Terri Herman-Poncé's Blog: Terri Herman-Ponce, page 8
December 10, 2015
Past Life Series Bundle 99cents for Limited Time — “fascinating story of suspense, betrayal, and love”
I’m thrilled to announce that my
PAST LIFE SERIES
bundle is 99cents!
BUT ONLY FOR A LIMITED TIME
Here’s what readers are saying about the series:
“The writing is evocative and thoroughly addictive”
……
“A love that transcends the ages
and a hatred that follows with every incarnation and life”
……
“Fast-paced…a roller coaster ride”
Grab all 3 books today!
The PAST LIFE SERIES
Second chances come with a price
IN THIS LIFE
When psychologist Lottie Morgan meets Galen, their encounter is as intense as it is eye-opening. Something about him is familiar. His looks. His words. His touch.
Lottie can’t resist the urge to know more about him, or the smoldering memories that surface every time he’s near. Only Galen’s keeping a dangerous secret, one linked to a life shared thousands of years ago. One that could destroy the relationship Lottie has with her current lover David.
One that is about to cost Lottie her life. Again.
Take a trip to mysterious ancient Egypt, where powerful passions ignite and deadly deceptions begin. The Past Life Series starts here.
COVET
Everyone wants something. Even if it belongs to someone else.
And some will destroy the very thing they want, just so no one else can have it.
Professional soldier David Bellotti’s latest mission seems simple: steal the key card to a drug lord’s compound so the empire can be infiltrated and destroyed. But when David discovers evidence of his lover Lottie’s possible infidelity, his mission turns personal. He searches for answers others would kill to keep buried and discovers a link to the past he’s been trying hard to ignore.
Ancient lives, twelve thousand year old secrets, murder, and primal instincts lead David on a journey through past lives and present danger all to save the woman he loves.
Find your way back through alternate history, when hunter-gatherers roamed and David and Lottie’s supernatural incarnations began.
YESTERDAY PEOPLE
David Bellotti’s only focus is to find his abducted twelve-year old daughter. When he sees her on a news segment with her captor, a renowned archaeologist who’s made a major discovery, David sets out to bring her back home. But the search leads him to a secret message that could alter man’s history forever.
A message David and his daughter inscribed twelve-thousand years ago.
A message that will prove dangerous in the wrong hands.
Protecting this powerful information seems simple until David realizes some people will use his daughter against him to get it, at whatever the cost. Now David must make a choice. Protect mankind from a secret past that must remain hidden, or save his little girl.
___________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012-2015 · All Rights Reserved · TerriPonce.com
Filed under: Stories Behind The Stories Tagged: 99cent sale, alternate history, Amazon, bundle, COVET, David Bellotti, historical fantasy, In This LIfe, Kindle, love triangle, OOParts, paranormal, paranormal books, paranormal suspense, Past Life series, reincarnation, romance, soul mate, suspense, Terri Herman-Ponce, Yesterday People
November 22, 2015
More s****y First Drafts — Want to See More Ugly Writing?
Last week’s post about s****y first drafts and how different they are from the final published book prompted a slew of site visits and email. So much that I’m sharing yet another crappy first draft from a scene in Covet, Book 2 of the Past Life Series. I’m also sharing the final product from that very same scene. Amazing how different these two versions are — thanks to the help of a very amazing beta reader. :)
COVET
draft scene from Chapter 6
“Sahin went ape-shit when he discovered the photo was taken,” MD said. “I want to know why he had it and why it’s important to him . We’ve killed his operation but we’re not done with him yet. I want answers and until I get them, all vacation, all time off, is canceled. This is intel I need now.”
I bit down a comeback. MD was pissed off enough. Me even more so.
“Get over it, Bellotti , because I could have done a lot worse,” MD said. “And leave the photo on the table. You don’t need it anymore.” She disconnected. End of meeting.
I strode out of the conference room, annoyed, and bypassed the admin without a goodbye. If she thought I was a hardass, this probably proved it. By the time I got to my SUV in the lot, I was furious and Galen was at my side.
He jammed his hands into his slacks and stared at me. “She most likely knows something we do not.”
I gave him a long look. “She’s playing me and I don’t like it. It’s just a photo.”
“It’s not just a photo and we both know it. You’ll have to overcome your insecurity on this matter and move forward.”
I slid in the SUV, cranked over the engine and opened the window. “Please don’t analyze me, Galen.” I got enough of it at home and on the job. “You really have no idea what I’m thinking.”
“This is not about MD, Bellotti. It’s about you. And if you’re not careful, you’ll do far worse than what happened today.”
“Whose side are you on anyway? You sat there and did nothing when I lifted the picture, and we both know why you kept your mouth shut.”
“You’re not understanding this,” Galen said. “Your baggage is with Lottie, not with MD, and that needs to be resolved. You won’t rest until you do.”
I turned up the heat, the October air feeling way too cold. “Remember one thing, Galen. I approved your joining my team three months ago and I can withdraw it without reason if I choose. Stick to the job and leave personal issues out of it.”
“You approved my application because you felt guilty for what Lottie was going through at the time. That isn’t something I can easily ignore.”
“What you did for Lottie back in July was helpful but inexcusable. You wanted her, you couldn’t have her, and you pretended to experience the same past life regression she did so that she would come to you—”
“I didn’t pretend that I lived thousands of years ago among the Pharaohs, Bellotti. And you’ll also do well to learn from your own regression, your past, if you let it happen.”
“Be mindful of who you’re speaking to. I’m still your commander.” I threw the SUV into reverse and pulled out.
COVET
revised and final scene from Chapter 6
“Sahin went ape-shit when he discovered the photo was taken,” MD said. “I want to know why he had it and why it’s important to him. We’ve killed his operation but we’re not done with him yet. I want answers and, until I get them, all vacation, all time off, is canceled. This is intel I need now.”
I cursed.
“You’re in no position to argue about this, Bellotti.”
I cursed again. This time louder. If Lottie was annoyed about my getting called into work this morning, this latest news was going to send me straight into the crapper.
“I heard that the photo had two people in it,” MD said. “Lottie and another guy. Who’s the other guy?”
I was working hard to keep my temper in check, feeling like I’d just been played. “His name’s Jared,” I said.
“As in Jared Sahin?”
Galen’s eyes met mine, and the silence between us deepened.
“What the hell is your girlfriend doing with Zev Sahin’s nephew other than screwing him?”
“She’s not—”
“How close is she to him?”
“She’s not close to him!”
“Famous last words from anyone who’s ever been cheated on.”
“Lottie’s not cheating. She’s not doing anything. She was at a party, and he happened to be there. He’s a friend of her brother. She didn’t—doesn’t—know who he is.”
“And yet you stole the photo. That tells me you don’t trust Lottie. How close is she to Jared?”
“Are you even listening to me?”
“Watch the tone.”
This was total bullshit. All of it. MD. Galen. The photo. And I intended to remind MD about it. “Just because you’re at a party doesn’t mean you’re doing the guy you meet.”
“Bullshit. Think back three years, Bellotti, to the gala you attended in London. And the woman you met there. You want to run that logic by me again?”
I slammed my palms on the table and yanked the speaker toward me. “That was different, and you don’t know Lottie the way I do.”
“Chauvinistic and pig-headed. You have the little woman wear little aprons when she cooks for you and beds you, too? Open your goddamned eyes, Bellotti! Think with the head above your waist!”
“I’m not—”
“Don’t play stupid. It doesn’t suit you.”
“I think,” Galen said, pulling the conference phone away from me, “we are overlooking something that could be even more important. And that’s whether or not Lottie’s brother is close to Jared Sahin.”
“Is this your meeting now, Galen?” MD asked.
“It’s more like an inquisition,” Galen mumbled. He folded his arms over his chest and went back to examining the photo.
“Find out everything you can on Jared,” MD said. “Dig up all of it, and when you think you’re done, dig up more. And remember this. On paper he looks like a nice, respectable businessman. But he’s linked to Zev and that means nothing is what it appears. I want details in two days.”
Galen was still engrossed with the photo and I reached across the table, ready to take it back.
“Leave the photo where it is, Bellotti,” MD said. “You don’t need it anymore.” Then she disconnected. End of meeting.
I threw open the conference room doors and strode out into the corridor. By the time I got to my SUV in the lot, I was furious and Galen was at my side.
“Don’t start with me,” I said, fishing my keys from my pocket.
Galen jammed his hands into his slacks and said, “MD most likely knows something we do not.”
I sent him a look. “This is bullshit. She’s keeping intel from us, from me, about that photo.”
“It’s not just a photo and we both know it. She’s testing you to see just how personal you’re making this, and you’re failing.”
“And it’s not personal for you? You sat there and did nothing when I lifted the picture, Galen, and we both know why you kept your mouth shut.”
“You need to calm down.”
I stepped in, making sure Galen understood his place. I was his superior and I was the one who gave the orders. “Don’t tell me what to do. Don’t tell me how to do it. And last but most important, stay away from Lottie.”
“This has nothing to do with me seeing Lottie. I stay away from her but I cannot help it if she—”
He stopped, and the suspicion that nagged at me in the conference room now turned into full-blown distrust.
I stepped in closer. “If she what?”
Galen shook his head. “I’m not getting in the middle of the issues you have with Lottie. I’m not your therapist, and MD was right. You don’t have your head on straight.”
“Remember that you work for me because I hired you, Galen. And my head is just fine.”
“You approved my application because you felt guilty for what Lottie was going through at the time. That isn’t something I can easily ignore.”
“What you did for Lottie back in July was helpful but inexcusable. You wanted her, you couldn’t have her, and you pretended to experience the same past life regression she did so that she would come to you—”
“I didn’t pretend that I lived thousands of years ago among the Pharaohs, Bellotti. And you’ll do well to learn from your own regression, your past, if you’d just open your damned eyes and let it happen.”
I clenched a fist, thinking how good it would feel to crack it against his face. Instead, I unlocked the SUV, slid inside, and cranked over the engine. Then I turned up the heat, opened the window, and stuck out my head. “And by the way, the admin’s name is Rebecca Lansdon. Middle name Arlene. Her birthday is April fifteenth and she loves Airedale Terriers. She also loved the flowers I sent her when she turned twenty-six this past year.”
I threw the SUV into reverse and pulled away.
My heart was pounding and blood was rushing through my ears, courtesy of too many thoughts jamming up my brain. I jumped onto the main road and by the time I hit the fourth light, turned, and wove through the back roads home, a plan started forming.
I called my best friend, Nat. He served on my team at PROs and was a techno-whiz with skills I dreamed about. If he couldn’t help me figure out the mystery behind the photo, no one could. When he answered the phone, I heard screaming in the background and a lot of rowdy laughter. His sons. I told him about MD’s orders for me to find intel on the picture.
“Did you take a picture of the picture?” Nat asked.
“Yeah.” I stopped at a stop sign and waited for a woman who looked liked she’d lived through the Ice Age to cross the road, and used the time to find it on my phone and send it to Nat. One of Nat’s boys started complaining that Eddie wouldn’t stop touching him. Carlos, most likely. Carlos complained about everything.
“Got it,” Nat said. “You gonna call Michael about Jared, or you want me to?”
“No, I’ll do it,” I said, watching the old lady finish crossing the street. She might have been slow but she didn’t look bothered, and I realized that was probably the point. I’d battled it out on the front lines, sat for hours in the dark scoping out the enemy, and sent men into ambush, and not once did I ever lose focus.
I’d lost focus now.
I drew in a long breath and held it, letting it all pass. The old woman turned around, waved, and smiled. I smiled and waved back. And slowly, I felt my skyrocketing blood pressure start to normalize.
“Be prepared,” Nat said. “Michael’s gonna get into deep, thought-provoking conversations about ollies and half pipes. Did he ever enter that skateboarding contest?”
“No idea.” Michael was a nice guy but an airhead. His goal in life was to spend his days at skate parks instead of the law firm where he worked. How he got the job, I’d never know.
“Weird how that photo showed up in Istanbul,” Nat said. “Any ideas at all why Sahin had it?”
“No clue.” I turned onto Samsara Street and headed for my house. “But you know it isn’t because of Lottie.” I pulled up the driveway and waited for the garage door to open.
“And there’s our starting point,” Nat said as I pulled inside and killed the engine. “I’ll cross-ref Jared against Michael Morgan. Maybe I’ll also add Lottie in the mix just for kicks and giggles. See what comes up.” Carlos started screeching and I had to hold the phone away from my head. Nat yelled for him to shut up. Carlos stopped for a few seconds then started screeching louder. The sound cut through and my ears started to ring.
“Wow,” I said. “Can’t wait to have a kid of my own.”
“I thought you wanted kids.”
“Do they screech like that all the time?”
“You have much to learn, grasshopper. Just you wait and see, D-Man. This ain’t nothing. The profundity of children lies not in their shortcomings but in the life still stretched out before them.”
“Nice quote. Who said it?”
“Me. Now let me get cracking on this pic before these kids drive me to drink more.”
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Big difference, eh? And the editing, in my opinion, was thoroughly worth it!
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Copyright © 2012-2015 · All Rights Reserved · TerriPonce.com
Filed under: Stories Behind The Stories Tagged: COVET, editing, first drafts, Past Life series, writing, writing fiction
November 15, 2015
S****y First Drafts — What Ugly Writing Looks Like
We’re in November, and all this talk about NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) has me thinking about s****y first drafts and why they never get read or published.
For those of you who might not know what NaNo is, it’s where authors use the month of November to bang out 50,000 words of a new story without editing. Then you go back and whip that new baby into shape so it’s more publish-worthy.
Here’s where you may not realize. That published book in your hand? Odds are it’s not even close to the first version of what the author typed up. In fact, it may have gone through five, or ten, or more revisions before it hit the press. And the reason is simple: most first drafts are s****y. Plain and simple.
So for the hell of it, I went through my old files and dug up an older version of Chapter 1 for In This Life, Book 1 of the Past Life Series. Then, for even more giggles, I pulled out the final chapter that was published. Want to see the difference between the two? Read on…
IN THIS LIFE
(The start of Chapter 1, drafted in July 2003)
I woke up and didn’t know where I was.
I jerked up in bed with my heart hammering inside my chest and my
breathing sharp and irregular. Nothing registered as familiar but I
knew that danger lurked nearby. The man who attacked me last night
had made it clear he wasn’t done with me yet. When he planned to
return I didn’t know, but I feared for my life and knew my only hope
for survival was to run and find help. Now.
I threw off the quilt and bolted upright. A strong arm snaked around
my waist and yanked me back down, pulling me against a powerful body
I couldn’t fight.
I was trapped.
“Where do you think you’re going?” a deep voice asked.
Memories from the previous night cascaded back. I remembered the
dark, moonlit alcove and the man who had cornered me in it. I
remembered the others who cheered him on and the feel of clothing
wrenched from my body. I remembered the stone wall cutting into my
back and the sound of my screams echoing in my ears. And I
remembered the dispassionate look in his dark brown eyes as he
physically assaulted me.
“Please don’t hurt me,” I said to the man laying next to me, terror
making my throat dry and hoarse. “Just tell me what you want.”
The voice grew husky. “You already know what I want. Roll over. I
want to look at you.”
I wondered if I could escape. If I did, what were the odds of
getting away? Would he hunt me down? Would he draw out the chase?
Could I find help before he caught me?
As if reading my thoughts, his arm tightened around me and flight
became illusion.
“Roll over,” he demanded again.
I had no choice. I knew what he would do to me if I didn’t listen.
I rolled over.
A pair of bright, expressive eyes stared back at me. Eyes the color
of an apatite gemstone, a brilliant hue of golden-green.
But… they were supposed to be dark brown!
“Good morning,” he said, his voice muffled by his pillow.
I looked at David, a man with whom I had an on- and off-again
relationship since graduating college eight years ago, and didn’t
respond. A disconnect existed between my memories from the night
before and reality facing me now, and my brain demanded explanations
for it.
IN THIS LIFE
The start of Chapter 1, self-published in 2014 (ELEVEN years later)
When you’ve known someone your entire life, there isn’t a lot they can say or do that can surprise you anymore. So when David entered the bedroom, tea and toast in hand and a determined look on his face, I knew the words that would come out of his mouth before he even said them.
“No, Lottie. You’re not going into work today.” And he watched me with an expression that said he knew what I intended to say, too.
“I’m feeling better.”
“Really?” He sat down on the king–sized bed and placed the food tray in front of me. “Eat this. All of this. Then we’ll talk.”
I smelled hot green tea and fresh toast and, for one brief moment, my stomach reminded me that it was empty before rolling over with nausea again.
He sent me a long look. “I figured as much.”
I shifted in bed and tried again. “I have a meeting with my boss today, David, plus a new client who’s expecting me. I’ve also got four appointments that I can’t walk away from.”
“You have the flu and can get your clients sick.”
Now he stared me down, aiming for intimidation despite the bare feet, blue jeans, and faded T–shirt. And I saw why the men that David commanded feared and respected him. Powerful stature aside, his green eyes had a way of cutting right through you until you felt compelled to obey his every word.
However, I wasn’t one of his men.
I nibbled the toast to prove a point more to me than to David, and my stomach pitched again. David said nothing, probably because he knew better, and I pushed out of bed and headed for the master bathroom. Halfway there, my legs turned rubbery and I knew I’d lost the battle.
Another therapist would have had a field day with my stubbornness.
I leaned against the counter and dropped my head. I felt beaten and fatigued, and uneasiness I’d been experiencing since getting sick prickled at me once again. I couldn’t pinpoint the emotion except to call it restlessness, living in a fog that would eventually lift and reveal something with life–altering clarity that I hadn’t discovered before. It was an irrational sensation and one I attributed to the flu.
“I’m on leave for the next two weeks,” David called out. “Take advantage of that and stay one more day. You know you need the rest and I can take care of you over the weekend until you go back on Monday.”
His taking care of me wasn’t the issue. The love of my life was an ace in the kitchen and a neat freak with an affectionate bedside manner. I simply wanted to get back on my own two feet, and under my own terms and steam. I grabbed a brush from a drawer and worked it through my hair. As I bent over to get the underside, dizziness followed and I held on to the counter until the room settled down. I drew in a breath, straightened and tried one last time with determined optimism. My hands moved up and down, up and down and then once again.
Two hands became three, then four. I felt a gentle tugging at my head and the weight of something heavy settle on top of it. The hands stroked and pampered, moving from my hair to my face and neck. A noise followed, the sound of a lid removed from a bottle, and a rich, spiced scent spread over the room and over me. I inhaled, long and deep, wanting more. Much, much more.
“Does it meet with your pleasure?” someone asked.
I could not answer. The aroma was too intoxicating and reminded me of him. Of us.
The person spoke my name and repeated the question, and still I could not answer. My name was uttered once more.
“Lottie?”
Hands settled on my shoulders and shook.
“Lottie?”
The aroma started fading away.
“Lottie, can you hear me?” The scent evaporated and I shook my head to clear the remnants of its evocative memories. David stood just behind, a firm grip on arms. “Are you okay?”
“I’ll be fine. I just need a moment.” I saw his worried expression in the mirror and its intensity surprised me. “What’s wrong?”
“Enough of this already.” David steered me from the bathroom back to our bed, tucked me in and made sure I felt comfortable. He stood near me for some time and asked, “What happened in there?”
“A little nausea and another dizzy spell.” I rubbed my forehead, trying to put a name to what I felt. “Maybe I still have a fever, too.”
David touched my forehead, shook his head and sat down beside me. He was studying me now, probing, and trying to see something he didn’t see before.
“You were immobile for almost five minutes,” he said, tucking my hair behind an ear.
“I think you’re exaggerating.”
“Five minutes.”
The restlessness I’d been feeling surged through me again, stronger this time, and I didn’t like the way it felt. Something seemed off, and I wasn’t sure if it was with David or with me. Remnants of last night’s sleep started trickling in, and then a connection clicked into place.
“I had a dream last night and I started remembering it in the bathroom.” I closed my eyes, trying to remember more. “I was in a room with a servant who was waiting on me. She was preparing me to meet someone. A boyfriend.” No, that wasn’t quite right. “A lover.”
I felt a tingling uneasiness as I said the word.
“A lover?” David asked.
I opened my eyes, saw David’s grin and recognized the bait for what it was.
I grinned back. “The lover wasn’t you.”
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Big difference, eh? And the editing, in my opinion, was thoroughly worth it!
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Copyright © 2012-2015 · All Rights Reserved · TerriPonce.com
Filed under: Stories Behind The Stories Tagged: editing, first drafts, In This LIfe, NaNoWriMo, Past Life series, writing, writing fiction
November 10, 2015
Striking Anomaly Found in Great Pyramid
I found the neatest tidbit of news today:
There is an anomaly in the Great Pyramid that suggests another possible chamber or cavity.
“This anomaly is impressive and obvious. We have several hypothesis but no conclusion for the moment.”
Umm…wow. You know, technology these days brings for amazing discoveries.
Want to read more? Click here for the full story.
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Copyright © 2012-2015 · All Rights Reserved · TerriPonce.com
Filed under: Stories Behind The Stories Tagged: ancient Egypt, ancient Egyptians, archaeology, Great Pyramid, interesting facts
October 18, 2015
Theories on the Origins of Life — Where Did We Come from?
It’s covered in theory and in fiction, and it’s one of the biggest and most perplexing questions we’ve ever asked ourselves about life on Earth:
Just where did we come from?
copyright Smithsonian Magazine
Some folks say we originated from a primordial ooze.
Others postulate life came from an electric spark.
There are those that believe life got its start from smaller molecules that interacted with each other.
And there are people who think humans came from an alien world or worlds, dropped here either by design or cosmic fate.
No matter what you believe, there are some interesting theories out there. And perhaps one day we’ll actually confirm that one of them is fact. Until then, we get to speculate and try to find ways that explain who we are, why we’re here, and how the heck we got our start on this beautiful, blue planet.
So, read the seven theories for yourself and decide. I wonder if your theory will match mine. :)
Click here to read about these theories.
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Copyright © 2012-2015 · All Rights Reserved · TerriPonce.com
Filed under: Stories Behind The Stories Tagged: aliens, earth, life, man, origins, primordial ooze
October 11, 2015
The Past Life Series Bundled! — “Mind-bending” “Epic” paranormal series on sale for limited time
I’m thrilled to announce that my
PAST LIFE SERIES
is now bundled!
And at a low price…but only for a limited time
Here’s what readers are saying about the books:
“Epic”
“Fast-paced”
“A rollercoaster ride”
“Thoroughly addictive”
“Mind-bending!”
Grab your e-copy today!
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Life doesn’t give do-overs.
There are no rewind buttons, no second chances, and no extra seconds on the clock. Seconds that could make a difference either way. It’s unfair, and by the time you realize life’s playing hardball it’s often too late. There are no previews either. No sneak peeks to warn you that things are about to shift out of your control.
Imagine how different life could be if only you could see it coming.
The PAST LIFE SERIES
Second chances come with a price.
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Copyright © 2012-2015 · All Rights Reserved · TerriPonce.com
Filed under: Stories Behind The Stories Tagged: alternate history, Amazon, bundle, COVET, David Bellotti, historical fantasy, In This LIfe, Kindle, love triangle, OOParts, paranormal, paranormal books, paranormal suspense, Past Life series, reincarnation, romance, soul mate, suspense, Terri Herman-Ponce, Yesterday People
October 4, 2015
Cool Stuff You Didn’t Know About Ancient Egyptians
The Ancient Egyptians are full of surprises.
Yes, they had interesting beliefs in the Afterlife — can you really take it with you? Who knows. No one’s come back to prove or disprove their theory.
Yes, they had oodles of wealth — at one time, it was said that there was more gold in Ancient Egypt than there was sand.
And yes, they believed in hosts of gods and living a fair and just and honest life built upon the laws of Ma-at.
But here are a few interesting facts that make them more modern than we give them credit for.
Pre-Nup Agreements. Yes! The Ancient Egyptians actually put these into effect! Prenups were created to make sure that wives were provided for if marriages failed. Women in Ancient Egypt had rights just as men did, and could enter into contracts, serve on juries, and own property. Pre-nup agreements strongly favored women, in fact, because they often promised cash so they could continue to live as needed without their husband. But, such agreements sometimes came with a price — upfront payments were often expected by the husband to guarantee the wife’s financial security after a divorce. Once divorced, both men and women could remarry as soon as they wanted and usually did so. In fact, it was encouraged!
Text from Ancient Egyptian pre-nup
Cures for Hangovers. The Ancient Egyptians liked to party. A lot. So of course they had remedies for hangovers. In one case, it’s suggested that the sufferer should wear a necklace made of leaves from the Alexandrian laurel. It was a common remedy for headaches in general, and so also considered a remedy for those fuzzy morning-afters. Odds were it didn’t work, though. But we can’t discredit the ancients for trying.
Partial recipe for hangover cure
They used birth control. Much like the Ancient Egyptians loved their wine, they also loved sex. They were open about sexuality, and understood the consequences behind it. So much, in fact, that they used birth control methods that rivaled our own, at least in concept — none of us would probably be using any of their ingredients today. But check this out:
The Ancient Egyptians ingested plant extracts that inhibited ovulation, much like today’s contraceptive pill.
They used barrier methods that prevented sperm from passing the cervix.
Certain minerals were mixed with sour milk, resulting in contraception similar to today’s spermicides.
Yes, there’s an image of a couple having sex in there. Can you find it?
Cool, right? Seems the ancients weren’t so “ancient” after all!
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Copyright © 2012-2015 · All Rights Reserved · TerriPonce.com
Filed under: Stories Behind The Stories Tagged: ancient Egypt, ancient Egyptians, hangover cures, interesting facts, pre-nup agreements, sex
September 27, 2015
Mysterious carved discs found in Russia
Oh boy. I hit another jackpot in my writing research.
Check this out — More than a dozen stone disks were found in the Volgograd region of Russia. What makes them so unusual, you ask? Well, I’ll tell you.
It seems the team that found these disks claim they contain tungsten, a highly dense metal that is used in military technology. Why they’re there, nobody knows. What they’re used for, nobody knows.
What’s even more unusual? One of the disks measures almost 13 feet long, when nearly all of the others only measure in around 3 feet. And one of them is shaped just like a UFO.
(Credit: Bloknot-Volgograd)
But wait. There’s more to the story. Earlier this year, another disk-shaped object was found in another area of Russia by a coal mining company. It was discovered over 130 feet underground, which, archaeologists say, suggests it’s quite old. It’s perfectly circular, and most likely manmade.
What’s it doing down there? And how did it get there?
Folks who believe in OOParts (out of place artifacts) say the disks don’t come from our planet. Others who are pursuing a more rational approach say the disks need to be researched further, and could have been Earth-made and carved out by erosion.
What do you think? There are truly some strange things to be found out there…
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Copyright © 2012-2015 · All Rights Reserved · TerriPonce.com
Filed under: Stories Behind The Stories Tagged: archaeology, artifacts, book research, carved disks, military technology, OOParts, Russia, Volgograd region, writing research
September 21, 2015
Tested Advice for Life…And Writing
Every now and then I find a gem when I scour the Internet. Today, I discovered a fabulous post from JA Konrath, giving us a few reminders about how to keep perspective in life–and in writing.
“This post goes out to no one in particular for no particular reason. Maybe it will motivate some. Maybe it will make others think a little bit. Maybe it will irritate you. But it’s good, tested advice, and worth repeating.”
Click here to read some pretty hearty words of wisdom.
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Copyright © 2012-2015 · All Rights Reserved · TerriPonce.com
Filed under: Stories Behind The Stories Tagged: JA Konrath, life lessons, writing, writing advice, writing inspiration
September 3, 2015
“Mind-bending” paranormal series ON SALE — 99 cents each for a LIMITED TIME!
For a very limited time
all three ebooks in my PAST LIFE SERIES
are on sale for 99 cents
Here’s what readers are saying about the series:
“Epic”
“Fast-paced”
“A rollercoaster ride”
“Thoroughly addictive.”
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Life doesn’t give do-overs.
There are no rewind buttons, no second chances, and no extra seconds on the clock. Seconds that could make a difference either way. It’s unfair, and by the time you realize life’s playing hardball and knocking out your teeth, it’s often too late. There are no previews either. No sneak peeks to warn you that things are about to shift out of your control, and not for the better.
Imagine how different life could be if only you could see it coming.
The PAST LIFE SERIES
Second chances are never what they seem.
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Copyright © 2012-2015 · All Rights Reserved · TerriPonce.com
Filed under: Stories Behind The Stories Tagged: 99cent sale, alternate history, Amazon, David Bellotti, historical fantasy, In This LIfe, Kindle, OOParts, paranormal, paranormal books, paranormal suspense, Past Life series, suspense, Terri Herman-Ponce
