do you know?"  I asked.

"The pressure changed in the fifth grade hall and we all heard demonic voices."

Okay.

So, what do you think?  Is the school haunted? (I think the demonic voices were the janitors cussing out the utility companies!)
   

Croaky's Great Escape

Croaky is our pet African clawed frog.  Yesterday, he had a big adventure. 

Usually he sits nicely in his swamp and does nothing but eat bloodworms, surface for  air, and give and occasional croak. It would've been another boring day for the frog had I not decided to clean his swamp.

I removed his swamp decorations and proceeded to dump out his smelly water.  Croaky decided that he wasn't going to sit still and let me do that.  He took a flying leap -  right out of his tank.  Where did he land?  In the kitchen sink. 

"Croaky, what did you do that for?" I asked. 

He didn't answer.  He just slid around on his belly as he frantically tried to get out of there and find his swamp. 

I attempted to grab him.  Do you know what it's like to try to hold on to a slimy, slippery frog?  It isn't easy!  I caught him, but he wriggled right out of my hands - into the garbage disposal.  I had placed a colander over the opening, but Croaky somehow managed to slip under it and fall down into the disposal.

Terrific!  Now I had to reach down into the garbage disposal, avoid the dangerous blades, and grab a slimy, slippery frog.  It took several tries, but I got him.  Almost.

I pulled him out. But then he slipped out of my hands - right back into the garbage disposal.

"You stupid frog!" I said to him.  "Don't you know that's the worse place in the world to be?"

Apparently he didn't, because this happened three more times.

Finally I got a hold of that dumb creature and plopped him back into his stinky swamp.

I think he wondered why his swamp was still filthy. He swam around in the muck looking completely befuddled.

I gave him one of my ferocious mommy glares.  "That's what you get for giving the Mama a hard time!"

The Boy Mop

We have a stellar sprinkler system for our yard in Georgia. (I guess with this heat, you need a good one!) My nine-year-old son loves playing in the water jets when they turn on.  Yesterday, when the sprinklers came on, he bolted out the front door, wearing his tee shirt and shorts.

"Bubba," I called after him, "Why don't you change into your bathing suit?"

Too late.  He was already soaked.

He ran around, squealing with delight, getting completely drenched.

When he was finished, he came back inside.  He stood on the floor as the water dripped off of him.  In five seconds, there was a huge puddle of water.

"Bubba, what am I going to do with you?"  I said, looking at him.

"Use me as a mop.  These floors need to be cleaned anyway!"  He sat down on his rear end and scooted along the floor.

Perfect.  And I don't even have to push!

Epic Fail

"Mama," my nine-year-old son said.  "Do you want to hear about my epic fail?"

I looked at the kid.  "Sure."  I figured this would be interesting.

"I built a plane on Minecraft and it lost its wings."

"That's not good," I said.

"Yeah," he continued.  "It flew two minutes through my lovely world, and then it crashed.  Its wings just popped off.  It was an epic fail!"

For sure!  So ladies and gentlemen, before you step on an airplane, you might want to inquire if Bubba built it.  If he did, I think it would be a good idea to turn around and seek another mode of transportation!