L.Y. Levand's Blog, page 18
August 31, 2013
Announcement (Free Fantasy Short Story)
Beenie felt a soaring in her belly at the older fairy's words. They would come.
"Gather them," he said to the others. "Now." He turned back to Beenie. "How soon will we be needed?"
"I..." she hesitated. "I don't know. The gnomes...I don't know." She raised her hands and then dropped them in a helpless gesture.
"Then we should leave as soon as possible," the older fairy said. He nodded to the others, and they all rose from their seats. "You will have to lead us there," he said as they passed Beenie.
"Oh," she said. "Of course." Then she followed them back out into the brightness of the square. The line of them drew some stares as they made their way to the platform, but Beenie's eyes were glued to the council members. What were they going to do? What would they say?
As the council members fluttered up to stand on the platform, the fairies that were wandering around the square gathered, their faces alight with curiosity. Beenie joined them on the platform, but she stood behind them. The looks from the gathering fairies fixed on the council, but their gazes all flicked to Beenie and back. She felt a flush creep up her cheeks.
The village was small, and it wasn't long before those few who were inside their houses had seen the gathering from their windows. Fairy mothers walked out, tiny babies in their arms or dusting flour off on their aprons.
The council waited. Beenie assumed they were waiting to make sure everyone was present, and shifted from one foot to the other uncomfortably. After a few minutes of waiting, the fairy who was in charge raised his hand for silence, and the babble of talk quieted.
"We're going to the forest," he said. Beenie turned to stare at him. She hadn't expected anything so blunt. "Gather what food you can carry and anything necessary for survival. We are going to go help the creatures of the forest."
"Gather them," he said to the others. "Now." He turned back to Beenie. "How soon will we be needed?"
"I..." she hesitated. "I don't know. The gnomes...I don't know." She raised her hands and then dropped them in a helpless gesture.
"Then we should leave as soon as possible," the older fairy said. He nodded to the others, and they all rose from their seats. "You will have to lead us there," he said as they passed Beenie.
"Oh," she said. "Of course." Then she followed them back out into the brightness of the square. The line of them drew some stares as they made their way to the platform, but Beenie's eyes were glued to the council members. What were they going to do? What would they say?
As the council members fluttered up to stand on the platform, the fairies that were wandering around the square gathered, their faces alight with curiosity. Beenie joined them on the platform, but she stood behind them. The looks from the gathering fairies fixed on the council, but their gazes all flicked to Beenie and back. She felt a flush creep up her cheeks.
The village was small, and it wasn't long before those few who were inside their houses had seen the gathering from their windows. Fairy mothers walked out, tiny babies in their arms or dusting flour off on their aprons.
The council waited. Beenie assumed they were waiting to make sure everyone was present, and shifted from one foot to the other uncomfortably. After a few minutes of waiting, the fairy who was in charge raised his hand for silence, and the babble of talk quieted.
"We're going to the forest," he said. Beenie turned to stare at him. She hadn't expected anything so blunt. "Gather what food you can carry and anything necessary for survival. We are going to go help the creatures of the forest."
August 29, 2013
The Weekly Quote: Writers Don't Tan
"I know white clothing is supposed to enhance that summer glow, but writers don't tan." ~ Diablo Cody
Nope. I can tell you right now, I don't tan. At all. All I do is turn a lovely shade of lobster red, and maybe pop out a few freckles.
We stay inside all day, at a computer or with a notebook, writing, thinking. I can't speak for everyone, but I can tell you right now that it rarely occurs to me to leave my air-conditioned house and do some of it outside. It's HOT out there.
I know there are lots of writers out there; what do you do to get your dose of outside time?
Nope. I can tell you right now, I don't tan. At all. All I do is turn a lovely shade of lobster red, and maybe pop out a few freckles.
We stay inside all day, at a computer or with a notebook, writing, thinking. I can't speak for everyone, but I can tell you right now that it rarely occurs to me to leave my air-conditioned house and do some of it outside. It's HOT out there.
I know there are lots of writers out there; what do you do to get your dose of outside time?
August 28, 2013
Blog Tour Stop - Keeper of Reign, by Emma Right
Keeper of ReignBooks written in blood. Most are lost, their Keepers with them. A curse that befell a people. A Kingdom with no King. Life couldn’t get more harrowing for the Elfies, a blend of Elves and Fairies. Or for sixteen-year-old Jules Blaze. Or could it? For Jules, the heir of a Keeper, no less, suspects his family hides a forgotten secret. It was bad enough that his people, the Elfies of Reign, triggered a curse which reduced the entire inhabitants to a mere inch centuries ago. All because of one Keeper who failed his purpose. Even the King’s Ancient Books, did not help ward off that anathema. Now, Gehzurolle, the evil lord, and his armies of Scorpents, seem bent on destroying Jules and his family. Why? Gehzurolle’s agents hunt for Jules as he journeys into enemy land to find the truth. Truth that could save him and his family, and possibly even reverse the age-long curse. Provided Jules doesn't get himself killed first.
Book Trailer
Author Emma Right
Author Emma Right Emma Right is a happy wife and homeschool mother of five living in the Pacific West Coast of the USA. Besides running a busy home, and looking after their five pets, which includes two cats, two bunnies and a Long-haired dachshund, she also writes stories for her children. She loves the Lord and His Word deeply, and when she doesn't have her nose in a book, she is telling her kids to get theirs in one. Right worked as a copywriter for two major advertising agencies and won several awards, including the prestigious Clio Award for her ads, before she settled down to have children. Facebook * Twitter * Website * Pinterest
Blog Tour Giveaway$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 9/9/13 a Rafflecopter giveaway
August 24, 2013
Back to the Field (Free Fantasy Short Story)
Beenie flew up and over the trees, heading for the field.
She beat her wings as fast as she could, until they buzzed in her ears like a hummingbird. The trees below flashed by like a green pattern woven through by the silver threads of water.
Soon, though, the trees ended, and was replaced by the mixed green and gold of the field grasses.
Her heart raced as she saw the tiny village as a spot on the horizon, coming closer. She began to angle downward as the splotch grew more defined. Soon, she could see the scattered collection of houses for what it was. And there, right at the edge, was her own little hollow-log house.
As she finally came to edge, she set herself on the ground, and went the rest of the running. Her wings were tired.
She ran through the tall grass, pushing it aside with her hands, until she came to the village square. Then she dashed across, ignoring the calls that came her way from the other fairies gathered there.
She knew where she was going.
The council made up of the forest creatures and the fairies had been disbanded, but the fairies had made their own council, and they met every day in the largest building of all. It was for this building that she was heading.
She ran up to the door, and rested against it for a moment, panting, as she continued to ignore the strange looks that were coming her way from all across the village square.
Once her breath wasn't wheezing quite so badly in her lungs, she let herself in.
The vast darkness surrounded her as she stepped inside and closed the door behind her. As she waited for her eyes to adjust, she heard the murmur of voices coming from the other end of the hall. When she could finally see again, she walked forward, her hands clasped in front of her.
As she peered through the gloom, the voices fell silent. And then, when she was halfway across the floor, she saw the council members. Five aged fairies, sitting in a line, white beards pooling in their laps. They watched her with pale eyes as she came forward.
"Beenie," the one sitting in the center said.
"Yes?" she asked, her voice sounding very small in such a large open space.
"You haven't been seen for some time. One of your neighbors came to us, saying you didn't come home last night, or the night before."
The unasked question hung in the air, and Beenie swallowed. They wanted to know where she'd been.
"I've been in the forest t the edge of the field," she said, after a moment of silence.
One of the fairies leaned forward in his seat. "You have?" he asked.
"Y-yes," she said. "I made friends with a squirrel there."
"You came here to tell us that?" the center fairy said, frowning.
"No," Beenie said at once. "I came to tell you that Peter sent me to ask you for help."
"Why should we help this...Peter?"
"Because he's a unicorn, and the gnomes are attacking!" Beenie burst out, unable to contain it any longer. A heavy silence fell, and she saw expressions of shock flick across their faces as they digested what she'd said.
"A unicorn." The voice was soft, like a sigh. And then, "We will come."
She beat her wings as fast as she could, until they buzzed in her ears like a hummingbird. The trees below flashed by like a green pattern woven through by the silver threads of water.
Soon, though, the trees ended, and was replaced by the mixed green and gold of the field grasses.
Her heart raced as she saw the tiny village as a spot on the horizon, coming closer. She began to angle downward as the splotch grew more defined. Soon, she could see the scattered collection of houses for what it was. And there, right at the edge, was her own little hollow-log house.
As she finally came to edge, she set herself on the ground, and went the rest of the running. Her wings were tired.
She ran through the tall grass, pushing it aside with her hands, until she came to the village square. Then she dashed across, ignoring the calls that came her way from the other fairies gathered there.
She knew where she was going.
The council made up of the forest creatures and the fairies had been disbanded, but the fairies had made their own council, and they met every day in the largest building of all. It was for this building that she was heading.
She ran up to the door, and rested against it for a moment, panting, as she continued to ignore the strange looks that were coming her way from all across the village square.
Once her breath wasn't wheezing quite so badly in her lungs, she let herself in.
The vast darkness surrounded her as she stepped inside and closed the door behind her. As she waited for her eyes to adjust, she heard the murmur of voices coming from the other end of the hall. When she could finally see again, she walked forward, her hands clasped in front of her.
As she peered through the gloom, the voices fell silent. And then, when she was halfway across the floor, she saw the council members. Five aged fairies, sitting in a line, white beards pooling in their laps. They watched her with pale eyes as she came forward.
"Beenie," the one sitting in the center said.
"Yes?" she asked, her voice sounding very small in such a large open space.
"You haven't been seen for some time. One of your neighbors came to us, saying you didn't come home last night, or the night before."
The unasked question hung in the air, and Beenie swallowed. They wanted to know where she'd been.
"I've been in the forest t the edge of the field," she said, after a moment of silence.
One of the fairies leaned forward in his seat. "You have?" he asked.
"Y-yes," she said. "I made friends with a squirrel there."
"You came here to tell us that?" the center fairy said, frowning.
"No," Beenie said at once. "I came to tell you that Peter sent me to ask you for help."
"Why should we help this...Peter?"
"Because he's a unicorn, and the gnomes are attacking!" Beenie burst out, unable to contain it any longer. A heavy silence fell, and she saw expressions of shock flick across their faces as they digested what she'd said.
"A unicorn." The voice was soft, like a sigh. And then, "We will come."
August 21, 2013
Summer and Silent Politicians
"I believe that summer is our time, a time for the people, and that no politician should be allowed to speak to us during the summer. They can start talking again after Labor Day." ~ Lewis Black
First of all, this made me laugh really hard.
Second, who wants to focus on things like politics when it's so hot outside all you really want to do is sleep? It's like school, I think. We should be free when it's hot outside, yes?
Well, most of us aren't free like we used to be in the summers. We have responsibilities, like work, cleaning house, watching kids. But, if you have kids, maybe you can do something fun with them this summer before school starts. Give them some awesome memories to think of later.
What do you like to do with your kids (or nieces, nephews, friends) in the summer?
First of all, this made me laugh really hard.
Second, who wants to focus on things like politics when it's so hot outside all you really want to do is sleep? It's like school, I think. We should be free when it's hot outside, yes?
Well, most of us aren't free like we used to be in the summers. We have responsibilities, like work, cleaning house, watching kids. But, if you have kids, maybe you can do something fun with them this summer before school starts. Give them some awesome memories to think of later.
What do you like to do with your kids (or nieces, nephews, friends) in the summer?
Review of The Dragon Quartet Omnibus, Volume 2, By Marjorie B. Kellogg
The Dragon Quartet Omnibus, Volume 2 by Marjorie B. KelloggMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
This book was okay. The story was interesting, and I read it through to the end to see what happened. I did, not, however, like the constant head-hopping. The writing style changed from third-person present-tense to third-person past-tense, and it drove me nuts. Toward the end, it seemed like the author got confused about which characters she was writing with each style, and mixed them up some.
I haven't read the first two books (the perils of shopping at second-hand stores), so this book was somewhat confusing for me. I did manage to figure it out enough to enjoy it, though. I would call it an okay one-time read, and will probably not read it again, or go in search of the first two. I found some of the content inappropriate, especially the descriptions of the physical relationship between Paia and Fire.
View all my reviews
August 19, 2013
Choosing Your Priorities (Health Blog Series, Post #3
So last week we went over your motivation for getting healthy. Do you have a good one chosen? I'll take that as a yes. If not, go pick one!
But now we're going to get organized about our approach.
First, you'll need a notebook. On the first page, write down your motivation, and why it's your motivation. Underneath this, you can write down or paste things that inspire you.
Next, I want you to turn the page and start a list of priorities.
On this list, I want you to put down the things that are MORE IMPORTANT than your health. Your children, your spouse, your job...there are a number of things you could put here, but I want the things you're choosing to be the ones more important to you than your health.
Next, I want you to go down a few lines, and make a list of the things in your life that are LESS IMPORTANT than your health. Computer or video games, reading that book (however awesome it may be), or watching TV are a few examples.
These two lists will help you determine when to work on your health, what you can put off or do later, and what you can't.
If the things you're doing right now are less important to your health - playing computer games, for instance - then you can play later and work on your health now. If you're doing your job, then you'll need to wait a while before you can work on your health.
See how this works? You can spend the next week refining your list; improving, changing, adding.
But keep track of that notebook! You may need it later.
Good luck, and let me know how you're doing! If you need help with this, then please comment or email. I'll be happy to try and help. :)
If you want the previous blog posts, you can find them here:
Improving Your Health (Blog series #1)
But now we're going to get organized about our approach.
First, you'll need a notebook. On the first page, write down your motivation, and why it's your motivation. Underneath this, you can write down or paste things that inspire you.
Next, I want you to turn the page and start a list of priorities.
On this list, I want you to put down the things that are MORE IMPORTANT than your health. Your children, your spouse, your job...there are a number of things you could put here, but I want the things you're choosing to be the ones more important to you than your health.
Next, I want you to go down a few lines, and make a list of the things in your life that are LESS IMPORTANT than your health. Computer or video games, reading that book (however awesome it may be), or watching TV are a few examples.
These two lists will help you determine when to work on your health, what you can put off or do later, and what you can't.
If the things you're doing right now are less important to your health - playing computer games, for instance - then you can play later and work on your health now. If you're doing your job, then you'll need to wait a while before you can work on your health.
See how this works? You can spend the next week refining your list; improving, changing, adding.
But keep track of that notebook! You may need it later.
Good luck, and let me know how you're doing! If you need help with this, then please comment or email. I'll be happy to try and help. :)
If you want the previous blog posts, you can find them here:
Improving Your Health (Blog series #1)
August 17, 2013
A New Task (Free Fantasy Short Story)
Beenie refused to raise her eyes to meet Peter's, but she could still feel his eyes, filmed with age but still sharp, resting on her.
"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Peter asked, his voice gentling.
"No," she said softly.
"Good," Peter said with a sigh. "Now, is it too much to ask that you two listen to Troy's parents from this point onward?"
Troy shook his head emphatically, but Beenie continued staring at her feet, wishing this whole interview was over already. At least they didn't have a big audience. Everyone was far too busy working to pay them any mind.
"Beenie?" Peter asked, not unkindly.
"I can't seem to do anything right," she murmured. She thought she had said it quietly enough that he wouldn't hear, but she knew the instant the words left her lips that he had heard anyway.
"The reason," Peter said "that it seems as if you can do nothing right, is you have not thought anything through to it's finish, and you do not know everything that might affect your goals. In order for the things you do to make a difference, you must learn to listen to those in authority over you, and sometimes bend to their wishes."
Beenie scowled, but said nothing.
"Troy, I want you to go back to where you're supposed to be."
"Really?" Troy asked, glancing at Beenie.
"Yes," Peter said, a faint unicorn-smile on his slender face.
"What about Beenie?" Troy asked.
"I have another task for Beenie," said Peter.
Troy looked at Peter for a long moment before waving a quick goodbye to Beenie, and scampering off to do as he was told.
When Troy's gray, bushy tail had vanished from sight, Beenie turned back to Peter, biting her lip. What kind of task would he give her? Would it be hard? Would it be punishment for her disregard for authority?
When Peter spoke, she flinched involuntarily.
"You have friends in the filed, yes?"
"Yes...?" Beenie said. What did that have to do with anything?
"You will go back to the field," Peter said.
Beenie's jaw dropped. "But...why?"
"You are asking questions," Peter said approvingly. "Good. I need you to convince them to come help us. We are strong, but I fear we are not strong enough. We haven't had contact with the fairies for a long time, but there was once friendship between us. Hopefully there can be again."
"You want them to come help?" Beenie asked.
"Yes. And you are the only one who can convince them. I cannot spare anyone else at this time, and since you have a tendency to do whatever you please when here, perhaps a job of more importance than gathering food will keep you out of trouble."
Beenie's shoulders hunched in at the oblique rebuke in his words.
"Do you understand?" Peter asked.
She nodded, again refusing to meet his eyes. Gathering food was an important task. She had refused to do it in favor of something more...heroic. She felt a flush stain her cheeks once again. Regardless of why she had disobeyed, that was how it appeared to Peter.
"You are ashamed of yourself," Peter said. "This is good."
Beenie looked up, startled. "What? she asked.
"You are ashamed. It means that you understand what you have done. Am I right in thinking that you will not make the same mistakes again?"
"I'll try," she said, still unsettled by his declaration.
He nodded his acceptance of her answer, and then bowed his head. He suddenly looked even more tired than before. Had she caused that? Prickling guilt enveloped her.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean..."
"I know," Peter said, raising his head again to look at her. "Just do what you may to help us. Go and get the fairies."
Beenie nodded, and then flew upward.
She turned and looked around when she reached the top of the trees. Peter was where she had left him, watching her ascent. He was a silver splotch on the green velvet of the grass.
She raised one hand in farewell, and then turned toward the field, a look of determination on her small face.
"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Peter asked, his voice gentling.
"No," she said softly.
"Good," Peter said with a sigh. "Now, is it too much to ask that you two listen to Troy's parents from this point onward?"
Troy shook his head emphatically, but Beenie continued staring at her feet, wishing this whole interview was over already. At least they didn't have a big audience. Everyone was far too busy working to pay them any mind.
"Beenie?" Peter asked, not unkindly.
"I can't seem to do anything right," she murmured. She thought she had said it quietly enough that he wouldn't hear, but she knew the instant the words left her lips that he had heard anyway.
"The reason," Peter said "that it seems as if you can do nothing right, is you have not thought anything through to it's finish, and you do not know everything that might affect your goals. In order for the things you do to make a difference, you must learn to listen to those in authority over you, and sometimes bend to their wishes."
Beenie scowled, but said nothing.
"Troy, I want you to go back to where you're supposed to be."
"Really?" Troy asked, glancing at Beenie.
"Yes," Peter said, a faint unicorn-smile on his slender face.
"What about Beenie?" Troy asked.
"I have another task for Beenie," said Peter.
Troy looked at Peter for a long moment before waving a quick goodbye to Beenie, and scampering off to do as he was told.
When Troy's gray, bushy tail had vanished from sight, Beenie turned back to Peter, biting her lip. What kind of task would he give her? Would it be hard? Would it be punishment for her disregard for authority?
When Peter spoke, she flinched involuntarily.
"You have friends in the filed, yes?"
"Yes...?" Beenie said. What did that have to do with anything?
"You will go back to the field," Peter said.
Beenie's jaw dropped. "But...why?"
"You are asking questions," Peter said approvingly. "Good. I need you to convince them to come help us. We are strong, but I fear we are not strong enough. We haven't had contact with the fairies for a long time, but there was once friendship between us. Hopefully there can be again."
"You want them to come help?" Beenie asked.
"Yes. And you are the only one who can convince them. I cannot spare anyone else at this time, and since you have a tendency to do whatever you please when here, perhaps a job of more importance than gathering food will keep you out of trouble."
Beenie's shoulders hunched in at the oblique rebuke in his words.
"Do you understand?" Peter asked.
She nodded, again refusing to meet his eyes. Gathering food was an important task. She had refused to do it in favor of something more...heroic. She felt a flush stain her cheeks once again. Regardless of why she had disobeyed, that was how it appeared to Peter.
"You are ashamed of yourself," Peter said. "This is good."
Beenie looked up, startled. "What? she asked.
"You are ashamed. It means that you understand what you have done. Am I right in thinking that you will not make the same mistakes again?"
"I'll try," she said, still unsettled by his declaration.
He nodded his acceptance of her answer, and then bowed his head. He suddenly looked even more tired than before. Had she caused that? Prickling guilt enveloped her.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean..."
"I know," Peter said, raising his head again to look at her. "Just do what you may to help us. Go and get the fairies."
Beenie nodded, and then flew upward.
She turned and looked around when she reached the top of the trees. Peter was where she had left him, watching her ascent. He was a silver splotch on the green velvet of the grass.
She raised one hand in farewell, and then turned toward the field, a look of determination on her small face.
August 16, 2013
Review of Shadowmarch, By Tad Williams
Shadowmarch by Tad WilliamsMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is the first book I've read by Tad Williams, and I can say that it most likely won't be the last.
It took me a while to get into the book, and the instant I really started to connect to the characters, Kendrick died. Although that might have been what drew me in in the first place, since something was actually happening. From that point on, I wanted to finish it quite badly.
The world in Shadowmarch is many-layered and realistic, and the descriptions are superb. However, I found the political intrigues rather dragging, and didn't really like the hopping from one point of view to the other. I also didn't really care for the fact that hardly any of the questions or mysteries presented in this book were answered by the end. I'm particularly intrigued by the Qar, and why the Autarch chose Qinnitan, and that's probably my chief peeve because I wanted to know more.
But I did enjoy it, and if I find the next book, I will probably buy and add it to my collection.
View all my reviews
August 15, 2013
What's In Our Food?
I was cruising the internet this morning when I found this article.
Now, most people order pizza pretty often. I don't know how many order Papa John's pizza, but I can tell you that my family does every once in a while. And the above article is concerning to me for precisely that reason.
Americans are growing increasingly aware of food-that-isn't, and it appears as though many restaurants aren't catering to that want-to-know attitude. That's not really news to most of us, though. It's been that way for what seems like forever. And the general attitude is, if they have nothing to hide, then why aren't they telling us what's in it?
Papa John's pizza might be perfectly fine. But then, it might not be.
Anyway, thought someone might find the article interesting. I know I did.
And you might also find this eye-poppingly large database of food additives interesting as well. It has 153 pages of things manufacturers can put in our food.
Now, most people order pizza pretty often. I don't know how many order Papa John's pizza, but I can tell you that my family does every once in a while. And the above article is concerning to me for precisely that reason.
Americans are growing increasingly aware of food-that-isn't, and it appears as though many restaurants aren't catering to that want-to-know attitude. That's not really news to most of us, though. It's been that way for what seems like forever. And the general attitude is, if they have nothing to hide, then why aren't they telling us what's in it?
Papa John's pizza might be perfectly fine. But then, it might not be.
Anyway, thought someone might find the article interesting. I know I did.
And you might also find this eye-poppingly large database of food additives interesting as well. It has 153 pages of things manufacturers can put in our food.
